Tag: IDT507

 

 

 

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The material that was covered throughout this course has been meaningful to me in a variety of different ways. Historically, I have had the opportunity to trace the origins of communication from its earliest forms, such as smoke signals and talking drums, to the more advanced forms that can be seen in radio, television, computer interfaces and smartphone technology. Sociologically, I have examined the social impact that these forms of communication have had on society, and how they have changed the lives of the people who have used them. Theoretically, I have studied both affordance theory and uses and gratifications theory and related these concepts to the many different periods covered throughout the semester. And finally, as a designer, I have had the opportunity to present my findings in a way that has allowed me to express myself visually, grow as an artist, and expand my skill set by using the technology, applications and tools that are prevalent in today’s professional graphic design world.

Throughout the semester, each project has evolved as I became more familiar with the course material and what was needed in order to meet the needs for each module. I had initially planned for a few different areas of focus in this course. My main focus was to create infographic designs using the Adobe Creative Suite, while building my technical and design skills in Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator. In addition to this, I wanted to establish a WordPress blog site that would host all of my work and writings in the course. WordPress is a content management system that I have had some previous experience with, but I have felt a need to learn to use more of the features that it offers and become more comfortable with the interface and blogging aspects of the platform. I first thought of using social media to host my design work, but decided that the artwork was too big, mainly text based and very detailed to be accurately viewed on a social media site such as instagram or twitter. Because of this, a WordPress site was established where a full PDF of each project could be viewed and downloaded by any visitor.

Each project has focused on a different audience, and used a variety of software and design techniques to allow me to grow as both an information designer, and graphic designer. I also wanted each design to be completely different from each other, so that I could expand my design skills and visual style into different areas and for different audiences. The following will discuss each module and the tools and techniques used in order to fulfill the goals that I sent out to achieve in the beginning of the semester.

Module 2 – Pre-telegraphic Infographic & WordPress site

https://cbell.design.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cbell-final-mod2-info.pdf

In this first piece that was created for the course, I intended to use two major design programs (Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator) to create an infographic that appealed to a younger, school aged audience. In this design, I began focusing on advanced masking techniques in Photoshop to cut out images from their backgrounds. I also used a Wacom tablet and Adobe Illustrator to create black and white line art around the photography. The final layout was then created by importing each of the Photoshop elements into Adobe Illustrator.

Module 3 – Electronics Infographic & WordPress site

https://cbell.design.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/final-module3-cbell2.pdf

For the second project, I wanted to focus most of my work in Adobe Illustrator. All of the graphic artwork and text layout was drawn and/or layed out in Illustrator. I had planned to give this design more of a quirky, retro feel, but I feel that did not come across as successfully as I had intended. The use of vintage looking fonts and artwork was beneficial in establishing this retro look. I feel that a new, more muted color scheme and additional filters may help to give this design even more of a weathered, retro feel. This design was a wonderful experience in using Illustrator as a layout platform for the entire design.

Module 4 – Computing Infographic & WordPress site

https://cbell.design.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/mod-4-cbell.pdf

The third project was designed in a more contemporary and modern fashion, to reflect the subject matter that it is representing. I chose a modern, clean layout that uses san-serif fonts to present the design. The graphics were manipulated in Illustrator, and the layout was constructed by importing the text and graphics into Adobe Indesign. This was especially challenging in covering all the material, yet keeping the poster legible and pleasing to the eye.

Module 5 – 21st Century Information Technology Infographic & WordPress site

https://cbell.design.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mod5_cbell_final_12218.pdf

As I became more familiar with the material in the course, some of my earlier design goals did not seem as applicable to what I wanted to convey with the course information. In this project, I had planned to do a more abstract and artistic design, but in the end I felt that would not work well with the subject matter. Instead, I decided to design a modern design with a playful feel, and something that would look professional and not out of place in the current design world. In this design, I exclusively used Photoshop for all of the elements of the layout and design. Masking techniques were used to cutout the small child and smartphone, and layering was used to create shadows and reflections to give the small child on the laptop a more natural and realistic look. The background design was cloned to create a natural looking wall that is blank from just beyond the children from the left to the right.

