Buttons
What is a button?
A button is something that is on your shirt, it is also on your computer, in the elevator, in your car, and now they are even on your touch screen phone.
Dictionary.com says a button is...
"a small disk, knob, or the like for sewing or otherwise attaching to an article, as of clothing, servingas a fastening when passed through a buttonhole or loop.
anything resembling a button, especially in being small and round, as any of various candies ornaments, tags, identification badges, reflectors, markers, etc.
any small knob or disk pressed to activate an electric circuit, release a spring or otherwise operator open a machine, small door, toy, etc."(Button)
But what about the buttons on your phone that don't stick out, and aren't square?
A button is something that is on your shirt, it is also on your computer, in the elevator, in your car, and now they are even on your touch screen phone.
Dictionary.com says a button is...
"a small disk, knob, or the like for sewing or otherwise attaching to an article, as of clothing, servingas a fastening when passed through a buttonhole or loop.
anything resembling a button, especially in being small and round, as any of various candies ornaments, tags, identification badges, reflectors, markers, etc.
any small knob or disk pressed to activate an electric circuit, release a spring or otherwise operator open a machine, small door, toy, etc."(Button)
But what about the buttons on your phone that don't stick out, and aren't square?
Take this iPhone for instance. Don't we consider those squares buttons? When we push on the an action takes place. But they don't fit the typical definition of a button. As technology is evolving we are seeing things like this happen more often. We are seeing the conceptual model of what things should be change. I'm sure my son will have a totally different interpretation of what a button is when he is in college than I do now just like I am sure mine is different from what my parents were when they were in college.
Citations:
"Button." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
Style Guides
For this project we switched style guides with three other students in class. We designed something for their company using their style guide. Here is the link to my Behance post showing the work that I did.
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Designing-in-Brand/8075345
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Designing-in-Brand/8075345
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| Mini Catalogue Mailer for Golden Finch |
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| Magazine Spread for Feather Friends |
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| Web site for Intellectu-Owl |
CatEye Records Style Guide
This is the revised style guide. After having a few other students use my style guide I received feedback from them. I also had the chance to use other students style guides so I used my experience with this to help make changes to my style guide.
Follow this link to view the style guide I designed for CatEye Records.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uk0slxqckddidnn/RBurtenshaw-StyleGuide_CatEyeRecords1.pdf
Follow this link to view the A/V presentation of CatEye Records style guide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCZ_hVg0noY&feature=youtu.be
Follow this link to view the style guide I designed for CatEye Records.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uk0slxqckddidnn/RBurtenshaw-StyleGuide_CatEyeRecords1.pdf
Follow this link to view the A/V presentation of CatEye Records style guide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCZ_hVg0noY&feature=youtu.be
Mistakes and Slips
"To err is human"
I thought this was a perfect title for this chapter. We are all human and we all make mistakes. I found it interesting that not every mistake is a "mistake." There is another word that fits a little better in certain instances, "slip".
I thought this was a perfect title for this chapter. We are all human and we all make mistakes. I found it interesting that not every mistake is a "mistake." There is another word that fits a little better in certain instances, "slip".
"Slips result from automatic behavior, when subconscious actions that are intdended to satisfy our goals get waylaid en route. Mistakes result from conscious deliberations" (Norman, 2002).
A slip is the most common form of error. A slip is when we intend to do something but accidentally do something else. This could be as simple as putting the bowl in the fridge and the milk in the sink. How many times have we all done something similar to this. It is nothing major we just make a simple error. It is also the same thing as when we type a word in our word document and it automatically corrects it if we spell it wrong. I know I make this error a lot. I intended to type 'people' but instead said 'peple' or something close to it and word automatically knows what we meant. This was a good design because it was designed to accommodate our slips. But sometimes that can backfire. Take autocorrect on you phone for instance. We all get a good kick out of reading texts that were corrected by the phone automatically but this is not a very well design. I am not saying they have to change it because I am not quite sure how they would fix this problem, but sometimes it can be quite a pain.
Citations:
Norman, Donald A. The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. 105. Print.
Norman, Donald A. The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. 105. Print.
What is graphic design?
What is graphic design? You think this would be an easy question for a person studying and majoring in graphic design. But I still find that it is not that easy to describe. Graphic design is always changing and evolving. When I decided to come back to school my parents suggested looking into graphic design. I was not sure what it was but just going off of the faith of my parents I started into it. It was not until about my second design class that I started to see what it might be and that I really started to enjoy it.
One quote that I cannot remember who said it but I've heard my teachers quote it a few times is,
"BFA is the new MBA."
Graphic design is not just making things, it also includes the ability to think of new ideas and solve problems. The quote above is saying that companies are starting to hire people with BFA for positions that they would normally hire a MBA because they like the designers ability to think through a problem.
I think that graphic design is a lot of things. I used to think it was just identity and logos kind of stuff. But I learned quickly that it includes packaging, webdesign, magazines, book, logos, stationary, brochures, signs, posters, apps and more that I cannot think of at the moment. Graphic design continues to grow as the world grows and adapts to new things and comes up with new ideas.
One quote that I cannot remember who said it but I've heard my teachers quote it a few times is,
"BFA is the new MBA."
