InfoArch: FINISHED AND LIVE!

CHECK IT OUT HERE!

T4: Duplicitous Typeface Revised

So I attempted to create the lowercase letters of the typeface we created for our type conference. I did also bring the gap in that we originally had in the first one. Something was said to it's legibility when words were formed (and I even misspelled a word), so I decided to take the space out. I also had to redraw all the original letters because in order to create the lowercase, I needed more room to create the angles. I didn't think about that in the original one, so I had to make the letter "s" and "x" in a 4 by 4 box area....wasn't gonna happen.

Starbucks: New Chalkboards

From the process of our new remodel, we scored a sweet new large chalkboard. I got my hands on it pretty quickly. Here are the latest two signs that have been displaying. The frappuccino one below is the current one. Also, I just heard this weekend that our store isn't done with the remodel. Thank goodness, because I was beginning to get worried. Apparently, they were waiting to get more feedback from both customers and partners. I hear...they are staining the beams on the ceiling, replacing the bar style tables in chairs with regular height ones, and painting one of the walls a deep red. Can't wait for more changes...and warmth!

User Exp: Final Poetic Wayfinding Experience

To recap, the problem was to create a may from the graphic design building to each of the shuttlecocks located on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The final form I created is a two-piece artifact. The first is a water bottle conveniently hung on a carabiner and the second is an envelope with a pair of scissors and an instructional card. The card will not only guide the user to all three shuttle cocks at the Nelson, but also provide instructions for creating their own shuttlecock, which all happens on the walk there. That is the poetic part. The user is asked to make small stops and perform a task which will make the user more involved. I included a couple images of the bottle that I created using cut paper, illustrating some directions. The bottle directions are also color coded in orange and the cut paper alludes to the action of cutting the bottle. Throughout the directions I use very descriptive words that little helpers in monitoring the user on their walk. I also reference other things along the way such as the Kansas City Art Institute. I'm pretty excited to user test this again! If we do...

InfoArch: I got my rollovers working!

So far, my rollovers work, and this background is at a 90% opacity to still have the background show through.

T4: Type Conference Final Process

Micah and I began with Beneath the Surface. We ended with Duplicity, TypeCon's 2012 conference theme dealing with form and perception. In my opinion, getting to where we ended in final critique was a very long process to go through. In the identity alone, Micah and I kept coming up with more and more ideas on how this theme of multiple messages residing in one form could evolve. Throughout the beginning stages, our identity was constantly being questioned. Is this reflecting our type experiments? Is this reflecting BOTH of our experiments? Should we use an icon?

When we began thinking of our artifacts, we knew we wanted ones that were not only different than usual, but ones that reflected the multiple forms of our project. Our six artifacts were 1. a custom typeface, thanks to fontstruct 2. a mailer 3. laptop sleeve 4. name tags 5. venue banner 6. iphone app.

To recap, the mailer contained information about the conference, a return mailer that is perforated to be returned for further information, and a poster. The laptop sleeve contains patterning on the inside, while the outside houses the logotype. The name tags were unique in that they provided a way for attendees to network with no excuses with the perforated pad of name tags that could be handed off. We even thought of possibly making that for the iphone so attendees could "bump" their business card to one another. For our venue banner, it has three sides to it so that when they are hung vertically, they would ideally rotate allowing an attendee to view the different messages that are around the banner. And finally, the iphone app would contain the schedule of the conference, providing the attendee with choices between sessions and different sneak peek bios on some of the guest speakers.

To restate, our venue that we chose was the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. We originally chose it because of it's multiple floors and multiple rooms which allowed for lots of workshops, breakout sessions, and whatever else that would be in our conference. There is also a place for speakers to speak in the auditorium and Rozelle Court. During critique on Friday, one of our guests judges pointed out that there was also a nice contrast between the old and new architecture which plays well with our conference theme.

Overall, I'm really happy with where we ended up. Of course some things could still be fine tuned a little more...such as the mailer, but I think our artifacts are strong. Plus, Duplicity is a way better name than Beneath the Surface!

VISUAL PROCESS

InfoArch: New arrangement

I think I might have solved my navigation problem. It's at the top, out of the way, while all the content displays underneath. I like how it's shaping up this direction.

InfoArch: Matchbook Website

BEHOLD, my matchbook collection website. Below is my pdf progression of my how to navigate through the website. To recap, I wanted to highlight my illustrations and not have anything too distracting from them, but I also wanted something to sort of showcase them also. It's a classic/old school dated sort of look with the color illustrations. I think there's a nice mix within the website and a good balance between what's digital and what's analog. The wood in the background is to reflect a bar top because when I thought about where matchbooks might live, I thought bars are a good place to expect them. Not all of these matchbooks are from bars, though I don't think that matters.