Summary

 

www.charliebelldesign.com      cbelldesign.blog

Overall, I feel that my skill set has increased greatly. I have accomplished my two major goals by becoming more familiar with the features WordPress, and by exploring the tools and techniques of the Adobe Creative Suite programs. With WordPress, I have established a blog, learned how to use more of the features of these capabilities, and have become more comfortable with the navigation and interface. I have uploaded artwork, screenshots and downloadable PDF files, and I have established a “brand presence” by using my logo design, color scheme and font choices to customize the look of the newly created blog (cbell.design.blog), in order to match with my personal website design (www.charliebelldesign.com). This was an intentional choice, and I feel that these actions have created a more cohesive and consistent look to my online work and digital presence. In addition to this, I have progressed in my technical skills in the Adobe Creative Suite by gaining significant design experience, and becoming more familiar with the many tools and techniques of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Indesign. I feel that the most valuable experience in this course has allowed for me to progress my skills by extensively using Adobe Photoshop for masking techniques and transparency effects in many of my projects this semester.

Throughout this course, the material has consistently focused on both communications and technology. From the earliest forms that used smoke signals or drum sounds to convey a simple message, to the more advanced forms that use the printing press, radio waves or computer code, each medium that has been discussed, no matter how simple or complex, has been fundamentally about communication and conveying a message between two or more people. We can also see that with each shift in technology, the tasks become more efficient, can broadly reach more people, and increasingly feature more options for creativity and self expression.

In addition to this, we can see examples of remediation, where the new tools of technology are continually updating the older forms. Cuneiform became written word and established an alphabet, the printing press took the text based written word and established mass forms of communication in newsprint, books and flyers. The internet now takes these forms further by allowing for open communications, collaboration and widespread sharing of text, pictures and video to all who have access.  In our text, Bolter and Grusin discuss the idea of remediation as “a way in which one medium is seen by our culture as reforming or improving upon another”. (Bolter & Grusin, p. 59) Ultimately, I feel that this idea of remediation theory discusses the fact that the content of our communications remains the same, but is wrapped in new “packages” providing us with new ways/mediums to convey the age old content of our communications, (data, words, text, pictures, photography, drawings, film/video, and animations) by re-purposing these communications in exciting and often more efficient ways. Packaged in new technologies that can reach more people, more quickly and more efficiently. We can see these trends in each project, and the many examples that have been provided.

We may be limited by the technology we use, but we also have greater possibilities with each new step that technology has been taken. Affordance theory provides us with the idea that technology is a tool and it affords its users with new opportunities for communication, learning, self expression, business and sharing. These affordances allow us to complete our tasks in new ways, and to complete actions that were not possible before. They have forever changed the lives of their users and will continue to do so into the future.

 

Sources:

Bolter, J. D., & Grusin, R. (2002). Remediation: Understanding new media. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Link: My final design (Downloadable PDF) for Module 5: Mod5_CBELL_Final_12218

MEMO:

To: Professor Lizardi & IDT 507 Class

From: Charles Bell

Date: 12/2/2018

Re: Module 5: 21^st Century Information Technology

I intended to relate this project to some of my personal and professional experiences as a production artist and graphic designer, and also as a user of digital applications and social media. In the following memo, I will discuss the experience and the process that I took, as I created this design.

Audience:

I wanted to try and give this design a fun, creative look, but also something that was professional, and more slick than some of the other projects that I have done this semester. The audience that I was aiming for was made up of creatives, graphic designers, undergraduate college students, and anyone who would be interested in social media, graphic design and technology.

Message:

The message that I am trying to convey concerns the use of applications, smartphones and digital cameras for visual communications, and how they have had a profound effect on society. I wanted to discuss how these tools have positively enabled society with an easy way to communicate visually, but not always in a way that is based in graphic design principles or following the technical rules of the graphic design and print industry.

Platform:

For this project, I decided that I would create my entire design using just Adobe Photoshop. This is not something that I usually do, and thought it would be beneficial for me to limit myself to just one program and use as many features of that program to build my design.

Design Considerations:

My focus for this design was to work on my masking skills within Photoshop. For this design, I cut out the cellphone picture and the child using the laptop. I also added in a shadow for the girl on the laptop, in order to make it look similar and consistent to the shadow of the girl who is standing up. This was excellent practice for asking in Photoshop, and something I wish to get better at in the future. I also decided to use a more horizontally based document size for this project, as opposed to the more vertical layouts that I have used on my projects that were done earlier in the semester. Finally, I wanted to include some handwritten font styles into the design, in order to keep the feel consistent between the youthful photography and the text.

