1. Each design toolbox contains a brief narrative. In your opinion, does each narrative accurately explain the project? Why or why not? Provide references to page numbers in the project books to substantiate your statements.
The KangaROOS narrative is very brief. It accurately explains the product and goals behind the “Color Your Roos” project, but doesn’t mention any design decisions or discuss any reasoning behind them (Niebrugge, n.d.).
The first paragraph in the Schweitzer narrative states that the goal of the rebranding effort is “to connect with the local populations and breakdown the accessibility barriers” (Niebrugge, n.d.). It discusses using imagery that is focused on the area and people, and states that the design elements do not overpower the imagery. There is a strong graphic design element going through the project book that is not present in the toolbox. Throughout the piece the strong curving line divides and dominates each page. The photographis images are in circles. I think these design elements overpower the imagery. The photographic imagery on the cover for example is very small in comparison to the graphics. The project book contains a photo of a tour bus with the tagline “Reaching the Extreme in Your Backyard” on each side (Niebrugge, n.d. Pages 4.6 & 4.7). This is a nice tie in with the original goal of the rebranding effort.
The Woofables narrative accurately explains the project. It explains the goal of the rebranding, color schemes, fonts and textures, and the reasoning behind the design choices. The narrative states, “The design will be clean and classy with a whimsical touch” (Durko, n.d.). This theme is also addressed in the brand book (Durko, n.d. page 23). The narrative also explains in detail the thought behind the new logo design, which is “symbolic of a happy dog who enjoys Woofables many tastes and scents” (Durko, n.d.). The logo design process is well illustrated in the project book (n.d. page 29 & 30). It is a successful logo design.
The Discover Korea narrative discusses the goal of the rebranding effort being to increase tourism from the US and also in other countries, and to increase Korea’s overall international reputation. I think it should have had a more focused goal and target audience. It explains the thought behind the new logo, which I think is an effective logo design. In my opinion, the narrative accurately explains the project. The imagery used is in the toolbox and in the project book is consistent, and it is good imagery, but there is way too much of it. It is overwhelming and should have been edited more.
The MySpace narrative discusses the problems with the current brand and website in general. It goes on to suggest what should be done to change the site’s philosophy, but doesn’t say anything about the graphic design of the rebranding project. The only mention of design is vague, stating “Multiple styles are represented in the imagery/textures area to display different design solutions for alternate media” (Staebell, 2011). I think there should have been a more detailed description of the design choices.
2. Do the media applications shown in the project books appear to be derived from the toolboxes exactly, or were changes made between the toolbox and the project book? Explain. Provide references to page numbers in the project books to substantiate your statements.
The media applications in the KangaROOS project book seem to be extensions of the choices made in the toolbox. The biggest change in the project book has to do with the use of color. The dark photos and white background in the toolbox create a more somber feel than the bright and vibrant purple background (n.d. pages 1, 2 and 67), the blue background (n.d. pages 4, 15, 28, and 52), the bands of blue used along the bottom of several of the pages, and the brightly colored title boxes used throughout the book. The colorful, very nice new logo design shown in the project book (n.d. page 7), and throughout the book made a big difference in the appearance as well. Overall the project book has a much more vibrant and happy feel.
The media applications shown in the Schweitzer project book seem to have progressed form the toolbox. The same fonts, photographic imagery, textures and some of the design elements are used. The addition of the strong graphic design elements changes the feel of the piece dramatically. The toolbox has a mountain scape across the bottom of it that is not used in the book. The color palette on page 3.3 of the design book is also new.
The media applications shown in the Woofables project book appear to be derived from the toolbox. There are some additional design elements that were incorporated into the project book that are not in the toolbox. On page 2 a multi colored stripe goes vertically down the page. The same colored band appears through the book horizontally across the bottom. The headline font is enhanced in the book with wavy path and the faintly outlined use of all caps. I think the Woofables project book corresponds closely to its toolbox, but it has a slightly different look and feel. Its toolbox has a border around it with rounded corners that is presented on page 14 in the project book. The overall look and feel of the project book is more refined and classy than the toolbox.
The media applications in the Discover Korea project book have some of the design elements from the toolbox in them with the addition of a lot more. The texture that is in the first box in the toolbox is a nice touch as side panels throughout the book. I don’t see any of the other sample textures that are represented in the toolbox in the project book. Both the toolbox and the project book have a lot going on.
3. Of the 6 design toolboxes shown, which project book is closest to its corresponding design toolbox? Why? Provide references to page numbers in the project books to substantiate your statements.
The MySpace project book is closest to its corresponding design toolbox because the project book has the same look and feel as the toolbox. The banner at the top of the page, and the white background in most of the pages is consistent in the toolbox and the project book. The media applications in the MySpace project book appear to be clearly derived from the toolbox. There is the addition of the photo collage texture that is shown clearly on page 7, and appears at the top of the pages throughout and on the front and back pages. The addition of the photo collage texture is a nice addition to the piece. It works nicely with the theme, and doesn’t deviate form the original design narrative because it has the same feel as the blue texture element that was originally presented in the toolbox.
1. Each design toolbox contains a brief narrative. In your opinion, does each narrative accurately explain the project? Why or why not? Provide references to page numbers in the project books to substantiate your statements.
The KangaROOS narrative is very brief. It accurately explains the product and goals behind the “Color Your Roos” project, but doesn’t mention any design decisions or discuss any reasoning behind them (Niebrugge, n.d.).
