Identifying the requirements
For a logo to be effective it requires to be simple, easy to remember, it is not necessary that a logo be graphically related to the organization it is representing, it may not make sense at all visually as brand but if it is simple and people can easily remember it, then it becomes very useful and powerful tool for branding. As far as requirements for a brand go, it is self explanatory; a logo is a simple identification mark that people can use to identify a company that is its only function.
In Logo design there are no specific rules that must be adhered to strictly however there are some guidelines from the past, that have been studied in regard to skilled designers and have been seen have consistent and predictable results through out, clearly showing what works and what does not.
Once the client of the logo is made to understand these simple unwritten rules then it is safe to advance on to another phase. Creating Preliminary sketches whereby, as a designer the initial state involves using simple pen and paper to make the initial design, making multiple sketches as or using vector programs to come up with the initial design, after making this rough drafts it is possible get a clear idea of the logo design to be used or at least the general idea to refine, once the a sketch satisfies me as a designer. It is important to engage the client to look at the final drafts to see what works for the client, and if any changes are required.
Once the general idea between the client and designer is established, there are not set rules that definitely define the process of creating a logo, but using proven methods that have been applied by skilled designers it is more likely to come up with a final design that is easily accepted by the client, these rules can easily be summarize into simple acronymSMART: Simple, memorable, Appropriate, Resizable and Timeless.
Simple logos stand the test of time, and have proven to be successful, a quick research will show that the top one hundred brands in the world have very simple designs ; looking at identities like Nike, IBM and McDonalds will prove this. We also see that logos that started as complex have become simplified overtime; a good example is the Starbucks logo that has evolved over time to become simpler that it originally was, the logo was made simpler by removing more details in each revision.
Logos are recognized often easily and incredibly memorable and are most effective in conveying the requirements of the client a design that is complex, obscure or fussy carries with its self a self distractive mechanism, no use of lateral illustration will can achieve this, it will only result in ,making identification more difficult and the message to become more obscure.
Memorable
Memorable logos are achieved by simplicity; people will remember simpler shapes faster that the more complex ones. Colors will also play a vital role here, as colors are the first things that one notices in our brains; it is after noting the color that the brain proceeds to read the shape, typography or icons, therein.
Appropriate
A logo should be relevant for its intended users, for instance logo aimed at the children will use fun, bold type face, whilst this approach would not be appropriate for a corporate law firm.
Resistible
Logo can be used in different location, from small areas such as a pen, to the size of a building, it needs to display effectively in both small and large areas. Using a vector format instead of raster format will produce the desired effect.
Timeless
An effective logo should be timeless, while designing a logo it is important to think of it existed over a logo time as the world keeps on changing it should remain relevant over a long period of time
Redoing a logo
A logo that has been in existence for over ten years has created some form of identity, it is important to revise the logo and ascertain that is satisfactory in terms of SMART application. In implementing any changes it is advisable that some form of an original look should be maintained so as to create continuity and just revise a few details such as removing complexity in the logo and making it more appealing to the right target group and relevant in its day.
Essay 2
Technologies that changed the digital media world. Include 3D animation Tools, Photo Editing software and Movie Editing software.
A few decades ago the media world was highly analogue, but in the recent years computing technology as brought unprecedented capabilities in regard to digital media. Making it possible to achieve things that were previously very difficult to do nor not possibly practical to do.
Given the computer knowledge the current generation of students have, 3D software can contribute significantly to the artistic development, whether it is animation, sculpturing, imaging or other artistic functions.
When looking that 3D and CG (computer graphics), in general it appears that , students of the future will find it hard to imagine a world without computers and digital tools to facilitate creativity as computers will be the standard tool of production. This does not make the traditional means obsolete but augments its, students will be using the computer to generate their ideas as sketched before they can paint or sculpt them. 3D applications have brought creativity closer to the artist doing more balanced and creative work.
3D application has capacity to render, model, or animate very advance imaging with almost complete precision of environments and textures. They have changed the way imaging is generated especially animation that conventionally use to be done by manual drawing of images and generate multiple frames to produce animation.
