Week#1 Blog Post from homework

Now more than ever, graphic design is everywhere. Effective design grabs the reader and directs the reader to the desired goal. There are both advantages and disadvantage to print vs web design. Most importantly, print design can be cost prohibitive. One aspect of print that has always been difficult for me was the limitation of the four-color process. When design was just beginning on the computer, adding RGB and the conversion to CMYK for print was a nightmare. In print, a mistake could lose a client in terms of inconvenience and cost. In web, a mistake is corrected without the negative side effects of print. Likewise, the interactivity of web design, and ability to reach large audiences quickly, and relatively inexpensive, is a great advantage (providing the intended consumer has the appropriate hardware). While the book states print is more portable, with books, newspapers, and other media available on phones, laptops, e-readers, etc., I think that argument is losing. While hardware is necessary, accessibility is becoming more and more available to a very large segment of the population, and content is available using free applications. The drawback still though is whether or not content is reliably available both in download to the device and readability. And that is where print always wins!

Quiz pg. 112:

1. Print/Web

• Annual reports are usually confidential, and this is one report that you would want to make sure everyone was reading the same content the way it was designed. Not all stockholders may use digital devices. Although, I would also make this available in PDF format especially if the company was public or in an intranet if private.

2. Print/Web

• This question does not indicate they type of job the person wants. If applying for print designer, then I would send a sample of print work, but if the job was for digital design, then a digital sample would be more important. If the applicant wanted to reach a large audience though, a four-color brochure would be expensive, so perhaps the web would be more cost effective

3. Web

• Most people expect to be notified about software updates through the web. This is a cost effective way of reaching your intended customer base.

4. Web

• Reaching large audiences often can be costly if done in print. This would require more than likely a secure log-in type situation for information that clients pay for.

5. Web

• There are so many places on the web that a teacher could self publish information for students/clients which could be free or even paid content. Small publishing jobs in print would be too costly, and would additionally involve distribution costs.

6. Web

•  Once again, a large amount of work can be displayed quite easily and inexpensively in some form of an online portfolio. The key here for me is probably the amount and security. Artists I know have had their artwork photographed and others have used commercial scanners. I have worked with both types of art digitally and although the files are large, to my eye at least, it was clear to me how beautiful the art was. Once a portfolio is online, having a time and/or place to see the art in person if desired could then be arranged. The art will need to be protected as well.

The video's on "Exploring Web Design" are a nice primer to begin this course. Although I am somewhat familiar with design, the most important aspect of web vs print that was pointed out was the fact that the user has the ability to change how the content is viewed. The videos remind me that design for print is not the same as designing for web. Site load time, usability, readability, and many different interfaces that are in use today are serious considerations. Because the experience can be quite different for a variety of reasons, designing is more difficult than a static print design where everyone is viewing the same output.

Good web design takes time, practice, and knowledge. In addition, the field is forever fluid with changes occurring in technology daily. The concept of understanding what is beneath web design also reminded me when I was an accountant, during the years when it was common to computerize. Understanding how accounting works was critical so that we could identify that what was coming out of the computer was accurate.

While there are many ways to get content out in web easily, and for the most part accurately, (IE: pre-designed templates and blogs), the best design comes from those who have mastered the art and are able to write their own code, and use web tools to the fullest extent.

My favorite activity this week was the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Years ago when I was trying to learn how to design, I would keep a file of print that I liked and disliked. I would use these examples for ideas, and to remind myself of what not to do! It is quite funny that once these design elements were pointed out, I never looked at ads the same way again!