Design best practices

Best Practices
in Design
Join in: http://johnwlemasney.wordpress.com
John LeMasney
http://profiles.google.com/lemasney
http://data.tumblr.com/16115820_500.jpg
Agenda
Downloads
Introductions
Emotion
Intention, context &
clarity
Inspiration
Message
Tools
Layout
Color
Fonts
Intellectual Property
Images
Format
Pulling it all together
Critique
http://www.design-police.org/
Downloads
USB key/Not your machine?
Portable GIMP Link
Portable Inkscape Link
Your machine?
GIMP http://www.gimp.org
Inkscape http://www.inkscape.org
Picasa Link
Introductions
What am I about? http://delicious.com/tags/lemasney
Who am I? http://profiles.google.com/lemasney
task: please tell us:
Who are you
Describe your last project and how it was
prompted
envisioned
executed
refined
What do you want to walk away with today?
www.graphic-exchange.com/images/00perso2009/12dec09/designers-rules.jpg
http://22.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kqhy8xlCFK1qzw2n5o1_400.jpg
http://cobblpc.com/images/Feeling%20Wheel.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emotions
Source: http://www.clemengerbbdo.com.
au/
http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/images/design-new/ad-week-02.jpg
http://supermarkethq.com/pictures/0003/1821/FIB_01_full.jpg
http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/gallery/4/2009/01/medium_3193900897_35859cfb48_o.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/OchreJelly/Microscale/StephenHawking/hawkmain.jpg
http://www.etsy.com/shop/chopoli
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/0109des/etc/parakeet.jpg
http://data.tumblr.com/5527214_400.jpg
Intention, context and clarity
Unclear/Clear solutions
Abstract/Concrete solutions
Upsetting/Comforting solutions
Unintentional/Intentional solutions
Variables:
Your viewer's intuition/intelligence
Your viewer's attention/desire
Your viewer's history/diversity
For example:
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~pv/pv/courses/posters/images1/womenfact.html
task: using Google Advanced Image Search, find a good and a
bad example of a poster, ad, or image that might have been an
answer to your perplexing project.
InkBlot Art
Logo Collection
Illustrated Quotes
Spam Art and More Spam Art
Juxtaposition
Card design
http://www.gigposters.com/toplists/posters/week/
Type as art
source: http://eastbywest.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/inspire.gif
http://www.tensographics.com/media2/123412/willworkforfood.jpg
http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6/3e2397c04a67d4750d5952f985df501cfc1c456e_m.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o20vtErjDsA/Sl4cPcGCr9I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/nas-x0Ar9s0/s1600/MUSICALDELIGHTS-sophie-henson.
jpg
http://theworldsbestever.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/tiny-vices-splash.jpg; http://behance.vo.llnwd.
net/profiles3/130785/projects/338835/1307851257157574.jpg; http://th02.deviantart.
net/fs14/300W/f/2007/072/f/3/a_Lighter_Or_a_Spoon___by_GoranDA.jpg; http://friendfeed-media.
Inspiration
real live graphic design, color, photography, technology books Amazon.com
HeathenX http://screencasters.heathenx.org/
http://delicious.com/lemasney/design (design on delicious)
http://vi.sualize.us/popular/poster (delicious for images)
http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/posters/winners.html (love your body poster)
http://images.google.com/hosted/life (life Images collection)
http://www.wordle.net/ (Wordle)
http://spacesick.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-can-read-movies-series.html (book cover manipulation)
http://ffffound.com (related imagery)
http://wellmedicated.com/inspiration/50-incredible-film-posters-from-poland/ (cultural effects on design)
http://sixrevisions.com/resources/30-excellent-resources-for-graphic-design-freebies/ (list of 30 resources)
http://www.gosquared.com/liquidicity/archives/114 (50 ways to become a better designer)
http://designwashere.com/50-excellent-posters-about-design (50 great posters on design)
http://www.thisblogrules.com/2009/11/even-retro-record-covers-can-be-used-to.html (album cover collage)
http://www.christianfaur.com/crayons/TrueColors/image1.html (crayola portraits)
http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2007/july/builds-get-involved-poster-returned (blank page)
http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/02/09/cool-stuff-albert-exergians-minimalistic-posters-for-television-shows/ (minimalism)
http://woorkup.com/2009/12/30/the-beautiful-art-of-japanese-web-design/ (Cultural difference as inspiration)
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/26/finding-inspiration-in-uncommon-sources-12-places-to-look
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/03/04/100-beautiful-illustrator-artworks-by-artists-around-the-world/
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/12-ways-to-unleash-your-creativity/
task: find 3 great resources online
http://jblyth.com/blog_images/images_11/superficial-sorry.jpg; http://img2.visualizeus.com/thumbs/09/10/02/photography,quote,
typography,trees,life,text-b33b7793b87154a16e6fa0e0ecb94523_h.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3288888445_cfe23b5948_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4112665867_f651665c31_o.jpg
http://printsociety.s3.amazonaws.com/images/prints/0000/0170/170-0.jpg
http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/officialgallery/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/todd-falkowsky-break-up-card-2.jpg
Message
Message = 5W1H (What do you need to know?)
