Design Principles Evaluation

As a result of Design Principles, several transferable skills were learnt. This includes the ways in which colour is used in graphic design and when to use particular techniques involving colour based on the context of the brief. Having created a colour booklet, outlining several designers and their theories, the ideas of colour could be tested and experimented with throughout the course of the module. For example, when creating the book covers in studio brief 2, colour was something to consider when it came to the design process. This meant researching and testing the ideas of the colours, whether it be on their shared meanings or how well they would contrast other visual elements, such as type.

The consideration of type was also an important factor when working through the module. This was because there are several different ways in which the text can be applied to a design, however the choice will depend on the the context of the subject. For example, during the exhibition poster, the type chosen related to the Tate Modern, making it suitable for the design context.

In terms of the layout, it was vital that for certain tasks a layout would be chosen. This would also depend on the context of the subject, so that it would demonstrate the correct structure when designing the visual elements. For example, the book covers needed to have a Marber grid layout so that they could communicate the traditional methods used in the Penguin Books series. However, other stages such as the poster design, allowed for our own interpretation of the layout, which would depend on the context of the exhibition being communicated.

For the format of the module, there were several ideas about how the outcomes should look. For the colour booklet, the use of thin card or grainy paper would have worked well, as it would relate to the same type of stock found in Pantone's colour swatches. For the exhibition poster, the use of vinyl would have worked best as the intention was to hang the poster outside galleries or in public places. This would have been a suitable material to use as it is durable to the weather and relates to the stock used in real exhibition posters.

Peer critique also allowed for several ideas to come about for the project, including areas which should be pursued and which areas should be changed. As a result the outcomes of the studio briefs became more aesthetically appealing and relevant to the contexts. Peer review also gave the opportunity to look at ways in which other people had approached the brief and what colours, stock, layout and type they had used in response to the module. All of these skills will prove to be transferable for future projects and will allow for different approaches to come about, when starting a new brief.