Graphic design is not just making things, it also includes the ability to think of new ideas and solve problems. The quote above is saying that companies are starting to hire people with BFA for positions that they would normally hire a MBA because they like the designers ability to think through a problem.
I think that graphic design is a lot of things. I used to think it was just identity and logos kind of stuff. But I learned quickly that it includes packaging, webdesign, magazines, book, logos, stationary, brochures, signs, posters, apps and more that I cannot think of at the moment. Graphic design continues to grow as the world grows and adapts to new things and comes up with new ideas.
Design processes that work for me
We all know that everyone has their own way of doing things. We learn the basics on how to do something then we alter it and mold it to our own personal style and way of doing things. This is true when it comes to design processes. We have all learned that we start with a problem, then research, then sketch, then start designing. Often times we bounce back and forth between steps as we are working on a project.
For me I know it helps to do a lot of research and see what is out there. I look for things I like and things I do not like. It helps me to see things I do not like because then I know what not to do. The more research I have the better my project turns out. Sketching is always the hardest part for me. After I do my research I usually have an idea in my head of what I want to do. With seeing how I think I want it to look in my head it is hard to sketch that out. I am just anxious to start designing. When I start designing I always go back to research. I look at stuff I already found and I look at new stuff. I usually forget what I saw when I was researching so for me to frequently go back to my research is really beneficial.
For me I know it helps to do a lot of research and see what is out there. I look for things I like and things I do not like. It helps me to see things I do not like because then I know what not to do. The more research I have the better my project turns out. Sketching is always the hardest part for me. After I do my research I usually have an idea in my head of what I want to do. With seeing how I think I want it to look in my head it is hard to sketch that out. I am just anxious to start designing. When I start designing I always go back to research. I look at stuff I already found and I look at new stuff. I usually forget what I saw when I was researching so for me to frequently go back to my research is really beneficial.
How do I present myself for an interview?
Interviewing is a very important step in getting a job and is very nerve racking. Interviewing is one of the best ways an employer can learn about a person and see if they would be a good fit for their company. Resumes provide a brief introduction but interviewing someone lets you talk to them face to face or over the phone and gives the employer a good idea about the person. It also gives the potential employee an idea about what the company and people are like and if they would like to work there. It is a great time for both people to ask questions and learn a little bit more about the other.
How can we prepare for an interview?
I think one of the first things we can do to be prepared for an interview is to feel comfortable with our experience and work. We need to have it ready to show and make sure the projects we are showing are suitable for the company we are applying for. If we are applying for a packaging company showing a bunch of apps wouldn't really suit. Also, we need to know about the company. I think it is important that we know enough about the company that we can answer questions about it and what we think our responsibilities would be. It is also appropriate to ask a couple questions about the company. It lets the employer know that you have taken interest in their company and are really interested in the job. One last thing we can do is to practice. I think it is important that we practice interviews so that we are comfortable and confident.
How can we prepare for an interview?
I think one of the first things we can do to be prepared for an interview is to feel comfortable with our experience and work. We need to have it ready to show and make sure the projects we are showing are suitable for the company we are applying for. If we are applying for a packaging company showing a bunch of apps wouldn't really suit. Also, we need to know about the company. I think it is important that we know enough about the company that we can answer questions about it and what we think our responsibilities would be. It is also appropriate to ask a couple questions about the company. It lets the employer know that you have taken interest in their company and are really interested in the job. One last thing we can do is to practice. I think it is important that we practice interviews so that we are comfortable and confident.
What is my brand voice?
My brand voice is simple, modern and clean. I think my brand represents this really well because of the gray and pink color scheme. The typography is Century Gothic, which is a really clean simple font. I do not have texture or extra lines or shapes because I liked the clean simple look best. I also think this represents me well because I see this style come out in a lot of my work. I do not consciously do this but it is just something that is built into me.
Even with this being my style and brand voice I would like to be able to design other styles. I feel like as a designer I need to have my own style but be able to conform to other styles as well. It is important to have a style because it is what sets you apart from others. But you also need to conform to other styles because when you design for someone your style may not be their style and you need to make the client happy. I think you can balance these two as well as mix them. I think you can design for someone else style but still incorporate your style as well and that is what will really set you apart.
Even with this being my style and brand voice I would like to be able to design other styles. I feel like as a designer I need to have my own style but be able to conform to other styles as well. It is important to have a style because it is what sets you apart from others. But you also need to conform to other styles because when you design for someone your style may not be their style and you need to make the client happy. I think you can balance these two as well as mix them. I think you can design for someone else style but still incorporate your style as well and that is what will really set you apart.
What is my career plan?
As I am approaching graduation I have been thinking about about my career. I am taking a different path that a lot of designers I am going to school with because of my circumstances. I have a 3 year old at home and another baby due next month. My husband is also in school and has 2 more years. I love graphic design and I want to be able to use the skills that I've learned. But with my circumstances it is not really an option for me to go to work somewhere because I have 2 children I'd have to pay for daycare and a husband who is in school full-time. I also can't be flexible to move. We need to stick around here until my husband finishes and then we are going where ever he gets a job.
So keeping all that in mind I have thought the best option for me would to just be a freelance designer or get on with a company that lets me do work from my house. This is my ideal job because I get the best of both worlds, working and staying home with my kids. If things work out when we get settled and my kids get a little older if the opportunity came up for me to be able to go work for someone I would love to be able to do that. This is one of the reasons why I don't want to just do nothing after I graduate. I need to stay on top of design as best I can so that I am prepared for the time when I am able to go work for a company.
