The Creative Process

A series of steps repeated every time you design something...

Why do we need this process?
~ Improves consistency
~ Ability to time and plan your work
~ Raise the quality of your work
~ Communicate more effectively and in a more professional manner

STEPS:
1) Research- the more you know, the easier the project will be
2) Brainstorm/inspiration- coming up with ideas for a fresh and creative approach
3) Sketch- to get your thoughts out and to work through ideas
4) Execute- implement your ideas; combine type & imagery, into a well developed composition
5) Critique & Revise- take a step back and look at your design with an objective eye

Photo Composition

What's the difference between a snapshot and a photograph?

   ~Snapshot- a quick shot, often spontaneous, taken to record a moment in time

   ~Photograph- an image taken with care and thought

Rules of Composition

   ~Rule of Thirds- (imaginary lines drawn dividing the frame of your camera into thirds, both horizontally and vertically) place the important subject, or important elements of your composition where these lines intersect; place the horizon line at the top or bottom horizontal divider or fill up the entire frame with the subject for a close up image

   ~Leading Lines- use the lines created within the foreground or background of the composition to lead the viewer's eye through the photo; lines can draw attention to one or more intended subjects or a single focal point

   ~Point of View- change the way your subject is perceived by changing the camera position; if you are photographing a subject that you want to seem very tall, compose the shot so that the camera is looking upwards; if you are photographing a subject that you want to seem very small/short, compose the shot so that the camera is looking downwards

   ~Simplicity- keep your background simple and clear of clutter; the mood and effectiveness of a photo can be altered by what is in the background; a chaotic composition will cause the viewer to look away

Semester Reflection

   Throughout this semester, I have definitely learned a lot about graphics, designs, and of course graphic designing. I have learned a lot about art through all of our assignments. I learned about color schemes and what other things in a design can mean. Everything in a design can have a meaning or purpose. There are different ideas, feelings, or emotions that designers try to get you to feel when you look at their images or works. It is a really complicated area of study but it can be really fun, you just have to let yourself and your imagination run freely.
   Next semester, I want to work on getting my details just right and work on my craftsmanship. I want to try to erase my little mistakes that I am making now. I don't really know what projects or techniques I want to learn how to do next year, but I am up for anything. :)

Review Week 17

After reading the article "Who shot the serif?" on www.ilovetypography.com, I did learn some new things that I didn't already know about letters in general and serifs. I didn't know that the parts of letters have a name. The serifs on the letter i are connected to the "stem" of the letter. There are a lot of other body parts of the letter as well, like the counter and bowl of the letter a, the spine of the letter s, etc. Also, I learned that the origin of the word serif is a little bit of a mystery. The word "sanserif" was actually discovered/noted first, before serif was. There are many kinds of serifs, but the two main types are Adnate and Abrupt.

Review Week 16

How many points are in an inch? How many points are in a pica?
~72 pts in an inch; 12 pts in a pica
Of the seven classifications, which classification(s) would best work as body type? Why?
~Sans serif fonts; because they are easy on the eyes when reading and simple
Identify the lowercase characters that have ascenders?
~t, f, h, k, l, b
Identify the lowercase characters that have descenders?
~q, y, p, g, j

 This font is Modern:
 
There are serifs that are perfectly horizontal.

This font is Script:
 
It looks like a type of handwriting.

This font is Decorative:
  
It doesn't really fall under any of the other classifications and also has a sort of theme.


This font is Sans serif:

It is very plain and simple. It doesn't have a serif. It is easy to read. Its strokes are uniform in weight and have a monotone appearance.

This font is Blackletter:

There are a lot of differences with thick and thin strokes within each letter. It resembles calligraphy.


This font is Old Style:
 
The letters have angled/wedged serifs.


This font is Slab Serif:


It has a uniform line weight and thicker, square serifs.

