For the You Show unit 3, one of the things we could do was a design safari, where we take pictures of things that express certain design principles (which are explained through links, here). I have been trying to find designs to take pictures of all last week and this week (I’m a bit behind), and decided to just post what I have so far and continue later when I see something that works!
The first one is an example of typography–how the typography fits the message.
I found this bucket in our bathroom; I didn’t know what it was or where it came from. But I thought the typography was quite apt with the message: it has that retro do-it-yourself feel. This is the sort of lettering that one can do just with some templates and paint, so you don’t need any fancy tools or skills. Anyone can do it. So “Let’s Do This.”
Puzzled, I turned it around and found that it was a bucket from, I could have guessed it, a hardware store. Of course.
The next one is an example of use of colour:
I like how the colour is used to separate the title from the subtitle from the authors (and the author of the Foreword). It makes it really easy to read, which it might not be otherwise (because the subtitle is long, and the list of authors is long as well). The colours look better in “real life” than in this phone photo in not-so-great light; they are more vibrant.
I also think this book cover is a good example of the use of an image as a symbol. Throughout the book and also on the cover, there are circles, bubbles. These could just be abstract objects that don’t mean anything, but to me they are reminiscent of something to do with science, with chemistry. They remind me of old icons of liquids boiling in a beaker with bubbles coming out of it. And this fits with the topic of the text–“research-based principles” for teaching and learning, meaning they are backed by scientific evidence.
Here’s an example of a design that also has a kind of metaphorical or symbolic element to it (I mean the icon in the middle):
I like how they’ve combined a sense of movement (a sort of bird flying, perhaps) with an image of a letter (the bottom part looks like it could be a page with writing, to me). Then there is also a feeling of symmetric balance when you take the words in blue into account as part of the overall design as well. I guess that’s sometimes fairly easy to do here in Canada, where federal government offices, logos, signs, communications, must be in both English and French.
Here’s another example of symmetry in balance:
The logo itself is quite balanced and symmetric, of course, but then the words around it are as well. And I was rather intrigued by the four diagonal lines on each side of the “clearance” section (this is a sign above an entrance to a parking garage). I think they provide balance as well, from the top to the bottom line. They also give a sense of “entrance,” of moving inward, which is what one does when going into a parking garage of course. So maybe they’re an example of a symbol.
This one also expresses symmetrical balance:
The type is all left-justified, and the sign would be out of balance on the left a bit without the telephone icon on the right. Of course, the telephone icon serves a purpose all on its own–it’s easy to see, especially if you find yourself in an emergency and are flustered, and it can be recognized by many people even if they don’t speak English. But it also provides nice balance.
Here’s an example of rhythm, indicating movement (and also of symbolism):
These three curved shapes indicate to me one or both of two things: steam coming off of coffee, or steam coming off of bread (I suppose they could indicate smoke as well, but I doubt that’s the idea)–both of which are on offer in this café. I can almost see them moving upwards.
The one thing I don’t like about this banner is that I can’t figure out what the thing in the bottom right is, the curved lines there. It seems to be just noise, and takes too long to try to parse. I think the design would have been better without it (more minimalistic!)
I took the following picture to show an example of a design that I don’t think works very well in a sign for a restaurant:
The problem with this one, for me, is that it’s just darn difficult to read–the type is quite small, and with the white against dark background (against the larger white background) the text just seems to kind of disappear into what looks like it might be a circle as simply a shape rather than words. If you were driving by this restaurant on a dark and rainy night (which happens very often in Vancouver), you’d have a hard time reading the sign to know what restaurant this is.
It doesn’t seem to be hurting their business, though: it’s a very good restaurant that is often quite busy. I just think their sign needs a design update.
Possibly more to come as I keep design in mind over the rest of this week!