ah teaches graphic design (Seeing How We See lecture)
Seeing How We See
Lecture outline
Perception and design principles. Lecture slides will be made available on the day of the lecture (September 23/24).
Critique volunteers
If anyone has P1 deliverables they would be willing to have publicly critiqued, please let Andrew know before the break.
![A blurry photo](Title.webp)
Seeing How We See
In preparation for lecture...
Please close up any laptops, cellphones, BlackBerries, Pagers and other 'beep-boop' devices.
Critique
Critique is a communication skill. Effective critique requires reading/listening, responding, and practice.
Bias
"[Our] perspectives are coloured by our habits, beliefs, and attitudes."Erika Hall
Effective critique is...
- Purposeful: Has a clear statement or goal.
- Specific: Identifies a particular strength/weakness (not speaking in generalities).
- Language appropriate: Uses language understood by the audience.
- Practical/action-oriented: There is something to do or think about.
- Timely: The type of feedback given makes sense for the stage of work.
Ineffective critique is...
- Absolute: Providing no potential direction for solving the problem.
- Not contextualized: Speaking your own opinion without stating so.
- Not clarified: Talks to work without understanding what it is about.
- Uninvited: Given without being requested or expected.
- Needlessly vulgar: Swearing unnecessarily.
Why critique matters
Effective critique can:
- Motivate and inspire
- Reinforce existing strengths
- Remedy errors
- Help reflection and learning
Critique context
Before giving critique, it is always important that you understand what the project is, and where it is at. This helps ensure your feedback will be timely and purposeful.
Visual brain dump
A form of visual brainstorming:
- Set up a purpose for the sketches.
- Aim for quick, small drawings.
- Set a timer.
- Don't erase, draw more.
Today's critique
Our approach
We will be taking the 'I like/I wish' approach for today's critique: Please start each critique with either 'I like' or 'I wish'.
![A series of layout sketches](sketches/sketch_01_group.webp)
![A series of layout sketches](sketches/sketch_02_group.webp)
Any questions?
Design Thinking
Last week
- Define
- Research
- Ideate
- Choose
- Try
- Learn (and repeat)
Design Thinking
This week
- Define
- Research
- Ideate
- Choose
- Try
- Learn (and repeat)
Bauhaus
The 1920's to 30's
![The Bauhaus Font](Bauhaus_Font.webp)
ITC Bauhaus Typeface
Form Follows Function
![An outline of the Bauhaus' design course](Bauhaus_Course.webp)
The Bauhaus program
How to choose ideas
Getting good at picking ideas to further refine requires an understanding of the purpose of the design, the principles that define good content structure, and critique.
![An illustration demonstrating visual rhythm](Design_principles.webp)
Design principles
What are some of the things a point can represent?
What are some of the things a line can represent?
What are some of the things a plane (not the air kind) can represent?
The Visual Form
Consider what does the visual form afford us that other forms — i.e. auditory, tactile — do not?
Good content structure
Good content structure helps direct and guide a viewer through the content actively. We are going to recap a number of design fundamentals that help us build better structures.
Sequence of cognition
A simplified overview for the purposes of our class:
First is shape.
![A layout with a series of shapes representing the positioning of content](sketching_cognition_shape.webp)
Second is colour.
We will discuss colour later in the term.
Third is form.
![A layout with a series of shapes representing the positioning of content](sketching_cognition_form.webp)
Gestalt
Next in our order of cognition
A psychological theory that our minds self-organize disparate elements into a unified whole. Can you see the 'shape' in this picture?
![A series of dark blotches on a white background that contain the shape of a dog if recognized](Gestalt.webp)
Building Relationships
Gestalt theory offers us tools for building meaningful visual relationships. Design borrows from science and art to create form and function.
Figure & Ground
Gestalt theory
![A series of sketched frames with birds in them. The second and third frames contain a dark and light fill to help demonstrate contrast](sketching_figure_ground.webp)
Proximity
Gestalt theory
Things that are closer are more related.
![A sketch with a mouse next to the word 'cat', and a cat next to the word 'dog'](sketching_proximity.webp)
Space
Design theory
Helps to clarify relationships and direct attention.
![A sketch of a spread with one page filled with content and the other with only one element in the center of it](sketching_space.webp)
![A sketch of a series of spreads illustrating symmetrical to more assymetrical balance in layout](sketching_balance.webp)
Balance helps to direct and focus attention
Similarity
Gestalt theory
Things that are similar are more related.
![A sketch illustrating a collection of different elements on two separate pages, some similar, some not](sketching_similarity.webp)
Harmony and unity
Design theory
Things that appear similar will help give us a sense of cohesion to a visual language.
![A sketch illustrating a collection of different elements on a spread of pages, most dissimilar](sketching_harmony.webp)
Scale and hierarchy
Design theory
Helps to build an understanding of relationships.
![A sketch with the first page illustrating larger text above smaller text, and the second page illustrating smaller text above larger text](sketching_scale.webp)
Continuance
Gestalt theory
We will build relationships between things that track along an expected line.
![A sketch of a spread with the illustrated boxes following an expected pattern](sketching_continuance.webp)
![A poster for an exhibition by Kandinsky](Bauhaus.webp)
Gestalt applied
![A sketch with two frames, one illustrating the head and the other the feet of a bird](sketching_framing_cropped.webp)
Framing can direct attention and change the message
![A sketch with three frames, the two smaller frames illustrating the head and feet of a bird which are portions of the larger frame, which shows the bird destroying a building and people running away](sketching_framing.webp)
Framing can direct attention and change the message
![A sketch of a layout with a photo of ducks feet at the top of the layout which align with text below the framed photo](sketching_framing_continuance.webp)
Continuance (and other Gestalt principles) can apply to build relationships with framed elements as well
Order of cognition continued
- Basics: colour, depth, form
- Grouping: Gestalt
- Memory: connections
- Recognition: connections applied and understood
Tomorrow's labs
In the labs we will expect your project deliverables ready to go for discussion and we will cover more on Figma.
No lecture next week
Labs on October 1 are for getting further feedback on your P1 deliverables or completing the reading reflection.