Design Future • Digital Media

EMAIL ME
Send me an email (m_g_abril@yahoo.com) answering three of the following questions.
What is your biggest fear?
What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
If you had one year to live what are are three things you would do?
What if you had one month?
What trait do you most admire in another person?
Least admire?
What are you most passionate about?
What is the last book you read?
What is your favorite movie?

CURRENT EVENT REPORT
Choose a current event related to one or more of the following: Computer, Technology, Graphic Design, Art, Anmation, Internet or Multimedia. It must have occurred within the past month. You can refer to magazine, newspapers, internet or television for the topic of your report. Your paper must state the topic, name of article and publication, its author and date it appeared. You need to tell the audience about the article and how you feel about it's content. Be sure to cite your sources.

BEFORE/AFTER LOGO
Choose an existing company whose logo needs reworking (A good source is the phonebook)
Complete the design brief
List 25 words that describe the company's personality, services and vision
Sketch #100 thumbnails (by hand) referring to the list of words
Develop #10 thumbnails from the #100 to the rough stage (by hand)
Polish three of the 10 roughs on the computer, print and present to class

Before and After Example

FAP Foothill AIDS PROJECT

BEFORE	AFTER

THE MAZE
This is a great exercise for learning the Pen Tool. The Object is to continue the pink line to the end with one continuous line and with no more than 88 anchor points.

SELF PORTRAIT

Choose a photo of yourself from anytime–baby to present. Chose a photo that can be manipulated into an idea or concept of who you are or wish to become. If you do not have a photo of yourself, a photoshoot can be arranged or you can use your driver's license. Digitize the photo by taking it with a digital camera or by scanning it in.

Scan setting 300dpi at 8x10.
Save the original scan.
Use Photoshop tools, filters, image adjustments and effects.
When you are finished creating your masterpiece save your layered .psd. You shoulkd have within your Photoshop folder the following files.
• Original scan whatever the size is at 300dpi
• Layered .psd at 300dpi at 5x7
• CMYK 266dpi .eps
• RGB 72dpi .jpg (email this file to me at sdccabril@yahoo.com)

Self Portrait Examples

Newsletter

The Look
Effective newsletters command attention, deserve respect, look suited to their publisher, are easy to identify and remember and make for easy reading. The way your newsletter looks tells readers about the publisher. Type, color, paper, and other design elements work together to convey the image, whether it's conservative, friendly or authorative. Readers judge the organization not only by the informaton presented but also by how your present the information.

The graphic look helps readers identify the publication at a glance. Keep the nameplate, format, and especially the colors you use the same, issue after issue, to ensure instant recognition. Also make sure that your newsletter design harmonizes with business forms, letterhead and other documents produces by your organization. Consistent design re-enforces the organizations image in the marketplace.

Newsletter Design Tips
Repeat logo in nameplate
Design with a mission in mind
Pinpoint your audience
Repeat your theme
Expertise shines
Photos of people enhance design
A simple three column grid allow for greatest flexibility
Try different size formats
Design with personality
Communicate with color, type and design

Nameplate Guidelines
Competition for attention starts with the nameplate. It helps readers identify the newsletter and invites them to read yours first from a pile of other. Keep the design consistent it allows you to focus on the content for each issue.

Experiment with various typesyles and logo treatments before deciding on the look of the newletter. The type and elelments chosen to create the nameplate leave an impression on the reader. The impact of a three-dimensional nameplate should be repeated through the other elements: table of contents, calendar, masthead, at the bottom of every other page. Coordinating the nameplate design with the organization's web presence is wise in re-enforcing ther brand.

IDENTITY
- Let the name and subtitle tell the reader who the company is and why readers should pay attention
- Immediate identification

INFORMATION
- Name of newsletter
- Subtitle
- Date
Optional info
- Logo, issue number and publisher/editor

IMPACT
- Design helps readers focus on the message
- Use boldface type, color, placement and other graphic techniques to highlight your most important words

SIMPLICITY
- Unclutter design so readers can understand it at a glance
- Delete every word and image that does not contribute to the company's message
- Does the type and color feel right? If not, change them

IMAGE
- Does the design represent the organization?

Layout
Use research and common sense when laying out your newsletter. Readers look at the newsletter in the following order: front page, back page, and then the insde. This means that you need to put your most important information on the first page. When readers look at the inside spread they see the rightside first and then the left. WHen they start reading, traditionally they begin in the upper left. When readers look at a page they first notice photos and illutrations; captions; headlines; pull quotes; subheads; and text.

GRID
Modular System for Design
- Gives the designer structure
- Give each page a similar feeling
- Assures visual line-ups

HEADLINES
Be creative with type!
- Don’t be satified with just spelling it out!
- What makes your design standout?
- Use other design elements to enhance
- Color

BODY COPY
Design Element Too!
- Leading
- Pica width
- How does it relate overall with design
• Does it over power the design?
• Does it get lost?

CAPTIONS
Design Element Too!
- Change type
- Color
- Leading
- Sensitive Placement

PHOTOS
Size
- Large
- Small
Cropping
- Close-up
- Distant
Vignette
Black and White
Color

Design Elements
Use elements to accent
- Don’t overpower

COLOR
- Paper, Type, Find a dominant color in photos
- Use as accent in design
- Be sensitive to color

PAGE NUMBERS
Design Elements Too!
- Be tasteful while designing placement
- Color
- As design Elements

Process
Pick Company
Find Scrap
Design Grid
Design one page and design grid around that

DIGITAL MEDIA