Wednesday, May 4, 2011
You Can't Miss: Parlez Vous Design?
This week on Print Magazine's Imprint blog, I found a great book the site recommended on speaking the language of design. Being able to articulate your design choices is always necessary, so I think even taking time to read over some of the basic principles of design would definitely help you do so. I'm thinking this would make for a great summer read! Learn more about it here.
Advanced Design capstone comes to a close
It's hard to even fathom the amount of new portfolio pieces and published design work that has come out of just the past semester alone while in the advanced design capstone. Placing all of those pieces in addition to past work into my mini portfolio has been such a rewarding experience. This capstone is one unlike any other. Who else gets the opportunity to design for a city magazine, judge a design contest, conceptualize and design a magazine for a commission for a huge publishing corporation, learn to design for the iPad, learn to conceptualize and produce studio shoots, critique other students' work and receive feedback on a regular basis from 20 other expert designers all in one semester? Pretty great, huh? And that's not even half of it, I'm sure I've missed some things. I know for most of us the amount of designing and published work just seems like standard procedure at this point, but to outsiders, that amount of work and amount of professional experience done in just one course is quite impressive.
Danielle is absolutely right, separation anxiety is absolutely inevitable. Never again will we have the opportunity to work alongside each other in the design lab, critiquing and helping each other as we go, or be able to follow 18 other designers' and their work over the span of a semester.
To my fellow capstone designers, you all have done some pretty incredible things this semester – be proud of what you've done – I can't wait to sift through everyone's finished mini portfolios and websites next week and look back at a semester's worth of designing! Good luck to everyone in the upcoming months getting out there in the real world – and please keep blogging!
Danielle is absolutely right, separation anxiety is absolutely inevitable. Never again will we have the opportunity to work alongside each other in the design lab, critiquing and helping each other as we go, or be able to follow 18 other designers' and their work over the span of a semester.
To my fellow capstone designers, you all have done some pretty incredible things this semester – be proud of what you've done – I can't wait to sift through everyone's finished mini portfolios and websites next week and look back at a semester's worth of designing! Good luck to everyone in the upcoming months getting out there in the real world – and please keep blogging!
Critique: Shindig goes digital
Critique: Shindig Magazine's website wireframe design
The past few weeks I have been tackling some rather unfamiliar design territory – web design – for our magazine prototype Shindig. Although the purpose of creating the wireframe design was not to then make it a live website, but to show not only a representation of the magazine's digital content, but also how its design philosophy and personality is transferred to this platform – easier said than done for those of us who have spent so long studying and working in print design. After a few revisions to the design, which involved lots of scaling and adjusting space and the hierarchy of the various elements on the website pages – I constantly found myself going back to many of my print design habits – the home page and party planning page of Shindig's website were complete.
I do think that overall the finished product is able to not only able to capture the Shindig personality and design style, but displays the magazine's in a clear and cohesive way. Rachael Ray's new website was an influence of the homepage's rotating feature section, where the "Baking with Booze" story sits. I'm also quite happy with the way the "Party Mixer" app on the website has turned out as well. I think the way it's treated on the homepage – with its own teaser – is a great way to promote and preview the Party Mixer app.
The past few weeks I have been tackling some rather unfamiliar design territory – web design – for our magazine prototype Shindig. Although the purpose of creating the wireframe design was not to then make it a live website, but to show not only a representation of the magazine's digital content, but also how its design philosophy and personality is transferred to this platform – easier said than done for those of us who have spent so long studying and working in print design. After a few revisions to the design, which involved lots of scaling and adjusting space and the hierarchy of the various elements on the website pages – I constantly found myself going back to many of my print design habits – the home page and party planning page of Shindig's website were complete.
I do think that overall the finished product is able to not only able to capture the Shindig personality and design style, but displays the magazine's in a clear and cohesive way. Rachael Ray's new website was an influence of the homepage's rotating feature section, where the "Baking with Booze" story sits. I'm also quite happy with the way the "Party Mixer" app on the website has turned out as well. I think the way it's treated on the homepage – with its own teaser – is a great way to promote and preview the Party Mixer app.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
This week: My mini portfolio design strategy, Shindig does studio shots and Rachael Ray's mag gets a makeover!