Podcast #4 Typography

Define typography?
~the art of expressing ideas through the selection of appropriate type faces
Where did the word "typography" originate from?
~Greek words: "form" [typo] and "writing" [graphy]
What does typography involve?
~Selection of appropriate fonts; sizes, line spacings, spacing of the letters
What is a typeface?
~distinct visual symbols; distinctive design of visual symbols that are used to make a image or design
What is another term for typeface?
~fonts
What is a character?
~A symbol that makes up a typeface; letters, numeral, punctuation marks, etc.
What is type style?
~ Modifications in a typeface that create design variety while maintaining the visual style of the typeface: bolding, italic, underlining
What does type style "create" within a design?
~variation
What is the waist line and what does it indicate?
~the middle line that is at the top of the lowercase letters
What is a base line and what does it indicate?
~the bottom line where everything sits
What is an ascender?
~lower case letters that pass the waist line
What is a descender?
~lower case letters that pass the base line
Describe a serif?
~the top stroke/ end of some letters of some fonts that conclude the character
How can the size of the typeface be identified?
~using points
What is a point?
~the measurement you use to determine the size of a font
How many points are in an inch?
~72
What is a pica and how many are in an inch?
~a unit of measurement used before they had computers; 6
How many points are in a pica?
~12
What is body type and where can it be found?
~smaller type sizes that are less than or equal to12 pt
What is the key to selecting appropriate typefaces to be used as body type?
~readability; you need to make sure that you can read what you are making or if someone else can
What is display type and how is it used?
~headlines or sub headlines; above 14pt; used to show the main idea
What is reverse type and when would it be used?
~when white type is on a black or darker backgroung, like a stop sign; get people's attention
What is a typeface classification?
~a way of organizing fonts
When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?
~mid 1400s; used for the printing press
Describer the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?
~resembles caligraphy; highly ornamental with elaborate thick to thin strokes
When was Old Style invneted and what was is based on?
~15th and 16th centuries; ancient Roman inscriptions
Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?
~angled/wedged serifs; difference in strokes but not as drastic as Blackletter
When were formal scripts developed?
~around 17th and 18th centuries; resembles a handwriting
When were casual scripts developed?
~20th century
Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?
~serifs; not as much thick and thin
When was Modern typefaces developed and why?
~18th and 19th centuries; everything was very formal, this was the new radical font
Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?
~thick and thin strokes; there are serifs that are perfectly horizontal
How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened?
~15th century[with writing]; there wasn't any place to have Sans serif
When did they become popular?
~in later times - 1900s
What does "sans serif" mean?
~No serifs
Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?
~Its strokes are uniform in weight and have a monotone appearance
When was Slab Serif developed and why?
~19th century; for advertisements
Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?
~a cross between modern and sans serif; uniform line weight and thicker, square serifs
Describe Decorative typefaces?
~distinct font styles; anything that can't fit into the other groups
Why were they developed?
~for specific themes or designs; a more playful design
What are they best used for?
~Large point sizes or display type

Review Week 14

5 colleges that offer graphic design (or related) majors:

1. Cranbook Academy of Art

• Address: 39221 Woodward Avenue
                 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
• Graphic Majors Offered: Fine Arts, Architecture
• Requirements for Admission: Bachelor's degree in some kind of art [depending on what you're going to enroll for]

2. Yale University of Art

• Address: 1156 Chapel Street
                 New Haven Connecticut
  
• Graphic Majors Offered:Graphic Design, Photography, Printmaking
• Requirements for Admission: High degree of capability and commitment; Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or a diploma from a four-year accredited professional art school

3. Maryland Institute College of Art Graphic Design

• Address: 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue
                 Baltimore, Maryland 21217
• Graphic Majors Offered: Painting, Photography, Graphic Design
• Requirements for Admission: Diploma

4. Savannah College of Art and Design

• Location: Savannah, Ga
  
• Graphic Majors Offered: Graphic Design BFA, BA, MA, MFA, and Minor
• Requirements for Admission:High School diploma, ACT/SAT scores

5. Purdue University Herron School of Art and Design

• Address: 735 W. New York St.
                 Indianapolis, IN 46202
• Graphic Majors Offered: Art Education, Art Therapy, Visual Art, Visual Communications
• Requirements for Admission: Bachelor degree in Art [depending on what class you are taking]

What is a portfolio?
~A portfolio is your pieces of work that you collect or form together to showcase your skills or talents

What is the importance of a portfolio?
~Whatever is in your portfolio can change the mind of whoever is hiring you; your portfolio portrays you and your abilities