Design Scavenger Hunt

By Makenna Rogers in Uncategorized

If you read my last post, you know I have recently been learning about emotional design. For our class we have been put on a design scavenger hunt. During this scavenger hunt I will find examples of color, typography, symbols, minimalism, and function and explain some why I chose each.

Color – How does color suggest intent?

Color

 

This purple ribbon represents domestic violence awareness. The use of the color purple makes this an internationally recognized symbol. Purple has now become the color of domestic violence awareness. When people see this ribbon and it’s color they know exactly what is stands for. The same pertains to the pink ribbon and breast cancer awareness.

Typography – Is it more than fonts?

Typography

 

Yes! The Walt Disney “font” is one of the most recognized fonts in the world. The use of this is not just for a font that looks appealing. It is about representing what Disney stands for – fun, excitement, adventure, happily ever after, and being a kid. When you see the Disney font not only do you recognize it right away, but you also have a certain feeling.

Symbols - What are best practices for using symbols to represent objects, things, ideas?

Symbol

 

A perfect example of a well known symbol is the American Red Cross. Not only is this symbol known world wide, but the work the Red Cross does is also internationally known because of this easy to recognize symbol.

Minimalism – How can designers do more with less?

Minimalism

The North Face logo is a great example of minimalism. This logo is located on all of The North Face apparel. It is usually very small on the items yet people pay double what they normally would just for the brand name. This just shows that designer logos are a great example of minimalism.

Function – What are best practices for using symbols to represent objects, things, ideas?

Function

 

This welcome to Norman sign is a great example of design as a function. The purpose of the sign is to let travelers know where they are, which is exactly what it does.

Originally posted at OU Public Relations Publications

From Industrialization to DIY

By Makenna Rogers in JMC 3433

The beginning of Chapter 1 of Designing for Emotion explains the shift between craftsmanship to industrialization and then back to craftsmanship (or do it yourself) in today’s society. It explained the need for human to human interaction versus humans to machine. This throwback idea is the new trend for design today and what is discussed in the chapter.

When I first saw the chapter title, Emotional Design, I thought it would discuss the design of websites in general (i.e. interesting colors, different fonts, etc.). I was surprised to find that it was actually all about making your website fun and pleasurable for the user, which enhanced communication between a business and its users/customers.

I had actually never thought about emotional design in general. I had thought about making a design (especially a website) attractive for more viewer traffic, however, I had never considered the element of fun. After reading the chapter I reflected on websites I enjoyed using and why.

I specifically focused on Wufoo. This is because the book specifically mentions Wufoo as being a great website that users enjoy especially for data collection. I have used Wufoo multiple times through a few of my leadership roles on campus. Most recently, however, I used Wufoo for my Public Relations Research class to collect surveys and analyze data. I do agree with the author that Wufoo creates an exciting environment where something boring like collecting data can be a fun and enjoyable experience. I personally like its data analysis features, as well as its note section where I was able to make notes about surveys regarding the important information we gathered from each one.

Since the first chapter served as a basic introductory I did not find anything I disagreed with. I mostly just discovered a lot about what I am going to be learning in this book. I am very excited to continue reading and learning how emotions can influence the work we do in design.

“You want design sensibility that is distinctly human, individual, reflective of a real personality, and honest – all while keeping business goals in mind.” – Kindle Locations 74-80 Designing for Emotion

Originally posted at OU Public Relations Publications