due next class

1. MORE ITERATIONS FOR EACH. Post all to blog.

2. Then select and refine the final two. Produce as near-final posters. Near final means, you could turn it in if you had to. Must be printed to size, in color, in template for desk crit (plus, I'll look at any other options on the blog).

Be sure the template includes the third line of text (name, location, contact).

3. Post to your blogs the rhetorical tropes being used, and how.

JR/SR critique

Since both studios are working on this project this is an opportunity to gain new perspectives and engage in cross-studio interaction you don't typically get.

directions:
Contact your group member to arrange a crit (group assignments via email). After the meeting post a brief summation/synthesis of the feedback you received to your blogs.

Complete this task within 1 weeks period for participation eval. Consider and implement necessary changes prior to final crit (& prior to submission to the AIGA exhibit).

These questions are provided to help facilitate the discussion:
• Ask them to identify the tropes employed (& prior to you telling them what your intentions were).

• What graphic devices and/or text successfully supports the reading of the trope (e.g. it is obvious as a hyperbole)? What ones confuse/alter the trope (e.g. can't tell if it is a pun or not)?

• Is the message specific to the demographic? What specific visuals and/or text assist this? What ones confuse/distract? Is your message sensitive? Is it resonating?

• Is the message a clear call to action to vote? What's assisting this? What's hindering?

• Is your formal/stylistic approach appropriate to content and audience? How so?

• Describe the relationship of text to image. Does one reinforce the other? Negate it? Contain a separate message? or something else?

• Is the main copy engaging (an attention getter)? Is the secondary copy clarifying (the call to action, vs. a "so what")?

terminology test

A test will be given on Friday. The terminology is based off of Meggs reading and class lecture.

formal exploration and concept refinement

Once you have selected three or four ideas for further development, work on the details of those ideas. Do more iterations. Do you need to try different tropes with them? Do you need to change point of view? Refine Refine Refine.

Begin at least six form-making tests/studies for how you'll actually produce your poster. Include off-computer image production methods. How do the tools and process relate to your subject matter or audience? Can you make more meaning through your media choice? Does your group appreciate illustration over photography?

These formal studies function somewhat independent of the conceptual approach, and you can mix and match as you see fit for your final solutions.

rhetoric definitions & McCoy reading

1.
Review this second source on rhetoric. The examples and captions are the most helpful to recognize the various visual/verbal relationships that are possible. There are more terms here than our "ten" and some are named differently, which goes to show that our examples are not the limits of rhetoric.

Rhetoric, Bonsepie (PDF)

2.
Read Good Citizenship, Kathy McCoy, pgs 1-2 of the PDF (same as pgs 2-4 from the book Citizen Designer, on Tyler's reserve shelf in the library.)

Reflect upon your own role in civic engagement in relation to: this project; the specific skill-set of the profession; AIGA's competition goal to "demonstrate the power of design in the public arena"; and/or any greater goals you have as a designer. Post your responses to the comments.

Find+share: Examples of voting campaigns

Here's a cursory look at historic and contemporary vote posters in the US and abroad.

Nichelle Narcisi's concepte "Except You" was the winner at last year's Command X competition (at AIGA's Next Conference in Denver). Aimed at getting the 18-24-year-old vote out in 2008 her concept

"was an absolute triumph--literally bringing much of the audience (and two judges) to tears. She got a standing-O after she presented it, and another after being crowned the winner." (via Core 77)

Find your own example online and share the link with the class. Post during this project. Set up your post with a brief descriptor and use the following HTML tag:

<a href="URL of the Web page to go to">text that will be the link</a>

Prj Rhetoric: map > matrix

1. map
Employ a lateral* and considered content selection process for your posters by initiating the ideation phase with mindmaps.

*Read Type and Image, Meggs, p 154-155.

After, classify these signs as icons, indexes or symbols. Then move to step 2...

2. matrix
Create an analog matrix for the following:
• 4-5 rows for rhetorical tropes (your choice)
• 3 columns (1 each for icon, index, & symbol)
• 1 additional column for copy (text as symbol)

Explore the matrix via both text and image.

Think through the matrix in phrases and write phases in the matrix.

Select signs from the map that have the greatest potential for further concept development and pair each with a trope.

