Hand out for Presentation – Website Vote

Everything I talked about in my presentation is also here, present on my blog. Here is the hand out I made and I gave one out to everyone who was present.

Typefaces I found:

http://www.carterwongdesign.com

Verdana in size 7.5

I couldn’t identify the other typeface.

http://www.pentagram.com

The typeface used for their logo is Modern No. 20

Arial in size 13.5.

http://www.whynotassociates.com

Helvetica in size 9

Helvetica in size 15

http://www.spin.co.uk

Helvetica in size 10

http://www.ligalux.de

Georgia in size 14.5

Courier in 8.5.

http://www.studio-cuculic.hr

Verdana in size 8.5

http://www.designgruppe-koop.de

Verdana in size 7.5

http://www.nbstudio.co.uk

Helvetica Neue in size 8.5
Helvetica Neue in size 11
Helvetica Neue in size 27
Georgia in size 11
Georgia in size 21

http://www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk

Arial in size 10

I couldn’t identify the other typeface.

http://www.segura-inc.com

Tahoma in size 9

Tahoma in size 10.5

http://www.miltonglaser.com

Arial 12

Arial 9

Arial 15

The tutor suggested we take a vote to see which website we thought the best. As you can see the class voted that Pearlfisher is the best.

The worst website was voted for and it was Jake Tilson.

Sagmeister won the vote for the best designs.

First piece of particularly inspiring design by hat-trickdesign.co.uk – Task 4)

4) Now select ONE designer or company that you find particularly inspiring. Choose THREE pieces of design (these might be separate items or three campaigns of linked items) and make analysis of each of these:

• Why do you like it find it inspiring?

The reasons I find it inspiring will be explained in detail in the answers to the next questions. I have read the questions in advance and I don’t want to repeat myself.

• What is the message/purpose of the piece?

From my research I found out that the design represents each stage of laser eye surgery. Apart from that it is also a very attractive logo/identity for the clinic.

• Who is the audience and HOW does it hail the audience?

 The audience is anyone who is researching or looking in to having laser eye surgery. This type of surgery is expensive so the audience may be people who are well off. I think this piece of design hails in a quiet and knowledgeable manner because there are no loud colours or big flashy shapes.

• In what ways would you say it is innovative (if it is) OR why is it appropriate for this piece to use traditional conventions?

I see this piece as innovative because I haven’t seen anything like this before, apart from in a child’s toy.

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/3/9/2/5/3/2/webimg/462551107_tp.jpg

http://www.retrowow.co.uk/retro_collectibles/60s/spirograph_patterns.jpg

This piece looks simple overall, when you step back and look at it but when you look close you can see how complicated it is. There are so many lines. I like the way and find it inspiring, how a design can be so simple yet so complicated at the same time.

I also really like the way they have used the design in different places, as the pictures below show and it still looks good. I love the way it has been applied to a white wall and all its intricacies can be seen.

• Outline the signifiers and how they tell you anything about the signified meaning – look at things like messages, narrative, quality, hailing and anything else that you deduce.

I think this logo is like a symbol and its meaning has to be learnt. I think once a person has seen it once, whenever they see it again it will jog their memory and they will know it symbolises the London Vision Clinic.

The main signifier for this design is the shape of the eye. I was surprised how well their design emulates the look of an iris.

The signified meaning tells me that this clinic knows and understands how intricate and delicate my eyes are so I should have my surgery with them.

http://www.health-energy-fitness.com/attachments/Image/Classes/Blue_Eye.jpg

• Would you say that this designer or design company has a recognisable style – if so describe why this is, or say why this is not the case.

I would say this piece stands out as not fitting in with the other pieces I looked at. The other two pieces use thick typography so I could argue that they are similar. This design doesn’t use any thick type.

Here is some information I found out about the design.

