Graphic Design Tips and Tricks (for busy evaluators)
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Graphic Design Tips & Tricks CLAIRE WOOTON EVALUATION STUDIES UNIT UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA @relief_map
Transcript of Graphic Design Tips and Tricks (for busy evaluators)
Graphic Design Tips & Tricks CLAIRE WOOTON EVALUATION STUDIES UNIT UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
@relief_map
WHAT IS
GRAPHIC DESIGN?
Graphic design is the art and profession of selecting and arranging visual elements
—such as typography, images, symbols, and colors— to convey a message to an audience.
“
”
Source: graphic design. (2016). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/art/graphic-design
Source: Golombisky, K., & Hagen, R. (2010). White Space Is Not Your Enemy: A beginner's guide to communicating visually through graphic, web & multimedia design. Amsterdam: Focal Press/Elsevier.
It captures attention.
It controls the eye’s movement across the page or screen.
It conveys information.
It evokes emotion.
Good Graphic Design Does Four Things
Becoming a Graphic Designer
Question your assumptions.
https://vimeo.com/frohlocke/thegap
Source: xkcd http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/papyrus.png
Source: xkcd http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/kerning.png
Composition DON’T FEAR THE WHITE SPACE
KEEP IT TOGETHER
SIGNIFY THE IMPORTANCE
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
OBEY THE GRID (most of the time)
White Space Grouping Hierarchy Consistency Grid
…....….
...……………..
………………..
..….…….
..………………………….
WHITE SPACE
l l
l l
NEGATIVE SPACE
Before…
Source (and great resource for improving poster presentations): http://betterposters.blogspot.ca/
Spacing suggests 2 columns… But it’s actually 2 horizontal sections
Source (and great resource for improving poster presentations): http://betterposters.blogspot.ca
Before… After.
Source (and great resource for improving poster presentations): http://betterposters.blogspot.ca/
How to Can Jam Obtain all necessary equipment: Liquid soap Canning jars Canning lids Funnel Large pot Small saucepan Water canner Long handled tongs Wooden board Cloth Labels & pen Process: Sterilize jars: Wash jars in hot soapy water. Rinse jars with fresh water. Fill large pot with water and bring to boil. Place jars in pot of boiling water. Boil for 10 minutes and then turn off heat. Leave jars in hot water until they are needed. Fill jars: Remove jars and lids from hot water with tongs, emptying them of water. Using a funnel, fill jars with freshly made, hot jam. Fill jars up to within 1/2 in (1 cm) of the rim. If jam gets on the rim of the jar, wipe it with a clean, hot cloth. Place flat lid on top of jar opening. Place screw band on top of jar and tighten with hands.
Obtain all necessary equipment: • Liquid soap • Canning jars • Canning lids • Funnel • Large pot
How to Can Jam
Process: 1. Sterilize jars:
a) Wash jars in hot soapy water. b) Rinse jars with fresh water. c) Place jars in pot of boiling water. d) Boil for 10 minutes. e) Leave jars in hot water until needed.
2. Fill jars: 1. Remove jars and lids from hot water with tongs, emptying them of water. 2. Using a funnel, fill jars with freshly made, hot jam. 3. Fill jars up to within 1/2 in (1 cm) of the rim. 4. If jam gets on the rim of the jar, wipe it with a clean, hot cloth. 5. Place flat lid on top of jar opening. 6. Place screw band on top of jar and tighten with hands.
• Small saucepan • Water canner • Long handled tongs • Wooden board • Cloth
Source: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/02/design-principles-dominance-focal-points-hierarchy/
• Typefaces and fonts
• Colours, shapes, lines
• Images and graphics
• Grid system
• Common look across products
Apply REPETITION using:
Source: http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2268752
1-column vertical grid 2-column vertical grid 3-column vertical grid
3-column vertical grid 3-column vertical grid 3-column vertical grid
Source: http://www.designersinsights.com/designer-resources/using-layout-grids-effectively
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/RuleOfThirds-SideBySide.gif
A picture cropped without and with “The Rule Of Thirds”
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/RuleOfThirds-SideBySide.gif
A picture cropped without and with “The Rule Of Thirds”
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Images Colour Type
Components
Clip Art is: • Unprofessional • Doesn’t clarify message • Mismatched design
(lacks consistency) • Nonspecific, generic • Overused • Dated!!
Instead, try using: • Photos / illustrations • An icon set
Sourcing (Copyright Free) Images
“The images displayed in a Google Image Search may be protected by copyright, so we can’t grant you the right to use them for any purpose other than viewing them on the web. If you’d like to use images from our image search, we suggest contacting the site’s webmaster to obtain permission.”
Alternative Sources 1. Creative Commons 2. Public Domain 3. Free Stock Photos 4. DIY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Public_domain_image_resources
Massive (overwhelming!) list of public domain resources:
Favourite Sites:
Free Stock Photos
Splitshire Gratisography
Unsplash StockSnap
Raumrot
Take your own photos
Source: Sarah Heffernen https://www.behance.net/sara_heffernen
Source: http://blog.digitaltutors.com/just-black-white-using-contrast-get-attention-graphic-designs/
Source: http://blog.digitaltutors.com/just-black-white-using-contrast-get-attention-graphic-designs/
http://www.companyfolders.com/blog/13-tips-for-avoiding-a-font-kerning-disaster
Source: Sarah Heffernen https://www.behance.net/sara_heffernen
Source: Sarah Heffernen https://www.behance.net/sara_heffernen
A few thoughts…
Creative Process
Seek inspiration everywhere! Collect ideas and mash them up. Step away from the computer. Start sketching. Embrace constraints. Heck, create them yourself! Allow yourself to experiment and make mistakes.
https://youtu.be/pnv5iKB2hl4
Credit: • Font:
KG Two is Better Than One http://www.kimberlygeswein.com/2012/05/27/ new-kg-two-is-better-than-one/
• Icons: Hand-Drawn Goods by Olly Holovchenko http://handdrawngoods.com/ Dashel Icon Set by Print Express www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/01/05/ freebie-dashel-icon-set-svg-psd-png/
Questions? Comments? Let’s connect: @Relief_map
Please note: This is a condensed version of a presentation delivered in person in April 2016. Most of the demonstrations (i.e. “tricks”) have been removed from this online version. Check out the slide notes for more information and for links to helpful resources.
