How do I feel about the Final product of my book?

I definitely think I have a well crafted book as well as good focus on the accurate communication of my images. I do need to work on time management though these factors are important, they are time consuming. I need to work on progressive planing in order for me to evenly focus my attention on the importance of the project as a whole. Getting too focused on each step makes it more difficult to see the big picture. If I had been able to manage my time better I would have had more opportunity to arrange the imagery within the dots more appropriately to the composition they relate to.

How Does the Making of a Book Full of Dots Communicate?

     Dots work as a tool really for making an image, not laterally but in an indirect way. The way they are arranged in of most importance in order to communicate their meaning. If not place in a systematic fashion how people see the image will be distorted, but by placing them correctly the compositions will trigger memory, relationships and similar thoughts and ideas of the person viewing the image. By allowing for this sort of communication the viewer is both engaged  in finding the mean and discovering the abstraction of how this meaning was communicated simply by using dots.
     The materials and imager used in to form the dots and the environment of the dots is also very important in making connections. These kinds of things can make connections between multiple images making them cohesive or simply just by expanding the meaning through added variables when done in a subtle but pleasing manner. The materials can also be the factor which draws the attention of the viewer, by attraction an emotion or educational function related to the topic of the subject.
     This concept also deals with the format of putting the materials together. The way multiple images are put together or combined determines how the viewer approaches the subject. A book for example requires the touch of the view another form or engagement allowing them to interact with the images and create time with their fingers. The simple turning of the page shows progression and a process of thought, also making the order of the placement in images important as well.

Final Images for the Completed Book

     

       

Each composition reflects a design principal, for my compositions these apply:

Disaster- positive/negative space

Shelter- alignment

Gain- asymmetry

Removal- proximity

Neglect- proximity or framing

Nurture- scale

Calming- layers

Developing- alignment

Dormant- framing

Harsh- alignment or positive/negative space

Here are a few examples for typography of how the text interacts with the circle compositions. Nurture for my book is a good example of serendipity when matching up these two separate  compositions. The "U-R-E" flows nicely over the green circle near the edge of the page.

How am I doing on my Color?

                        

Getting the color to look the way it should. Its a process! For now I just need to work on the images to help highlight the color that is there. This can be done by cropping up close on specific areas of color or simply adjusting the lighting.

Emotion of Color

How do these palates make you feel? I found this to be a simple but fun activity, in relating 2 important things which we are familiar with together. We may or may not realize it all the time but color really does effect how we see and feel about any image or object. This concept could also make things difficult for well all perceive things differently.

RGB and Pantone Color Comparison

The comparison of Pantone colors and RGB colors for this project was very successful. This can be seen based on the image shown above, due to the almost invisible differences between the multiple colors on each chart. I find this very interesting especially due to the brightness of the colors used within this image.

Helvetica Video

     Helvetica is the most commonly used typeface we see everyday. It is versatile and can be used in infinite ways. Though, the type face itself has change little but almost not at all throughout its existence, it is still continuing to change in many ways. It is changing in the way we use it, see it and contextualize it. The bigger question though is if in fact Helvetica is over used? Is it overwhelming how much it is used or do we simply take it for granted? Though this may be an issue we still find ways to make our use for it interesting, giving Helvetica a well rounded diversity.

Pantones and RGB colors

RGB found by use of the illustrator RGB color tool. Pantones found by using the photoshop color library pantone swatches.

Pantone

RGB

Typography Edits for Book!

Word compositions to go with the vis com circle compositions. Each word composition will be a layer of the circle compositions by being printed on transparency sheets. Both functioning as images alone as well as together, while both representing the words through visual communication of text and image. Here's just a little bit of how I'm working and a few edits to my work in progress.

Words/letters printed to be pasted onto the 6x9 template,
which gets scanned and reprinted as a final copy

First Draft

Second Draft

Harley-Davidson Logo

Harley-Davidson Logo

The Harley Davidson logo is certainly one of the most famous logos in the world. The logo is popularly referred to as the "Bar and Shield" logo. Harley Davidson is not only a name, but also a legend and cannot be separated from the bikes mechanical transformations and performance successes. The history of the Harley-Davidson motorcycles began in Milwaukee in 1902, when 21-year-old William S. Harley created a design for a one-cylinder motorcycle. A year later, in 1903, he partnered up with 20-year-old Arthur Davidson to assemble the first Harley-Davidson Motorcycle. The original logo was designed by Arthur Davidson when he crudely scribbled Harley Davidson Motor Company on the wooden front door of their original 10’X 15’ shop in 1903.

The company had moved to a larger facility in 1910 and began to make motorcycles for police departments. The famous Bar and Shield logo in orange and black was registered with the patent office in the year 1910. There is no record of who designed it or where the bar and shield originated. It is reasonable to assume William S. Harley, an engineering graduate of the University of Wisconsin, designed the original logo shape. He used the original scribbling of his partner in 1903 and added shapes that resembled highway signs of the era.

