Toys: Plaything to a reflection of society - Tim/Tam Nguyen (He used different names on his abstract and his actual paper)
Link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1683194/ais_classes/portfolio_pres/11sp/theses/nguyen_tam_thesis.per.pdf
Tim's thesis covers how the design of toys has changed over time. There are different things that have affected the changes. Materials used for toys has changed overtime as designers got their hands on more advanced techniques. Toys were also affected by world events such as war. As toys have changed over time, so do the need for graphic designers. Graphic designers need to keep up with different events, technology, and marketing strategies to keep up with the time.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Thesis Response 3
The Study of Task Analysis of Human Computer Interaction Through Operant Conditioning -Jared Putnam
Link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1683194/ais_classes/portfolio_pres/12wi/putnam_jared_thesis.pdf
Jared's thesis was different from the first two papers I read in that it went into depths about solutions for a problem more than just stating a fact and explaining it. Jared talked about how designers need to take into consideration the different generations when designing something. He used examples such as cell phones and computers and how older generations have more difficulties using them than the younger generation. For his senior project he wanted to create a computer that anyone can use. I see this problem all the time when trying to explain to older people how to use their new smartphone. They have so much more problems than if a teenager was to pick up the new phone and start using it. This is a design flaw and shows that they were not designed for everyone. I think Jared's thesis paper was a good example of how we can show a problem, then a solution, then incorporate that into a senior project.
Link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1683194/ais_classes/portfolio_pres/12wi/putnam_jared_thesis.pdf
Jared's thesis was different from the first two papers I read in that it went into depths about solutions for a problem more than just stating a fact and explaining it. Jared talked about how designers need to take into consideration the different generations when designing something. He used examples such as cell phones and computers and how older generations have more difficulties using them than the younger generation. For his senior project he wanted to create a computer that anyone can use. I see this problem all the time when trying to explain to older people how to use their new smartphone. They have so much more problems than if a teenager was to pick up the new phone and start using it. This is a design flaw and shows that they were not designed for everyone. I think Jared's thesis paper was a good example of how we can show a problem, then a solution, then incorporate that into a senior project.
Design Contest
I might be joining one of the following design competitions:
1. Oktoberfest Logo Contest
Contact: amy@theadgmediagroup.com for more info.
2. The Second International Reggae Poster Contest 2013
http://www.reggaepostercontest.com/
3. Communication Arts Design Competition
http://www.commarts.com/competitions/design
How People Remember
Working memory is the memory you need for less than a minute. Information in working memory is easily interfered with. Working memory is tied to your ability to focus attention. If you want to maintain information in working memory, you will have to keep your attention focused on it. Stress reduces the effectiveness of working memory.
Despite the urban legend about how the magical number is seven, plus or minus two, the actual magic number, as discovered by psychologist Alan Baddely, turns out to be four. People can only hold three or four things in working memory as long as they aren't distracted and their processing of the information is not interfered with. This is why the U.S. phone numbers are chunked together like 253-555-7755. Instead of having to remember 10 numbers separately, people can remember phone numbers in thee parts.
In order for you to move things from working memory to long-term memory you have to either repeat it a lot, or connect it to something they already know. People use schemata to store information in long-term memory and to retrieve it.
Recognition is easier than recall. Recognition makes use of context, and context can help you remember. When you use schema to remember items, it can be helpful but it can also create errors.
The recency effect is where you remember the ending of something, and the suffix effect is when you remember the beginning of that something.
Whenever people think of their memories they are reconstructed each time. This causes memories to change over time. This is also why eyewitness testimonies are unreliable.
Despite the urban legend about how the magical number is seven, plus or minus two, the actual magic number, as discovered by psychologist Alan Baddely, turns out to be four. People can only hold three or four things in working memory as long as they aren't distracted and their processing of the information is not interfered with. This is why the U.S. phone numbers are chunked together like 253-555-7755. Instead of having to remember 10 numbers separately, people can remember phone numbers in thee parts.
In order for you to move things from working memory to long-term memory you have to either repeat it a lot, or connect it to something they already know. People use schemata to store information in long-term memory and to retrieve it.
Recognition is easier than recall. Recognition makes use of context, and context can help you remember. When you use schema to remember items, it can be helpful but it can also create errors.
