Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
journey.
Observing during the morning commute
Living in Japan is a designer's dream in many ways—there is just so much to see.
Some of the best graphic design in the world is in Japan, and so is some of the busiest
design. You can learn a lot by examining both extremes and all the bits in between. We
can even learn something during the morning commute. Each day, I generally spend a
couple of hours on trains, all of which are filled with an ever-changing tapestry of
banners, signs, and ad posters. On most days, I notice something particularly good (or
not so good).
No matter where you live, every time you step outside the door you'll find more graphic
design to witness. Whether you are on foot, in a car, or using public transportation for
your commute to work or school, learn to pay special attention to the posters and other
signage you encounter. Get in the habit of looking critically and asking yourself
questions:
• How do the visuals stack up in terms of effectiveness? Are they clear?
• What principles and techniques can you see in these real-world examples?
• How do they rate for aesthetics, and does it matter?
Learning from billboards
In the best-selling topic
slide:ology
:
The Art and Science of Creating Great
Presentations
(O'Reilly Media, 2008) Nancy Duarte says that good slides are, in many
ways, most similar to billboards. That is, like a billboard, the audience should be able to
get the meaning in a very short amount of time. Says Duarte:
Presentations are a “glance media”—more closely related to
billboards than other media...Ask yourself whether your message
can be processed effectively within three seconds. The audience
should be able to quickly ascertain the meaning before turning their
