Sunday, September 28, 2008

Info Graphic Specs

Here are your specs for your Info Graphic Assignment!
Check out the examples below for inspiration!

JUNIOR TYPE DESIGN
info-graphic brief

goal:
convert a substantial amount of material that might ordinarily be conveyed in text into an information graphic. your mission is to make the material easily assessable to a large number of folks without them having to read it in text form.

specs:
choose a subject matter that is interesting to you and can be translated into graph form
1) research your topic so that you’re well informed
2) gather statistical information
a) design a survey
b) choose ten to twelve questions that folks will be able to answer fairly quickly

i. use surveymonkey.com
survey monkey is a free program that is easy to use and allows you to
collect information anonymously
OR

ii. design a survey. bring it to class for your classmates to answer
3) analyze your data
4) plot your data in graphic form
5) choose your typography, main and secondary fonts
6) choose a color palette
7) design icons to illuminate your info if appropriate
8) apply logic to the form your data takes and consider all elements, including typography, color
palette, and icons carefully, so that all elements in your graphic add up to a well thought out piece of work BE INVENTIVE WITH YOUR GRAPHIC FORM, do not use basic pie and bar charts in your info graphic if pie and bar charts are the best options for your particular data, the design and typography better be amazing!
THE DESIGN AND TYPOGRAPHY BETTER BE AMAZING WHATEVER YOUR AESTHETIC DECISIONS!

post:

your work as you go. want to see regular weekly posts and commenting, folks. this is not optional.

timeline:
September 29th and October 1st: survey due to distribute or set up in survey monkey.
we will fill out in class.
October 6th and 8th: rough draft due
October 13th and 15th: tight comp due
October 20th and 22nd: finish due

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

TYPO Tips & Inspiration from AIGA

Improve your typography with these great tips from FONTSHOP.
Go through their blog and improve your type!
-ramon
CLICK HERE FOR TIPS

Also, i went to the AIGA Gallery on 5th avenue, they have a nice show
50 Books/50 Covers 2007.
Go check it out.
nice books, lots of nice typography, and the exhibit booklet they give you lists the typeface designers are using!!!!!
The exhibit is designed by Marc Blaustein using Archer!
Go get inspired!!!!

AND
Our Favorite Typefaces of 2007 - Typographica.com

Some new inspiration

From Acne Paper

Check these out
see how you can find a font on-line.
Pistilli Roman (also made as Galeere, and Didoni)
I was doing research.



Thursday, September 18, 2008

2nd Assignment - Info Graphic

So everyone, good work so far.
Your second assignment starts this week. You will start to work on an info-graphic.
So select a topic you really like, do research and get statistics you can use to design an interesting piece. For inspiration look at the past postings below, also am posting some new examples, and some links that you should look at for inspiration.
The Visual Thesaurus
Edward Tufte (leading expert on information design) check out his examples
Peter Grundi (british designer who does tons of great info-graphics)
Catalogue Tree (studio in Amsterdam who do lots of info-graphics)
Nicholas Felton (designer in NYC., look at the Annual reports, am posting examples here)
Survey Monkey (if you need to do a survey, you can do it here for free!)
MAKE SURE YOU DO RESEARCH!!!!!!!

Some Russian magazine examples:


Nicolas Felton





Other stuff:
ON YOUR TYPE!
I saw lots of good work, but all of you need to look really close at your type.
Remember this stuff takes time, but you should be advancing and progressing on your type skills as we move along!!!
The small details are essential (need attention to details, kerning, line spacing, font choices, creative (but not awkward unless intentional for a reason) use of white space).
So here are 2 links that you need to READ, BOOKMARK and KNOW.
Ilene Strizver (read Ilene's posts, sign up for her emails, and if you need technical stuff, look here!)
TYPO Tips by Erik Spikermann, who is one of the foremost type designers. (READ IT)

COLOR INSPIRATION: Aesthetic Apparatus


And make sure you POST on your blog!!!!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

ON the TYPEFACES

Everyone,
DO NOT UPLOAD ALL THE FONTS ON THE LIBRARY TO YOUR COMPUTER.
Store them and only upload those you need. Otherwise, you will crash your hard drives.

-ramon
******Also a great place for resources is ILENE STRIZVER's website. She teaches at SVA in countinuing ed and is fantastic. SIGN up for her emails, which she sends every month and check out her website, particularly the written [and designed] word. LOTS OF GOOD TECHNICAL STUFF! PRINT OUT THE PDF and read them Ilene Covers all technical stuff dealing with type!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Welcome to Fall '08 Class

Welcome to class everyone.
This semester have fun, play around and don't be afraid of taking risks!

-ramon