I found this which may help with my dissertation.
http://www.mimeartist.com/helvetica/
Monday, 24 November 2008
Research & Inspiration: Roman Jaster
From California and teaching at University, this Roman Jaster guy knows how to manipulate white space, grids and challenge traditional/ fundamental beliefs to do with typography. I like the way he utilises the media and print quality. His layouts are unconventional and challenge the eye yet are aesthetically pleasing to look at. Huge canvases with small, strong and constructed bodies of text. Great stuff!
Research & Inspiration: Round.com.au
Round.com.au
The difficulties caused by flash websites for blog posts is a nightmare. So, yeh, there is a piece under their "work" section for the Kids Culture Trust, a map of melbourne. Aside form it being a beautiful piece of printed info graphics, it displays the road where I use to go to school when I lived in Australia. Infact it is the exact road, "Toorak" school, on "Toorak Road".... aaah, good times.
The difficulties caused by flash websites for blog posts is a nightmare. So, yeh, there is a piece under their "work" section for the Kids Culture Trust, a map of melbourne. Aside form it being a beautiful piece of printed info graphics, it displays the road where I use to go to school when I lived in Australia. Infact it is the exact road, "Toorak" school, on "Toorak Road".... aaah, good times.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Research & Inspiration: Karl Gerstner
One of the pioneers of Swiss graphics. Bloody marvellous.
I know I'm digging back into the past and should be looking at whats going on know, but you can't ignore a piece of timeless graphic design like this book named "Schiff nach Europa" (Boat to Europe), which Gerstner designed. Living within the grid. So powerful.
I know I'm digging back into the past and should be looking at whats going on know, but you can't ignore a piece of timeless graphic design like this book named "Schiff nach Europa" (Boat to Europe), which Gerstner designed. Living within the grid. So powerful.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Assembled: Black Dots
Today I gave out my forms to be filled in to dow ith people's profiles for the website. Seeing as I am only proposing the idea on boards for submission, I essentially only have to display a handful of multi disciplined people on the course.
From that, there will be photographs for the profiles will be as such!...
These are of our fellow course mates interacting with some black spots which relate to the course logo of Assembled, which just assembled written on a black dot.
I have about 10 people so far, hopefully netting the rest of them tomorrow, those who do not get a photograph will be given just the blank ones of just the dots arranged randomly.
I'll keep you posted on how it goes.
From that, there will be photographs for the profiles will be as such!...
These are of our fellow course mates interacting with some black spots which relate to the course logo of Assembled, which just assembled written on a black dot.
I have about 10 people so far, hopefully netting the rest of them tomorrow, those who do not get a photograph will be given just the blank ones of just the dots arranged randomly.
I'll keep you posted on how it goes.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Assembled: Name
Thats the name of the website for the hub, the reason for this is because connotes collectiveness, readiness and ability to do something spectacular... i think.
Another idea was Leeds College of Art and Design Graphic Design Collective, or LCADGDC... bit long winded.
or LCAD Hub.
or the Hive (resident evil... and we're not poisonous anaphylactic shock causing bees)
i think, assembled is pretty cool, it looks good, memorable and nice to work with.
Another idea was Leeds College of Art and Design Graphic Design Collective, or LCADGDC... bit long winded.
or LCAD Hub.
or the Hive (resident evil... and we're not poisonous anaphylactic shock causing bees)
i think, assembled is pretty cool, it looks good, memorable and nice to work with.
Assembled Research: Central St Martins
My original inspiration for the website came from this website, I stumbled upon it some point last year and thought it would be a good idea if our course had something similar which operated differently. The purpose for their site is showcasing the work from students final exhibitions, or portfolio's. It's laid out in a very simple manner, although not as clean as I would have it but there are no technical gadgets or operating scripts on the site meaning everything loads mega fast, thanks to the almighty broadband!
I like how they allow the students to design their own pages, however some of them are witty and interesting in layout/content, some are just boring and careless.
I like how they allow the students to design their own pages, however some of them are witty and interesting in layout/content, some are just boring and careless.
Assembled website Research: Leeds Met
http://www.lmu.ac.uk/as/cagd/
They have some work showcasing on their website like a blog... not sure on the relevance but the work didn't stick in my mind for the right reasons. Think we're marginally better... but how big is a margin? : )
They have some work showcasing on their website like a blog... not sure on the relevance but the work didn't stick in my mind for the right reasons. Think we're marginally better... but how big is a margin? : )
Monday, 17 November 2008
Assembled: Website Research
Been doing some research into websites, mainly those which show design work whether it be their own agencies or other peoples, like a showcase/ hub. I thought I'd elaborate on some of the research I stumbled across and to note down some key points I noticed which bugged me about some of them, or perhaps some things which make these sort of websites unattractive.
Where is the menu bar?: I want to know where the menu bar is immediately, literally within half a second of looking on the screen. I don't want to have to run my cursor over a blob to reveal a menu in 6 pt script type. Make the task of the audience easy!
Pixelled images: This regards to a lot of the flash sites that I saw, and some of the CSS/ HTML built ones. It really puts the viewer off when images are all scruffy and painful to look at. If you're going to make them pixelated, make them REALLY pixellated so it looks like its done on purpose... if you've done it on purpose.
Poor Navigation: As I said before, its realy annoying not being able to locate the navigation bar enough as it is, so when I get there is it really any better than its difficult to use? Mouse over areas which are about 2 pixels squared over a large word so you have to literally find that tiny hot spot. Why???