What is/not the message?
How simple can you make the message? 140 Characters?
Who is (primary/secondary diversity) your audience?
What is your 'budget'?
You have an hour, then you have 10 seconds.
Did they get it? Were they interested? Did they stop?
Task: Devise your message (5W1H)
http://www.clivestevenssculpture.com/media/Magellan.jpg
http://17.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktdl8xyrIk1qzyw2xo1_500.jpg
http://synapticstimuli.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/circles.png
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2902098656_19de69042e.jpg
http://www.foundmagazine.com/images/finds/full/alive.gif
Tools
Your hands and mind
A cameraphone
Chaos
Paper and scissors
Wacom tablet (wacom.com)
Photo manipulation (GIMP)
Vector manipulation (Inkscape)
Layout (Scribus)
Catalog (Picasa)
Animation (Pencil)
3D (Blender, Sketchup)
Quick editors (XNView, IrfanView, Xee)
Online tools (raven, generators, tilt shift, graphic organizers)
http://www.smashingapps.com/2009/11/20/5-websites-to-cut-and-re-size-your-images-in-3-easy-step.html
http://graphicdesigndegrees.org/70-awesome-open-source-tools-for-graphic-designers/
task: Choose your tools and devise a workflow
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3485533189_f48ac3bd3c.jpg
http://nothingrelevant.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/calmpanic.jpg
http://www.paulsahre.com/images/uploads/times_05_07_10_crash.jpg
http://www.feingut.de/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Peter_Jansen_Human_Motions.jpg
Layout
Principles: http://desktoppub.about.com/od/designprinciples/Principles_of_Design.htm
Paintings, Photography, and Design
Grid theory http://www.thegridsystem.org/
Wireframing http://carsonified.com/blog/features/20-steps-to-better-wireframing/
Mondrian Google search
Using chance http://radicalart.info/AlgorithmicArt/chance/index.html
Gestalt Theory http://daphne.palomar.edu/design/gestalt.html and
http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprinc.htm
Balance example, balance explained, beauty, rule of thirds,
tension
whitespace http://www.getfinch.com/finch/entry/a_negative_view_of_white_space/
using shapes, lines, fades, and other elements
task: do a simple sketch of your layout ideas.
http://wasting.tumblr.com (2); http://www.flickr.
com/photos/nicholei/3543134032/; http://one.sixoneeight.
net/2007/08/15/akronfamily-theres-so-many-colors/; http://inspires.
tumblr.com/post/200489332; http://www.tumblr.
com/dashboard/3/221668327
http://www.colourlovers.com/uploads/2007/07/blockbuster_movie_colors.jpg
http://www.milesburke.com.au/blog/wp-content/files/web2coloursof2007.png
Color
Color books
Hue, Saturation, Lightness, Trasparency (HSLT)
http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/articles/35-inspiring-examples-of-transparency-in-logo-design
http://www.colourlovers.com/
http://www.avivadirectory.com/color/
http://colortheory.liquisoft.com/
http://www.colorhunter.com/tag/stormtrooper/1
http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette/index.php
http://ercancem.wordpress.com/2006/11/18/on-color/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/28/color-theoryfor-designers-part-1-the-meaning-of-color/
task: choose a simple (3 or less) color scheme for your project.
http://blog.typoretum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/9.jpg
http://www.debutart.com/media/5220/large/debutart_alan-kitching_6073
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3141128313_2c03b86509.jpg
http://14.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kt4042Ntog1qz4s3wo1_500.jpg
http://bp0.blogger.com/_SJ5S43VGz5Q/SI6ANEGw6KI/AAAAAAAABlk/9VvIrfXE_Ls/s400/army+soldier+alphabet.jpg
http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/up_images/348_clip_type.jpg;
http://www.todayandtomorrow.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/the_patent_1.jpg
i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd56/coloursinside/bte-a5-45.jpg
http://4.media.tumblr.com/UU8sftjMcqr9f7aaFqaxlrv1o1_400.jpg; http://img.ffffound.com/staticdata/assets/6/a090f76e908adfcf8454799471d6987ef8b2fb75_m.jpg
Fonts
legibility vs. novelty
handwriting sometimes works
2 font rule, 10-20-30 rule
google: 'font usage rules'
For everything, nothing, and screen viewing:
Helvetica, MS Comic Sans, Verdana and Georgia
Some terms explained:
Kerning, linespacing, and greeking
serif, sans serif
http://www.myfontbook.com
http://openfontlibrary.fontly.org/
http://fontstruct.fontshop.com
task: choose great fonts for your fliers.
