Objectives
1. To develop your ability to process written information and concepts in order to translate and communicate them visually.
2. To better understand the process of abstraction through selective simplification.
3. To heighten your awareness of design elements and attributes and their application to a visual communication.
4. Explore and identify formal values connected with composition, shapes and color.
Use brainstorming techniques to generate as many ideas as possible before you begin.
Your concept and ability to communicate it to your audience is everything with this project.
Assignment
You are to choose an historic event, and in poster format, visually communicate as much as possible about that event — where, what, who, significance, etc.
The date or word should be incorporated into the work as a design element to reinforce your visual message.
You must communicate the intended message to the viewer and end up with a solution that is of a high aesthetic quality using strong design principles.
Considerations include:
– Communicate the event through visual explorations
– Use of gesalt principles
– Simplification
– Creative development
– Relaying you message to an audience
– Using color to communicate
Process
1. Begin by researching and choosing an historic event.
2. Make sure you fully understand the event you select.
3. Analyze the content of the historic event.
4. Explore visual hierarchy (levels of priority within the message).
5. Through placement and treatment of the graphic images, colors, numerals, etc you are to convey the historical event.
The computer is not the only tool you can use for this project. Torn or cut paper on board, paint etc and then placed on the computer
to add your type, and possibly color.
Your event will help you decide what medium to use and what seems most appropriate.
Deliverable: 11 x 17 Poster, with .25” bleeds, Press Quality PDF with Trim/Crop marks using Document Bleed Settings.
General things to remember
• It’s okay to use white space. You don’t have to clutter your poster. You may think that including more will impress your audience, but it likely will confuse them or turn them away.
• Experiment with different layouts and designs, and keep experimenting until you find a layout that satisfies you.
• Decide which typeface will work best for this particular project. Use a well designed typeface.
• Visual hierarchy: You should arrange your elements so that there is a sensible visual flow.
• Emphasize important elements organize your content logically.
• The poster should be self-explanatory, so that the main points are communicated without the designer (you) being there.
• Look at your design with a critical eye. Is it eye-catching? Does it look boring or is it too busy? Have a stranger critique your poster design BEFORE you print it. Do they understand what you are trying to communicate?
• Contrast: Use elements of different sizes and proportions. Same-sized and same-proportioned components may result in a flat design.
• Color is an excellent tool for brightening up your poster, visually grouping elements, and drawing attention to the most important elements.
However, color should be used carefully and with purpose. It should not be randomly applied just for the sake of having color. Use your color with restraint: color should be used to emphasize or differentiate content. You may have the temptation to use color everywhere — don’t.
The viewer’s eye will jump erratically around the poster instead of tracking through it to the crucial points.
• Decide what message(s) is most important. What is the purpose of the poster? What will grab attention best? What message are you trying to convey?
Suggestions on getting started:
— Develop some word lists.
— Start with a column of things you are interested in or passionate about.
— Develop another column of major historical events.
— There might be a way to combine the two columns and this will help you decide on the historical event you want to visually communicate.