Harley Davidson used several logos over the early years to identify its bikes with various shapes that were attached to the gas tanks. Some had wings, with just the name Harley Davidson nestled in straight horizontal lines and crosses. The art deco "eagle" design became the next Harley logo. It was painted on every Harley in 1933 to try and stimulate sales after the depression. It was after 1930 when motorcycle riders were being thought of as outlaws, and using the skull and crossbones as their emblem. The company needed to change this image. Willie G. Davidson came up with the "skull and wings" logo.

For Harley's 50th anniversary a V logo was made. This logo was put on the fender of every 1954 model bike. However, the official logo remained the “Bar and Shield”. The first Harley-Davidson logo to appear in an ad campaign features the now world famous "Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles" emblem in red and green. It is a historic advertisement from the 1920s and suggests that the company saw itself as a global rather than national force in the manufacture and sale of motorcycles. Today the logo is only slightly changed and kept in orange and white, but it is otherwise virtually the same as the original logo design.

That shape was modified in 1965 to make it more contemporary with two vertical curves along the side to meet the stylized shapes of the sixties, resembling the route 66-highway sign. Harley Davidson wanted to set itself apart from its new Japanese competitors with their sleek, swift designs by retaining the rural American traditions of its past. It is not known who did the actual design modifications but it evokes images of long highways through classic American landscape, the roar of an engine sounding like a thunder clap and the polish of chrome doing its best to imitate lightning. The Harley Davidson logo includes black, white and orange color, giving it a very strong contrast. The background stays black while the fonts are written in orange on the shield and in white over the bar, presenting a picture of solidarity and elegance. The fonts of the Harley Davidson logo are simple and caps locked. The bar shows fonts of the same size while the size changes sequentially in the shield. Nevertheless they are simple and bold enough to catch all the praise the brand is worthy of.

The Harley Davidson logo is an excellent example of a trademark that evolved over a period of time to help claim market share and established branding remaining contemporary to its time. Although no one designer can stake a claim its success, many helped refine its image to establish its iconic shape. The logo itself has generated millions of sales and the marketing of the logo has become a yearly $41 million dollar business in itself. Today the logo remains a powerful and a famous sign symbolizing the free spirited individuals that characterize the American landscape. The uniformity and simplicity of the Harley Davidson logo is proof of its success, growth, popularity and development over the past 100 years.

Sources

<www. powerpassion.nl/harley/story-engels.html>

http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-the-History-Behind-the-Historical-Harley-Davidson-Logo&id=3963945

http://www.dinesh.com/history_of_logos/worlds_best_brands_and_logos/harley_davidson_logo_design_and_history.html.

www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/H-D_History/history_1900s.jsp?locale=en_US

www.logoblog.org/harley_davidson_logo.php

How the Eye sees colors when placed in relation to each other

Reversed-Grounds

• the "X" stays the same shade of gray but is perceived differently according to the surrounding color as it is changed.

Color Interaction Demo II

• by changing the hue of each of the three sections the two rectangles will alternate which overlaying on top or bellow the other.

Color Interaction I

• when altering the hues of the inner and outer squares the distance in which the small square is seen moves between being closer and further away. 

Circle Compositions with color

These are a couple layouts to show my use of color, which will be achieved by using colored paper for the final compositions. For the cutouts on the final the colored paper will have the imagery related to the words printed, in black ink, within the circles or the colors shown bellow.

Dormant

Developing

Practice Word for Book Words

This is a Final print of an image produced by cutting out letter (printed) and arranging them into a composition in a way that functions as the word itself. Medium quality, for slight confusion with the placement between the top and bottom forms.  

Final layouts for Final Circle Compositions

Gathering my materials now and refining how to fit it with my theme. I'm considering things like maps, really soft green, brown and red tones to print on. The imagery which I have been looking at to fit the theme of man vs. nature are really earthy and human like images, things like: landscapes, water, earth and fire, the human form, and weather conditions (most provided by magazines). The open circles as shown will be filled with these images.

Desaster

Harsh

Color Wheel

For Color theory we were required to make our own color wheel, thus producing mathematically each hue, shad and tent of a color. Once acquiring the ink (C,M,Y,K) based Tertiary, primary, and secondary colors , all hues, you can begin to addition and subtraction of color to compose the tints and shades.  Shades for example are made by adding increments of black to each level of darkness of a color (Color wheel shown done using increments of 20). Tones on the other hand when dealing with ink requires the removal of color rather than the addition of white. 

This Color wheel is the introduction to the study of color through image and will we taking photographs consisting of extermination of color palates and what they do for and image. In order to fulfill this assignment if have chosen for my theme to take photographs of beds/bed rooms.

How Does our Brain Read Words?

Check out this link to know...
http://www.perbang.dk/orcapia.cms?aid=76

Final Word list for my up coming Book Project

The Title of my Book and its content:
     Coexist: (The Relationship of Man and Nature)
This book will contain 10 circle compositions which show relationship to descriptive words, both referring back to my title/theme.

