In class Tue Mar 31st

Start Here

time 6 min 20 sec

Design Thinking for Problem Solving

Design Thinking can be used to solve problems across all disciplines and is currently being used by the Promise Committee to understand how to update and change the college education experience. We have been using it in the last couple of projects as a way to make better Movie Posters and now Logos for the FabLab

Design Thinking is a process much like Analytical Thinking (used in scientific experiments) and Systems Thinking (used for understanding in psychology and sociology). 

Design Thinking uses a 4 step non linear process shown below 

--Understand - Ideate - Prototype - Test--

How does this work for Project 4:

Our current problem:

* To create a logo that tells a story through visual aesthetics to attract and inform our customers. Our customers are current and potential students, professors and staff. 

completed so far
Step 1 = understand - research logos consider key words
Step 2 = ideate and prototype - 10 logo ideas
Step 3 = test and understand - critique others & consider feedback

next steps
Step 4 = prototype - 3 refined ideas
Step 5 = test and understand critique others & consider feedback
Step 6 = prototype - create final logo
Step 7 = test - critique final logos





Understand
Consider the following key words: 

• Art
• Design
• Sculpture
• Technology
• Manufacturing
• Where tradition meets the cutting edge
• Student Oriented
• Art Department's identity
• Hartwick College's identity

FabLab Definition:
A FabLab is a lot like a traditional print lab where you can bring in a digital file and get a print. The difference is where you get a photograph or ink based 2d image back from a traditional print lab, a FabLab lets you cut or etch images and design out of a variety of materials and in 3 dimensions.




Ideate and Prototype
You created 10 different possibilities for the logo



Test
You received feedback and consider it while creating the next set of prototypes



Repeat 
Go back to any phase of the process and continue



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view first

time 20 min 17 sec

Key to good logos

- Keep it simple
- Make it bold
- Don't use fine details
- Limit the amount of colors 
- Only include whats necessary


Manipulating imagery to create a logo in Photoshop.

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Help with commenting for Critiques

Things to comment on:

- How the 'Color' is affecting your understanding of the logo.

- How composition (the placement of visual elements in 2d space/positive and negative space/ rule of thirds) is affecting your understanding of the logo

- Image - subject matter

- Image - style

- Font - literal reading

- Font - style 

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Projet Steps

Step 1- Research 
(Start now, due Thur 3/36 by 1pm)
- look up and download 20 logos that you find interesting or that inspire you, into a folder on your computer or cellphone.

Step 2 - Create 10 different logo prototype ideas (start by Thur 3/26 - due Mon 3/30)

Step 3 - Crit and recieve feedback
(starts Mon 3/30 6pm- due Tue 3/31 by 1pm)

Step 4 - Create 3 versions of the best logo idea
(starts Tue 3/31 1pm- due Thur 4/2 by 1pm)

Step 5 - Crit and recieve feedback
(Start  Thur 4/2 1pm - due Thur 4/2 by 4pm) 

Step 6 - Create final Logo
(Start  Thur 4/2 4pm - due Tue 4/7 by 1pm) 

Step 7 - Crit final Logo

(Start Fri 4/10 by 4pm) 

Need Help with Photoshop! Check Here....

Creating a new document in Photoshop

Time 6 min

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Manipulating Text in Photoshop

Time 20 min

In class Thur Mar 26th

Watch this first!

time 25 min

Logos and Brand Guidelines

This is about using text, color, and image to define the visual identity/story of a business, organization or individual.


How does Hartwick College use visuals to express who they are? Lets look at the Hartwick College Brand Guidelines.

Logo inspiration:
Check out these sites logogala and logomoose




Meaning of colors in art:

What is the process of creating a logo?
check out the 'Logo work through Guide'


Things to avoid:
- Watch out for 'Cliches'
noun

plural noun: clichés; plural noun: cliches

1. 1.

   a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.

Example

"Light bulbs for 'ideas', speech bubbles for 'discussion', globes for 'international', etc. These ideas are easy to come up with but how is your design going to be unique when so many other logos feature the same idea?"

