You should be familiar with what the profession demands:
• Defined Design Parameters
• Innovative Concepts
• Engaging the Audience
• Empowering Content
• Excellent Typography
• Revealing Imagery
• Meaningful Messaging
• Impeccable Design
Graphic design is not just about creating a design with software...
it is about how well the design functions— how well it solves the visual communication problem.
Good design is always the result of a creative, but structured design methodology, and a well-documented process.
Class Expectations
You should also be familiar with what this design class, and all design classes, demand. If you meet those demands, you will be rewarded with a good grade. More importantly, you will become a successful designer.
However, you will not get a good grade in this class, nor will you learn to design, if you merely “chase the professor.” If you want to chase something, chase the design problem.
The criteria that defines all design problems is the criteria by which your class projects will be graded—the design solution is always found within the design problem itself (not in the design professor).
• Be on Time
• Do the Work
• Define the Design Problem
• Conceptualize, Discover and Evolve the Design Solution
• Review and Critique Your Work as you Do It
• Document Your Process
• Do as many Iterations as the Project Allows
• Be Engaged and Participate in the Class
• Be Earnest and Design at Your Highest Threshold
Design Methodology
An innovative design process usually includes variations and manifestations of the following phases:
• Project Parameters
- Project Planning, Creative Brief
• Contextual and Visual Research
- Word Lists, Image Boards, Personas, Brain Dumps
• Concept Development
- Concept Sketches
- Review & Critique
• Explorations of Form
- Design Roughs
- Review & Critique
• Refinement of Form & Content
- Design Comps & Mockups
- Review & Critique
• Final Production & Fabrication
- Review
• Dissemination
The more Design Iterations you can Do and Review, the higher the probability the Design will be Successful!
Design Critiques
When we critique a design, we are not critiquing the designer. We are critiquing how well the design solution solves the design problem.
We evaluate the success of the design within the context of the design problem—aware of the sender, the audience, the message, and the communication objective.
We critique designs from the following points-of-view:
• Design Context & Parameters
• Concept & Idea
• Meaning & Form
• Execution & Craft
