ahandrewh teaches IAT-235information design

P1: Layout (due January 22)

Introduction

A strong design process and understanding of composition are important to being an effective designer. This project has you exploring process while generating composition ideas using specific constraints.

This project is completed individually.

P1: Layout is worth 15% of your final grade.

Weekly instructions

This project spans multiple weeks. Please read the weekly instructions carefully.

From January 8 to January 15

During this week you will generate ideas for a digital book cover for mobile devices, refine them, and assemble a document showing your process.

There are a very specific set of constraints for this week of the project to help focus on working with type and composition:

  • Dimensions of the cover are 1080 pixels (wide) by 1920 pixels (tall).
  • Only the following shades are permitted:
    • Black — 0,0,0 (RGB)
    • White — 255,255,255 (RGB)
    • 70% Gray — 179,179,179 (RGB)
  • Only the following text — author name, title, and subtitle — is to be included:
    • Jessica Cheung
    • Learning through travel
    • An exercise
  • Only the attached FiraGO font (from bBox Type) is permitted.
  • No shapes, images, or other added content may be used.

Please complete the following:

  1. Working with the constraints provided, generate 30 thumbnail sketches to explore different layouts for the book cover. These sketches need to explore different ideas, not small variations on the same idea.
    • How to establish a clear type hierarchy.
    • How to compose all the text to direct and engage a reader.
    • How to use empty spaces in the design actively.
  2. Select three of your thumbnail sketches and create a refined version of each of the three. These refined versions will:
    • Show the treatment of type used.
    • Show the use of colours.
    • Use the text provided.
  3. Select one of your refined sketches and create a digital version. What program you use is up to you.
  4. Open up your final design on your phone to assess how well it works. Refine the digital version as necessary.

Assemble your process into a series of 1920 pixel (wide) by 1080 pixel (tall) PDF page(s) that uses headings and layout to effectively provide an overview of your process. Ensure the PDF:

  • Shows the sketches clearly — if taking a photo, make sure there is good lighting.
  • Clearly indicates which sketches were selected and refined.
  • Uses the headings to help guide us through the process.
  • Makes it possible for us to understand how you got to your result.

Please bring these materials to your next lab.

From January 15 to January 22

During this week you will generate layout ideas for the interior of the digital book, refine them, and assemble a document showing your process.

There are a very specific set of constraints for this to help focus on working with type, framing and composition. The constraints:

  • Dimensions are three 1080 pixel (wide) x 1920 pixel (tall) panels that would be scrolled through horizontally. We have a PDF template available for use to get you started.
  • Only the following shades are permitted:
    • Black — 0,0,0 (RGB)
    • White — 255,255,255 (RGB)
    • 70% Gray — 179,179,179 (RGB)
  • Only the attached text for your title, subtitles, author name, and body text.
  • Only the attached FiraGO font (from bBox Type) is permitted.
  • Select and use only one photo set:
  • No shapes or other added content may be used.

Please complete the following:

  1. Working with the constraints provided, generate 20 thumbnail sketches to explore different layouts for all three panels. These sketches need to explore different ideas, not small variations on the same idea. Consider:
    • How many photos to use — you must use at least one — and how to frame them.
    • How to establish a clear type hierarchy.
    • How to compose all the text to direct and engage a reader.
    • How to use empty spaces in the design actively.
    • How to work best with a layout that will be horizontally scrolled.
  2. Select three of your thumbnail sketches and create a refined version of each of the three. These refined versions will:
    • Show the treatment of type used.
    • Show the use of colours.
    • Use the titles provided and indicate where the bodytext would go.
    • Show the photos and framing used.
  3. Select one of your refined sketches and create a digital version. What program you use is up to you.
  4. Open up your final design on your phone to assess how well it works. Refine the digital version as necessary.

Assemble your process into a series of 1920 pixel (wide) by 1080 pixel (tall) PDF page(s) that uses headings and layout to effectively provide an overview of your process. Ensure the PDF:

  • Shows the sketches clearly — if taking a photo, make sure there is good lighting.
  • Clearly indicates which sketches were selected and refined.
  • Uses the headings to help guide us through the process.
  • Makes it possible for us to understand how you got to your result.

Please bring these materials to your next lab.

Grading rubric

Grading for this project focuses on process and the presentation of process. Please email Andrew with any questions about the rubric.

A B C D/F

Exploration quality and quantity (8 pts)

The quantity of layout options are more than required and exploring very different ideas.

The quantity of layout options are the same as required and explore different ideas.

The quantity of layout options are less than required or explore similar ideas.

The quantity of layout options are significantly less than required and/or explore significantly similar ideas.

Responsive design (2 point):

Content sizing is appropriate — legible titles/images, readable body text size — for mobile devices.

Content sizing is somewhat appropriate — some concerns with legibility of titles/images or with readability of body text — for mobile devices.

Content sizing is not appropriate — many concerns with legibility of titles/images or with readability of body text — for mobile devices.

Followed the book cover constraints (1 pt)

All constraints — dimensions, colour, text, and font — have been followed.

One constraint — dimensions, colour, text, or font — has not been followed.

Two or more constraints — dimensions, colour, text, and/or font — have not been followed.

Followed the inside panels constraints (1 pts)

All constraints — dimensions, colour, text, font, and image-use — have been followed.

One constraint — dimensions, colour, text, font, or image-use — has not been followed.

Two or more constraints — dimensions, colour, text, font, and/or image-use — have not been followed.

Polish (3 pts)

Headings, layout, and structure in the submission are used effectively to provide a clear overview of the process.

Headings, layout, and structure in the submission are used somewhat effectively to provide an understandable overview of the process.

Headings, layout, and structure are in the submission are used ineffectively, and provide a difficult to understand overview of the process.

Final submission requirements (January 22)

The final submission for P1 is both weeks of your process as a series of 1920 pixel (wide) by 1080 pixel (tall) PDF pages.

Your project submission is due to Canvas before your January 22 lab.

Please make sure double-check all your submitted files and URLs to ensure they can be opened. We want to avoid late or problematic submission penalties whenever possible.