Secondary Research: Initial book research

 

 

Dawson, P., Foster, J., Seddon, T., & Adams, S. (2017). Graphic Design rules: 365 Essential Design Dos and Don’ts. Frances Lincoln.

I travelled to the library to search for a book on Graphic Design. I wanted to look for a book that specifies rules and principles in my industry. As a current practitioner in this design area, I wanted to explore typography as this is what I am drawing more towards to specialise in for my MA studies. It was also mentioned in my proposal module to look out for this book the next time I go to the library.

I decided to take notes on a specific page that stood out to me focusing on legibility and readability. As for these design principles, it's important to take into consideration these areas when dealing with typography accordingly. However, I found it quite rewarding to discover that you don't have to live by such principles when dealing with type. Typography has evolved in so many ways that it connotes a more contemporary feel to it that in fact breaks the boundaries in design principles in being legible and readable to the viewer and that "legibility and readability are not always of the utmost importance" (Dawson, 2017 p.23)


An example of this was initially discovered by graphic designer David Carson who pioneered 'grunge' typography in the 1990s and was seen as illegible by many. Here is an example to show this.

Grunge – David Carson. (n.d.). http://danielgalea93.blogspot.com/2015/01/grunge-david-carson.html

I feel this is useful in knowing that graphic design rules are not always the answer and you can be quite experimental within your approach to design.

I see this in my own practice and want to explore further within this module in answering my question of research: How can materiality enhance the user/ audience experience, in your own practice?. This comes from identifying that I want to explore how visual identity through typography can be enhanced through such interactive posters that deliver a more dynamic and visual approach that pushes boundaries in legibility and readability.

Below is further research into other books that I discovered during my time at the library. I decided to look into the book Design Thinking for Visual Communication (Ambrose, 2015).

Ambrose, G. (2015). Design thinking for visual communication. 
In Imprint previously known as AVA Publishing eBooks. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781474223515

I found this book to be of great use to me in bettering my understanding of my research journey and methodology approach. I took from this that it's important to research whilst defining a problem in your specific area that will support your target audience. From the perspective of my question of research that is focused on materiality and how it will enhance the user experience in my practice, I felt it was important to consider this by establishing how this will align with the design process seen here on this page. 

As part of my ongoing methodology within my studies and freelance work, I feel that I already cover most of these terms in my own practice. However, what I need to consider is, how can I adapt to this further in trying to answer my question of research on materiality and how this will enhance the user experience in my own practice. 

I believe that this is a great way to visualise the design process that is being seen here 

Ambrose, G. (2015). Design thinking for visual communication. 
In Imprint previously known as AVA Publishing eBooks. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781474223515

I decided to sketch out my own interpretation of how I feel my design process is within my work and how I use this method in my methodology approach. 

Diagram showing my response to Design thinking for visual communication. Ambrose, G (2015)

As shown above, my process of what I feel I currently do in my own practice looks rather messy. The idea of defining a problem is all about looking back to different stages of the process again and again, although repetitive this helps me identify how I want to tackle a design brief or answer a question. I will consider this in the next stages of my practice-based research and how I will try and resolve each stage of this process within my own practice methods. 

I am a visual thinker and try to explain my ideas through note-taking imagery so to explore this further, I need to clearly define how I want to tackle my research question. Below are notes taken from researching further into Design thinking for visual communication (Ambrose (2015).

Screenshot shows notes taken from researching Design thinking for visual communication (Ambrose (2015)