Response: Mini portfolio design strategy
Filing through Jan's baskets full of past advanced designers' mini-portfolios (even Professor Rowe's portfolio was among the bunch) was quite possibly one of the most encouraging and inspiring moments yet in the advanced magazine design capstone. Seeing so many graduates' early work from their time in the capstone and as designers for Vox – and hearing Jan tell us about their current positions at various magazines and publications as designers, art directors, etc. – put all of this semester's hard work into perspective for me. Who else but graduates of the Missouri School of Journalism (and those in the advanced magazine design capstone) get to not only leave with a resume full of publication design and commission experience, but have a professionally printed and bound book to prove it?
After sifting through more than a dozen of past students' mini-portfolios and discussing some of their design and layout pros and cons, I've come up with a strategy for my own mini-portfolio's design, contents and sequence and functionality.
It seems to me that the size of the mini-portfolio should really depend on the portfolio's purpose, functionality and the portfolio's design. It seemed like the mini-portfolios that were 7 1/2 x 8" or larger were a good size for these, with the larger ones being much more suitable for displaying both news and print designs and for including a resume. The most compelling and readable mini-portfolios of the group seemed to be ones that were designed with a clever and sophisticated style that showcased the designer's strength – those designers that clearly excelled with illustrations, for example, had an illustrated personal logo design on their cover. Some designers chose to add minimal design elements to their portfolio package to emphasize their portfolio's contents, rather than deterring from their work with a detailed portfolio design. I'm having a difficult time deciding where the draw the line between the two, but I think that decision will come with playing with both ideas as I begin designing the portfolio. I do, however, know that I would like create a compelling cover design for the portfolio and then use smaller, more minimal design elements within the portfolio to create a cohesive package design.
Although so many aspects of my mini-portfolio and its design are yet to be determined, I do know that I would like to create one that shows my versatility and dynamic skill sets. I think it's important that the portfolio shows employers my strength in creating a strong visual package, but one that's also functional and flexible. This will be quite an undertaking, but I'm incredibly eager to get going on it all.
Critique: Shindig does studio shots!
Over the past week, the Shindig design team – Nicole, Haleigh and I – completed our studio shoots for our magazine prototype. After scouring the internet for photos to use for various department designs, it became clear that in order to have the type of art we wanted, and in the Shindig style we were searching for, we'd have to take measures into our own hands and take to the camera.
We had quite a list of different set-ups and props that needed to be shot, so we began at my mom's home here in Columbia, where her pantry, basement and background became our top source for much of the Shindig-y items we were seeking to include in our various shoots. Lucky for us, Haleigh's part-time job has a mini photo studio, so additional photos were taken in a real photo shoot setting – complete with a clean white screen background and fancy flash lights. Here are some of our favorites...
I feel like overall the shoots were incredibly successful at capturing exactly what we had in mind, and with the Shindig vibe we were going for. However, finding just the right products to suit the magazine, and that are ones you're actually able to obtain for a photo shoot, proved to be just as difficult as we anticipated. Conceptualizing the idea for a studio shot is one thing, but actually making that concept something you can actually execute is another.
A word of advice to anyone attempting a photo shoot in the near future: be flexible; learn to work with what you've got, and work out multiple options to choose from. There were several times throughout each studio shoot where the designers and I felt like our initial plan or concept just wasn't going to work out, so we were forced to go back to the drawing board. In doing so, we found ways to simplify our initial, more complex studio shot concepts and dial them back into something more reasonable and of course, do-able. I think once we were able to get beyond the initial concept and see what was workable, we were able to come up with some very successful photographs for the magazine – the photo shoot with my mom is a great example of this. Another word of advice for future studio shooters is to provide options. Even after we thought we had gotten the shot, the Shindig designers and I made sure to keep shooting (when we remembered to do so), just to be sure we didn't miss a better angle to shoot from, get a chance to fix any missed camera mishaps or get plenty of horizontal and vertical shots that are usable – it's difficult to predict what type of photograph you'll need for the spread design, so give yourself plenty of flexibility.
