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 10).

In preparation for lecture...

Please close up any laptops, cellphones, Game Boys, Trinitrons 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."

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:

1. Set up a purpose for the sketches.
2. Aim for quick, small drawings.
3. Set a timer.
4. 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'.

Any questions?

Design Thinking

Last week

1. Define
2. Research
3. Ideate
4. Choose
5. Try
6. Learn (and repeat)

Design Thinking

This week

1. Define
2. Research
3. Ideate
4. Choose
5. Try
6. Learn (and repeat)

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.

What are some of the things a point can represent?

You have 5 minutes.

What are some of the things a line can represent?

You have 5 minutes.

What are some of the things a plane (not the air kind) can represent?

You have 5 minutes.

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.

Second is colour.

We will discuss colour later in the term.

Third is form.

Building Relationships

Gestalt theory offers us tools for building meaningful visual relationships. Design borrows from science and art to create form and function.

Proximity

Gestalt theory

Things that are closer are more related.

Space

Design theory

Helps to clarify relationships and direct attention.

Similarity

Gestalt theory

Things that are similar are more related.

Harmony and unity

Design theory

Things that appear similar will help give us a sense of cohesion to a visual language.

Scale and hierarchy

Design theory

Helps to build an understanding of relationships.

Continuance

Gestalt theory

We will build relationships between things that track along an expected line.

Order of cognition continued

1. Basics: colour, depth, form
2. Grouping: Gestalt
3. Memory: connections
4. Recognition: connections applied and understood

To Figma!

We will continue our tutorial from last week, covering:

• Adding more pages
• Recap on creating frames
• Adding grids
• Viewing a prototype
• Locking your project
• Recap on sharing projects

Homework review

Things to work on this week:

• Submit your sketching exercise before 8am on Monday (September 15).
• Work on your project and bring your deliverables to class next week.

Next week: An introduction to typography and working with type in design

Critique time

During this time you can:

• Complete the in-class activity
• Work on project deliverables or the sketching exercise
• Go grab a lunch/snack

Once done the in-class activity and critique you are free to go for the day.