Colours: Why use such horrible colours? And even more so, why use so many of them in one space? It's as if colours have just been invented and you've gone trigger happy with them. Don't. Be clever and considerate with them, my eyes are sensitive. The best sites stuck to either black on white or white on black, its traditional and boring yes, but you don't buy books with red on green pages do you?
Too much on one page: The beauty of a website is that it is on-screen based, you can essentially spread information out on a screen. So please, don't put everything on one page, graphic design websites that do this look really unprofessional and undisciplined. Unless the information you're displaying is really relevant such as the BBC, or YCN for example, there is no need to do so.
Negative Space: Is powerful, every Graphic Designer should know the power of negative space. Its relevant in print, so why not use it in such beautiful ways on-screen?
Flashing image: Are you trying to make me noxious? Get my attention if its relevant, don't just have flashing nu-rave jargon on your site because its "cool" or "contemporary".
What are you?: State, what your company or what this website is about on the first page so people know vaguely if not exactly what you're about. "Graphic Design Agency", "Creative network" or "Top Class Angling Tips".
Body text larger than Headings/ Menu titles: Sounds stupid doesn't it?
Animated text: Why would you use text like this, its like making me read at a pace you've decided on. Unless its for a purpose, don't do it. Its a poor and annoying aesthetic quality. Everybody hates a slow driver.
Gradient backgrounds: This is just a personal dislike of mine, I think it can be very nice, but when used on some of the websites that I found, it really bugged me. Gradients show weight, light to dark, separating sections on gradients is difficult, especially when dealing with text and can easily be done badly.
Look like what you're suppose to be Some of the agencies/ websites looked like they could've been mistaken for medical, dentistry or even estate agents. It makes no sense. Apparently Adrian Shaughnessy explained that the reason for some Graphic Designers looking so horrible is because they're designing for their clients, who rather not see the aesthetic nonsense of Graphic Design websites. Perhaps that is true to some extent but surely there is a healthy medium between the two worlds? Its not like designers read a different language to clients.
So here are some of the culprits I found (There are a lot more, I could go on forever)...
Discript.com
9thplanetdesign.co.uk
Edition.co.uk
Firedog-design.co.uk
Nha.co.uk
Liquid.co.uk
Typetechnique.co.uk
Sherrydesign.co.uk
(Sorry....)
Oh, and these are some pretty good websites I found.
theChurchOfLondon.com
nbstudio.co.uk
studiojuice.com
400.co.uk
Deletelondon
bostockandpollitt.com
iamhuman.co.uk/
Where is the menu bar?: I want to know where the menu bar is immediately, literally within half a second of looking on the screen. I don't want to have to run my cursor over a blob to reveal a menu in 6 pt script type. Make the task of the audience easy!
Pixelled images: This regards to a lot of the flash sites that I saw, and some of the CSS/ HTML built ones. It really puts the viewer off when images are all scruffy and painful to look at. If you're going to make them pixelated, make them REALLY pixellated so it looks like its done on purpose... if you've done it on purpose.
Poor Navigation: As I said before, its realy annoying not being able to locate the navigation bar enough as it is, so when I get there is it really any better than its difficult to use? Mouse over areas which are about 2 pixels squared over a large word so you have to literally find that tiny hot spot. Why???
Colours: Why use such horrible colours? And even more so, why use so many of them in one space? It's as if colours have just been invented and you've gone trigger happy with them. Don't. Be clever and considerate with them, my eyes are sensitive. The best sites stuck to either black on white or white on black, its traditional and boring yes, but you don't buy books with red on green pages do you?
Too much on one page: The beauty of a website is that it is on-screen based, you can essentially spread information out on a screen. So please, don't put everything on one page, graphic design websites that do this look really unprofessional and undisciplined. Unless the information you're displaying is really relevant such as the BBC, or YCN for example, there is no need to do so.
Negative Space: Is powerful, every Graphic Designer should know the power of negative space. Its relevant in print, so why not use it in such beautiful ways on-screen?
Flashing image: Are you trying to make me noxious? Get my attention if its relevant, don't just have flashing nu-rave jargon on your site because its "cool" or "contemporary".
What are you?: State, what your company or what this website is about on the first page so people know vaguely if not exactly what you're about. "Graphic Design Agency", "Creative network" or "Top Class Angling Tips".
Body text larger than Headings/ Menu titles: Sounds stupid doesn't it?
Animated text: Why would you use text like this, its like making me read at a pace you've decided on. Unless its for a purpose, don't do it. Its a poor and annoying aesthetic quality. Everybody hates a slow driver.
Gradient backgrounds: This is just a personal dislike of mine, I think it can be very nice, but when used on some of the websites that I found, it really bugged me. Gradients show weight, light to dark, separating sections on gradients is difficult, especially when dealing with text and can easily be done badly.
Look like what you're suppose to be Some of the agencies/ websites looked like they could've been mistaken for medical, dentistry or even estate agents. It makes no sense. Apparently Adrian Shaughnessy explained that the reason for some Graphic Designers looking so horrible is because they're designing for their clients, who rather not see the aesthetic nonsense of Graphic Design websites. Perhaps that is true to some extent but surely there is a healthy medium between the two worlds? Its not like designers read a different language to clients.
So here are some of the culprits I found (There are a lot more, I could go on forever)...
Discript.com
9thplanetdesign.co.uk
Edition.co.uk
Firedog-design.co.uk
Nha.co.uk
Liquid.co.uk
Typetechnique.co.uk
Sherrydesign.co.uk
(Sorry....)
Oh, and these are some pretty good websites I found.
theChurchOfLondon.com
nbstudio.co.uk
studiojuice.com
400.co.uk
Deletelondon
bostockandpollitt.com
iamhuman.co.uk/
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