So, what do you all think? Thoughts on how these particular shots turned out? Be sure to look out for these and more studio shots in the final print version of Shindig!
You Can't Miss: Rachael Ray's magazine gets a makeover!
Check it out! Everyday with Rachael Ray's re-design debuted in the magazine's May 2011 issue. Now, I have to admit, having not been a reader of the magazine prior to the magazine's re-design, I was pretty impressed overall with the fresher, more contemporary look to the magazine. With the addition of fresher fonts, textured pages and a new logo, this magazine (surprisingly) has become a new reference for design inspiration for me. See more of mediabistro.com's take on the re-design here.
Filing through Jan's baskets full of past advanced designers' mini-portfolios (even Professor Rowe's portfolio was among the bunch) was quite possibly one of the most encouraging and inspiring moments yet in the advanced magazine design capstone. Seeing so many graduates' early work from their time in the capstone and as designers for Vox – and hearing Jan tell us about their current positions at various magazines and publications as designers, art directors, etc. – put all of this semester's hard work into perspective for me. Who else but graduates of the Missouri School of Journalism (and those in the advanced magazine design capstone) get to not only leave with a resume full of publication design and commission experience, but have a professionally printed and bound book to prove it?
After sifting through more than a dozen of past students' mini-portfolios and discussing some of their design and layout pros and cons, I've come up with a strategy for my own mini-portfolio's design, contents and sequence and functionality.
It seems to me that the size of the mini-portfolio should really depend on the portfolio's purpose, functionality and the portfolio's design. It seemed like the mini-portfolios that were 7 1/2 x 8" or larger were a good size for these, with the larger ones being much more suitable for displaying both news and print designs and for including a resume. The most compelling and readable mini-portfolios of the group seemed to be ones that were designed with a clever and sophisticated style that showcased the designer's strength – those designers that clearly excelled with illustrations, for example, had an illustrated personal logo design on their cover. Some designers chose to add minimal design elements to their portfolio package to emphasize their portfolio's contents, rather than deterring from their work with a detailed portfolio design. I'm having a difficult time deciding where the draw the line between the two, but I think that decision will come with playing with both ideas as I begin designing the portfolio. I do, however, know that I would like create a compelling cover design for the portfolio and then use smaller, more minimal design elements within the portfolio to create a cohesive package design.
Although so many aspects of my mini-portfolio and its design are yet to be determined, I do know that I would like to create one that shows my versatility and dynamic skill sets. I think it's important that the portfolio shows employers my strength in creating a strong visual package, but one that's also functional and flexible. This will be quite an undertaking, but I'm incredibly eager to get going on it all.
Critique: Shindig does studio shots!
Over the past week, the Shindig design team – Nicole, Haleigh and I – completed our studio shoots for our magazine prototype. After scouring the internet for photos to use for various department designs, it became clear that in order to have the type of art we wanted, and in the Shindig style we were searching for, we'd have to take measures into our own hands and take to the camera.
We had quite a list of different set-ups and props that needed to be shot, so we began at my mom's home here in Columbia, where her pantry, basement and background became our top source for much of the Shindig-y items we were seeking to include in our various shoots. Lucky for us, Haleigh's part-time job has a mini photo studio, so additional photos were taken in a real photo shoot setting – complete with a clean white screen background and fancy flash lights. Here are some of our favorites...
 |
| Table setting for the "Centerpiece showdown" department page. (Psst: those "cocktails" are actually made of purely grapefruit juice.) |
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| Vintage floral arrangement for "Centerpiece showdown" department page. |
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| My mom in her backyard for the "Kiddie chow" department page. |
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| Candles on a cake stand for the "Centerpiece showdown" department page. |
I feel like overall the shoots were incredibly successful at capturing exactly what we had in mind, and with the Shindig vibe we were going for. However, finding just the right products to suit the magazine, and that are ones you're actually able to obtain for a photo shoot, proved to be just as difficult as we anticipated. Conceptualizing the idea for a studio shot is one thing, but actually making that concept something you can actually execute is another.
