Processing

Developing Skills 

Using processing I created to three shapes and coded them so that they created a simple image of house. I then duplicated the image and placed them on top of each other on a continuous loop, this added with placing the images on a rotation allow me to create the below graphic designs. 

After this had been done, I added a rectangle to the image. This rectangle is not visible throughout the image however I was using it in the same way that an example I had seen was using it, which was to create a blur effect on the images so that instead of staying there on the canvas they immediately start to fade away. 

Design Iterations - Poster Brief

Independent Dorset Poster

Today we placed our posters in Weymouth House. As mentioned in a previous post we had observed the movements of the people within the area. We had decided that the best place that we could place the poster would be on the pillar on the Costa counter. This is because we felt that out of the entire space this would be the place that would garner the most potential and actual views. This is because when we observed the area the queue that lead up to the place where we wanted to place the poster had people who were generally facing forward and would notice the poster, and the queue at no point stopped, therefore there would be a steady stream of people that would possibly see the poster. However one thing that we had not anticipated was the other people in our group wanting to place the poster in the same place. This meant that when it came to use placing the poster up the place that we had decided as a first choice was taken. This meant that we had to place the posters in another positions. 

The above picture shows where we placed the first of our posters. We had placed the poster on a pillar that was directly facing a set of well used doors. This turned out to be quite a successful place to position our poster because due to the fact that when you exited the doors the peoples eye line was directed straight towards the poster, therefore the poster received a lot of glances. However one thing that we had noticed was that if there was more that 2 or 3 people then none of them would look at the poster, it seemed as if when they were in a group that the people where not concerned with their surroundings and therefore did not really pay any attention towards the poster. 

The above picture shows where we placed the second of our posters. We had placed on the main door, with our reasoning begin that it should get a lot of attention as it will get a large amount of traffic. However this turned out not to be a great place to position our poster. This was due to the fact that like with the pillar if there was a large group of people then no one really payed any attention to the poster. We also had another problem, with that fact that as we had placed the poster on a moving surfaced that when people tried to start reading then the poster would move and they would lose interest in trying to see what information was on the poster. The final problem that we encounter with this position was that because the poster could move there was a case that for large amounts of time, while people were using the doors the poster was out of view. 

Out of the two places that we had positioned the posters the best place was pillar. This was because the poster was not obscured by anything and was direct in the peoples eye line, which meant that matching that with the design of the poster which was eye catching it generated a substantial amount of views. 

Design Iterations - Poster Brief

Poster Decision + Area Research 

Today we presented our two poster designs to the group to gain some feedback on areas that we could improve and what design they actually preferred. We received mostly positive feedback on the posters with people stating that it was clear and straight to the point, which is what we wanted it to be. Other feed back that we received was that the text at the top of the poster could do with begin made slightly bigger, this was due to the fact that people at the back of the room was struggling to read the text. Finally from the feedback that we received, we have decided to use the blue poster. This is due to people saying that they preferred the colour of the blue one and the words that was used on it, was more catchy and memorable. They also said that the imagery that was used on the blue poster matched the words that was being used which made it better than the green one. 

Chosen poster 

Along with receiving feedback on our poster we also conducted some research of the area that we would be placing the poster, to see where would be the best place that we could put it. From observing the area for a while we have found some things. One thing that we have found that people that are sat at the tables in the area are not looking at there surroundings, they are either socialising with friends, eating or drinking and not paying attention or they are on some sort of device. Because of this we feel we not target the people that are siting at the tables because unless we can print of many posters and place them on the tables it is unlikely that they would notice it. An area that we had found that could be of great use in terms of getting our posters seen is on a pillar on the counter of Costa. This is because we observed that people that are in the line are generally looking forward and therefore they would glance at the poster, and once they reach the counter they would notice the poster anyway. We feel that this would be a good place because one it would people in the line would notice it and secondly it would get a new people looking constantly because what we noticed is that the line really never ended, there was someone always waiting to be served. This means that the amount of people that there would be a chance of seeing the poster would be increased. 

From our observations of the area we feel that that the pillar on the stand of Costa would be the best place, however there are other areas that would be appropriate such as the pillar in front of the main doors, as people leaving it would notice it as it is straight in there eye line the moment that they step out of the doors. 

While observing the area we also picked up on something else in terms of the behaviour of the people. This was that as it approached near the hour (when the lectures start) people moved through the space slightly quicker and were more focused, where as in the middle of the hour people were in less of a rush and seemed to notice there surrounding more. Along with this we also found that people that were in large groups were almost oblivious to there surroundings and more concerned their group.