So keeping all that in mind I have thought the best option for me would to just be a freelance designer or get on with a company that lets me do work from my house. This is my ideal job because I get the best of both worlds, working and staying home with my kids. If things work out when we get settled and my kids get a little older if the opportunity came up for me to be able to go work for someone I would love to be able to do that. This is one of the reasons why I don't want to just do nothing after I graduate. I need to stay on top of design as best I can so that I am prepared for the time when I am able to go work for a company.
Cat Eye Records-Style Guide
Here are the links to the style guide for Cat Eye Records.
Link to PDF:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qq0w7phmt5ubnb/RBurtenshaw-StyleGuide_CatEyeRecords.pdf
Link to AV presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju7bl6EY4s4
Link to PDF:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qq0w7phmt5ubnb/RBurtenshaw-StyleGuide_CatEyeRecords.pdf
Link to AV presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju7bl6EY4s4
Natural Mapping
When you think of mapping something out what do you think of? Most of us probably think of showing directions and the layout of something so that another person can understand what is being showed. Mapping is a part of design. When we design something we want it to make sense how it works and show the user the directions and layout of our design. But we don't want our mapping to take away from the design or be too complicated.
Donald Norman talks about natural mapping and how it relates to design. He says "Natural mapping, by which I mean taking advantage of physical analogies and cultural standards, leads to immediate understanding. For example, a designer can use spatial analogy: to move an object up, move the control up. To control an array of lights, arrange the controls in the same pattern as the lights. Some natural mappings are cultural or biological, as in the universal standard that a rising level represents more, a diminishing level, less. Similarly, a louder sound can mean a greater amount" (Norman. 2013). He also gave the example of a stove top. We have four burners and four nobs that control the burners individually. But how do we layout the nobs so that the user knows which goes to which burner? He showed us a few different options but some of them just do not work for the layout of a stove. If you want to turn on the back left burner you would think to use the back left knob, right? Well what if you knobs aren't in a square but are in a straight line? The designer had to come up with a solution to this issue and the most common is a small diagram of four burners in a square and the one it runs it highlighted.
Norman, Donald. "The Design of Everyday Things." · UsabilityPost. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
"To move an object up, move the
control up"
-Donald Norman
Donald Norman talks about natural mapping and how it relates to design. He says "Natural mapping, by which I mean taking advantage of physical analogies and cultural standards, leads to immediate understanding. For example, a designer can use spatial analogy: to move an object up, move the control up. To control an array of lights, arrange the controls in the same pattern as the lights. Some natural mappings are cultural or biological, as in the universal standard that a rising level represents more, a diminishing level, less. Similarly, a louder sound can mean a greater amount" (Norman. 2013). He also gave the example of a stove top. We have four burners and four nobs that control the burners individually. But how do we layout the nobs so that the user knows which goes to which burner? He showed us a few different options but some of them just do not work for the layout of a stove. If you want to turn on the back left burner you would think to use the back left knob, right? Well what if you knobs aren't in a square but are in a straight line? The designer had to come up with a solution to this issue and the most common is a small diagram of four burners in a square and the one it runs it highlighted.
Norman, Donald. "The Design of Everyday Things." · UsabilityPost. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
Do I need to code?
As a graphic designer I am always amazed at how often I get confused for a web designer. I understand people not knowing what exactly a graphic designer is and just assuming that graphics is all web based because that is the direction our society is going in. Technology and the web is everywhere. While we do design for web that is not all we do.
So that's where the big question lies, Do I need to code? I do not think that graphic designers need to be able to code everything they design but I think it's important for them to have a basic understanding of how code works. Being able to code everything they design is a web designers job. But they have to have a basic understanding of design so I think it's only fair that if a graphic designer is going to do some of a web designers job then they need to know a little bit about code and vice versa. I have taken a basic web design class and know a little bit about coding. I have seen where it has benefited me in my school work, especially in interaction design. It also helps to know a little bit of the web's lingo so you can better communicate with the developers.
So that's where the big question lies, Do I need to code? I do not think that graphic designers need to be able to code everything they design but I think it's important for them to have a basic understanding of how code works. Being able to code everything they design is a web designers job. But they have to have a basic understanding of design so I think it's only fair that if a graphic designer is going to do some of a web designers job then they need to know a little bit about code and vice versa. I have taken a basic web design class and know a little bit about coding. I have seen where it has benefited me in my school work, especially in interaction design. It also helps to know a little bit of the web's lingo so you can better communicate with the developers.
Tolerance
What is tolerance? Dictionary.com says that tolerance is "a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own(Tolerance)." But I also hear about my husband figuring out the tolerance of an object in Mechanical Engineering. Tolerance is not a word that is limited to people only. We can apply it to all sorts of things. When I think of tolerance I think of how long I can stand something before I go crazy. But in design that is not necessarily the case.
