This notebook is intended as a place for you
to collect good and interesting examples of design in a wide range of
documents. Also called an idea or swap file, collections such as this one are common among designers as a tool for brainstorming prior to the start of a new project.
Additionally, you will use the notebook and approximately one
example each week (eight total) to analyze the design choices in
a document, to make connections to our readings, and to reflect on our
class discussions. Deconstructing
designs to figure out why they work is a useful
activity in your own development as a designer. It can help you to
be a critical viewer/reader and it may also spark inspiration and
ideas which you can explore in your own work.
Collection
Begin this assignment by finding a notebook, binder,
or other folder in which you can both display others’ design and include your own written
analysis. Find something that makes this process easy to complete
and enticing to look at. You are also welcome to use some kind of digital form such as a blog or website (this will require that you scan in your collected designs). At the end of the semester, you should have a thoughtfully organized collection to turn in.
Once you have a method for storing and presenting
your collection, begin noticing all of the designed documents around
you and start gathering samples. Include
designs that attract you for any reason. Try to
find designs that are as different from one another as possible in their
genre (brochures, flyers, newspaper and magazine ads, web pages, instruction
sheets, newsletters, receipts, etc.), style (minimalist, black and white, full color,
illustrated, text-only, etc.), and purpose (informational, commercial, persuasive,
educational, instructive, etc.). Your collection should contain a
minimum of 30 examples by the end of the term.
Reflective Reading Response
About once a week you will be asked to select an example from
your collection to analyze and reflect on using assigned readings. I ask that you discuss the details of the sample
not only in terms of how you view its success or failure, but also in relation
to our course readings and class discussions. You
should use these responses as a way of exploring different approaches to
the communication and design process. Looking at a wide array of
documents should help you to see possibilities for your own work
and to be more aware of how others use design for rhetorical purposes.
Each written reflection should be between 250 and 500 words (1-2 pages). These responses should be saved and added to your collection notebook to be turned in at the end of the semester.
Your complete Design Collection and Reflection Notebook is
due no later than Tuesday, December 6th at 5pm. You will also be
asked to bring your notebook-in-progress to class several times throughout
the term for use in activities.
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