The Effects of Technological Evolution on Design

For years now the debate between PC and Mac has been at the forefront of technology. The typical argument is that if you are business oriented the PC is the way to go, and if you're more into the arts then Mac should probably be your computer of choice.  However, in this fast paced world we live in, Mac seems to be making its way to the forefront and not because more people happen to be into the arts than usual.

With the invention of smart phones and iPads people are able to access the internet on the go, from anywhere at anytime. Accompanying this global internet service are Apps. Up until recent years Apps--in the way we think of them today--did not exist. Now however there seems to be an App for everything! Companies big and small are jumping on the App bandwagon and people are following. Although there are Apps for most smart phones, none have taken off quite the same way as the Mac products have. Companies want to create Apps and the public want those Apps because of this, more and more people are switching to Mac products despite their computing needs.

Designing Critique

Critique is a funny thing. It is something that people dread to hear but need to know. While feedback is crucial, especially for people doing work in a creative capacity, official critiques can be quite intimidating, especially in the classroom.

Before getting to the critique however, one must have work to present! Elizabeth Resnick's article Design For Communication provides a format to help artists and designers understand their work.

Resnick provides five steps to help stimulate ideas for artists.

Step 1: Define the problem and establish your objectives.
In other words, when designing, it is important to realize what, why and who you are designing for.

Step 2: Do the research.
Unless one is designing just for fun, chances are they are designing for an assignment or for work. If this is the case, chances are there are guidelines and reasons for the creation of the design. It is important to really research ideas and anything else that will assist you in coming up with a spectacular creation.

Step 3: Develop your ideas by brainstorming.
Although we've been told and reminded about brainstorming since kindergarten, it is a crucial step that oftentimes gets skipped over. It's important to allow yourself that time to really let the ideas flow.

Step 4: Analyze your ideas in terms of the project objective.
Allow for critiques. As scary as they can seem, they can really help improve a project!

Step 5: Implement the final.
Take the ideas from the critique and find a way to execute your idea. "A good concept poorly executed will not reveal the potential of your ideas to others" (Elizabeth Resnick).

Once your artwork is done it is time for the final critique, it is important to remember that despite what people say they are suggestions not orders and that no matter what, it is intended to help you!

Details of Web Design

The internet is not a new concept. In recent years everyone all over the globe has most likely had some interaction with the World Wide Web. With this in mind, Web layouts are something we encounter everyday but most of us don't give them a second thought. However, after reading chapters 3,4 and 8 in Information Architecture, the detailed process of web design and especially web page organization have really opened my eyes.

I never realized just how many different ways a person could categorize a singular item such as a scarf.  What is cool about the internet is that unlike in real life, one item can go into a  plethora of categories without ever becoming confusing. This being said, the trick it so make sure things are labeled correctly. If labels are too vague or ambiguous, this can become frustrating for the customer. Furthermore, in this same vein, the actual placement of your labels/categories on your web page play a huge role in the fluidity of your page. I never would have thought that the debate between whether your category links should be on the top (as most web pages usually are) or on the side was that important. However, after reading Information Architecture it seems that something as simple as where to put your links is actually incredibly important and can really make or break the success of your website.

After watching the rollover tutorial I still am impressed at how much Photoshop is capable of. This tutorial was really helpful  but I still think it would be easier to fully grasp if I was able to watch the tutorial while sitting in front of Photoshop and doing it along with the tutorial, however this was the easiest tutorial to follow and understand.

After watching Tim Berners-Lee's presentation on Linked Data, I have to say, I'm incredibly confused. He seemed to assume that we all know what he was referring to and perhaps the audience did. I however, kept getting lost. I vaguly understand the concept, but I don't really understand how to use it, where and when to use it and how it all works. I think a more detailed, and slower description would have been beneficial.

The Endless Possibilities of the Internet

With the birth of the Internet, our world changed forever. One element that was profoundly impacted by the evolution of the World Wide Web was graphic design and art in general. Now with so much software there seems to be endless possibilities for designers.

When watching Scott McCloud's presentation I was blown away by the way the internet has really taken a hold of cartoons and graphic novels. What use to be a very two dimensional medium, now has transformed itself into something incredibly dynamic. While print comics still serve a purpose, the possibilities for webcomics seem to really take the artistry to a whole new level. Looking at McCloud's website I began to understand the impressiveness and challenge of translating the uniqueness of print comics to the web.

Found on classroom20.com

People still want the comic feel but expect that visual and auditory impressiveness that the internet can provide. Finding the proper balance between the two takes a skill that Scott McCloud possesses. 

On a different note, I am constantly amazed at the possibilities that software nowadays is capable of. With Photoshop and Dreamweaver  designing websites is no longer limited to the professionals but is now available for everyone to take a part in. 

As technology continues to evolve and advanced, I look forward to seeing what is in store for graphic designers. I wonder what medium they will be dealing with in the years to come?

Web design, slicing, layers

Web design has always been something that is way beyond me. I've had classes where we touch upon it, learn very basic HTML or 30minute overview of Dreamweaver, but I've never really had the opportunity to design my own website. After reading Information Architecture and watching the video about slicing in Photoshop, things are starting to become a little more clear. However, I now am realizing that there is no one way to create and design a website. The possibilities are endless. This being said, the concept of building my own website is even more mind boggling. I think things will become clearer once I just delve in and begin playing around with various tools such as Photoshop, InDesign, and other web builders.

Tangible Design

Design is often considered to be used primarily for art, however I tend to take for granted the practicable uses that design posses as well. In reading chapters 13 and 14 of Digital Foundations I was not only informed, but also reminded of the very prominence  design has. The major example that the book uses is news paper layouts.

Through the use of design tools such as InDesign and Photoshop, newspapers are able to create perfect columns such as the ones found in The Washington Post. When we read the newspaper, nine times out of ten we do not even realize the design behind what we are reading. In actuality, design is in everything.

In reading the chapters from Graphic Design, I loved looking at the visuals that provided a more creative paradigm for common and typical concepts such as patterns and texture. One thing that really resonated with me with texture. Not only do physical designs have texture but through certain elements online, designs can posses various textures in the digital world as well.

The following are examples of this digital texture:

Design: A Powerful Tool

Design is incredibly powerful. We live in a very visual world so creating dynamic, memorable designs is important. Although it is something that I knew, I never realized just how influencial design really is until doing the readings for Photoshop this week. While reading Note for the New Millennium, what really struck me is that even the simplest of designs can be used to better our world or make it worse. Furthermore, the concept of design and how it has evolved alongside our consumeristic tendencies is both startling and understandable.  In the beginning designers believed "that design was alive with social implications" (Ewen , 192).  However, as we've become more reliant on the free market, design has become a means of selling.

This being said, I suppose design was always used for selling, just in past it was predominently used to sell ideas, where now it is predominently used to sell products.

Our other readings focused more on web design. Pairing this with the Note for the New Millennium reading, it is easy to make the connection how design is not only important but also very prevelent since the creation of the World Wide Web. Now a design can reach everyone all over the world. This also means that with so many designs out there, there is more pressure to ensure that your design will be unique and powerful enough to have the impact and effect that you want.