Handout 3: The Makeover
1. Read the first half of Robin Williams’ excellent The Non-Designer’s Design Book—through p. 72. You’ll find it easy to grasp and memorize the four design principles she lays out for you. And please do examine the design of this book as you read to see how she incorporates into it her own principles.
By the way—here’s her website.
2. Bring a couple of ads to class on Tuesday to work on. You can pick up a copy of La Cocinita or another similar publication in most of our local establishments. The idea is to choose something smallish—something that looks like the Williams examples on pages 18 through 25—with sufficient information (text and images) that you’ll be able to try your hand at applying her principles. You’ll be discussing possible revisions for this makeover with your row-mates, and by the end of the period you should have some ideas about how you want to redesign one of the ads you’ve been examining.
3. As you read, prepare for a quiz (on Tuesday) that will test your understanding of the four principles and your ability to apply them when examining an ad.
4. Select a single ad for the makeover project. Redesign it according to Williams’s four principles: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. Think of yourself not as a well-trained professional graphics designer (not just yet!) but as an editor who does have some knowledge of design principles and who can apply them reasonably well. Make your changes either in a carefully prepared sketch or on the computer or use a combination of both. Prepare a memo addressed to me that explains the re-design decisions you’ve made. Be sure to attach a copy of the original. If you are already experienced in design, use your own method for taking on this project, but be sure to account for your decisions by referring to Williams’s principles in your memo. If you are new to graphics design, follow the steps in the order that William’s recommends. Note that Williams recommends cutting and pasting and rearranging and sketching in pencil. If you want to use MSWord or a graphics editor, please do.
List of items to turn in on SEPTEMBER 11:
1. Copy of original ad
2. Your mamkeover
3. Memo addressed to me explaining the design decisions you made