Design Challenges:

One of the biggest challenges of this design was to keep the text legible and easy to ready. I wanted to have some large focal points to break up the text, and it became difficult to fit all of the writing in with the imagery. I was able to break up the text in smaller sized chunks and at a size which is not too small for a poster (18 points).

In summary,

I have enjoyed this project and seeing how it relates to the earlier material and theory that we have covered in class. The Adobe Photoshop skills that I have used will help me in the future, and any chance that I have to refine my skills in this area is a positive experience for me.

Link: My final design (Downloadable PDF) for Module 4:Mod 4 CBELL

MEMO:

To: Professor Lizardi & IDT 507 Class

From: Charles Bell

Date: 11/3/2018

Re: Module 4: Computing Project

For this module, I decided to tackle the topic of Interface design, and how it has affected the everyday life of most computer users. In this memo, I will discuss my experiences in creating the design for module four, and how I arrived at a final design.

Audience:

My goal is to reach the everyday users of the technology that I am discussing in my infographic. This demographic is broad, and could range anywhere from teenagers to older adults or anyone who is interested in how technology has affected their lives. I intended to touch upon the household user, the computer gamer, and also the users in the worlds of business and graphic design.

Message:

For each example, I have intended to describe a short history of some of the major interfaces that have been adopted for use by the public. Overall, I intend to create a message that illustrates the wide variety of interfaces available, and how they have affected the lives of their users. Additionally, I describe the concept of web 1.0 and web 2.0 and how this transition has met the needs of the users, and created an new atmosphere of sharing, collaboration and participation online.

Platform:

This poster was completed using vector graphics that were manipulated in Adobe Illustrator and the page layout and text elements were constructed in Adobe Indesign. WordPress, a content management system was used as a way to host my writings and artwork online, in an easy to access way, that is available to anyone, and at anytime. Because my intended profession is that of graphic design, it is most important for me to gain further experience designing with the software which I will use the most in my professional life. These platforms are the ones I have chosen to work with, in order to further my skillset.

Design Considerations:

My intention for this design project was to create artwork that has a very modern and contemporary feel and look. The color palette and font choices needed to have a more clean, technological look, one that would be appealing to any age group, or type of person. I chose a sleek and modern looking san-serif font that is easy to read. I also wanted to create a hierarchy with the font family that would create order and consistency in the piece. By dividing the information into bite sized chunks, I intended to hold the interest and attention of the viewer. This is most evident in the upper portion, where each icon points to its related information.

Design Challenges:

I decided to use a larger sized document than in my previous module projects, and to use a larger sized image or icon as a focal point in the poster. This posed some issues with the layout, causing the text to be somewhat smaller than I had anticipated. Overall, I feel the issues I experienced were overcome and, in an artistic way, the focal point works to draw the viewer in, while still having text that is legible and easy to read.

In summary, I feel that this project has a been a very positive experience, and has given me the opportunity to create a design that is modern and engaging. Using the Adobe design software with the WordPress content management system has been very valuable to me, and an experience that I will use to benefit my career in the future. On a purely visual level, I feel the design relates well to the subject matter, and is pleasing to the eye. On an intellectual level, I feel that I have applied the ideas of affordance theory to interface design and the lives of its users in a way that educates and informs and provides concrete examples of how their lives have been changed by the technology that they have encountered.

Link: My final design (Downloadable PDF) for Module 3: Final Module3 CBELL

MEMO:

To: Professor Lizardi & IDT 507 Class

From: Charles Bell

Date: 10/13/2018

Re: Module 3: Electronics Project

The idea for this project progressed rapidly, as I thought of a concept for the artwork based on the material from the readings and research. A few aspects of the design have changed since my original idea for the project. In this memo, I will discuss my experiences in creating the design, and how some of the changes came about.

Audience:

The audience I intend to reach with this infographic is high school students and undergraduate college students. By keeping he information in short, bite sized chunks, I intend to hold their attention while informing them of the subject matter. I feel that the bright colors, creative graphics, retro styled font choices and more modern layout will also appeal to the audience by captivating their attention. Overall, I feel it is appealing enough to attract the attention of the audience and interesting enough to hold their attention beyond their initial inspection.