- Avoid Gimmicky Fonts
"When it comes to logo design, keep your font choices classic and simple and avoid over-garnishing"

- Don't make the logo too busy
"Keep it simple"

- Be inspired but don't steal ideas!

Projet Steps

Step 1- Research 
(Start now, due Thur 3/36 by 1pm)
- look up and download 20 logos that you find interesting or that inspire you, into a folder on your computer or cellphone.

Step 2 - Create 10 different logo prototype ideas (start by Thur 3/26 - due Mon 3/30)

Using the 20 logos you researched and Google Image search for the key words form the last blog create 10 aesthetically different mock ups of possible logos for the "FabLab"

If you don't have Photoshop, you can do this with paper and pencil or by using the GIMP.

- make prototypes 3 Text only

- make prototypes 3 Image only

- make prototypes 4 Image and Text 

Your 10 prototype logos need to be up in the class Google Photos album called Proj 4 Prototypes by next Monday @ 5pm

Size - 5 inch x 5 inch @ 300 dpi

Step 3 - Crit and recieve feedback
(starts Mon 3/30 6pm- due Tue 3/31 by 1pm)

Heart and comment on your favorite 2 prototype logos for each student in the class. Comments can be short but should be meaniful. Comment on how you read the color or image or text and how it help describes the FabLab to you.  

Step 4 - Create 3 versions of the best logo idea
(starts Tue 3/31 1pm- due Thur 4/2 by 1pm)

Step 5 - Crit and recieve feedback
(Start  Thur 4/2 1pm - due Thur 4/2 by 4pm) 

Step 6 - Create final Logo
(Start  Thur 4/2 4pm - due Tue 4/7 by 1pm) 

Step 7 - Crit final Logo

(Start Fri 4/10 by 4pm) 

In class Tue Mar 24th

Welcome Back!

Please watch the video below first! The lecture for each day will be at the top of the blog. 

Video Length = 17 min

Today we are going to get set up and get accustomed to online learning. We will be using the following online systems to run the rest of the course. 

Class online systems

* Class Blog - lectures, videos and information 

* Google Calendar (Art231-OL) - for dates and information

* Google Photos - for handing in design prototypes and finals and for critique using liking and commenting

* Gmail - class updates from the professor and notifications

* Zoom - video conferencing (used for the getting help from the professor and for the class final)

set up Google Calendar 

- website and phone app available

- you must be logged in with your college gmail account

- you can log into your college gmail account on your phone. if you do you can get notifications about the class on your phone

Using Gmail and setting up notifications

set up Google Photos
- website and phone app available

lets take a look

set up Zoom (website and phone app)

- website and phone app available
- log in with you college email account

Opening Screen

Zoom Meeting Screen

[proj 4 assigned] 
Introduction to Logo Project [due Tu Apr 7th]

For this project you will be creating a Logo for the new fabrication lab generally referred to as the "FabLab", in the art & art history department at Hartwick college. 

A FabLab is a lot like a traditional print lab where you can bring in a digital file and get a print. The difference is where you get a photograph or ink based 2d image back from a traditional print lab, a FabLab lets you cut or etch images and design out of a variety of materials and in 3 dimensions.

Guidelines
Like all logos, we are trying to tell a story through visuals to attract our customers. In this case, our customers are current and potential students, and academics (professors and staff). 

Even though the FabLab is part of Hartwick there is no restriction that the logo use Hartwick fonts or colors. Having said that you do want to consider the following key words associated with the FabLab at Hartwick when choosing visuals:


Art
Design
Sculpture
Technology
Manufacturing
Where tradition meets the cutting edge
Student Oriented
Art Department's identity
Hartwick College's identity

Visuals that speak to the viewer:

- Color

- Composition (placement of visual elements in 2d space...positive and negative space, rule of thirds)

- Image - subject matter

- Image - style

- Font - literal reading

- Font - style

Each of these elements remain important as we make decisions while we create a Logo.! 