10 words:

1. Gain
2. Removal
3. Shelter
4. Disaster
5. Calming
6. Harsh
7. Developing
8. Dormant
9. Nurture



Neglect



Removal

10. Neglect

Logo Transformation

Edit done using the swatch filler on both the internal lettering and white perimeter of logo. Self made swatch using Harley motor cycles in pattern form.

This effect was done using the Perspective Grid Tool. In 

order for this to work and for you to get two different directions 

in perspective, it requires the logo to be split down the middle 

into two different pieces. 

Working based on the reading of quality vs. quantity

   I have understanding of working based on quantity rather than quality in order to grow as a creator and learn from your mistakes. However, as a perfectionist I find it hard to work in a less structured way. I also understand the need for goals in the process of production. I agree that this will allow for the creator to see their progression and learn from it. Knowing how difficult it is for me to allow myself the freedom to create without the interruption of perfection, I decided with this project to use this technique. By doing this I decided to start by getting out the images representing each work as they fist came to my mind. Then, after over looking these images I decided to build from them and see how I could make them better. I found by doing this I became more organized with my thoughts than I was with the work on my paper. This article has taught me to work more efficiently but still show the importance of understanding your own work.

New Word List for Dot Book

What is my theme?                                Possible Titles for my Book...

1. Isolation                                                 Nature Bound by Man
2. Community                                             Coexisting with Nature
3. Calming                                                  Human Vs. Nature
4. Harsh
5. Free
6. Harness
7. Disaster
8. Shelter
9. Neglect
10. Nurture
11. Developing
12. Dormant

           ... Can you guess?

Thinking process for a book soon to become!

     The two umbrella topics that I chose for a book theme are:
Family                                                              Nature
    (described by bellow words)                             (described by bellow words)

1. Loving                                                           1.  Beautiful
2. Caring                                                            2.  Repetitive
3. Functional                                                      3.  Seasonal
4. Dysfunctional                                                 4.  Living
5. Gathering                                                       5.  Habitat
6. Play                                                               6.  Imperfect 
7. Grow                                                              7.  Colorful
8. Enjoy                                                             8.  Inspiring
9. Argue                                                             9.  Ongoing
10. Chaos                                                           10.  Harmful
11. Supportive                                                     11.  Comforting
12. Communicative                                              12.  Geographical
13. Affectionate                                                   13.  Evolving
14. Giving                                                           14.  Growing
15. Cooperative                                                   15.  Broad
16. Complicated                                                  16.  Changing
17. Large                                                             17.  Expansive
18. Small                                                             18.  Providing
19. Close                                                             19.  explore
20. Distant                                                           20. Progressive

Who is Stephan Sagmeister? (video)

     Stephan is a graphic designer who, show great importance in his process. Important to put your thinking out on paper. Not only does he have a process in getting to the final works he does, he also values the idea of show that process in the final projects he develops. Stephan also recognizes that the process of fulfilling an project is not always going to be enjoyable but can still be a great experience for the achievement of the final product. Avoiding limitations of successful work. Taking thinks to their advantage points.

Continuation of What is Graphic Design

(Synopses after reading Type and Image by meggs & Graphic Design Sources by Hierbert) 

     Design, beyond what we see, also plays a role in the economy. The economy effects graphic design, it can effect the way we design, based on a businesses needs and/or a client's needs. I do agree with the difficulties of graphic design and the way we are always adapting to the new comings of the world. We always have to have fresh ideas to make our work appealing and original. This can be hard to keep consistent do to habit or relativism to history. I also agree that taking risks or stepping "out side the boundaries is important. I think it helps us develop more creative ideas and helps us gain knowledge of our processes. I disagree however with the statement however that as graphic designers we may thing we can endeavor other things like fashion design etc. but find it best we cannot take on that different kind of work. I believe that experimenting with other kinds of media and forms of art can help us grow as designers and helps us have more understanding for other things we can possibly use to our advantage. Maybe we don't choose to be experts in that other kind of media but I think it is possible as creative thinker that is we have a desire for something new, it is always possible to acquire new skills. I did not say it would be easy but it is possible.

What is Graphic Design?

     To me graphic design is lots of things if not almost everything. It deals with both communication and function. Graphic design gives our life direction and order in an more interesting fashion. You see design in the things you use every day everything from the pencil or cup in your hand to the posters, signs, buildings, etc. These are different kinds of design but they all still consist the variables which make up a design; craft which is given a use or function or simply beauty. If somebody made it and it came from an original  idea it is a design in some way.

Why Graphic Design?

     I know we are in the graphic design program, but I actually decided to major in graphic design due to my choice to also be a Photographer. I did take a few graphic design classes in high school and that lead me to finding a wide range of opportunity for future careers requiring both photography and graphic design. In truth I consider myself to be a photographer but I'm still told I have an eye for design. My path in graphic design is also very much related to my desire to be a photographer who communicates to the wide public in a positive and impact-full way. Communication is one of the many important parts of graphic design, having this basis of knowledge will help me become successful in fulfilling that communication in more ways than just through photography.