Design Principles - Studio Brief 2 Evaluation

As a result of studio brief 2, there were several skills learnt that will prove to be useful when approaching future briefs. For the first task in studio brief 2, it was essential that understanding the ideas behind each book would assist the ideas of the design process. This meant looking at ways in which the books had been presented either traditionally and in updated versions. This way it would be possible to gain understanding about the elements that occur both in old and new designs. As a result of this, it would make the design easier to interpret as well as communicate so that the audience would also be able to interpret the books, based on the visuals of the cover.

Looking into the synopsis of the book, allow the chance to pick out certain references such as objects that are mentioned in the novels. This could then be used during the design stage as a way to communicate a recognisable set of visuals to the audience. Having completed the first studio brief, it was possible to understand the ideas behind certain colours and what they represent. As a result of this, the designs could then use the colours to their advantage, as a way to represent the characters or themes of the book. For example, In A Rage in Harlem, the characters were disputing with one another, and therefore the colour red was used as a way to represent this conflict.

In terms of the layout used in studio brief 2, research into grid systems proved useful. This was because, it provided the opportunity to understand different grid systems that can be applied to different design situations based on the context of the subject. For example, as we were to create Penguin Book covers, this meant using the traditional Marber grid system as a way to mimic the style used for the classic books, while adding our own interpretations of the design.

Having learnt in previous modules about ways that type can be applied to design, it was possible to recognise certain fonts for certain design situations. For example, the use of sans serif font proved useful when trying to communicate the ideas of the exhibition, as it was reflective of the modern design used by Tate Modern. This also received successful reviews from peers during the different stages of critique throughout the project.

Overall, the skills learnt will prove to be useful for any future project, as they allow for structure and reflection of design principles. This includes, interpreting design context during the research stages, applying the right layout, using the right colour schemes and choosing the appropriate format.