Grid and Dynamic Design in Typography

Once again, we learned the process of producing graphic design and also how to critique it.
For an exercise in grid versus dynamic design in Spring 2013 Typography, we were given definitions of "order" and also of "chaos" and had to use all the text in visually engaging designs that were to be mounted on the same mat board to be critiqued together.
The instructor explained the rules of grid and dynamic design and furthermore excluded use of objective elements like stars and cats.
No one photo could do all these posters justice, so I edited from multiple photos.
Poster #12, in photo part 3, scored several times in the student voting. As Berne pointed out, it was very good as a thumbnail (small sketch), and the thumbnails serve as "a map to the party." You want the best map to the party that you can create in order to design the best party, if I may mix metaphors.
My poster, #2, which should look magenta in photo part 1, did score in readability and the top part was cited for playfulness. That's not taught as an element or principle of design but is a characteristic I like to see.
For poster #4, the instructor asked what one thing would improve it. I was happy to supply the answer, more contrast. Contrast would have shown text around a void in the shape of an anchor in the top picture and waves formed by text in the bottom picture. After you can see it, then it counts as clever.
Berne also showed us how to add 1/32nd of an inch of white space around the edge of a dark poster so it would print with a thin white line to separate it from the black mat board.
Our tables for critiques and scoring or voting are in the last photo. Criteria included:
> Readability (from 10 feet away)
> Conceptual Clarity (Does it look like it is about the subject?)
> Visual Impact (When you see it from 20 feet away, do you want to walk out of your way to see more of it?)
> Principles of Design and
> Elements of Design.

Constructivist Solar Energy Poster

I've been working on a poster in Constructivist style for History of Communication Graphics. If that style doesn't ring a bell, don't worry, it's not as well known as Art Nouveau. It seems to be mostly about simplicity, dark colors, and heavy text.
Our possible subjects included controversial topics and energy and the environment.
Years ago, in 1985, I took the train every day from west of Tokyo to inner Tokyo to attend language school. I marveled at the many residential rooftops decorated with solar panels in a tiny country better known for snow than for natural energy reserves. By contrast, in 2013, I am surprised and dismayed to see little evidence of residential or commercial solar power in sunny San Antonio.
So I used a non-profit organization called Solar San Antonio as my "client" and made versions of this poster. This version is bordered with black to imitate attaching it to a black mat board.
In case anyone wonders, most solar energy panels look dark blue because of the silicone used in them, although other materials may be used in some panels.

A later version , more Constructivist with all capital letters:

Gestalt Closure with DOG and compound path

I am gradually remaking the images in my "Examples of Gestalt Images" in Adobe Illustrator CS6.
This image is an example of closure in Gestalt  because the eye fills in the lines where the dog's belly and back should be and where the left edge of the "o" should be..
I can already see things I should have changed. The dog's paws are not distinct. Maybe the line of the dog's back should be there instead of being hidden. The letters are almost stacked.
Below that is the directions to make something like this. If you try these directions, please let me know how they worked for you.

Love with Heart and Arrow as Gestalt Example

I was reviewing the differences between the compound path and clipping mask features in Adobe Illustrator and I saw lots of possibilities for Gestalt images. So on Sunday, March 10, I created this 8x6" image.
I see this image of the word "love," a heart and an arrow as an example of continuation, because the eye sees white space that moves from the tail end of the arrow to the head of the arrow.
I also made a file with directions. If you try this, let me know how well the directions work. I see now that this is an old version of the directions because it mentions pink lines. There are no pink lines in this image.
Now that I look at it more, the pink body of the "E" stands out too much. Maybe I can slide it down further later.

Examples of Gestalt Principles poster

I have assignments to work on during Spring Break, but also a need to review and refine my understanding of some of the principles of design that I learned last semester.
So I started Spring Break on Saturday, March the 9th by grabbing some text and images from the web and assembling them into a one-page 8.5x11" sheet or small poster in Adobe Illustrator to remind me of principles of Gestalt.
The Graphic Design website at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane, Washington furnished the images and most of the text. There were some typos and I see now that I missed at least one.
Many thanks to this helpful website: graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprinc.htm
I wish I had time to create my own text and images. That may come later.

TPR contest design 03-01-2013

Update: Z Wright submitted the winning design out of over 100 submissions. See his design at:
tpr.org/post/winning-design-selected-tprs-2013-artist-t-shirt-contest
Critique:  A mockingbird is perched on a farm road sign while wearing headphones.
In Z Wright's design, the sign is seen at an angle, which is perspective with subtle use of movement to the right. The mockingbird's body is twisted, providing contrasting movement, and is grayscale, which contrasts with the white-on-black sign and the little red headphones.

Last night I created two versions of one design for the TPR (Texas Public Radio) T-shirt design contest, due today, March 1, 2013.
Rules specified that the design had to include "Texas Public Radio," "tpr.org," the three call signs, fit into a space no smaller than 8x8" nor larger than 11x11", two colors or less.

I used a font like that in the logo, which has an accent of purple.
The catch phrase is in the TPR logo.
Normally I will enlarge the image to be cropped off the page, but this design will be worn on a T-shirt. It doesn't need to look like it's flowing off a page that isn't there.
Now I wonder if the smartphone needs a plug coming out the top for head phones, or should viewers assume the person listening to TPR on this phone is wearing a Bluetooth?
The "WiFi" arcs need to be more tightly arced in a smaller circle.
The corners of the phone should be more rounded.

Anatomy of Type, Three Typeface Gems 02-27-2013

Finished another assignment for 02-27-2013, this time in Typography, to show anatomy of type in Adobe Illustrator.
 We first did thumbnails, small sketches, based on the assignment sheet. Pick three typefaces out of five, show some of the anatomy, like serifs on the ends of letters or counters, like the enclosed space in a small "e."
The instructor showed us how to indicate the anatomical parts with arrows or colored clipping masks, and let us work.
Pictures below:
The thumbnail needs to be tightened up.
In the photo of the poster, the black border above and below is the black mat on which it is mounted. The blue in the counter of the "e" looks darker than the rest of the blue anatomical clipping masks.
The rest of the posters that were critiqued today were all very different and very good.