The recency effect is where you remember the ending of something, and the suffix effect is when you remember the beginning of that something.
Whenever people think of their memories they are reconstructed each time. This causes memories to change over time. This is also why eyewitness testimonies are unreliable.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Project 2 Preliminary Proposal and Schedule
Company: The SuperMall which is becoming The Outlet Collection, is the Northwest's largest indoor outlet mall in the Pacific Northwest. Our shopping and entertainment venue is home to over 130 world-class outlet, and regional and national brands all under one roof: Coach Factory Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Old Navy Outlet, Gap Outlet, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Levi's Outlet, Children's Place Outlet, Gymboree Outlet, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, rue21, PacSun, Zumiez, plus seven anchors including Nordstrom Rack, Sports Authority, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Sam's Club, Marshall's, Burlington Coat Factory and Vision Quest Sport & Fitness, plus many more premier retailers.
Problem: The Outlet Collection will be in need of new signage and a wayfinding system to match their new look and feel.
Opportunity: Create new signage and wayfinding system to match their new high-end look.
Solution: The new signage and wayfinding design will help them in transitioning from the old Supermall to The Outlet Collection.
Schedule:
Week 3: Prelim Proposal and Schedule, work on sketches for new design
Week 4: Refined Proposal and Schedule, work on refined drawings of new designs
Week 5: Art direction. Use feedback to improve design.
Week 6: Art direction. Use feedback to improve design. Work on comps.
Week 7: Prelim Crit. Work on final design and output.
Week 8: Final Crit.
Throughout 2013 we will be in the middle of a big redevelopment project that will add a new internal and external modern feel to the center as well as add more high-end outlet retail.
Problem: The Outlet Collection will be in need of new signage and a wayfinding system to match their new look and feel.
Opportunity: Create new signage and wayfinding system to match their new high-end look.
Solution: The new signage and wayfinding design will help them in transitioning from the old Supermall to The Outlet Collection.
Schedule:
Week 3: Prelim Proposal and Schedule, work on sketches for new design
Week 4: Refined Proposal and Schedule, work on refined drawings of new designs
Week 5: Art direction. Use feedback to improve design.
Week 6: Art direction. Use feedback to improve design. Work on comps.
Week 7: Prelim Crit. Work on final design and output.
Week 8: Final Crit.
Unit 2: How People Read
In the past people thought that words written in capital letters were more difficult to read than words written in a mixture of capital and lowercase letters. Recent studies have shown that this is not true. We don't look at the shape of words, but instead we look at the shape of individual letters to make out the word.
When people read their eyes move in quick, sharp jumps, with short periods of stillness in between. These jumps are called saccades and the moments of stillness are called fixations. During the saccades we are essentially blind, but because it happens so fast we are not aware of what's happening.
Reading and comprehending are two different things. Just because you can read something doesn't mean you understand it. Happens to me a lot. If I am to assigned to read something that uses difficult language and a topic I am not familiar with, I can read through the whole paper and not know what I have read.
Although there has been arguments in that past about whether sans serif fonts or serif fonts are easier to read, research shows no difference between the two when it comes to comprehension. What font you use shouldn't matter as long as you don't use a font that is so decorative that it's hard to identify the letters.
Font size matters. Not just for old people, but also for the young. The font size needs to be big enough for users to read the text without strain.
Reading on a computer screen is harder than reading on paper. This is due to the fact that writing on a computer screen is not stable because it is constantly refreshing. Also there is light emitting from the computer screen that is tiring to the eyes.
Although people prefer multiple columns with short line length, studies show that people read faster with a longer line length.
When people read their eyes move in quick, sharp jumps, with short periods of stillness in between. These jumps are called saccades and the moments of stillness are called fixations. During the saccades we are essentially blind, but because it happens so fast we are not aware of what's happening.
Reading and comprehending are two different things. Just because you can read something doesn't mean you understand it. Happens to me a lot. If I am to assigned to read something that uses difficult language and a topic I am not familiar with, I can read through the whole paper and not know what I have read.
Although there has been arguments in that past about whether sans serif fonts or serif fonts are easier to read, research shows no difference between the two when it comes to comprehension. What font you use shouldn't matter as long as you don't use a font that is so decorative that it's hard to identify the letters.
