Graphic Authorship; Michael Rock

Prompt; Graphic designers have a responsibility to become authors if we are to legitimize our profession, relative to architects and film directors.

I agree with this statement, a lot of the time designers are disregarded and not given credit but leave a lasting impact. Movies tell stories that affect masses, seen on large screen just as design is seen at large scale but everyday. Subconsciously we make opinions and judgement of people, places, and things based on visuals, design. It really is our responsibility to become authors of our work and provide a sense of respect to our profession. Knowing that we came about our process and outcome with intention and thought differentiates the tabloid magazine from the Vogue. 

Designer as Producer; Victor Margolin

Prompt: Designers becoming producers of self-authored goods (t-shirts, fonts, publications, posters, etc) is unethical and unsustainable.

I disagree with the statement. If educators and designers can't evolve with technology we are holding ourselves back. With that said it is up to us to make meaningful work that does does not compromise the history and legacy left by the great designers of the past. Technology is always going to evolve and make making more efficient, that is undeniable. If that means making projects move along faster and letting designers have more opportunities and control then that is a good thing. I do believe a certain moral ground influences the decisions current designers make, it is up to them to be the "good citizens" and be impactful and not hinder progression and the respect of past design.

Rebrand Progression

I was struggling with how to apply the brand across many platforms. I started to experiment with different backgrounds and testing type to see what fits. I want to make my collateral unique and cohesive without being redundant. But I am excited to experiment and see what I can come up with. I did also change up the color palette and am still finessing the ampersand in the logo.

Collateral Process

I started to take a stab the menu and I believe that the way I approach the menu will carry a style into the other collateral that I decide to make. I made list of various items that could work in my system.

Butcher Paper
Stamps
Stickers
Bags
Neon Sign
Store Sign
Window Decals
Business Cards
Letter Head
Giftcard
Receipts
T-shirt
Apron
Webpage
Animated Logo

Find + Share

I used this find and share to look up interactive art pieces that brought people together in hopes that maybe one could inspire a piece for our deliverables.

I chose to talk about Weavesilk because it is an interactive piece that performs on multiple platforms, the desktop, iPad, and iPhone. The application functions on multiple levels without breaking cohesiveness. I want to bring that sensibility into our final outcomes.

http://weavesilk.com

The Building is… "is a series of physical games centered around the idea of a sentient building being brought to life by its playful inhabitants. The Building Is… incorporates the architecture of the 150 year old Building into how each game plays – meaning that the games are about the Building, but are also literally embedded in it, creating the impression that you, the player, are interacting with a giant, emotional, sentient being." This project is more than a touch screen but brings people together in a extraordinary way. I feel as some emotional connections with people can be made that could translate into the audiences that we want to affect with our project.

http://hideandseek.net/projects/the-building-is/

Scott Snibbe is an interactive artist that also makes apps and various designs. A project that I found inspiring was the You Are Here project that used cameras to track people's movements and show that they aren't as different as they thought. It showed that many people make the same pathways and stops and can find connectivity through that. I like that the thought is so simple but has a larger affect on people. Again that is another idea I want to bring into our final outcomes. 

http://www.snibbe.com

Logo Refinements

I was hoping to get some feedback on the direction I am headed in for my final logo. I wanted to bring some life back into the design and I am hoping this is working better.

Examine: Audience research, meet with team

Problem Statement & Question:
How can design encourage young minority students to become educated in programming technologies?

Audience Definition & Characteristics:
Stakeholders: High School minority students who may seek career options in programing technologies

What social behavior do you want to change?
Looking to change the perception of unrepresented minorities in computer science occupations

How will you measure the results?
Survey of those interested before and after our solution

During our group meeting we decided that Seft would be the best person to meet up with. We have contacted him and will met sometime next week. Seft has already told us that there are some tech education programs for us to explore and we hope use that in whatever final project we pursue.

Some background research we did come to is that there is are only 3 high schools East of Troost. This seem astounding. Two of those high schools (Northeast and East; Public) are located very Northeast and have high student count and diversity. We plan on targeting those high schools and using high school students as the ones to impact with our cause.