‘Harley Street-based London Vision Clinic is the UK’s foremost laser eye-surgery clinic, using the latest technology to treat prescription-strength and refractive eye conditions. It challenged Hat-Trick Design to create an identity that reflected the intricate and delicate nature of the surgery. Hat-Trick developed five guilloche ‘eye’ patterns, created using a single icon repeated to form the eye shape. Each icon represented a key stage in the process: screening, service, treatment, results and aftercare.’

and

‘Benchmarks Awards 2009
Category: Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare – programmes
London Vision Clinic by Hat-Trick Design
Shortlisted’

http://awards.designweek.co.uk/benchmarks/2009/category/pharmaceuticals-healthcare/london-vision-clinic/london-vision-clinic.php

http://awards.designweek.co.uk/benchmarks/2009/category/pharmaceuticals-healthcare/london-vision-clinic/london-vision-clinic.php

http://awards.designweek.co.uk/benchmarks/2009/category/pharmaceuticals-healthcare/london-vision-clinic/london-vision-clinic.php

http://awards.designweek.co.uk/dw/2009/category/identity-programmes/london-vision-clinic/london-vision-clinic.php

http://awards.designweek.co.uk/dw/2009/category/identity-programmes/london-vision-clinic/london-vision-clinic.php

http://awards.designweek.co.uk/dw/2009/category/identity-programmes/london-vision-clinic/london-vision-clinic.php

http://awards.designweek.co.uk/benchmarks/2009/category/pharmaceuticals-healthcare/london-vision-clinic/london-vision-clinic.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7pXQE4qo5I&feature=player_embedded

http://www.behance.net/gallery/London-Vision-Clinic-rebrand/264531

http://www.behance.net/gallery/London-Vision-Clinic-rebrand/264531

http://www.behance.net/gallery/London-Vision-Clinic-rebrand/264531

www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk – Task 1)

1) What kind/type of website is it (commercial, fan site, informative, helpdesk, forum for art and culture or music etc).

This website showcases the work of a design company called Hat-Trick Design. This website is commercial and informative.

This links to who is the website for, who is it directed at? Who might be using it.

This website is directed at any individual/person in business or any companies/community groups who have a product or service that they need some design for.

Students could use this website for research purposes, like myself.

You then need to evaluate it in terms of its function and user group – what will they think of it?

What are the visual aesthetics of the content of the website? What is the immediate ‘feel’ of it? A PMI might help

Plus – I like the way this has been designed because its really eye-catching and interesting.

http://www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk/

Minus – I didn’t know where to click first but I’m used to this now. You just have to dive in. However it can get tiring if things aren’t labelled in a way which is quick and easy to understand.

Page size/length. Are these beneficial to the site or do they make it difficult?

I didn’t find any problem with the page size and length.

How are images used? PMI but be specific about effectiveness and purpose

Plus – See ‘interesting’ for my answer. The other plus is that by watching videos you don’t have to scroll around which is nice.

Interesting – I was really surprised to see that this site uses videos more than it uses images.

Its really nice to see the designs in situ.

http://www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk/

Here is part of the video which showed the designs in situ.

http://www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk/

Minus – If I was designing a website I’m not sure I’d use as many videos as they have. The video makes the designs look small and I cant see them very well. The designs flash by too quickly which is annoying.

The videos don’t use sound which seems like a chance lost although sound/narration can be annoying sometimes.

How is typography used? PMI being specific about:

• Tone of voice of the type
• Choice of typefaces – are they effective for screen use?
• Bulk or lack of type – is it too much, too blocky, too small etc. Say HOW/WHY it works or does not work

Minus – I suppose some people may want more information about who the designers are and what working with them would be like. There isn’t any information that I can find that can tell me about their tone of voice. Its impersonal and strictly business.

There is a video called ‘3 minutes about hat-trick’ but it didn’t tell me anything about who they are as people.

Interesting – Their logo is interesting and memorable.

http://www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk/

Most of the type is in the typeface Arial in size 10. The colours used are black, white and grey.

Is the unity of the website spoiled (or aided) by commercial banners and so on?

There are no commercial banners or adverts which is nice as I’m not distracted.

Add any other points or comments not addressed directly by these questions.

They have a shop. I wasn’t expecting that.

http://www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk/shop/product/23?Olympic-Non-Events-Poster