Font size matters. Not just for old people, but also for the young. The font size needs to be big enough for users to read the text without strain.
Reading on a computer screen is harder than reading on paper. This is due to the fact that writing on a computer screen is not stable because it is constantly refreshing. Also there is light emitting from the computer screen that is tiring to the eyes.
Although people prefer multiple columns with short line length, studies show that people read faster with a longer line length.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Project 1 Proposal
View project statement pdf: Mrs. Fields Project Statement
Schedule:
Week 1: Brainstorm ideas for project
Week 2: Start sketching ideas for packaging
Week 3: Prelim Crit, Continue working on design for packaging. Create comps.
Week 4: Art direction in class, one on one feedback. Use information from feedback to improve design. Work on final design.
Week 5: Final Crit.
Schedule:
Week 1: Brainstorm ideas for project
Week 2: Start sketching ideas for packaging
Week 3: Prelim Crit, Continue working on design for packaging. Create comps.
Week 4: Art direction in class, one on one feedback. Use information from feedback to improve design. Work on final design.
Week 5: Final Crit.
Thesis Response 2
Museums 2.0 - Cassie Bales
Link: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1683194/ais_classes/portfolio_pres/12fa/thesis/bales_cassie_thesis.pdf
Cassie's thesis covers how the internet has allowed millions of people to connect to museums around the world. Museums have taken a long time to adopt information technology, but finally they are catching up with the use of the internet. Cassie covers in her paper three ways museums are using the internet to collect, preserve, and display artifacts for the public using websites, virtual museums, and virtual exhibits.
The internet has allowed access for millions of people to many museums around the world. For all the people who don't have the means to travel far distances to visit museums the internet has brought the museums to them. Now people can easily go online and get information on the museum through their website, and in cases where virtual museums and exhibits are available the people can have a virtual tour of the museum right from their computers. This technology has made it possible for people to visit places that are far away right from their computer.
I feel that the internet has made it possible for people to travel much less than in the past. Whether it's museums or shopping malls people now have access to many different places online. Where in the past people had to actually leave their homes and travel to view or purchase things, now they can do all of it right in their chairs. I agree this has made it more convenient for people to visit places they wouldn't have been able to visit before. But in some ways I feel like we are headed in the direction humanity ended up in Wall-E.
Link: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1683194/ais_classes/portfolio_pres/12fa/thesis/bales_cassie_thesis.pdf
Cassie's thesis covers how the internet has allowed millions of people to connect to museums around the world. Museums have taken a long time to adopt information technology, but finally they are catching up with the use of the internet. Cassie covers in her paper three ways museums are using the internet to collect, preserve, and display artifacts for the public using websites, virtual museums, and virtual exhibits.
The internet has allowed access for millions of people to many museums around the world. For all the people who don't have the means to travel far distances to visit museums the internet has brought the museums to them. Now people can easily go online and get information on the museum through their website, and in cases where virtual museums and exhibits are available the people can have a virtual tour of the museum right from their computers. This technology has made it possible for people to visit places that are far away right from their computer.
I feel that the internet has made it possible for people to travel much less than in the past. Whether it's museums or shopping malls people now have access to many different places online. Where in the past people had to actually leave their homes and travel to view or purchase things, now they can do all of it right in their chairs. I agree this has made it more convenient for people to visit places they wouldn't have been able to visit before. But in some ways I feel like we are headed in the direction humanity ended up in Wall-E.
Thesis Response 1
The Rise of the New Media and the Fan's Digital Sports Experience - Peter Jun
Link: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1683194/ais_classes/portfolio_pres/12su/thesis/peter_jun_thesis.pdf
Peter's thesis talks about how media and technology has made it possible for sports fans to interact with athletes more than before. This relationship where fans can interact with athletes and feel an emotional attachment is known as the Parasocial interaction (PSI). Social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook has made it possible for not only fans to connect with their favorite athletes but for the athletes to connect directly to their fans.
