In my very first post for this class (“To opine on design”), I wrote: “Clutter drools. A little white space, simplicity and functionality rule.”
That was initially my approach to designing visual communication content: keep it clean, simple and functional.
Although those thoughts about design are the same, I have learned a ton since submitting that post on Sept. 1.
Mostly I’ve learned that designers must create with purpose and all artists approach every project differently. Each design should be well-conceived because each typeface, color and size of each component within that design matters. Each component communicates something to users, so the message must be executed well.
Planning is an important part of execution. While every artist’s approach is different, I learned that sketching on paper should be a part of the process. Sketching isn’t my forte, but it helps designers flesh out their ideas and give them direction.
What I thought about the importance of understanding visual aesthetics to create interactive media still rings true.
As interactive media strategists and designers, we must know how to communicate messages through several visual elements (i.e. images and icons) across multiple platforms to people from various backgrounds.
Therefore, visual media students should be aware of artists and artistic movements. It’s important to understand the past in order to understand the present, and have a good foundation on which to build.
My increased sophistication with visual content will affect nearly every choice I make from creating my capstone to managing projects at my future workplace.
Mostly, my increased knowledge will give me confidence to work anywhere. I can speak with authority with future clients and bosses about why I chose a certain typeface over another in a design, or why this website or app will be user friendly, or why this color in an ad will attract more customers.
On Sept. 1, my goal after taking this course was to be able to articulate how an interface’s design affects users.
“Why did their eyes go there first? Why did they click on this? What about the layout encourages certain actions?”
Mission accomplished.
Thanks, Motley.