Visual Literacy

Visual Literacy

       "Visual Literacy" was the keyword for today's Concept Development class. I interpret it as to visually describe and express something rather than verbal expression. First thing that came out of my mind right after I heard "Visual Literacy" was the Renaissance masterpieces.I learned some of the paintings in the art history classes; the meanings and stories of the paintings are almost like reading books but everything is compressed within a single frame of art. As what Professor Jimmy said in class, "one single picture contains 1000 words." I agreed with it not just about the visual literacy but also the importance of knowing it in the Concept Development class.
        Speaking of visual communication, I think a lot of people often do not recognize why some comic books can draw their attentions at the same time everything still makes sense. I think because every picture that was chosen is particularly framed in a way that all the needed information is contained, so it would make sense and keep its viewers continue to read. I look at today's comic practice as the way to practice how to condense information to tell a story that communicates with viewers. In the manner of graphic design, condensing important information is significant. For example, designing a logo for a company requires designer to create the logo as simple as possible but still contains lot of information about the company. Designer needs to come out with many concepts of the company in order to condense all of them into that simple logo. I think this is essential to become a successful graphic designer.

        The comic style is called "Rage comic" created by anonymous artists. It's simple but dramatic.

THE HERE MAGAZINE CONCEPT

Imitation of David Carson's style

Risk or Trust

Risk or Trust 

       Today is the first class meeting of the Concept Development class in the Calstate L.A. for the winter 2013 quarter. We played a game called "Risk or Trust," which basically requires student to introduce three things about himself/herself; one of the three things has to be a lie so that audience can guess which one is the lie. Students can either take the risk of guessing or to trust their logic by making a thoughtful decision. I think the reason why we did it is to practice the decision making based on observing the appearance of a student who presents himself/herself. The principle of this game is like working in the industry of graphic design that designers sometimes have to make "tough" decisions.

        For example,when creating a project for a business, does the designer would take the times to figure out the client's favorite or take the risk by using his/her instinct? Because if he/she take the risk, the final design may not be the one that the client likes even though it fits all the requirements of design. But if he/she chooses to trust their own logic by carefully observing the client and makes a logical assumption of what kind the design that would also make the client happy. The result would be different than instinct decision-making.

       Lots of graphic designers nowadays are not as "cocky" as David Carson, who would never change his design even if his clients insist to do so. He only believes what he thinks is the best; and, that works really good. Why such decision making is so important to designers? Because it is hard to figure out which is the majority's interest and which is the minority's interest, so designers need to think "critically" in order to create a rememberable design that satisfy "clients." If I were taking it from the opposite point of view about taking the risk, I would say that is not a bad thing to do.
       I still use David Carson as an example to explain why taking a risk is not a bad thing. The style of his typeface led the modern typography into a new era. I'm sure David Carson did not know how famous his type design will be before he even created them. It is like taking a risk for an adventure when he first designed the style. More importantly to know, he decided to go with the style for all of his clients such as Pepsi and Microsoft. He was really successful as a result.

Scene from the class today