Iterate several hand-generated thumbnails for each segment. Total matrix = 40+ thumbs.
At a minimum, complete 2/3 by next class. See side bar for due date -->

Reminder: Professionally document all interim process. Both for ongoing blog evaluation, and for your project documentation book.

rhetorical devices

download lecture PDF here

FIND+SHARE
Find your own example online and share the link with the class. A few places to look: fffound, behance, design archives.

Post once this project. Set up your post with a brief descriptor and use the following HTML tag:

<a href="URL of the Web page to go to">text that will be the link</a>

Signs [recap]

Semiotics is the study of signs and helps to explain how meaning is constructed and understood. There is a lot more to semiotics, but at a basic level, the theory breaks the classification of "signs" into three parts that is useful for visual communication:

ICON = representation, is recognizable (e.g. photo, statue, map)
INDEX = an indicator, can be figured out (e.g. smoke means fire)
SYMBOL = arbitrary, must be learned (e.g. flags, words, some logos)

This is an icon of a 19th c. women's shoe.













Symptoms are an index of sickness.













Hebrew is a learned/cultural symbol.













Signs are not mutually exclusive. This photo is an icon of a man. His uniform is an index of military service. The medals he wears are symbolic of his rank.

images from NY Public Library Digital Gallery

Get out the Vote

Part of being involved in this project is the opportunity to exhibit your posters along side local area designers and students and to take your message directly to the people of Kansas City through AIGA's Get Out the Vote 2008 campaign.

1.
Posters will hang at AIGA:KC's Get Out the Vote Poster Exhibit & Reception. Tuesday October 21st 6:00pm. Downtown library. All are invited to attend the reception.

2.
On Saturday October 25th, volunteers will hang posters on the streets of KC for this year's Poster Hanging Event. *If you're interested in volunteering for this event, talk to any AIGA officer for more info.

Required: Submit one of your posters for these events. Print THREE (1 for the exhibit, 2 for the streets). Make any improvements to posters based upon final crit.

Section 02: submit your printed posters to me by 4pm Fri. 10/17.
Section 01: tba

If you are an AIGA member, you can still contribute your own designs online.

rhetoric definitions

Type + Image, Meggs, p30-40 (on Tyler's reserve shelf)
Reading provides clear definitions & examples of the rhetorical devices you will explore throughout this project. Read and study the terms thoroughly (Flash cards could be helpful). You are expected to properly employ the language during class critiques and for tests.

audience

Read pages 3-5 from the AIGA design brief about voting demographics. Select one demographic to target your message.

Conduct additional research on your voting demographic in order to become more familiar with your audience’s needs and goals.



Post your responses to the following questions:
1. What are some predominately shared values? (broadly in life, not politics)

2. What political policies/issues are particularly important to this demographic in this election? why?

3. Are there any cultural references your demographic identifies with? what?

4. What does their graphic landscape look like? (This is sometimes called a "visual audit")

5. Including the AIGA document and other sources, what are the issues cited for this group not voting?

Include links to your research sources, including statistics and visual examples, that support your conclusions. Posts due to YOUR blogs next class. Email me your blog URL so I can review your responses.

Find+Share

A new Charlie Kaufman film is coming out titled... Synecdoche, New York.

Post if you've found any rhetorical moments in the world to share.

rhetoric project: intro

Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing (ahem... saying something in a new way). Rhetorical figures offer a departure from normal usage by changing the meaning or application of words [AND visual form-making] for greater persuasion, impact & resonance.

For this project you will explore and then craft various rhetorical figures for the purpose of visually communicating a clear "call-to-action": to encourage voter registration and voter turn-out.

The rhetorical figures should illuminate and describe various qualities/purposes of voting in the 2008 election. 10 figures to explore:

irony, pun, parody, metonymy, metaphor, allegory, hyperbole, personification, antithesis, synecdoche

objectives:
• communicate a message to a specific audience
• author content through image making and copy writing
• explain what rhetoric is, its visual/verbal relationship, and its implications for graphic design
• use rhetorical figures appropriately and creatively in the generation of new design work
• employ refined image making, composition and typographic sensibilities
• engage in the specified design process from ideation to execution

parameters:
• open media (must explore off-computer image creation methods)
• for specifications read pages 1-2 of the AIGA design brief and use the provided .ai template.

see side bar for project deadline & final crit date -->