C Studio Weekly Reflections

Eunice Choe
Aug 31, 2018 · 4 min read

August 30 — Weekly Reflection 1

This week we explored the different types of grid systems used to organize content in print and digital media. This introduction to grids was extremely helpful in understanding how designers approach layouts and visual aesthetics. Even though the grids seem relatively simple, I was surprised to discover the hundreds of variations in the grids, each adding a different dynamic to the pages. When my partner and I were assigned “Dieter Rams: As Little Design as Possible” to analyze, we found grid structures and forms of visual hierarchy that matches Dieter Rams’ design perspective. The minimalist design approach in the book reflects Dieter Rams’ belief that good design uses as little design as possible. For instance, we found that the use of manuscript and modular grids with large margins and negative space match that belief. In addition, the incorporation of photo sections within the book contrast the other text heavy pages through materiality, color, spacing, and content. The most important takeaways from this analysis was deciphering and understanding why and how the designer organized the content in the book.

As my partner and I analyzed the book, we jotted down general observations to get a basic understanding its design aesthetic. In addition, we used tracing paper to outline the grid structures of the text and photos in the book. For next week, I hope to go deeper into understanding grid structure, pacing, and visual hierarchy. With the new vocabulary I learned this week, I have broadened my knowledge of communication design and I hope to apply this knowledge in understanding other forms of print and digital media. Although I was unable to look deeply into the grid structures of digital media, I hope to explore them in the future.

September 6th — Weekly Reflection 2

This week, my partner and I composed the bulk of our presentation on Dieter Rams: As Little Design as Possible. In the process, we had to consider several aspects to effectively communicate our findings on the grid structures and content of the book. For instance, we had to consider the visual aesthetic of the presentation slides so that it compliments the book, without completely mimicking its aesthetic. We explored different types of gray backgrounds for our slides before settling on a medium-dark hue to allow the white pages of the book to have the appropriate level of contrast. We also decided to use the sans-serif type Avenir to present the text. Another challenge my partner and I faced was determining the order of information to present and the general flow. Through creating a storyboard as part of our process, we were able to brainstorm on how to present the information in a clear, concise way. In our next storyboard iteration, we had to prioritize the information so that we could fit the time constraints and eliminate excess content. As we worked on Google slides to create the presentation, we found more slides we could either combine with other slides or eliminate.

Process for the initial storyboard and the macro thumbnails.

After the dry run presentation, my partner and I received positive feedback on our organization, aesthetic, and flow. However, we also received feedback on our color palette and text.

While we originally started off with the first color palette to present the thumbnails, we found that the bright colors did not reflect the simplistic aesthetic of both the book and the presentation. For our next iteration, we were inspired to use the color palette from the book. However, we thought that using this color palette could cause confusion. Finally, we chose the colors in the third image to represent different sections in the book. Our goal was to find a way to present multiple colors on the screen without being too jarring.

Based on our feedback, my partner and I are working on refining the script and flow of our presentation. We want to make sure that our visual elements match the script so that we can have a smooth presentation that is engaging and interesting. We would also like to refine the text in our presentation (messing with the scale and placement) to improve the visual aesthetic. In addition, an important step for us is to just keep practicing!

    Eunice Choe

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