The first paragraph in the Schweitzer narrative states that the goal of the rebranding effort is “to connect with the local populations and breakdown the accessibility barriers” (Niebrugge, n.d.). It discusses using imagery that is focused on the area and people, and states that the design elements do not overpower the imagery. There is a strong graphic design element going through the project book that is not present in the toolbox. Throughout the piece the strong curving line divides and dominates each page. The photographis images are in circles. I think these design elements overpower the imagery. The photographic imagery on the cover for example is very small in comparison to the graphics. The project book contains a photo of a tour bus with the tagline “Reaching the Extreme in Your Backyard” on each side (Niebrugge, n.d. Pages 4.6 & 4.7). This is a nice tie in with the original goal of the rebranding effort.
The Woofables narrative accurately explains the project. It explains the goal of the rebranding, color schemes, fonts and textures, and the reasoning behind the design choices. The narrative states, “The design will be clean and classy with a whimsical touch” (Durko, n.d.). This theme is also addressed in the brand book (Durko, n.d. page 23). The narrative also explains in detail the thought behind the new logo design, which is “symbolic of a happy dog who enjoys Woofables many tastes and scents” (Durko, n.d.). The logo design process is well illustrated in the project book (n.d. page 29 & 30). It is a successful logo design.
The Discover Korea narrative discusses the goal of the rebranding effort being to increase tourism from the US and also in other countries, and to increase Korea’s overall international reputation. I think it should have had a more focused goal and target audience. It explains the thought behind the new logo, which I think is an effective logo design. In my opinion, the narrative accurately explains the project. The imagery used is in the toolbox and in the project book is consistent, and it is good imagery, but there is way too much of it. It is overwhelming and should have been edited more.
The MySpace narrative discusses the problems with the current brand and website in general. It goes on to suggest what should be done to change the site’s philosophy, but doesn’t say anything about the graphic design of the rebranding project. The only mention of design is vague, stating “Multiple styles are represented in the imagery/textures area to display different design solutions for alternate media” (Staebell, 2011). I think there should have been a more detailed description of the design choices.
2. Do the media applications shown in the project books appear to be derived from the toolboxes exactly, or were changes made between the toolbox and the project book? Explain. Provide references to page numbers in the project books to substantiate your statements.
The media applications in the KangaROOS project book seem to be extensions of the choices made in the toolbox. The biggest change in the project book has to do with the use of color. The dark photos and white background in the toolbox create a more somber feel than the bright and vibrant purple background (n.d. pages 1, 2 and 67), the blue background (n.d. pages 4, 15, 28, and 52), the bands of blue used along the bottom of several of the pages, and the brightly colored title boxes used throughout the book. The colorful, very nice new logo design shown in the project book (n.d. page 7), and throughout the book made a big difference in the appearance as well. Overall the project book has a much more vibrant and happy feel.
The media applications shown in the Schweitzer project book seem to have progressed form the toolbox. The same fonts, photographic imagery, textures and some of the design elements are used. The addition of the strong graphic design elements changes the feel of the piece dramatically. The toolbox has a mountain scape across the bottom of it that is not used in the book. The color palette on page 3.3 of the design book is also new.
The media applications shown in the Woofables project book appear to be derived from the toolbox. There are some additional design elements that were incorporated into the project book that are not in the toolbox. On page 2 a multi colored stripe goes vertically down the page. The same colored band appears through the book horizontally across the bottom. The headline font is enhanced in the book with wavy path and the faintly outlined use of all caps. I think the Woofables project book corresponds closely to its toolbox, but it has a slightly different look and feel. Its toolbox has a border around it with rounded corners that is presented on page 14 in the project book. The overall look and feel of the project book is more refined and classy than the toolbox.
The media applications in the Discover Korea project book have some of the design elements from the toolbox in them with the addition of a lot more. The texture that is in the first box in the toolbox is a nice touch as side panels throughout the book. I don’t see any of the other sample textures that are represented in the toolbox in the project book. Both the toolbox and the project book have a lot going on.
3. Of the 6 design toolboxes shown, which project book is closest to its corresponding design toolbox? Why? Provide references to page numbers in the project books to substantiate your statements.
The MySpace project book is closest to its corresponding design toolbox because the project book has the same look and feel as the toolbox. The banner at the top of the page, and the white background in most of the pages is consistent in the toolbox and the project book. The media applications in the MySpace project book appear to be clearly derived from the toolbox. There is the addition of the photo collage texture that is shown clearly on page 7, and appears at the top of the pages throughout and on the front and back pages. The addition of the photo collage texture is a nice addition to the piece. It works nicely with the theme, and doesn’t deviate form the original design narrative because it has the same feel as the blue texture element that was originally presented in the toolbox.
References:
Niebrugge, P. (n.d.). Color Your Roos Project Book. Retrieved April 24, 2014 from http://issuu.com/mdmfa_dsr/docs/niebruggep_projectbook?e=1552580/2554785
Creighton, C. (n.d.). Schweitzer Mountain Resort Rebranding Project Book. Retrieved April 24, 2014 fromhttp://issuu.com/mdmfa_dsr/docs/12.4.3_creighton?e=1552580/2554803
Durko, K. (n.d.). Woofables Project Book. Retrieved April 24, 2014 from http://issuu.com/mdmfa_dsr/docs/12.4.3_durko_issuu?e=1552580/2554837
Snowberger (n.d.) Discover Korea Project Book. Retrieved April 24, 2014 from http://issuu.com/mdmfa_dsr/docs/12.4.3_snowberger_issuu?e=1552580/1720197
Staebell, M. (2011, April). MySpace Brand Renewal. Retrieved April 24, 2014 from http://issuu.com/mdmfa_dsr/docs/12.4.4_staebell?e=1552580/2554882