There's an about page...about the collector and his collection.
A quick history of matchbooks page.
Then, let the sorting begin. First by location, alphabetically.
Then by venue.
and last by size.
The rollovers are a colorized square that is overlaid each matchbook. Just a subtle signifier of where you are.

The matchbook pages are pretty simple. Large image of the matchbook with a quick history overview. The bottom right corner has a "compare" button. This allows the user to view the infographics.
One of the infographic pages it might lead to.

Type 4: Conference Criticism

Type 4: Duplicity Artifacts

Duplicity to restate:

Duplicity Theme

In todays media, we are so desensitized by the aesthetics of what is being produced that we end up losing the essence and deeper meaning of what's actually being communicated. How can designers make the appearance of a message influence you to make one conclusion over another? This conference will inspire you to dig beneath the surface and explore different techniques of how typography can influence perception and create a deeper layer of meaning. From 2-dimensional ambigrams to the 3-D realm of environmental signage, the theme of this years typographic conference will make you look at typography in a new perspective and find multiple messages within a singular form. Duplicity has the motivational power to ask yourself "how can typographic form communicate or enhance the depth of content in my own work."


The Conference Structure

Held at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, we chose this location for its multiple levels and modularity to host different types of activities: an ampitheater for lectures, gallery space for work to be hung and vendors to present, class rooms for workshops, cafe and kitchen for refreshments, and an outdoor lawn for exterior activities and event space. Our conference deals with multiple elements typographically on many different levels. Typecon 2012 is broken up into a three day conference where the intensity levels of the workshops and lectures progress each day. Broken into two sections of 2D and ambigrams, and the other being 3D environmental typography, this conference orchestrates an incredibly inclusive educational experience for attendees.
The attendees have the choice to cross between the duplicity of levels and subject matter throughout the conference.


Graphic Standards:

We started our identity with a logotype, we tried to build this custom logo typeface out of geometric forms that gave a similar appearance to my 3D experiments which creates depth, and also utilizing those geometric shapes that could work in different directions and orientations to reflect the turning abilities of Lances ambigram experiments. I've researched the Colorado designer Alvin Lustig and utilized his process of taking small sections of typographic letter forms and reproducing them into graphic elements or patterns. This worked quite well in the diamond shaped patterns I've designed that have overlaying transparencies to create a false 3D depth. While I cut small sections of the letter forms out, Lance used the entire letter to create some interesting graphics and patterns that adhere to his ambigram modularity. So our patterns have direct reference and construction from our type face Duplicitous.

We have also created a 2D representational icon of a 3D looking letter D, that coincides with the logotype. This icon is used throughout our campaign to signify a sense of curiosity of whats beyond. This mask shows different layers of letter forms and graphic elements going back into space from the flat surface of the page.

Minimizing the entire color wheel, we chose to use 3 energetic colors of green, blue, and orange to have a fresh energetic feeling and transition from two extremes of the 2 and 3D realm.

Our typeface choices are as follows: Letter Gothic for our subtitle "TypeCon 2012," Universe for most of the headers and title work throughout the campaign for its versatility of condensed to expanded, Helvetica Lt for body copy work, its easier on the eyes than helvetica and also has more variety throughout the family, and then there is Duplicitous, the Typeface which Lance has created and I have art directed from time to time which is thought of as a nice amalgamation of the two of our experiments.


The Artifacts Brief

We wanted our artifacts to have some sort of duplicitous nature to further iterate our conference theme. Most of our artifacts diminish the line between poetic and practical, to create a new convergence of both elements clearly.

Name tags: This artifact fulfills the practical in two ways. We need name tags for immediate recognition of staff member to seek information, records for registration, and also for networking purposes. Our solution for this was to make a perforated stack of social networking cards that could easily be ripped off your lanyard to give your information to a potential contact. The front of the card displays your name and is color coated: Orange for professionals, Green for students, and Blue for Staff. The back of the card is left with a light pattern so you can write down whatever type of contact info you would like your new design contact.

Invitation Mailer: This is one of the only pieces in our campaign that fulfills the practical, persuasive, and the poetic. It is an advertisement to entice viewers to come to the event, it lists important information to practically give someone an idea of what this conference is about, and its just plain pretty to look at. Following the duplicitous nature, the mailer is a six panel old out invitation with perforated business reply info, a conference overview, and the back side is a keepsake poster. This three in one piece is what guests will get several months out from the time of the conference.

Venue Banners: - still editing copy

Lap Top Case: - still editing copy

Event Schedule: - still editing copy