project 04 :: sketches & iterations & color palettes, oh my!

Here's a quick look into the process that was this weekend.

Stay tuned for updates on a finalized logo & color scheme...

project 04 :: brainstorming

Today in class, we came up with a "staggering" amount of ideas.

We brainstormed name ideas and visual elements to create the identity system of our brand.

Here's the resulting whiteboard:

As you can tell (or maybe not), in the very left-hand bottom corner is where we stumbled across the name we decided to go with: Mod With Purpose.

Not only do we like the sound of the name and its slight play on words, but we also think it accurately portrays three aspects of our brand image:

• our store sells modern furniture and has an overall modern vibe 
• hence, "mod"
• our store represents creators of furniture that is durable, functional, and made to last
• hence, "with purpose"
• we know we put out well-designed, quality products, but we don't take ourselves too seriously
• hence, the play on words

project 04 :: identity systems

Something I have noticed about identity systems: the use of texture and material.

Much of this identity is solidified by the wood and the metal tools:

see project here

see project here

Similarly, this furniture brand uses the materiality of the wood and the highly textured black paper:

see source

I also love how both of these furniture websites utilize clean, white backgrounds in conjunction with a specific typeface and a single accent color. Both employ the same method to create very different looks.

project 03 :: small group critiques

Today in class we met in small groups and presented our initial design ideas. It was helpful to get others' insight into the organization of our systems – it helped me think about things I hadn't considered yet.

At the beginning of class, I had already defined my user and the content I wanted to include, but I had not fully decided on what form my project would take.

Audience: college-aged students and young professionals living in Des Moines
Content: a resource highlighting the trails in downtown Des Moines (from Fleur Dr to the Des Moines River), how they connect, and amenities along the way.

After talking with the group it seemed like a mobile website or app would make the most sense for my audience and the function I want this information design piece to have.

I spent the rest of class continuing my research. I found Google Maps to be an extremely helpful resource. Using the satellite view function, I was able to follow each of the trails I want to include and made a list of attractions, amenities, parking lots, and connection points along the way.

Then I did some brainstorming over how I want to organize the information in this resource.  I don't want to create any sort of GPS or map device that will compete with Google Maps, because Google Maps is already a high-functioning and sophisticated product.

Instead, I want to create a resource that will help the user visualize the city in a new way, and be able to see how the trails around Gray's Lake and the Des Moines River connect and how they can be taken into the city, as well.

So, I drew up a sketch of "districts," which might be a helpful way to visualize this information.

Then, working from this visualization, I could model the app or mobile website off of this system of organization. This is a rough sketch of what the structure of some of the screens might include:

Stay tuned for further updates!

project 03 :: research

I have looked at several different maps, forums, and other online resources to gather information about the trails in Des Moines – specifically the "Downtown Des Moines Trail Loops."

This collection of trails includes Kruidenier Trail (Gray's Lake), Meredith Trail, MLK Trail, and Principal Riverwalk.

Some other maps I found:

I also downloaded the Iowa by Trail app created by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Shift Interactive and got some good ideas in how users are used to viewing and interacting with information like the kind I am dealing with. I took note of the placement, size, and organization of the various icons & information.

Google Maps has also been an extremely valuable resource to have an birds-eye view of where each of the paths connect and what parking lots and other attractions are located along each path. 

project 03 :: examples of information design

Good ::

Poor ::

project 02 :: continued research & prototype beginnings

Today in class I worked on contacting people who either are international students or have been heavily involved with international students, to get their input on what kinds of questions could best facilitate conversations and if there's anything else I have forgotten to consider.

I was originally going to Facebook message them, but then I realized that in order to get long-answer responses from a large group of people, a Google form might make more sense. So I put together a form with questions and sent the link out to people so they could fill it out.

I also posed a question to an Engaged Citizens of Drake Facebook group I am a part of, and got some great responses from that!

Finally, I made some sketches for potential prototypes of a game or activity that could include these questions and help facilitate conversations.

Now, I'll be considering the larger system and how this product would fit into it.

project 02 :: problem definition workday

After some more reflecting and research, I was able to narrow down my project idea a bit more.

Big Idea ::
facilitate communication and foster understanding between international students and American students at Drake University

Method :: game or activity. Create some sort of conversation starter in the form of a ball, cube, or card game.

This solution could help international students learn about Drake, American culture, and get to know American students. It might even allow for deeper friendships to form if the conversations go well! A game that facilitates interactions like this could also help American students get to know international students and gain perspective on the obstacles, uncertainties, and hurdles they face as international students in America.

I will spend most of the remaining time developing the actual object. But, I thought a little more broadly about the solution and how it could be used: it could be the focus of some event put on by an international student organization. Additionally, copies could be given to the leaders of each organization, or even resident assistants in the residence halls, so that this object could eventually be distributed campus-wide.

During class today I did a lot of research on current clubs and organizations on Drake's campus that have to do with international students. I also looked up some different ideas of conversation starter games and activities – Pinterest seemed to be a great resource for that!

I will continue my research by contacting both international and American students involved with the various campus groups and asking them what kinds of questions or conversation starters would be beneficial to include on this game object.

project 02 :: problem identification small group work day

Today in class we used a series of thinking exercises and group activities to help us grasp and explore the scope of this project and the problems we may be dealing with.

First, we did the "ripple effect activity," where we each identified a goal we would like to achieve with our design, in relation to a specific problem or inter-cultural misunderstanding. Then we thought about the "ripples" – how that effect would impact ourselves, our immediate communities, and the larger community. We continued to think broader and broader until we had thought about the positive and negative consequences of this goal in a number of contexts.

Then, we each thought of some questions to ask our group members that would help us identify the problems we each need to address, related to the specific issues we each are choosing to work with. This was helpful because it helped me focus my ideas.

Finally, we shared our specific ideas as a class, expressing them quickly and concisely. We then talked about each of them and voted on the ideas we were most drawn to.

The key insights I learned from this activity involved conceptual thinking. It was helpful to use these activities to internalize the issues we're dealing with, and learn how to think about them from different angles. I liked talking with my group members and with the class because it helped broaden my perspective and think about aspects of the problems I had not considered.

Our next steps are to solidify our ideas, conduct further research, and create a prototype for next week. We will be moving away from the conceptual phase and moving into designing. As we do so, however, we will not stop ourselves from exploring more ideas as they come up and looking at different ways of addressing these problems.

project 01 :: brainstorming

1.26.17

Today in class each of us shared our project ideas, which was helpful in understanding how to approach the project and all the different aspects we should consider.

Here's what I know for sure about my project:

• It will be a video
• It will include hand lettering
• Primary purpose: to showcase my skills as a designer
• Primary audience: other designers and future employers
• Secondary purpose: a message that is beneficial for other viewers, something inspiring and/or encouraging
• Secondary audience: general public
• It will showcase how design can be used to encourage and inspire

Things I still need to nail down:

• Specific message/theme
• Content (specific images & words)

I spent today brainstorming potential themes and conducting visual research. I'm inspired by the Jubilee Project, this video, and some designers I follow on Instagram who take pictures of their hand lettering in front of beautiful scenery.

I'm not quite ready to lay out what exactly the message of this video will be, but hopefully I'll be able to nail it down this weekend.