A word of advice to anyone attempting a photo shoot in the near future: be flexible; learn to work with what you've got, and work out multiple options to choose from. There were several times throughout each studio shoot where the designers and I felt like our initial plan or concept just wasn't going to work out, so we were forced to go back to the drawing board. In doing so, we found ways to simplify our initial, more complex studio shot concepts and dial them back into something more reasonable and of course, do-able. I think once we were able to get beyond the initial concept and see what was workable, we were able to come up with some very successful photographs for the magazine – the photo shoot with my mom is a great example of this. Another word of advice for future studio shooters is to provide options. Even after we thought we had gotten the shot, the Shindig designers and I made sure to keep shooting (when we remembered to do so), just to be sure we didn't miss a better angle to shoot from, get a chance to fix any missed camera mishaps or get plenty of horizontal and vertical shots that are usable – it's difficult to predict what type of photograph you'll need for the spread design, so give yourself plenty of flexibility.
So, what do you all think? Thoughts on how these particular shots turned out? Be sure to look out for these and more studio shots in the final print version of Shindig!
You Can't Miss: Rachael Ray's magazine gets a makeover!
 |
| Everyday with Rachael Ray cover, May 2011 |
Check it out! Everyday with Rachael Ray's re-design debuted in the magazine's May 2011 issue. Now, I have to admit, having not been a reader of the magazine prior to the magazine's re-design, I was pretty impressed overall with the fresher, more contemporary look to the magazine. With the addition of fresher fonts, textured pages and a new logo, this magazine (surprisingly) has become a new reference for design inspiration for me. See more of mediabistro.com's take on the re-design here.
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| Every Day with Rachael Ray department page, May 2011 |
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
You Can't Miss: Obama switches to serif & inspiring typography from Imprint
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| Photo courtesy of Imprint |
Check it out: Obama's making the move to a serif font. What do we think the motivation is here? See Imprint's blog post here.
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| Photo courtesy of Imprint |
And finally, in honor of our typography graffiti assignment, here's some inspirational typography art from Imprint. See the full blog post here.
Critique: Shindig prototype progress -- she's growing up!
Since being appointed Creative Director and presenting our beginning designs of the prototype to the capstone and faculty, Shindig has really begun to take shape. I spent much of my break taking critiques from both students and faculty, and really took the time to look at ways to better show the Shindig personality I was wanting to achieve in the overall design. I also noticed the need for breathing room and full-bleed photos in the magazine, so these added introduction pages for departments not only allow for that, but give an opportunity to add photos of people.
Because of the lower resolution of the wood/other textures I had wanted to include in departments, I've taken them out – it just would really look awful if those were even slightly pixelated because they run so large, but after taking it out and working on finding other ways to show the . But after really great feedback from Thursday's presentation, I've updated the templates and streamlined them, and I think you'll be happy with them. Let me know what you all think of the changes! I think they've transferring really nicely onto each department page design. I'm looking forward to see how this prototype shapes up with these new template items.
Because of the lower resolution of the wood/other textures I had wanted to include in departments, I've taken them out – it just would really look awful if those were even slightly pixelated because they run so large, but after taking it out and working on finding other ways to show the . But after really great feedback from Thursday's presentation, I've updated the templates and streamlined them, and I think you'll be happy with them. Let me know what you all think of the changes! I think they've transferring really nicely onto each department page design. I'm looking forward to see how this prototype shapes up with these new template items.
Response: Photo a Day Assignment
It was certainly a not-so-inspiring last Spring Break of college (it was spent it Columbia working on the magazine prototype project), so our capstone's assignment to take a photo a day during our break for inspriation provided an especially interesting challenge. Here are a few of my favorites from the week...
**Unfortunately, my photo card reader broke this week, so I don't have a way to get photos off of my CF card, so as soon as I get a new one, I'll post those photos. Stay tuned.
And here is my final graffiti assignment. Each letter was taken from signs in downtown Columbia.
**Unfortunately, my photo card reader broke this week, so I don't have a way to get photos off of my CF card, so as soon as I get a new one, I'll post those photos. Stay tuned.
And here is my final graffiti assignment. Each letter was taken from signs in downtown Columbia.
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