Projet Steps

Step 1- Research 
(Start now, due Thur 3/36 by 1pm)
- look up and download 20 logos that you find interesting or that inspire you, into a folder on your computer or cellphone.

Step 2 - Create 10 different logo prototype ideas (start by Thur 3/26 - due Mon 3/30)

Step 3 - Crit and recieve feedback
(starts Mon 3/30 6pm- due Tue 3/31 by 1pm)

Step 4 - Create 3 versions of the best logo idea
(starts Tue 3/31 1pm- due Thur 4/2 by 1pm)


Step 5 - Crit and recieve feedback
(Start  Thur 4/2 1pm - due Thur 4/2 by 4pm) 

Step 6 - Create final Logo
(Start  Thur 4/2 4pm - due Tue 4/7 by 1pm) 

Step 7 - Crit final Logo

(Start Fri 4/10 by 4pm) 

The GIMP a free alternative

While we get set up with Photoshop, you can get started with this free version. It does look a little different and it lacks many of the newest features, but it contains everything you need to create an amazing logo or design. It also works on older less powerful computers!

Link to GIMP here!



Where are we at with Photoshop?
- Email me your status

In class Tue Mar 10th

Finish Critique CD covers

What we are looking at:

- Color

- Composition (placement of visual elements in 2d space...positive and negative space, rule of thirds)

- Image - subject matter

- Image - style

- Font - literal reading

- Font - style

Work on Poster Project

Part 1

a) Write out your Movie idea! First pick a movie genre. (Horror, Sci-Fi, Romantic comedy) Then you need to figure out 'who' the antagonist and protagonist are, 'where' the movie takes place, 'when' the movie takes place, finally the 'what' and 'why' of the story.
b) Look up and download 10 examples of posters that inspire you

c) Compile a list of important information that needs to be on the poster including: movie title, main actors/actresses, film company, producers, date, credits, ext… (use the 10 examples you downloaded as a guide)

d) Collect a variety of imagery to work with for your poster

 * Make sure to find the largest images possible

Part 2

a) Create a template for your poster 11x17” at 180dpi

b) Put in guides for the unprintable boarder and for the middle

c) Create 3 different prototypes of your movie poster

Key things to Remember:

* Work on the poster template

* Duplicate important layers

* Save often

things to consider:
First you want to figure out a genre for your movie. Is it a Romantic comedy, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Drama, Action, ect… Then look at and collect movie posters of that genre. Consider things like colors used, font type, text placement, use of actors/actresses images, are they full body or close up, what is their gesture.

Due

Tuesday Mar 3rd – Part 1a,1b,1c,1d (due beginning of class)
Thursday Mar 12th - Parts 2 all three on Google Photos (due end of class)

Tuesday Mar 26th – Part 3 Best one Printed (due beginning of class)

In class Tue Mar 3rd

Critique CD covers

What we are looking at:

- Color

- Composition (placement of visual elements in 2d space...positive and negative space, rule of thirds)

- Image - subject matter

- Image - style

- Font - literal reading

- Font - style

Parts 1 of the  Movie Poster project is Due today!

Part 1

a) Write out your Movie idea! First pick a movie genre. (Horror, Sci-Fi, Romantic comedy) Then you need to figure out 'who' the antagonist and protagonist are, 'where' the movie takes place, 'when' the movie takes place, finally the 'what' and 'why' of the story.
b) Look up and download 10 examples of posters that inspire you

c) Compile a list of important information that needs to be on the poster including: movie title, main actors/actresses, film company, producers, date, credits, ext… (use the 10 examples you downloaded as a guide)

d) Collect a variety of imagery to work with for your poster

 * Make sure to find the largest images possible

Due Dates

Tuesday Mar 3rd – Part 1a,1b,1c,1d (due beginning of class)
Tuesday Mar 10th - Parts 2 all three on Google Photos (due end of class)

Tuesday Mar 17th – Part 3 Best one Printed (due beginning of class)