Learning Objectives Covered
- LO 05.11 – Critique the use of type techniques and design principles to organize text and create hierarchy, and recommend solutions
Career Relevancy
Doing research, critiquing and evaluating what you find is an integral part of the professional’s design process. If you can dissect examples of the type of work you need to create, and evaluate what makes it successful (or not) you will be able to incorporate that into your own successful design.
Background
Personal invitations are an interesting design area to study. They can be presented digitally or in print. They can follow traditional formats or be influenced by trends and/or the place and people hosting the event. But either way, a successful execution will depend on how well it communicates the information. Successful hierarchy and organization will be created by using typographical techniques and applying design principles.
Type techniques and design principles
There are different type techniques that will help you organize the content of an invitation and create a hierarchy for the reader to follow. Basic design principles contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity (C.R.A.P) are applicable to all design projects. These are some specific ways they can influence a text-based design.
- Contrast creates hierarchy by leading and directing the eye of the reader/viewer through your intended path.
- Repetition creates continuity in the text and concept for the reader/viewer.
- Alignment stabilizes a design.
- Proximity creates logical and visual connections by placing text that belongs together in close proximity to each other. Good proximity includes even and generous margins and enough space to separate text and images.
Critiquing and recommending solutions
Critiques are maybe the most valuable learning tool for you as you go through school, and after, in a professional setting as well. Receiving critique/feedback is the life of a designer… everything you create will go through several rounds of feedback/scrutiny and critique.
To be helpful critiques need to be specific, and as non-subjective as possible. “I like that…” is nice, but not helpful. “That works well because ______” or, “I think it might work better if ____ because _____” are the sorts of comments that you can learn from and build on.
Also, remember that there are not very specific “right and wrong” answers in design. As Kate Lawless and Shannon Crabill put it “Design isn’t math. There are … only subjective opinions that may differ from one designer to another” (Lawless and Crabill 2015). So even specific, non-subjective answers are only one of many possible solutions. In the end, it is you as the designer that will have to make the final decision.
Reference:
Lawless, K., & Crabill, S. (2015, March 27). How to give and receive a good design critique. Retrieved May 08, 2016, from http://www.aiga.org/how-to-give-receive-design-critique/ (Links to an external site.)
Prompt
For our discussion this week you are going to imagine that you are asked by a couple to design an invitation for their wedding. The invitation should be text oriented and not feature a photo.
First, you would want to do some research and check out some designs to find a few examples to guide you. You are going to evaluate and critique the designs, and explain what you think works well and if there are any changes you’d make. (Note: you will not be designing an invitation for this discussion, just finding and evaluating examples of work you find online)
In your post be sure to cover the following:
- Besides the obvious of needing to know the names, date, and place for the event, what questions would you ask to guide your design and research? List at least two questions.
- Now list what you would imagine the answers to those questions would be. (You can make up your own answers)
- Post two different examples of invitations that would be a suitable inspiration for your design. (See instructions on how to embed your images below)
- Evaluate what part of the design works and why, and any part that would not.
- Incorporate ideas that you have as to what you may add or change to have the design better suit your client’s needs and event. The ideas could include different font choices, emphasis, the arrangement of the text and colors.
- You are not to design an invitation at this point, only find examples online to evaluate.
For your citation, you might use articles that show examples of different types of wedding invitations. You can also find articles from experts that show current trends in invitation design.
Your initial and reply posts should work to develop a group understanding of this topic. Challenge each other. Build on each other. Always be respectful but discuss this and figure it out together.
Instructions to upload and embed images to the discussion: (make sure you reference all images you use)
- How to embed an image in a discussion reply as a student: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-1929
- How do I upload a file to my user or group files: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-3145
Reply Requirements
Per the Due Dates and Participation Requirements for this course, you must submit 1 main post of 150+ words, 1 citation, and reference, as well as 2 follow-up posts of 50+ words. Responses can be addressed to both your initial thread and other threads but must be your own words (no copy and paste), each reply unique (no repeating something you already said), and substantial in nature. Remember that part of the discussion grade is submitting on time (20%) and using proper grammar, spelling, etc. (20% per post).
Remember that part of the discussion grade is submitting on time and using proper grammar, spelling, etc. You’re training to be a professional—write like it.
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