Tolerance is basically the the ability of a person or object to withstand something that is putting friction against it. Whether that is a sound, or a person when dealing with people or a task when dealing with technology or gravity in mechanical engineering. In design we have to design things that are extremely tolerant of errors. When a user does something wrong out design cannot stop working or break down. It has to be able to let the user know that it wasn't the right option and to try again. Donal Norman said that "Technological systems have to be designed with high precision: they do not have much tolerance for mismatches in specifications. But people - and all biological systems - do not need this high high-precision. They adjust themselves naturally to the environment, producing highly robust, reliable, fault-tolerant operation(Norman)."
Citations:
"Tolerance." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013.
Norman, Donald. "Compliance and Tolerance." jnd.org. N.p., n.d Web.
"But people - and all biological
systems - do not need this high high-precision."
-Dontald Norman
Tolerance is basically the the ability of a person or object to withstand something that is putting friction against it. Whether that is a sound, or a person when dealing with people or a task when dealing with technology or gravity in mechanical engineering. In design we have to design things that are extremely tolerant of errors. When a user does something wrong out design cannot stop working or break down. It has to be able to let the user know that it wasn't the right option and to try again. Donal Norman said that "Technological systems have to be designed with high precision: they do not have much tolerance for mismatches in specifications. But people - and all biological systems - do not need this high high-precision. They adjust themselves naturally to the environment, producing highly robust, reliable, fault-tolerant operation(Norman)."
Citations:
"Tolerance." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013.
Norman, Donald. "Compliance and Tolerance." jnd.org. N.p., n.d Web.
Preparing for employment interviews
As I am coming to the end of my university education I need to start thinking about interviews and getting hired somewhere. We go to school to learn how to do our jobs and the ins and out of that and we do an internship to gain experience in our field. But we do not have a lot of training in preparing for interviews. Interviews are extremely important because they are the deciding factor in if we get the job or not. If we have an amazing portfolio but our interview goes horribly mostly likely we won't get the job. We have to be someone that is easy to get along with and that other people will want to work with. So preparing for interviews is just as important as our portfolios.
There are a few ways we can prepare for interviews. One way is to read up on the company before we go to the interview. We need to do our research and be prepared to ask and answer questions about the company. It would also be beneficial to practice interviews. I did Junior Miss in high school and one thing we practiced was how to interview. I feel like this was very beneficial but I would like to refresh what I learned. I also think we need to be confident and humble. We need to feel good about ourselves and our work and know that we will be an asset but we can't not go into it thinking we are the best and there is no one better.
There are a few ways we can prepare for interviews. One way is to read up on the company before we go to the interview. We need to do our research and be prepared to ask and answer questions about the company. It would also be beneficial to practice interviews. I did Junior Miss in high school and one thing we practiced was how to interview. I feel like this was very beneficial but I would like to refresh what I learned. I also think we need to be confident and humble. We need to feel good about ourselves and our work and know that we will be an asset but we can't not go into it thinking we are the best and there is no one better.
Goal, Intention, Action Sequence
Any process we do has a goal, intention, and an action sequence. In design we have to be concerned with these three words. We need to be aware of where the user is starting and their goal and the process they will go through to get to the goal. If we don't design the action sequence right then they can't make it to the goal effectively. We also need to make sure that the actions make sense with getting from start to finish and that they are visible. If we design it and the actions aren't obvious then our design as failed because the user cannot reach their goal.
"The system should provide actions that match intentions." -Donald Norman (Norman,2002)
We talked in class the other day about what these mean and we used the
example of the marble and the tracks. The teacher gave the starting
track and called it the existing state. He also gave the end track and
cup to catch the marble and called it the goal. Three students had to
figure out how to get the rest of the tracks to line up so the marble
could go from the existing state to the goal. All the tracks in between
were the action sequence. The intention was the placement of the tracks
so that the marble could travel from start to finish.
Citations:
Norman, Donald A. "User Centered Design." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. Page 198
My plan for continuing education
Most of us know that a lot of professions have to take a certain number of credits of continuing education after the graduate to keep their license. My dad is an accountant and I always remember him taking some sort of class. Teachers and health professions are a few of the other people that have to take continuing education classes to keep their license. In graphic design we are not required to take extra classes. We aren't even required to have any formal degree. People just want to see your work and look at your portfolio. I think its extremely important to continue your education. Graphic design is always changing and changing fast. If we don't stay on top of it or try to keep up then our work will suffer and our chances of getting jobs will suffer as well.
Personally, for me, I think I need all the help I can can get. I am 15 credits away from graduating and I still don't feel like I have learned enough to go out and do this for real. Because of this I know that I will never stop wanting to learn more and grow in my abilities. One of the most obvious ways you can continue your education is grad school. But that is something that is not in my plans. I think I will try to get on with a company who is flexible so I can keep up on my skills and continue to use them while still being a mom and waiting for my husband to get done with school.
If I can see what other designers that I admire are doing and read what they have to say it will help me learn after I'm out of school. Also, there are tons of books about design that can help you continue to learn.
Personally, for me, I think I need all the help I can can get. I am 15 credits away from graduating and I still don't feel like I have learned enough to go out and do this for real. Because of this I know that I will never stop wanting to learn more and grow in my abilities. One of the most obvious ways you can continue your education is grad school. But that is something that is not in my plans. I think I will try to get on with a company who is flexible so I can keep up on my skills and continue to use them while still being a mom and waiting for my husband to get done with school.