3D software has reduced the cost and time of animation production; a single person can a lot more work within the same time frame that previously used to be done by many people, escalating cost of production.
3D software make easier to make well balanced objects more accurately and in a significantly shorter time.
Pros
Much more efficient to use
Cost effective
Con
They are complex to learn how to use
They are pricey to buy though there are a few open source application online such as Blender.
Photo Editors
When taking a picture using a good digital camera, and obtain good quality photos, but to turn that image into an art form, or edit it enough to make it a completely new image. It is a must to use photo editor. Image editing software are important to graphic designers and photographers works, in the advent of socials media and online marketing, enterprises worldwide are trying hard to leverage online build and reinforce branding that facilitate generation of new venues that lead to revenue. As the prices of digital cameras fall, and camera features continue to increase and advance, the use of images in recent years has sky rocketed. Images give a boost to content, whether used as part of a message, a social network post, a promotion or a display on a website; they are used to cue of the kind of person or organization involved. Hence the image quality cannot be compromised. Photo editing software can bring out the potential for images by cropping photo manipulation tools found in them. Photo editors has allowed artist to expound their creativity by compositing various characteristics of a single images together or separately to generate aesthetic value and evoke emotions from viewers.
Beside in enhancing images with photo editors, flaws in an image can be obscured, using photo editors it is also possible to restore damages images.
Pros
It allows one to achieve almost any desired effect in an image
Cons
The ability to edit photo introduces a ethical issues when ID images can be manipulated to provide false identity.
Video Editing software
Another Technology that has impacted digital media is photo editors. Business both in the entertainment and corporate world are realizing the potential for video media as an effective tool of communicating to target group. Every business has its target audience and video content in as important tool especially in marketing and entertainment industry.
The technology for capturing video has also come along way, there are advanced tools for capturing and storing videos. Software for editing videos allows artist and film makers to generate extra ordinary clips that would otherwise to have been possible. Video editors do pretty much for videos just as photo editors composite still images.
Video editors have changes the way videos are produced making it more efficient and less time consuming.
Pros
Able to generate video clips that would otherwise been impossible to capture
Cons
There are possibilities of falsifying footage that may be lawfully required in an accurate form.
Essay 3
Website development.
A website is a window into how an organization runs. When acquiring the requirements for designing a website it is important to understand how a company runs. It important to provide the exact face of the organization to the users, if one cuts corners on implementing of a website, users will feel that you can also cut corners on your products and services.
Website design is much closer to the industrial or product design than print design. There are many popular sites that are not visually attractive but are highly functional. There are not many websites that are popular but hard to use, usability is key in website development, it could mean the difference between a successful online business and website going out of business in just a few days.
For these reasons, user friendly websites should not be an after thought in website design, Testing and fixing a website after it is complete is inefficient and expensive.
Benefits of planning usability into website development process include:
More User satisfaction, directly translating to trust and brand loyalty
More User productivity, successful, completion (and sales)
Shorter long-term development costs (costs obtained from correcting design mistakes)
Less training and support costs
Word of mouth marketing, social media, and other free forms of marketing
Good/positive press coverage
Increased rate of repeat customers, providing competitive advantage.
After visiting the client, the requirements will become clear and the following Outline will be used as guidelines for a strategy to be presented to the client.
Requirements Analysis
Know stakeholders, and understand the roles they play in the organization.
Establish the website goals from users’ and the business perspective.
Know what the user needs and the target usability are
Evaluate any existing form of the websites, and note the legacy features
Carry out a competitive analysis
Carry out use surveys and interviews
Conceptual Design
Generate a content inventory accounting for all expected site content
Do a sketch of the site design and architecture using abstract means
Create low-fidelity wireframes for site pages of the website to start design discussion and carry out use testing
Carry out a task analysis to understand cuticle user preferences and needs
Based on the obtained user research analysis, model out the use experience and then establish specific requirements for usability, functionality, the environment, data and accessibility.