Message:

The message that I intend to give is an informative one that focuses on the ways media can not only entertain, but also inform and influence its audience. Each example highlights an important medium in the electronic age and provides specific examples in how it was used to entertain, inform and ultimately influence its audience. I have also mentioned iconic programming that many younger readers may or may not have heard of. I hope that this will spark their interest enough for them to investigate the material further, through additional research and viewing. I would also hope for it to inspire a dialog between members of different generations, in order for them to get a better understanding of how it affects other previously and how it can relate to current technologies now.

Platform:

This design was created using Adobe Illustrator for all of the vector graphics, and Adobe Indesign for the page layout and text elements. As an additional element, I have decided to start a WordPress site to host the PDF artwork and memo. I feel that the combination of Adobe products and WordPress skills that I have used in this module will continue to benefit my work in the future, and can only help me as I progress as a designer.

Design Considerations:

I wanted to focus on a more defined topic for this module. In the previous module, I created an overview of several different periods, and in this module I decided to focus more on one particular topic and how it was used through the different types of media in that time. Visually, I wanted to create a design with a more retro feel, and in some ways I feel this is successful. Mainly through the use of retro fonts and graphics.

Design Challenges:

The biggest challenge was fitting the information into bite sized, easily understandable chunks that would look good in the layout that I selected. I also chose a more non-typical size for my layout of 15 x 17 inches, in order to challenge myself to work in a layout size that was less traditional that 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17.

In summary, I feel that the project was successful. I initially wanted to create an even more pronounced retro look to the design. As I worked through the project, I thought the lightning bolts and font choices were enough to create a retro feel, and the use of vector graphics gave it a more modern appeal that would not look out place within the current world of infographics and infographic design. The opportunity to use a content management system to host the project, experiment with the various different software programs, and create graphics that have meaning and real world application to the class is invaluable to me as a designer.

 

Link: My final design (Downloadable PDF) for Module 2: CBELL FINAL MOD2 INFO

MEMO:

To: Professor Lizardi

From: Charles Bell

Date: 9/23/2018

Re: Module 2: Pre-telegraphic Project

As this project progressed, many changes were made to my original plan and proposal. The useful feedback from both my fellow students and professor caused me to rethink some of the considerations that I had made during my original conception of the project. In the following memo, I will discuss my experience, and how these changes affected each specific area of the project below.

Audience:

The audience was initially intended for school aged children as an introduction into the history of communications. After some of the feedback and readings from the course materials, I decided to create a youthful design that would appeal to High School and Undergraduate students. I feel that the subject matter covered, and looks of this design works well to appeal visually to these students and the information is simple enough to be entertaining and interesting without intimidating the viewer.

Message:

The message here conveys the history of some of the major achievements in the pre-telegraphic history of communications. The first two examples are more primitive and simple, while the latter examples are more complex. I wanted to show how the technology allowed the user to use it for more developed and intellectually oriented uses as language and writing developed and the tools for communication became more complex.

Platform:

For this project, I used Illustrator to do the document layout, and Photoshop to prepare the photographs.

I intended to advance my skills in both programs and wanted to combine the rasterized graphics of Photoshop with the vector elements of Illustrator in order to create a new and interesting design that features both elements.

Design Considerations:

One consideration that I had during this project was to avoid covering too many topics or areas, which could cause me to spread myself too thin. I decided to concentrate on particular 4 areas that I thought relevant to my topic. I think in the future I may focus my research on one particular area in the history of communications, rather than four or more.

Design Challenges:

The biggest challenge was setting up a layout that would contain all of the information in a proper size, so that the text wouldn’t be too small to read when printed or used online. I wanted to have large images for an iconic look that would represent each section. This drastically cut down some of the space available to use. Bright color and icons were chosen so that the information would not be too overwhelming or intimidating to the younger viewers. Overall, I have a good amount of experience using both programs, but it is rare that I use Illustrator to do the bulk of my work in, and was interested in using the program as a way to layout an entire document from scratch.

In summary, I feel that this has been a very worthwhile project. It has allowed for me to grow my skillset in both Photoshop and Illustrator, and has given me an opportunity to gain extensive knowledge in the history of pre-telegraphic communications, and how it applies to the theories of affordance and uses and gratifications, that have been covered in class.