Assignmnt #14 | Research and Inspiration

i love how all the designs kind of blend.. i like the excel background blended into it and the words on the right. it captures our age group

This one really conveys a message and i love the dark background and then contrasted with the bright word life and how it glows..

I love this one!! i love how it is so simply but it conveys and very strong and clear message. i also like the faded clouds and the simple background
















brainstorming
- our age group
- unique like the first one
-

Visual Organization

eye movement - not directing them through a design is misguiding them. left to right, top to bottom. controlling eye movement within the composition is a matter of directing the natural scanning tendency of the viewers eye. the eye tends to gravitate towards areas of complexity first. In pictures of people, the eye is always attracted to the face and particularly the eye. light areas will attract the eye, especially when adjacent to the dark. Diagonal lines or edges will guide eye movement.
                   optical center - the spot where the human eye tends to enter the page. slightly above the mathematical center and just to the left.

z-pattern - our visual pattern makes a sweep of the page, generally, in the shape of a "Z". effective page design maps a viewer's route through the information. the designer's objective is to lead the viewer's eye to the important elements or information.

fonts -
1. no more than two fonts
2. make sure that they compliment each other
3. Avoid uppercase of all caps.
4. choose the right type of font
5. do not overuse fancy or complicated fonts
www.typography.com/email/2010-03/index.htm

visual hierarchy - will establish focal points based on their importance to the message that's being communicated.
A crucial part of the process is to establish an order of elements, a visual structure, to help the viewer absorb the information provided by a design.

Establish visual hierarchy...
1. What do i want my viewer to look at first?
2. What about second....third...fourth....fifth...etc.

THE GRID
- a way of organizing content on a page, using any combination of margins, guide lines, rows, and columns.
- instituted by Modernism
- can assist the audience by breaking info into manageable chunks.
- distinct set of alignment-based relationships
- every design is different and require a different grid structure.
- help clarify the message and unification of elements

Cuneiform and the Sumerians | 3,000 BC

The Sumerians were one of the earliest types of this kind of civilization? What does that mean? one of the earliest nomadic civilizations. they moved around often and settled at different places.

Why is the region of Sumer considered the Cradle of Civilization?  it is where cuneiform, the worlds first written language, was created

What could the Sumerians practice year round because of the regions climate? year round agriculture.
Post an example of early Cuneiform (Sumerian pictograph).
Why was Cuneiform created? they needed a way to track all of the business transactions. 
What medium was used to "write" Cuneiform? Explain the process of preparing and writing on this surface? clay tablets. wet the clay, form it into flat surfaces, use a wedge shaped stylus to make impressions, then lay the tablets in the sun allowing them to dry and harden.

What did Cuneiform begin as a series of? pictographs
Post an example of evolved Cuneiform (wedge-shaped).
After it evolved over time, what shape did the characters of Cuneiform evolve into? a wedge shaped language.
Post an example of Akkadian Cuneiform.
After the Akkadians conquered, what happened to the Sumerian culture and written language? they adopted the sumerian culture and their written language.

What is a pictograph? a pictorial representation of an object.

Why did the creation of Cuneiform allow the Sumerians to become a sophisticated culture? because they were the only ones with a written form of language. 

Cave Paintings | 35,000 years ago

What are cave paintings? detailed and colorful representations found on cave walls and ceilings. 

Name several common themes found in cave paintings? large animals and tracings of humans hands and abstract patterns

How were these paintings created (tools, pigments)? water, plant juice, animal blood, soil, charcoal, and hematite. brushes - sticks, small stones, leaves, animal hair.

What is the most famous cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom? Lascaux by four teenage boys. Discovered in 1940
Post an example of cave painting(s) from this cave.

Why did this cave have to be closed? What was done to satisfy public curiosity? becase the wall paintings were being damaged by carbon dioxide. The French government created a manmade replica right next to the original.
Post an example of cave painting(s) from Altamira cave.


In Altamira cave, why do most of the paintings have a red hue? caused by the red clay in the soil that was used to make paint

Who discovered this site? How old are the paintings confirmed to be? Maceline Sanz de Sautuoula and his daughter Maria. Made nearly 19,000 years ago

What is the oldest known cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom? Chauvet - Point Arc. in 1994 discovered by 3 speleogists. Post an example of cave painting(s) from this cave.

What was different about the painting techniques at this site? The walls were scraped clear of debris and a 3D effect was created by etching the image around the edges. They found fossilized remains.

What is "speleology"? the study or exploration of caves.
What three reasons do archeologists and historians believe prehistoric man created cave paintings?
1. created to tell a story, or recount an event.
2. created as a visual aid to teach about hunting.
3. created for magical or religious reasons. if it were painted - it might come true!

Assignment #13: Research and Inspiration

What is exquisite corpse? a method by which a collection of images/texts is collectively assembled.
Where did it come from? from a game called Consequences in the early 1900s.
Who invented it? Surrealists
What is surrealism? an art movement that sought the create from a unconscious mind; like a dream world.

unrealistic, exaggerated

The Creative Process

Why do we need the creative process?

- it will improve consistency

- the ability to plan and time your work; always have a goal

- raise the quality of your work

- communicate more effectively and in a more professional manner

Steps of the creative process: 

1. research: the more you know, the easier it will be.

2. brainstorming/inspiration: gathering ideas, talking about what you are going to do, trends

- What kind of message am i trying to communicate?

- Who is my audience?

- What kind of color/style will work for the audience?

3. sketch: thumbnails, thumbnails, and more thumbnails

4. execution: compose your piece. combine your type and imagery into a well developed composition. 

5. critique and revise: tale a step back and look at your design with an objective eye. make sure it conveys the message to the intended audience! ask others for their opinion.

Photo Composition

snapshot - a quick shot, often spontaneous, taken to record a moment in time.
photograph - an image taken with care and thought.
rule of thirds - imaginary lines drawn dividing the frame of your camera into thirds, both horizontally and vertically.
leading lines - use the lines created within the foreground or background of the composition to lead the viewer's eye through the photo.
point of view - change the way your subject is perceived by changing the camera position.
simplicity - keep your background simple, clear of clutter.