I think it also helps to follow other designers blogs and websites.
If I can see what other designers that I admire are doing and read what they have to say it will help me learn after I'm out of school. Also, there are tons of books about design that can help you continue to learn.
Visibility
When you think about a design you think it would only make sense to makes important things visible, right? While that makes perfect sense for some reason it is not always the case. Users are often left confused and trying to figure out how to complete a task because the solution is hidden from them. Why do designers do this? Why don't we make everything visible and make things easier to use?
This is a tough question to answer. As a graphic designer one of my obvious concerns is the aesthetics of a design. I want it to look good and appeal to the user. Where are a web designer might have a totally different concern and a mechanical designer has an even different concern that the others.
This is a tough question to answer. As a graphic designer one of my obvious concerns is the aesthetics of a design. I want it to look good and appeal to the user. Where are a web designer might have a totally different concern and a mechanical designer has an even different concern that the others.
"Handles on cabinets distract from some design aesthetics, and so they are deliberately made invisible or left out."
-Donald Norman (2002)
Donald Norman points out and easy solution for when visibility is not an option, sound. He says that "Sound can provide information available in no other way. Sound can tell us that things are working properly or they need maintenance or repair" (Norman. 2002). I found this pretty interesting because it wasn't something I had considered. After I read it I started to think about all they things that make a sound to let me know that something is going on or working. I may not be able to see something didn't work but that error beep lets me know. Using sound as an alternative to visibility can be extremely beneficial. Because of our cultural constants certain sounds mean certain things to us. So if we use sound to give feedback for an action it eliminates the need to add an extra light or error message in our design.
Citations:
Norman, Donald A. "Knowing what to do." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. Page 100
Brands I respect and who did them
Obviously one of the first brands that comes to mind when I think of brand that I respect would be Apples. They have designed a really simple, clean, distinguishable brand. Most people can spot and Apple product on first glance. All of their designs are clean and simple just like their logo, and that is one reason why I like them. Their logo reflects the design of all their products. They didn't just design a logo and slap it on their products. They thought it through and I feel like they have done a really good job.
Other brands that I like are ones that I just like their product or that I've become familiar with. I think exposure to a brand and being around it a lot can make you like it and even think it's a great design even if it isn't the best brand out there.
Other brands that I like are ones that I just like their product or that I've become familiar with. I think exposure to a brand and being around it a lot can make you like it and even think it's a great design even if it isn't the best brand out there.
Constraints
What is a constaint? Dictionary.com defines it as a "limitation or restriction."
When you feel constrained you feel limited or held back. In design we have to be very aware of constraints. In Donald Norman's book he says there are four basic categories of constraints; physical, semantic, cultural, and logical. Donald also explains constraints as being
In my interaction design class we are focusing alot on constraints and conventions. When you are working on an interactive design you have to be aware of constraints. This is the case with any type of designer; graphic, mechanical, architect etc. A physical constraint will physically stop someone from doing a task. A logical constraint will help someone figure out what something does when the physical and semantic constraint do not relay the information. It is usually done by natural mappings. A semantic constraint is when you rely on the environment or situation to figure out how something works. Cultural constraints are based on cultural conventions.
It's been intersting to see how all these different things affect how we interact with everyday objects. Ever since we looked at how doors work and apply these terms to doors I haven't been able to open a door or walk through a door without thinking about my interaction with it and the design on it.
References:
Norman, Donald A. "Knowing what to do." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. page 84-86
dictionary.com
When you feel constrained you feel limited or held back. In design we have to be very aware of constraints. In Donald Norman's book he says there are four basic categories of constraints; physical, semantic, cultural, and logical. Donald also explains constraints as being
"limits to the perceived operation of a device" (Norman, 2002).
In my interaction design class we are focusing alot on constraints and conventions. When you are working on an interactive design you have to be aware of constraints. This is the case with any type of designer; graphic, mechanical, architect etc. A physical constraint will physically stop someone from doing a task. A logical constraint will help someone figure out what something does when the physical and semantic constraint do not relay the information. It is usually done by natural mappings. A semantic constraint is when you rely on the environment or situation to figure out how something works. Cultural constraints are based on cultural conventions.
It's been intersting to see how all these different things affect how we interact with everyday objects. Ever since we looked at how doors work and apply these terms to doors I haven't been able to open a door or walk through a door without thinking about my interaction with it and the design on it.
References:
Norman, Donald A. "Knowing what to do." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. page 84-86
dictionary.com
Do I need a website?
Do I need a website?
We are a technology driven age. There is technology all around us. Many of us cannot function without some sort of technology and most of our work relies on technology, specifically the Internet. We use it to sell stuff, buy stuff, communicate with people, and stay up to date on issues. With the Internet being involved in everything we do I personally think its important that we take full advantage of it. The Internet can be a great way to promote ourselves as a designer. I think we definitely need some sort of a website. We can take advantage of things like behance and linked in and other professional portfolios and even blogs. They are a great way for people to be able to see our work and get introduced to what we can do. But I personally feel if we have a website that is branded with our logo and has our work it only makes us look that much better. We are professionals so we want to look professional and I think one way to do this is to have our own website. Employers will see that we took the initiative and time to set up and keep a website up to date and as long as it looks good it will help impress them.