Design Iterations - Poster Brief

Independent Poster Design 

After receiving some feedback on our original ideas for the independent Dorset we decided to scrap the idea of having a puzzle themed idea. We felt that this idea would not really scream to the person that this poster is about an independent Dorset because it would be to dependent on the graphics. 

Through some further research and brainstorming we decided that we would go on a simple colourful design that did essentially scream that the poster was about an independent Dorset. We felt that this would be a good idea because we felt a poster that was colourful and had large text on it would grab the attention of the passers by in Weymouth House and very quickly get the message across. Below are the two posters that we have created. 

We feel that these two posters do meet the brief because they very concisely get the message across that this about an independent Dorset. We also incorporated some landmarks from Dorset such as the Bill Tower and Durdle Door, as we felt that this made it more personal to Dorset people and make them pay more attention to it as it is something that they would recognise. We also used a hashtag to make it seem as this was a real movement and due to the fact that most campaigns do have a hashtag to allow people who are interested to find there movement easier. 

As the brief only asked for one poster we are going to wait for feedback to one see if there is any changes that need to be made and secondly what version is the most preferred.  

Design Iterations - Poster Brief

Independent Dorset Brief - Initial Ideas 

As mentioned in the earlier blog post, today we were set the mini brief of creating a poster promoting an independent dorset which would be placed in Weymouth house, therefore me and the other members of my group (Aaron Baker: http://abaker.co/blog/ Daniel Burden: http://dan-burden.blogspot.co.uk/) brainstormed some ideas which we could use for our poster idea. 

In our brainstorm we first looked at what could set us apart from the rest of the UK, which lead us to thinking we could implement something about Dorset's natural beauty and that the possibly the UK is ruining the beauty of the UK. We felt that this could be quite a good idea to go on because we could use images of some iconic Dorset landmarks such as Durdle door. Another idea that we thought we could go on is the using iconic imagery of Dorset people, like what some of the Scottish independence posters had used. However apart from the stereotype that the dorset is fall of older people we could not find any iconic imagery such as the the Scottish kilt and ginger hair. We then though about going down the route of using famous people that had hailed from bournemouth and although we had thought that this could had possibly been a good idea, we felt that just because we a picture of a famous person that nothing about it would scream an independent Dorset. 

Scottish independence poster, playing on stereotypes and "Braveheart"

After some more research and brainstorming we decided to go on the line that Dorset was sort of an odd piece out, a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. We felt that we could draw upon the counties beauty and over exaggerate the "greyness" of the UK to make people want to be independent. However when we pitched the idea we received mixed reviews with the most notable begin that it doesn't say make Dorset independent, it says Dorset is nicer than the UK. 

With this feedback me and the other members of the group will do some more research and create a poster that does say an independent Dorset. 

Design Iterations - Poster Brief

Independent Dorset Brief 

Today I was given my first brief of this design iterations unit. This brief is to create a poster which creates awareness of campaign that Dorset should be an independent country which will be places in Weymouth house. For this brief we were placed into small groups of our choosing. 

This brief I believe was set for a number of reasons, one is that it is attempting to make us think about the entire design process. By this I mean it is making us start questioning our own assumptions about who are audience is and how they react. So this means that we are going to have to conduct research into who are audience is and how they do behave. This brief is also going to test us because all of last year we were creating designs that we wanted to make, or in the words of our lecturer "designing for yourselves", when in reality most of the things that we are going to be designing in our careers is going to be other peoples tastes and not ours. Therefore we are going to have to adapt our designs to not what we want them to look like but to how the audience reacts to them. 

Design Iterations

Introduction to design iterations 

As I start level I at university one of the first units that we are completing is called "design iterations". In this unit we will be looking at the actual process of designing something from, the bare bones of receiving a brief to the implementation of your solution. Within this unit we will be introduced to many ways of working such as the very business focused "waterfall" method which shows the development stages of design with absolutely no interaction with the client. Along with that we will also be introduced to the more designer focused "whirlpool" method which allows much more interaction with the client and more room to reassess and modify aspects of your design. As designer I would much rather work in the "whirlpool" method as it allows me as designer to gain feedback so that I can create a solution what the client was wanting, however the fact is I will have to learn how to work in the waterfall method as businesses want products made as quickly as possible. 

"Whirlpool" method

"Waterfall" method 

Once the basic layout of this unit was discussed the other aspects of the unit was covered. Within this unit we will be creating an interactive infographic that will be displayed on the screens in Weymouth house. A main point which I have taken from the talk is that this unit and the one that follows has been designed with the intention to give us the skills and the knowledge to work as professional designers.