Intellectual Property
Copyright explained:
http://copyright.umich.edu/using_copyrighted_material.html
http://www.mediaeducationlab.com/index.php?page=265
Creative Commons explained: Public Domain, Attribution,
Commercial Use, Derivatives, Share Alike http:
//creativecommons.org/choose/
Search Creative Commons:
http://search.creativecommons.org
How to provide citations
Delicious: "free stock images"
task: use cc search to find great reusable content
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4229/20qj2.jpg
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/niemann/posts/2009/11/17star.jpg
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/niemann/posts/2009/11/15states.jpg
http://donttouchmymoleskine.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/could1.jpg; http://donttouchmymoleskine.files.wordpress.
com/2009/02/metro.jpg; http://donttouchmymoleskine.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/eat.jpg
Images
is it necessary?
images vs. photographs
making your own drawings, photos, notes, signs (yes, we can)
converting to line art with Inkscape (demo)
Clip Art (please don't)
task: find some great (usable) images for your projects.
http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/01/british-design-classics-stamps-bd5.jpg
http://www.nerdcore.de/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/votestarwars.jpg
http://data.tumblr.com/SqHZoTWKZ6qqxr1ty9fXKyEr_400.jpg
http://www.designworklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/theheistseries.jpg
Format
stamps
pages
posters
HD screens
projectors
billboards
rainy-night-60-MPH rule
task: revise your layout
for clarity
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/A_size_illustration2.svg/439px-A_size_illustration2.svg.png
The Cult of Done Manifesto
1. There are three states of being. Not knowing, action and completion.
2. Accept that everything is a draft. It helps to get it done.
3. There is no editing stage.
4. Pretending you know what you're doing is almost the same as knowing
what you are doing, so just accept that you know what you're doing even if
you don't and do it.
5. Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done,
abandon it.
6. The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done.
7. Once you're done you can throw it away.
8. Laugh at perfection. It's boring and keeps you from being done.
9. People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.
10. Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.
11. Destruction is a variant of done.
12. If you have an idea and publish it on the internet, that counts as a ghost of
done.
13. Done is the engine of more.
http://www.brepettis.com/blog/2009/3/3/the-cult-of-done-manifesto.html
http://design-for-india.blogspot.com
Pulling it all together (30)
fire up _______
wireframe your layout
use gridlines and grids
bring in your images
type in your text
put in your colors
put in your lines and shapes
make it right
push the envelope
sleep on it
post it online
make it CC licensed
take a long hard look
make 2 other versions
be prepared to start over
invite critique...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1194/848246317_e4027c95ba_b.jpg
http://acreativeuniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/everydaydesign.jpg
Critique
What could be better?
Is the design mindful of anything... unintended?
Would it still work without text?
Would it work better without images?
Is your message clear? To anyone else but you?
Are you respecting copyright?
What did you learn?
Assessment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
What can you do to improve your designs?
How do you find great images?
Where can you get Inkscape and the GIMP?
What are the 8 basic emotions?
What makes Inkscape a better design tool than Word?
Why is considering viewer diversity important?
What does red mean, emotionally speaking?
Is brown a difficult color to work with?
What non technology tools are available to designers?
How will you become inspired to design?
What could capture a viewer's attention?
How long do you have to get a viewer's attention?
How many ways could you represent a leaf in an image?
Why should you use CC licensed images?
What is your personal palette?
CC credits
nowisgone.com
minivanninja
Lori Grieg
openDemocracy
sbZondergeld
Magitisia
Daveybot
917press
kikaider
Louis David
Oxygeon
Mandy Dale
Rakka
Ross C.
Mike Rohde
i like you grafik
Denkbeeldenstorm
juhansonin
Endless
L. Marie
Laura Brunow Miner
Fotologic
Tifotter
Kent Wang
Annia316
bjornmeansbear
cpalmieri
no_typographic_man
Leo Reynolds
splorp
Xose Castro
John LeMasney, lemasney@gmail.com
http://c2.api.ning.com/files/QQh8fH8NsatHCThrmTP6vYX2vfvrTNJ74-L-UrN50YC0R6i1qk31Z6HmWXISU84mxMVjpAbmeFrwvcr2mOknzT33mYuyQY6/thankyoufor.jpg
Thank you!
John LeMasney, LeMasney
Consulting and Design
lemasney@gmail.com
http://www.lemasney.com
http://johnwlemasney.wordpress.com
lemasney@googlewave.com
http://profiles.google.com
http://vectips.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/wkly14_01.jpg