Mockups/Prototypes
Generate a site map diagram that is based on usability needs to show the website optimal organization and navigation
Adapt an HCI design approach Anthropomorphic, Cognitive or Empirical or Predictive Modeling
Create Rapid visuals (mockups) or prototypes which will generate interactive representation of the website
Review usability using user tests, focus groups, and walkthroughs
Apply the evaluation results to improve the prototypes or create more mockups
Repeat the design iteration until the usability and design goals are met
Production
Work together with visual designers to develop screen Designs and high fidelity prototypes with actual content
Create the final product.
Evaluate functionality by quality assurance, testing, field testing and usability testing
Apply the evaluation result to improve the website
Do product iteration and carry out Quality Assurance Testing making sure that all specific requirements have been achieve, including, visual design, business, usability , technical functionality requirements an user experience
Launch and Maintenance
Launch the finished website
Manage and refine using user feedback
Using the user feedback to generate new requirements, and initiate major design improvements by means of system iteration..
SMART goals
In doing the design of the website, elements that will require design consideration such as logo will be implemented using the SMART design guideline that will contribute towards the user a friendly website.
Memorable
Memorable images are achieved by simplicity; people will remember simpler shapes faster that the more complex ones. Colors will also play a vital role here, as colors are the first things that one notices in our brains; it is after noting the color that the brain proceeds to read the shape, typography or icons, therein.
Appropriate
A website images and designs should be relevant for its intended users, for instance logo aimed at the children will use fun, bold type face, whilst this approach would not be appropriate for a corporate law firm.
Resistible
Images and the content of the website will be loaded in varying computing devices ranging from computers to smart phones can be used in different location, from small areas such Smartphone screen, to large screen computers, it needs to display effectively in both small and large areas. Using responsive frame works that will detect various computing devices and optimize the content of the website to fit in whatever device users have.
Timeless
An Effective website should remain relevant with time, using frame works that will allow the website to adopt new technologies are they emerge, while designing a website it is important to think of it existed over a long time as the world keeps on changing it should remain relevant over a long period of time.
Budget and timeline
The budget of the website will be computed on an application (MS project) it will be able to compute, take data of the available resources (personnel) their skill. After establishing the set time required for each phase of the project, each resource will be allocated tasks to carry out within a specified time and the cost of those tasks shall be determined and located per the time of personnel is to work on a particular task.
The project management application will help determine the completion date of the work, set responsibilities to different resources and calculate the cost of the entire project.
Steps to Avoid
The design phase shall ensure that there using reviews of the system that iterations on will be carried for every phase as required so at to ensure that the results a predictable, this will prevent the project from going into launching with errors that will be costly to manage after the project is deployed.
Part 4. Before and After Design and Analysis Before = 10 points, After = 10 points (total 20 points possible for this section)
In this portion of the final exam, you will use your design and analysis skills. In the Before part of the exam, you will write a short essay analysis identifying the design sins you find in the design. Specific instructions are below.
In the After portion of the exam, you will redesign the flyer using the design skills you have learned in this class. Your redesign may be either a flyer, or a landing page for a website for the company. You must also include a short paragraph describing your redesign using design terminology you learned in class. Your paragraph must be at least 150 words.
After: In the After portion of the exam, you will redesign the flyer using the design skills you have learned in this class. Your redesign may be either a flyer, or a landing page for a website for the company. You must also include a short paragraph describing your redesign using design terminology. Your paragraph must be at least 150 words.
zTo submit your redesign, you can add a page to this final exam document and insert your design image and your analysis, or you can attach it separately. If you choose to attach it title your document in this manner: FirstNameLastName CMST 295 Final Exam Attachment.doc (or, .pdf, .jpg, or whatever file format you choose to use).
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The new flyer is more concise and easy to remember the most important aspect are emphasized, the service provided, cost effectively and the contacts, it makes it easy to remember their name, contact number and that the service offered in cheap
