Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Monday's presentation

In addition to the reading, more images, image manipulation and refinements of your concept, see website... please make a sheet similar to this one. Print out on 11 x 17 for class. Black and White. Wide or Tall. Make sure the concept statement is at least 32ish pts, the rest can be a lot smaller. Also make sure you put your latest concept on your blog so i can READ it before monday.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

more blogs

blogs and more blogs for the blogger

yes you can: textures

the images are high res enough for you to use so visit and be happy.

tips from Journalism

Bob Basow runs a very successful campaigns class in Journalism and here is a metaphor he uses. Copy and paste this somewhere for you to reference in the future.

GOAL: an ongoing purpose (or "why") that is not likely to change over time. For example, my goal is "to live a long a healthy life." (Some corporations have goals that are painfully simple -- FedEx's goal is "Get it there." For an example of a really obscure goal, take a look at KU's Mission Statement. It makes you wonder what we really do here -- besides pat ourselves on the back.)

OBJECTIVE: a specific and measureable result -- in other words, a statement of "what." For example, my objective might be "to lose 20 pounds by June 1." Because it's specific and measureable, I can keep track of how I'm doing -- a weight loss averaging one pound per week is easy to track. (It doesn't hurt that the objective is realistic, although "reasonableness" is not a requirement.)

STRATEGY:
a statement of "how" -- the means by which I will pursue the objective. For example, there are really only two strategies for losing weight: "exercise more" and "eat less."

TACTICS: the specific steps taken to implement a strategy. The key is that a tactic is neither good nor bad -- it is either "on strategy" or "off strategy." For example, when I go to the gym and pack a veggie lunch in a plastic bag, I am staying on strategy. But if I choose, after my workout, to go by the Dairy Queen for a Blizzard and then go home and take a nap, that is "off strategy." Granted, there's nothing wrong with Blizzards and naps -- both are wonderful things, of course! But because they are off-strategy, they aren't helping me reach my objective.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Images not showing up?

If images on your blog are not showing up. Open the images in photoshop and save and rename. Save them as a jpg or png and NO SPACES. That should fix your problem. Sorry it is an extra step.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Hallmark Symposium

First one of the semester: Local Projects. Local Projects design interactive media installations for museums and public spaces. A couple of their designers are coming and speaking about the work they do: work where graphic design, information design, storytelling intersect with architecture and "real" space. ex: National September 11 Memorial Museum is their latest big project. It should be a good one so don't miss it.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Due Monday

PHASE 1: all of the following typed up, use the handout as your guide. bring the handout 2 copies to class one for me one for you AND post on your blog before class begins. All readings are on the server, you can grab them from there.

-- Define: series and sequence
-- Define: sign, index, symbol. Find an example of each both verbal and visual
-- Read: This Means That, (on website or server) summarize and take notes
-- Read: _ Chip Kidd: series _ Q&A on smithsonian _ Step Mag _Covers article
-- Read: associated word list, graph and to suggest
-- Read: audience persona
-- Read: concept statement

-- What makes a successful bookjacket? read the links on the upper left, pull examples and take notes what was successful / not successful and why and do you agree.. (your first journal assignment is tied to this project so read through it and try to do both at the same time)

-- Define your series: what are your 3 books: what are the titles, subtitles, authors, genres. Choose wisely, no cookbooks, nothing very very well known or well done.

-- Research: Find text about your subject/topic/author. You will need information about your author and your books, include on the back and flap of your final designs: if you use an existing book you can use all that copy from the book cover/flap. if it doesn't have a flap you need to find more info: author info and about the book info.

-- Associated word list: create word list, at least 50 descriptive words, the list goes on and on, a free flow of words. how are the books supposed to feel, mood, express: cloudy, misty, gray, dark, mysterious, shadows, broken glass, rough, ... you may use my subscription to
VisualThesauraus.com.
username: awertzberger@mac.com pass: viscom

-- Define 10 words from your list: 10 key words from your list that help establish the feeling, mood, tone, etc...

-- Tone: Are your books serious, humorous, informative, how-to, journal, fiction, non-fiction? Write down 3 – 5 words that define the tone of your series.

-- To Suggest list: what should the look and feel of the bookcover series suggest. 6 - 12 bullet points. for more information go to this page.
-- a sense of suspense
-- a sense of doom and gloom
-- a feeling of the 1930's
-- film noir
-- etc...

-- Concept statement (part one). Find 10 quotes, phrases, part of a poem, song, etc that sets the mood/tone/feeling of your series. Quotes, phases, passages from your books can count towards the 10. All should evoke a mood/feeling/set the tone. Look for one that fits the entire series but if it works for just one of your covers you may use it. (please read the concept statement page and take notes).

Lastly go to WalMart or Home Depot to the paint section and collect color swatches of colors you think match your tone and to suggest list. Gather a lot of them. Also you collect textures and patterns.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

HELLO TYPE 02

First congrats on making it over the first hurdle of the review. Here is the link to the class website and please purchase the 3 books for the first day of class. (try and get them used)

Keep your books from Type 01
Fundamentals of Typography, Layout Workbook, Mac is not a Typewriter. If you didn't read them during the semester now is the time to look through them. KEEP them don't sell them.

Purchase your now books so you have them the first day: look through them and absorb.
Graphic Design:
The New Basics

Getting it Right with Type
Typographic Systems of Design

Optional...
1,000 Type Treatments
Design Evolution

Stylepedia

Check out project one if you want to get a head start you can do all the online readings (listed on the upper left) and do your first journal entry.