Design ProcessDesign Process

The Design ProcessThe Design ProcessThere are four distinct steps in the Design Process

we’ll be using in this class.They are...

IdeasIdeas

ThumbnailsThumbnails

RoughRough

FinalFinal

Case Study: A logo design for a company called “e-Design”

A company called e-design approached me to create a logo. Without telling me what line of work they do, they

wanted to see several ideas from me first.

The design process should be done for each projectThe design process should be done for each projectwe work on in class. we work on in class.

It consists of four parts:It consists of four parts:Ideas - Thumbnails - Roughs - FinalsIdeas - Thumbnails - Roughs - Finals

STEP ONESTEP ONE

IDEASIDEASThese are your initial ideas about the project you’re working on. These are your initial ideas about the project you’re working on. •Start gathering informationStart gathering information

•Make a list of everything which comes to mind when you think of Make a list of everything which comes to mind when you think of the project. the project.

•Look at examples & take notes on what’s needed to complete it.Look at examples & take notes on what’s needed to complete it.

•Research images on the net, in clip art… ideas come from all overResearch images on the net, in clip art… ideas come from all over

THUMBNAIL SKETCHESTHUMBNAIL SKETCHESThumbnail sketches are Thumbnail sketches are small SKETCHES small SKETCHES (not drawings)(not drawings) that are that are

meant to convey your ideas in a simple and fast format. They should meant to convey your ideas in a simple and fast format. They should show a range of show a range of VALUES VALUES (lights and darks)(lights and darks). .

BAD THUMBNAILSBAD THUMBNAILS

BAD THUMBNAILSBAD THUMBNAILS

THUMBNAIL TIPSTHUMBNAIL TIPSDon't fret over details. Use thumbnails to establish

approximate locations for major elements.

Try for an approximately proportional page size .

Make lots of thumbnail sketches!

You'll rule out many design ideas quickly this way before

wasting time.

I encourage you to do thumbnail sketches in pencil in the concept stages of a project, based

on the theory that working on the computer actually inhibits initial experimentation

Billboard Style

Poster Style

DESIGN TIPSDESIGN TIPSGood designers will tell you that doing Good designers will tell you that doing

thumbnails is essential. Looking at your thumbnails is essential. Looking at your ideas in front of you as opposed to in your ideas in front of you as opposed to in your

head makes all the difference in the head makes all the difference in the world.world.

To save you TIME and MONEY (which is To save you TIME and MONEY (which is what thumbnails do) designers often what thumbnails do) designers often

utilize utilize GREEKING.GREEKING.GREEKINGGREEKING is non-sense placeholder is non-sense placeholder

type or lines used in place of text.type or lines used in place of text.The examples shown at left indicate the The examples shown at left indicate the

words “interior design.”words “interior design.”

DESIGN TIPSDESIGN TIPSWhen laying out page design, When laying out page design,

Pictures can also be “greeked” using an “X” to represent their placement.Pictures can also be “greeked” using an “X” to represent their placement.

STEP 3 - THE ROUGHSTEP 3 - THE ROUGHNotice that this drawing is Notice that this drawing is a a larger version of a thumbnail larger version of a thumbnail sketchsketch and that’s about all. and that’s about all.

A rough is almost always A rough is almost always

drawn drawn 1/2 the size1/2 the size of the of the final version to save time.final version to save time.

This rough step is completed This rough step is completed so that you can expand upon so that you can expand upon your initial idea in a slightly your initial idea in a slightly

larger format and in a bit more larger format and in a bit more detail such as having the text detail such as having the text

filled in.filled in. It shouldn’t take more than 15

minutes to complete.

The next step is...The next step is...

My hand-drawn rough draft.

I wound up with this design and offered them some different color and black and white choices…

Case Study: A logo design for a company called “e-Design”

I went from this thumbnail...

… to this final.

To this rough draft...

The design process should be done for each projectThe design process should be done for each projectwe work on in class. we work on in class.

It consists of five parts:It consists of five parts:Ideas - Thumbnails - Roughs - FinalsIdeas - Thumbnails - Roughs - Finals

RECAPRECAP

IDEASIDEASBrainstorm to get your ideas. Use magazines, Brainstorm to get your ideas. Use magazines, clip art, existing art or photos for inspiration.clip art, existing art or photos for inspiration.

This is known as This is known as PRE-PRODUCTION… the work PRE-PRODUCTION… the work BEFORE the workBEFORE the work

THUMBNAIL RECAPTHUMBNAIL RECAP•Thumbnails save you time and money. Thumbnails save you time and money.

•They also let you express your thoughts in a quickThey also let you express your thoughts in a quickand visual way.and visual way.

10 - 30 seconds to produce10 - 30 seconds to produce

ROUGH RECAPROUGH RECAP•Larger version of a thumbnail Larger version of a thumbnail

•Shows a bit more detail and solid position of objectsShows a bit more detail and solid position of objects

•Always drawn 1/2 the size of the final version to save timeAlways drawn 1/2 the size of the final version to save time

• All the text is correct and set into placeAll the text is correct and set into place

• There is a balance to the whole design.There is a balance to the whole design.

• It is free of any glue marks, smudges, eraser marks or It is free of any glue marks, smudges, eraser marks or blemishes that might be on other copies.blemishes that might be on other copies.

• It has been proofread thoroughlyIt has been proofread thoroughly

•Thumbnails, Rough and Finals are all examples of Thumbnails, Rough and Finals are all examples of PRODUCTION WORK… the actual work created to fulfill the PRODUCTION WORK… the actual work created to fulfill the

needs of the project.needs of the project.

•POST PRODUCTION WORK is work done after a job POST PRODUCTION WORK is work done after a job EX: paperwork, archiving the work, etcEX: paperwork, archiving the work, etc

FINAL RECAPFINAL RECAP