Electronic Design

Electronic Design

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 Graphic design is the process of visual communication, and problem-solving through the use of type, space, image and color.

The field is considered a subset of visual communication and communication design, but sometimes the term "graphic design" is used interchangeably with these due to overlapping skills involved. Graphic designers use various methods to create and combine words, symbols, and images to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. A graphic designer may use a combination of typography, visual arts and page layout techniques to produce a final result. Graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created and the products (designs) which are generated.
Common uses of graphic design include identity (logos and branding), publications (magazines, newspapers and books), print advertisements, posters, billboards, website graphics and elements, signs and product packaging. For example, a product package might include a logo or other artwork, organized text and pure design elements such as images, shapes and color which unify the piece. Composition is one of the most important features of graphic design, especially when using pre-existing materials or diverse elements.

Theory Assignment Tasks
Task 1 10 marks
Choose two examples of Infographics and insert a link to the web pages in your Word document.

Analyse and write a critique of each Infographic (about 2 paragraphs about each).
Task should be uploaded to EIT Online by 9am August 15th 2014.



Task 2 10 marks
Preview the presentation Elements of Design on EIT Online, and do some Internet research to produce a report (about 400 words) explaining the design elements Unity, Space, Dominance, Hierarchy and Balance. Four marks for each design element.
Task should be uploaded to EIT Online by 9am September 5th 2014.


http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/7-design-components/

Unity

Unity exists when your design elements are in agreement; when they belong together and aren’t arbitrarily placed or added to the design. Agreement can be either visual, conceptual or both.
The 4 basic design principles of contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity can be used to gain visual unity over your design. Elements that are aligned, repeat some basic characteristic like size, or are located in proximity to each other will appear to belong together. The last principle, contrast, is used to add variety.
Unity imparts order, but too much order can be dull and static. Variety adds interest, but too much can lead to a chaotic design. The key is to find a balance between unity and variety so as to have a well ordered design that is also visually interesting.

Space

Whitespace or negative space is the space between design elements. It’s just as, if not more, important than the space you fill and is one of the most neglected components of visual design.
Day only exists in comparison to night and in much the same way your positive space (where design elements are located) only exist in comparison to the empty space around them. Without whitespace, designs become crowded and chaotic. There’s no flow of movement from one element to the next.
Space is the context in which your message is perceived. Without ample space communication is difficult. Imagine a piece of music where every note in the piece was played by every instrument at the same time. The result would be noise and not music. Music needs space (time) between notes in order to build rhythm and melody. Visual design needs space between elements in order to effectively communicate.

Dominance

Dominance is contrast taken to the extreme. By creating one element to dominate other elements on the page, you create an area of interest and a focal point to your design. Dominance gives viewers a way into your design. It lets them know right away where to look and from there you can guide them through the rest of your design.
Without dominance your visitors have to think about where to look first. Don’t make me think. Make it clear where I’m to look first. Give me an easy way to enter your design and begin to look about.
You can create dominance through manipulation of:

• size
• position
• color
• style
• shape

You can have more than one area of interest in your design, though one should be dominant. One should be the primary area of interest and be dominant over everything else.

Hierarchy

While one element should be dominant you can create a hierarchy of dominance in order to guide people through your design. By creating a visual hierarchy in your design, you enable your page to be scanned and communicate the relative importance of different parts of the whole.
Which of the two layouts above is easier to read? The one without a clear hierarchy on the left or the one with a hierarchy on the right?
Once again the basic design principles help us create a hierarchy and help us move the eye from most important to least important elements. Contrast to make clear what’s most important and repetition, alignment, and proximity to lead the viewer across a single level of hierarchy and into the next.
Try not to create too many levels of hierarchy. It’s easy to discern most and least, but what’s in between tends not to be so easy to distinctly separate. Aim for 3 levels of hierarchy if you can, most important, least important, and everything else.

Balance

Balance is a state of equalized tension. It’s important for achieving gestalt. A balanced design is a more unified design.
Designer’s use visual weight to control design balance. Through the use of things like size, color, space, and density your design elements can visually balance each other to create a pleasing whole.
There are 4 types of balance, 2 of which are more important.

• Symmetrical – formal or static balance
• Asymmetrical – dynamic balance
• Radial – elements radiating from a central point
• Mosaic – balanced chaos lacking hierarchy and focal point

Symmetrical and asymmetrical balance are the two more important types of balance, with asymmetrical balance being the more interesting of the two. Kandinsky’s Composition #8 below is a good example of asymmetrical balance and dominance.


Task 3 10 marks

Preview the presentation Colour Models and Spaces on EIT online, and do some Internet research to produce a brief report (about 400 words) explaining the Colour Models RGB and CYMK, and HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) in relation to electronic design for web and print.


Task should be uploaded to EIT Online by 9am September 26th 2014.



Task 4 10 marks
Preview the presentation Image Optimisation on EIT online, and do some Internet research to produce a brief report (about 400 words) explaining Image optimisation and compression in relation to electronic design for web and print.


Task should be uploaded to EIT Online by 9am October 17th 2014.
ITED6.330 Assignments Semester 2 ~2014 Practical Design Assignment




Element 1 10 Marks
Create a logo and banner to be used in your final poster/infographic.

Deliverables to be uploaded to EIT Online.

1. Original logo in native format eg psd for Photoshop, pdn for Paint.NET, XCF for GIMP, pspimage for Paint Shop Pro etc.

2. Banner incorporating logo (or part of) in native format eg psd for Photoshop, pdn for Paint.NET, XCF for GIMP, pspimage for Paint Shop Pro etc.

Five marks available for each element.
All deliverables zipped an uploaded to EIT Online by 9am August 15th 2014.



Element 2 10 Marks
Produce the body text content for your poster as;

1. Pure text and

2. text as an image

Add both elements to a Word document with a brief explanation of the reasons you chose that particular font for the body text and text as an image.
All deliverables zipped an uploaded to EIT Online by 9am September 5th 2014.



Element 3 20 Marks
Deliverables for this element are:

1. One original photo as downloaded from your camera or phone.

2. Original photo, edited and manipulated (using at least 2 layers) in graphic editing software of your choice and uploaded as native format eg psd for Photoshop, pdn for Paint.NET, XCF for GIMP, pspimage for Paint Shop Pro etc.

3. Edited photo; in a print ready format (size, resolution, colour model, dpi etc.) suitable for inclusion in your final poster.

4. Edited photo converted to web ready format (size, resolution, colour palette, optimisation, dpi etc.) suitable for a website.
All deliverables zipped an uploaded to EIT Online by 9am September 26th 2014.ITED6.330 Assignments Semester 2 ~2014




Element 4 5 Marks
Deliverables for this element are:

Wireframe layout of all the elements for your final poster/infographic, produced in Illustrator (or comparable vector software). PowerPoint, Word, InDesign (or other desktop publishing software).

Presentation of layout must define the final size of the poster/infographic , and approximate size and resolution of all elements.
All deliverables uploaded to EIT Online by 9am October 17th 2014.



Element 5 15 Marks
Deliverables for this element are:

Final poster/infographic in digital format, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator or Microsoft PowerPoint.
All deliverables uploaded to EIT Online by 9am November 8th 2014.



Poster size
Standard poster size known as Super A1, is generally 91.44cm by 60.96cm (36" x 24"), for a landscape orientated poster or 60.96cm by 91.44cm for portrait orientation.