We are a technology driven age. There is technology all around us. Many of us cannot function without some sort of technology and most of our work relies on technology, specifically the Internet. We use it to sell stuff, buy stuff, communicate with people, and stay up to date on issues. With the Internet being involved in everything we do I personally think its important that we take full advantage of it. The Internet can be a great way to promote ourselves as a designer. I think we definitely need some sort of a website. We can take advantage of things like behance and linked in and other professional portfolios and even blogs. They are a great way for people to be able to see our work and get introduced to what we can do. But I personally feel if we have a website that is branded with our logo and has our work it only makes us look that much better. We are professionals so we want to look professional and I think one way to do this is to have our own website. Employers will see that we took the initiative and time to set up and keep a website up to date and as long as it looks good it will help impress them.
Persona-English Major
Here is a link to my persona for an English major:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fnd2zamkikxzpg0/English-RachelBurtenshaw.pdf
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fnd2zamkikxzpg0/English-RachelBurtenshaw.pdf
Harvest Hills Bakery
AV Presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HjomlZJqjs&feature=youtu.be
Behance:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Style-Guide-Harvest-Hills-Bakery-Identity/6971349
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HjomlZJqjs&feature=youtu.be
Behance:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Style-Guide-Harvest-Hills-Bakery-Identity/6971349
Affordances vs Perceived Affordances
What is a blanket made for? We lay them on our bed and sleep under them to keep us warm at night. We might also wrap up in a blanket and watch a movie or read a good book. Those typical ways of using a blanket would be known as perceived affordances. But if you were to ask my 3 year old what you do with a blanket he would have many different ideas. He likes to use a blanket for those same things as well but to him a blanket can be so much more than that. He can use it to hide under, drape over cushions to make a fort, lay on it to be swung in or pulled around on, or even tie over his shoulders to make a superman cape. All of those would be affordances. It is other ways that something can be used that weren't what it was originally intended to do.
When we are designing things we need to always take into account the difference between affordances and perceived affordances. If we just assume that the user will know how something is intended to be used then our design won't be as good as it could be.
One way to be sure that we are designing for the user with perceived affordances in mind is to test. Usability testing can offer designers so much information and provide them with the best insight to how well their design is doing. I really liked the quote from Steve Krug when he said, "The point of testing is not to prove or disprove something. It's to inform your judgment(Krug, 2006)." I think people get confused in thinking that testing will tell them if one option is better than the other option when in reality it is just to help you form a better decision about how to design. I am starting to realize that a little more as I do my own testing and study about it.
References:
Norman, Donald. "Affordances and Design." RSS 20 Web. Jnd.org, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2013.
Krug, Steve. "Chapter 9." Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability. Berkeley, Calif: New Riders Pub., 2006. N. pag 135. Print.
When we are designing things we need to always take into account the difference between affordances and perceived affordances. If we just assume that the user will know how something is intended to be used then our design won't be as good as it could be.
"In design, we care much more about what the user perceives than what is actually true(Norman). "
One way to be sure that we are designing for the user with perceived affordances in mind is to test. Usability testing can offer designers so much information and provide them with the best insight to how well their design is doing. I really liked the quote from Steve Krug when he said, "The point of testing is not to prove or disprove something. It's to inform your judgment(Krug, 2006)." I think people get confused in thinking that testing will tell them if one option is better than the other option when in reality it is just to help you form a better decision about how to design. I am starting to realize that a little more as I do my own testing and study about it.
References:
Norman, Donald. "Affordances and Design." RSS 20 Web. Jnd.org, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2013.
Krug, Steve. "Chapter 9." Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability. Berkeley, Calif: New Riders Pub., 2006. N. pag 135. Print.
Do I need a physical portfolio?
Going to school were here to learn, and grow, and build our portfolio. But that is where the big question comes up: Do I need a physical portfolio?
We are in a technology based generation and everything seems to be going digital. So the debate about if you need a physical portfolio is a tough one. I personally feel that you should always have some sort of a physical portfolio. People like to be able to hold stuff in their hands and not only be able to see it on screen. I think this is especially true if you are more in the print world of design. Web design, apps for example may not need to be physical because they are meant and built to be seen digitally. I think it is a case by case basis. If you can show something on screen and in print that is a huge bonus because you are showing how it looks in both formats.
I also think it depends on where you plan on working or what you plan on doing with design. If you want to be strictly web and screen design it may not be as important for you. But it might be a good idea to have some stuff physically printed out in case you go to an interview and the employer asks for something physical. You need to do your research and ask questions and get a good idea of what exactly employers in your area of interest want.
Graphic design is different from other professions in that you are judged based on your work. They don't necessarily look at your degree, or what grades you got, they just want to see what you have done. They also factor in your experience and where you have worked because the more experience you have typically that means you are a better designer.
We are in a technology based generation and everything seems to be going digital. So the debate about if you need a physical portfolio is a tough one. I personally feel that you should always have some sort of a physical portfolio. People like to be able to hold stuff in their hands and not only be able to see it on screen. I think this is especially true if you are more in the print world of design. Web design, apps for example may not need to be physical because they are meant and built to be seen digitally. I think it is a case by case basis. If you can show something on screen and in print that is a huge bonus because you are showing how it looks in both formats.