I was able to understand Peter's views on this topic because I am a sports fan myself. Everyday on Facebook I am able to see posts from my favorite team Manchester United. They offer current club news, upcoming events, and often times they also offer chances for fans to video chat with their favorite athletes and ask questions. Then there are also pages for individual athletes from the team who share with their fans news about their family and other things that might happen outside the club. This allows fans to feel closer to the athletes and feel like they are part of the team. As mentioned in Peter's thesis, a lot of athletes love reaching out to their fans. They like to talk about their day and anything else that might be on their minds.
Link: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1683194/ais_classes/portfolio_pres/12su/thesis/peter_jun_thesis.pdf
Peter's thesis talks about how media and technology has made it possible for sports fans to interact with athletes more than before. This relationship where fans can interact with athletes and feel an emotional attachment is known as the Parasocial interaction (PSI). Social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook has made it possible for not only fans to connect with their favorite athletes but for the athletes to connect directly to their fans.
I was able to understand Peter's views on this topic because I am a sports fan myself. Everyday on Facebook I am able to see posts from my favorite team Manchester United. They offer current club news, upcoming events, and often times they also offer chances for fans to video chat with their favorite athletes and ask questions. Then there are also pages for individual athletes from the team who share with their fans news about their family and other things that might happen outside the club. This allows fans to feel closer to the athletes and feel like they are part of the team. As mentioned in Peter's thesis, a lot of athletes love reaching out to their fans. They like to talk about their day and anything else that might be on their minds.
How People See
Geon:
Irving Biederman came up with the idea of geons in 1985. Geons, or geometric icons, are basic shapes that people look at to identify objects. It's thought that there are 24 basic shapes that we recognize and they form the building blocks of all the objects we see and identify.
FFA:
There is a special part of the brain outside the visual cortex whose sole purpose is to recognize faces. The fusiform face area (FFA), identified by Nancy Kanwisher in 1997, allows faces to bypass the brain's usual interpretive channels and helps us identify them more quickly than objects. Another interesting fact is that people with autism don't use the FFA when looking at faces. They use other, regular pathways in the brain and visual cortex that are normally used to recognize and interpret objects but not faces.
Canonical perspective:
Most people would draw an object from a perspective slightly above the object looking down, and offset a little to the right or left. This is known as the canonical perspective. Research has shown that people tend to recognize objects better at this perspective.
Affordance:
Affordances are cues that objects give users about how they should be used. James Gibson described affordances as action possibilities in the environment.
Irving Biederman came up with the idea of geons in 1985. Geons, or geometric icons, are basic shapes that people look at to identify objects. It's thought that there are 24 basic shapes that we recognize and they form the building blocks of all the objects we see and identify.
FFA:
There is a special part of the brain outside the visual cortex whose sole purpose is to recognize faces. The fusiform face area (FFA), identified by Nancy Kanwisher in 1997, allows faces to bypass the brain's usual interpretive channels and helps us identify them more quickly than objects. Another interesting fact is that people with autism don't use the FFA when looking at faces. They use other, regular pathways in the brain and visual cortex that are normally used to recognize and interpret objects but not faces.
Canonical perspective:
Most people would draw an object from a perspective slightly above the object looking down, and offset a little to the right or left. This is known as the canonical perspective. Research has shown that people tend to recognize objects better at this perspective.
Affordance:
Affordances are cues that objects give users about how they should be used. James Gibson described affordances as action possibilities in the environment.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Project 1 Rough Proposal
Possible project one ideas:
1. Packaging redesign for Mrs. Fields cookies. My boss has been bugging me about this for months so maybe I can use this opportunity to work on it.
2. One of my friends was telling me she would need a logo designed for this company she is starting. I didn't get a lot of information yet, but it had to do something with rechargeable lights that can be attached to shoes and other things. I would need to get more info on this company but it could be a possibility.
I really want to do a logo design/redesign to add to my portfolio. I will do some more research and update this list later.
1. Packaging redesign for Mrs. Fields cookies. My boss has been bugging me about this for months so maybe I can use this opportunity to work on it.
2. One of my friends was telling me she would need a logo designed for this company she is starting. I didn't get a lot of information yet, but it had to do something with rechargeable lights that can be attached to shoes and other things. I would need to get more info on this company but it could be a possibility.
I really want to do a logo design/redesign to add to my portfolio. I will do some more research and update this list later.
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