Theory into Practice: Visual Research

Use of mono typefaces could within the publications as they hark back to the user interface of the early computer, I want my publication's design to visual explain to the audience that it is specifically internet identity that will be explored in the publication.

The blurring and layering of type as well as repetition could reference the multiplicity of identity that I discuss within my essay as well as the many different versions of oneself that people make online. 

Layering of images and type could also represent the the different versions of oneself that continually adapts and is constructed and changed.

The covering of letterforms or abstraction of letter forms though hiding could be used to symbolise that an online identity is incomplete for the user of that identity as well as the person interacting with that identity. 

 

I think the use of black and white within my publication could work well in creating a direct contrast between online and offline identity, they are two realms of identity, but grey could be used to show how these identities may overlap? 

Examples of how the concertina format could be used. 

Fragmented type and the confusion created by the abstraction of type can be used to visually represent the fragmented identity online and the many windows in which an internet user interacts with different profiles and persona's they have created online. 

Good is New York City: Retail & Promotion

My secondary form of research area into contemporary graphic design is retail and promotion as ultimately the products that I will be creating will have the aim of promoting New York City to Tourists so I think it is relevant for me to look into this area of Graphic Design.

From the research I have gained a deeper understanding of retail and promotion and primarily, it's not just about flyers and posters, its so much more than that, it's about using an existing format or a new format and having complete fun with it, promotion is about grabbing people's attention with something different and this is how you do it. There are some good example of traditional formats which work well but they don't promote or work as well as those example that do something different to grab attention. The successful retail and promotion pieces push what can be done with the format whether it's making a product or using the format in a new way. There is also a degree of translation between digital and analog, there is a lot of digital promotion out there and promotion for these digital products but these promotional are all print based and it's finding a way to bridge the gap between the digital product and promoting this within a printed format. 

Good is New York City: Information & Way Finding

The primary area for my visual research that I have chosen to explore is 'Information & Way finding' as I think this links directly with the topic that I have chosen of New York, which is a city and ultimately I will be creating something that will be finding a way to present this information or how this information can be incorporated into the 'way finding' of New York itself.

From the research I have conducted into Information and Way finding I have established the following

• The traditional forms of way finding use keys elements such as colour, iconography and typography to present way finding to the user
• However newer forms of way finding take this to a new level by using the environment itself as a way to project this information into the environment so rather than having a way finding stuck on the wall, its becomes a part of environment itself
• Another key aspect  is modern graphic way finding is use of digital technologies in such devices as smart phones, these new forms of device which are highly powerful enable way finding to become personal, unique and updatable to each individual user.
• Ultimately regardless of the format of the way finding it's communicative success is as a result of it's successful use of colour, icons and typography.