I also think it depends on where you plan on working or what you plan on doing with design. If you want to be strictly web and screen design it may not be as important for you. But it might be a good idea to have some stuff physically printed out in case you go to an interview and the employer asks for something physical. You need to do your research and ask questions and get a good idea of what exactly employers in your area of interest want.
Graphic design is different from other professions in that you are judged based on your work. They don't necessarily look at your degree, or what grades you got, they just want to see what you have done. They also factor in your experience and where you have worked because the more experience you have typically that means you are a better designer.
Feedback
In design we are always concerned about feedback. It tells us how well our design looks or how well it works. Donald Norman says that feedback is "sending back to the
user information about what action has actually been done, what result
has been accomplished" (Norman, 2002). Feedback can be verbal or it can be physical. Verbal feedback would be someone telling you how it worked. Physical feedback would be either a motion or sound when you try to do an action.
Feedback is the best way to let a person know that they did something correctly or incorrectly. If they don't have feedback they are left sitting there waiting and wondering. Have you ever tried to open an application on your computer and nothing happens. You wait for a few seconds then try it again. Still, if nothing happens you start to wonder if you computer froze or if you did something wrong.
Citations:
Norman, Donald A. "The Psychopathology of Everyday Things." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. page 27
Norman, Donald A. "Knowing what to do." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. page 27
Feedback is the best way to let a person know that they did something correctly or incorrectly. If they don't have feedback they are left sitting there waiting and wondering. Have you ever tried to open an application on your computer and nothing happens. You wait for a few seconds then try it again. Still, if nothing happens you start to wonder if you computer froze or if you did something wrong.
"The absence of sound can mean an absence of information, and if feedback from an action is expected to come from sound, silence can lead to problems."
-Donald Norman (Norman, 2002)
This week we have been testing our calculator designs. It has given me a lot of really good feedback. Since it is not a working model if the user does something and it is not how I designed it to work I have to just sit there and they are left wondering why it didn't work. It has been a good chance to see how the feedback of my design is crucial to having a well designed piece and also I get verbal feedback from the person testing my design.
Citations:
Norman, Donald A. "The Psychopathology of Everyday Things." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. page 27
Norman, Donald A. "Knowing what to do." The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic, 2002. N. page 27
What do I do for a designers resume?
When you are applying for a job my employers and company's will ask for a resume. A resume is a brief introduction about yourself. A resume shows your skills, education and experience. It all lists previous employers and references. If a potential employer likes what they see on a resume they might call you in for an interview.
Being able to design and write a good resume is extremely important. But for us as designers I think its a little more important because it is a way to showcase our use of alignment, typography and creativity. We have more opportunities to showcase a little of our skills in our resume. If your resume is designed well it will get their attention but it can't stop there. If the resume looks great but there is spelling errors or other errors it is a huge turn off for employers.
"a resume is a document used by persons to present their backgrounds and skills"
-Wikipedia.com
For a designers resume I need to make sure that it has all the important information, education, experience, specific skills, and previous employment. I also need to make sure the resume reflects my personality and style. It is a chance to showcase our abilities and have it reflect what we like. Since we are designing it for ourselves we do not have to please a client. But at the same time it needs to still be professional. We can't get carried away and make it flashy and hard to read. The point of a resume is for a employer to quickly look through all the information and get a rough idea if you are right for the company.
What is my Educational Responsibility?
"Education is not something you're given, but something you must steal."
-Andy Rutledge Design Professionalism: Preparation for Professionalism
Going through school I have learned a lot of things, but probably the most important thing I've learned is that first quote from Andy Rutledge. If all we are doing at school is simply getting a diploma we are wasting our time. I have been guilty of this myself a few times. I have always known it is important to go to college and get a degree. But the longer I have been in school the more I've learned that it is more than just getting to graduation. The teachers can only teach us the tip of the iceberg, it is our responsibility to discover the rest.
We have all had those assignments where we moan and groan over having to do it but if we step back and take in the whole picture there is more to the assignment then just busy work. An easy example is writing blog posts for our readings. Sure, our teacher wants us to read the readings and this is an easy way to track that we actually did it, but there is more to it. He wants us to be able to write and be able to write well. The purpose of this blog is for future employers to be able to come and look at it and see our work as well as our writing abilities. We may be designers but like every profession you need to be able to communicate verbally and in writing.
So I guess to answer my question, "what is my educational responsibility?", my responsibility is to take more out of school then just what is taught in the classroom. We can all make excuses for having too much going on and being to busy but that will just hurt ourselves. We have to compete with other students who are going the extra mile when we start looking for a job and when we are working in the industry.
Conventions
Breaking away from the norm
What is a convention? According to dictionary.com a convention is "a rule, method, or practice established by usage." We live in a society now where we expect things a certain way. When something is different it throws us out of our comfort zone and we get confused. It also makes us stop and consciously think about what we are trying to do. One convention that I grew accustomed to is using a computer. My whole life I had used PCs and the exit button was always in the top right hand of the screen. No matter what type of computer we had, Dell, HP etc it was always in the same spot. But when I got my first MAC that was not the case. It threw me for a loop the first time I used one. Now I have become used to it and don't have to think about it anymore.
