VISC 204
Animal Symbols / Forced Connections
Creating symbolism is a fundamental aspect of graphic design as a whole and branding specifically.
A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences.
The designer needs to infuse content with resonance to engage his/her audience. Every representation—from a small period at the end of a sentence to a logo to the most complex color photograph-has a dual existence. It is an optical phenomenon with visual properties, and it is an communicative signal that functions with other signals to form a message.
This duality simply put means: Every representation is denotative and connotative.
Denotation—the direct meaning (literal)
Connotation—the in direct meaning (suggests)
Throughout your design education and professional career, you will be asked to create symbols and marks. These exercises and this project as a whole will encourage you to explore different ways to create symbols.
Please avoid looking at inspiration for this project. You may of course need to pull reference imagery of your animal but avoid looking at pre-constructed or designed symbols related to your animal. We are interested in symbols that you make not what has already been done.
Business List
brewery
bakery
ice cream
record/music
music/instrument
tailor
home/garden
landscaper
automotive shop
barber
salon
sewing/yarn shop
toy store
roller rink
skate park
art supplies
shoes
cheese shop
Farmers Market
Comedy Club
Climbing gym
bookstore
office supplies
travel/luggage
bike shop
Wine Store
furniture
eyeglasses
dentist
bowling
fishing
camping/outdoor
hardware
grocery
construction company
gym/rec
video gaming/arcade
wifi/cable
florist
SYMBOL CATEGORIES:
1) a version that must use only flat geometric shapes
2) a line-only version that uses just two stroke weights
3) a version that uses a non-traditional mark making tool
4) a version inspired by architecture (bring in a photo of the building)
5) a version made with cut paper or tape (think painters tape / black tape)
6) a version based on a stencil (printed/stamped through a stencil design)
7) a version based on your animals behavior
8) a version from an odd pov/angle
9) a version drawn with your left hand (could trace a computer printout of one of your own
10) a version thats relates to the cultural connotations, history, or folklore
11) a version that is one continuously long line
12) a shape version where none of the shapes touch or overlap
13) Closure, a version with mujo (part of it left out) in order for the viewer to create closure
14) a modular version where the whole is made of one repeatable unit
15) a version with strong light and shadows
FINAL DELIVERABLES:
—18x24 Poster (Printed)
—18x24 Poster (AI File on Server)
— Process Book: PDF Process Book (Under 120 MB) on Server
SCHEDULE:
9 / 22 / 22
IN CLASS
Class Sllyabus
Introduce Project
HOMEWORK
Using your animal and business name come up with 20 names for your business. To get 20 good names you will likely have to think of a lot more. Dive deep and really think about interesting ideas. The better this is the better your project will be. Be sure to explore using a thesaurus and alternative spellings, etc.
Create an 11x17 reference sheet for use throughout this project. Really think about the images you choose here and don't jsut choose the first few you find.
9 / 27 / 22
IN CLASS
Review Business Names
In-Class Mind Maps Exercise
HOMEWORK
Choose Final Name(s)
Pick 6 of the categories and create 10 explorations for each using your name. Really look at forced connections, how can you blend your ideas together? What can you use to represent your business and animal?
9 / 29 / 22
IN CLASS
Review sketches / concepts / forced connection studies
HOMEWORK
Using the remaining 6 categories create 10 explorations for each using your name. Really look at forced connections, how can you blend your ideas together?
10 / 4 / 22
IN CLASS
Review sketches / concepts / forced connection studies
AI Demo (Sketches > AI) Tips and Tricks
HOMEWORK
Move your top 20 sketches from both combined groups into the computer. Pick a diverse range (Both style and cocnept) and the symbols that are most interesting to you.
Use the tools we talked about in class and focus on how to improve your sketches for legibility / scalability / uniqueness.
10 / 6 / 22
IN CLASS
In-Class Acitivity
HOMEWORK
Refine and expand your computer studies. With the additional time afforded by this class and fall break continue to explore and refine your computer studies. What can you do to make them legibile? Simpler? Cleaner? More interesting? More varied? Etc?
Feel free to have more that 20. The more work and exploration you do here the better your overall project will be moving foward.
10 / 11 / 22
IN CLASS
Fall Break (No Class)
HOMEWORK
Continue HW from 10/6
10 / 13 / 22
IN CLASS
Review Computer Studies
HOMEWORK
Choose your top (15) marks/symbols from your computer explorations and do (5) Explorations / Refinments for each one.
How can you make them simpler? More Legible? More interesting? Look for ways to further push objects together to create interesting forms.
Print both symbols and explorations.
10 / 18 / 22
HOMEWORK
Choose your top 12 symbols based on your refinments. Think about range (variety of solutions), Legibility, Intersting combinations of visual elements.
Make sure that you have a visual solutions that range in both concept and visual execution.
Continue to refine and think about legibility and scale. (Large and small sizes). Does every line need to connect? Do you need every line? What can you do with closure? Do you need a mix of shape and lines etc?
FOR THURSDAY:
Use Songkick.com or another website. Find an artist with an upcoming show or recent show and print of the following information in several typefaces you think fit the mood of the music:
1) Artist Name
2) Location of the Show
3) Date
4) Openers or Secondary Artists
5) Venue
6) Anything else you think would be good to include on a poster advertising the show
You should print in black / white and may want to print in several sizes. One 11x17 or several 8.5 x 11’s is cool with me.
10 / 20 / 22
IN CLASS
RISO Poster Project (In-Class)
HOMEWORK
Bring your Printed Seperations to Class.
Finalize your symbols based on the demo from class Tueday.
Finalize your poster based on the information we talked about in class. Make sure that your process book and poster (PDF and AI) are turned in on the server as well as printed.
10 / 25 / 22
IN CLASS
RISO Poster (In-Class)
HOMEWORK
Finalize your poster based on the information we talked about in class. Make sure that your process book and poster (PDF and AI) are turned in on the server as well as printed.
10 / 27 / 22
IN CLASS
Project Due
HOMEWORK
Homework for Project 2