Donald Norman says that "Some constraints rely upon accepted cultural conventions, even if they do not affect the physical or semantic operation of the device." I thought it was interesting how he explained that some constraints are dependent on our cultural conventions. Each cultural has their own way of doing things and certain rules you have to follow. One example he pointed out was that lights are physically interchangeable but because of our cultural constraints they have to be placed in certain places. Red means stop so it goes in the back, white or yellow are head lights so they go in front, and blue is police so it goes on top.
Thinking about conventions they are pretty similar to conceptual models. Last week I talked about doors and the conceptual models that those are. We expect them to work a certain way by using hinges, a knob of some kind, a frame to hold it, and a wall blocking us from where were trying to get to. We have learned how to use doors from experience and we don't have to think about how to use them because we see the visual cues. Donald Norman says,
"the mind is a wonderful organ of understanding- we are always trying to find meaning in the events around us."
Us as designers have a big responsibility to design things in a way that will not only be esthetically pleasing but will also make sense on how to use it. It is always frustrating when you get something that looks really cool but you have no clue how to use it. Conventions are general rules on how things should be and when we break away from those often times the design could fail. So the question to ask is when do you break the rules of how things typically work?
Doors
In our class we separated into groups and went and observed peoples interaction with doors. It is not something we generally stop to think about but it turned out to be quite interesting. We noticed that people will almost always go for a door if its open or partially open rather than opening a completely shut door. We also noticed that most people went for the right door rather than the left door and we guessed this is because they are right handed. The times we noticed this changed was when the were talking or texting on their phone. Then they would use their other hand or their body to open the door. We also noticed if a handle isn't in the spot they would expect it to be it made them pause for a minute and think about it. Opening a door isn't something we generally think about until something happens we weren't planning on.
I also thought it was interesting when we talked about how much we interact with things during the day and we never think about it. We have learned from experience how to use certain things and we don't consciously think about them anymore. If we had to consciously think about everything we interact with it would make for a very long boring day.
This was a pretty interesting experience because it is something I would have never thought to do and I thought it was going to be pretty boring when we first got the assignment. We actually got a lot of good insight about interaction in general and it was kind of fun to watch people and how they all are a little different in their interactions.
A door is a great example of a conceptual model. A conceptual model is a way for us predict the effects of our actions. With a door when we see a handle that is a straight bar we know to push. We can see weather the hinges are on the right or left and that tells us which side to push from. If the door is glass we can see the handle on the other side of the door and that gives us another clue to how this door. From these visual cues we know that if we push on the right side of the door the door will open. But what happens when the door doesn't open? We stop and look at it again and wonder what we did wrong. I really liked Donald Normans quote from his book The Design of Everyday Things. He says,
"when people have trouble with something is isn't their fault- it's the fault of the design."
Feedback is the way we know if our efforts worked or failed. If we try to open a door and it doesn't move that is our feedback. A design fails when it does not provide feedback. Feedback is vital for a good design whether its a noise, movement, vibration or light. Without feedback we sit and wonder if it actually worked or should we try again.
A door is a great example of a conceptual model. A conceptual model is a way for us predict the effects of our actions. With a door when we see a handle that is a straight bar we know to push. We can see weather the hinges are on the right or left and that tells us which side to push from. If the door is glass we can see the handle on the other side of the door and that gives us another clue to how this door. From these visual cues we know that if we push on the right side of the door the door will open. But what happens when the door doesn't open? We stop and look at it again and wonder what we did wrong. I really liked Donald Normans quote from his book The Design of Everyday Things. He says,
"when people have trouble with something is isn't their fault- it's the fault of the design."
Feedback is the way we know if our efforts worked or failed. If we try to open a door and it doesn't move that is our feedback. A design fails when it does not provide feedback. Feedback is vital for a good design whether its a noise, movement, vibration or light. Without feedback we sit and wonder if it actually worked or should we try again.
What is a professional?
A professional is more than just an employee or business owner. They are more than someone who has training or a degree in an area. You do not become a professional just from getting your degree. In my case when I graduate I will have a BFA-Graphic Design degree. But that does not mean I'm a professional. Anyone can go to school and take classes and pass them and get their degree. This doesn't mean they are a professional.
A professional is more concerned about their work and making the client happy then they about just getting the job done and getting a paycheck. A student can even be a professional. If we strive to really learn and not just jump through the hopes and really learn something and make good relations and do good work we can be a professional.
I liked in the reading how it pointed out that a professional looks at someone they are doing work for as a client and not a customer. I think a client is more valued and important than a customer. Both of them you provide a service to but you value a client more and you work with a client and you want to please them.
I also liked how Andy Rutledge pointed out that you are not a professional if you aren't dealing with the client directly. If there is always someone relaying the information to you you can't really get to know the client and their wants and needs.
A professional is more concerned about their work and making the client happy then they about just getting the job done and getting a paycheck. A student can even be a professional. If we strive to really learn and not just jump through the hopes and really learn something and make good relations and do good work we can be a professional.
I liked in the reading how it pointed out that a professional looks at someone they are doing work for as a client and not a customer. I think a client is more valued and important than a customer. Both of them you provide a service to but you value a client more and you work with a client and you want to please them.
I also liked how Andy Rutledge pointed out that you are not a professional if you aren't dealing with the client directly. If there is always someone relaying the information to you you can't really get to know the client and their wants and needs.
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