IDX102:- Lecture Notes

Overview of each class with my own edits and thoughts!!

Week One:- Introduction and Reverse History

Similar to IXD101, week one was just an introduction to the module and each other, we were told that we would learn about design history from the past and work our way to the future. I was told about WordPress, a blog that I would be using to showcase my designs and to document my process, research and thoughts. Before any online design work, I was told that we should always start with a pen and paper to get all our ideas down.

The class also participated in icebreakers so that we could all get to know each other.

Coursework Task – 

We were asked to watch the talk when we build and to write and overview with our thoughts. We were also given our first coursework assignment which was to sketch out three different designs for a type specimen screen for a Ipad. We

I had to choose between six different typefaces, which were –

  • Futura
  • Gill Sans
  • Helvetica
  • Palatino
  • Times New Roman
  • Baskerville

I chose to research and design for Palatino

 

 

 

Week Two:- Guttenberg and Moveable Type

In week two the printing press was looked at and how the invention helped to revolutionize typography. The printing press also helped to spread information fast within a western society as it meant that everyone could receive the same information at similar times.

 

A further look was taken into the typefaces that the type specimen screens were suppose to be based on

  • Futura
  • Gill Sans
  • Helvetica
  • Palatino
  • Times New Roman
  • Baskerville

 

The differences between different types such as Serif and Sans Serif were looked at, I found this interesting as I had not previously realised that there were an fact actual distinct differences between them. I also found that learning about how line height, letting etc. was really useful as it made me realize how much goes into type and how type can be made better. Type is a very important aspect for designers as it is basically decoration for words.

 

Type Related Websites Recommended –

 

Books Recommended –

 

Example of typography I liked in the real world –

 

WALLS — Sign Painter Vanessa Power - Dublin, Ireland

 

 

Week Three:- A Century of Change

In week three the industrial revolution and some the different changes relating to it were looked at. Society began to focus more on mass production and due to this people moves from the country to the city in hopes of being able to find work.

During 1900 there was a great amount of change as a number of different technologies were discovered/advances were made such as flight, the lightbulb, motor vehicles etc. Since people wanted more roads, materials, machinery etc. meant that crafts began running low, not long after artists/designers reacted against this industrialisation.

When Japan opened trading routes in 1850 it meant there was a stream of arts and crafts into Europe. The Japanese influence of Europe art became known as Japonisme.

There was an Arts & Crafts Movement which was an anti Industrial Revolution movement. The Arts & Crafts aesthetic started as a reaction against the staid, production-line style developed by machine production. It drew its inspiration from nature keeping things simple without superfluous decoration.

Art Nouveau
Using inspiration from natural forms and nature and imported Japanese arts and crafts the Art Nouveau style can be seen within architecture, ceramics, jewellery etc.

 

During this week a video was posted detailing how to use Figma to create a Type Specimen Screen – https://ulster.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=04954d08-64e3-47e8-be90-ac4d00b208dc&start=2.735324

 

Week Four:- Typographic Screen Critique

During this week I received  feedback on my Type Specimen Screen – The feedback can be viewed on my type specimen post.

 

Week Five:- Revolution and the Bauhaus

In week five we had a look at Bauhaus and some different revolutions.

UNESCO World Heritage : UNESCO World Cultural Heritage : Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau / Bauhaus Dessau Foundation

Bauhaus was a school that opened after Germany lost WW1. Their main purpose was to bring back art and life after a big lost and for awhile they succeeded , but nowadays they are regarded as a place of the past.

 

 

 

De Stijl - Designing Buildings Wiki

The De Stijl (meaning, the style)  was created by Van Doesburg  and Piet Mondrian as they were searching for a way to end individualism and nationalist egotism they believed it to be the cause of the first world war. De Stijl art is represented through its use of geometric/abstract art

 

 

Russian Constructivism - The True Vanguard Art Movement | Widewalls

Constructivism was also looked at, created by Vladimir Tatlin and Alexander Rodchenko, it aimed to reflect modern industrial society.

 

 

 

MUST WATCH: Abstract – A Netflix Docu-series | 2FLAT

A TV series called Abstract was also mentioned as it allows you to take a look at how some of the most innovative and creative designers think

 

 

Coursework Task –

In this class we were also introduced to our second assessment project which was the group presentations.

The class was split into groups and within our groups we had to create a presentation for one of the following topics below.

  • Bauhaus and the New Typography
  • Design Systems for the Olympic Games
  • The Influence of Modern Art
  • The Modern Movement in America
  • Pioneers of Postmodern Graphic Design
  • Pioneers of Web / Digital Design

 

 

 

Week 06:- WWII and Modernism in the US

(A pre-recorded class session had to be watched – video )

This week modernism in design was looked at.

Design in the Modernist Movement was defined by –

  • Reject traditional forms and decorative elements
  • Seek a solution that is simple and direct
  • Use systematic methods rather than intuitive ones
  • Think about relationships in form and content
  • Use geometric shapes: circle, triangle, square
  • Use primary colours
  • Use sans-serif typefaces
  • Show contrast in typographical material
  • Use photographs and photomontage rather than drawings or illustrations
  • Use silhouetted photographs with white backgrounds
  • Use maps and diagrams
  • Use graphic symbols and icons
  • Use of asymmetric page layout
  • Use of grid or clearly delineated page-organising method
  • Apply a planned visual hierarchy

During this time artist, designers, musicians, and anyone that went against Hitlers’ ideals were prosecuted. This meant that many creatives tried to flee Europe to escape persecution, due to this the European creatives brought their ideas and designs to places such as the US.

 

 

I found this session interesting as I had not previously known that the Europeans brought their ideas and designs with them to the US and if that had not have happened design may have been very different that what we have today. I regard this as a pivotal point in design history.

 

 

Coursework Task – 

At the end of class we were able to go into blackboard rooms in order to talk within our groups. During this time my group decided to do our presentation on – The Influence of Modern Art.

After that we then sorted out different modern art movements for each of us to research, mine were Cubism and Futurism

 

 

 

 

Week Seven:-  International Typographic Style

This week we had a look into The International Style. It originally originated in Switzerland in the 1950s and they supported simplicity, legibility and objectivity within design. Due to this movement the sans-serif typography became more popular.
Dutch designers and designs were also looked at such as Total Design  which is a company started ion 1963 that consists of various different people that all have different skills and expertise and they use this to provide design services for those that may need it
Joseph Müller-Brockmann : Design Is History
We also had a look at Josef Muller-Brockmann, who is a very famous designer. He is considered to be a pioneer of the International Typographic Style.  His work has been very influential and is still relevant in the 21st century.
I had heard his name a few times before but never looked into him, when i finally did some research I loved his work and how innovative and simple it all appears and i finally understood why Josef Muller-Brockmann is considered a design icon.
In this class we were also encouraged to watch the Helvetica movie
Coursework Task – 
At the end of class we were able to go into blackboard rooms in order to talk within our groups. During this session we began talking/working on the design of our presentation

Week Eight:- Group Presentations

In week eight we presented out group presentations – Group Presentation Post

Week Nine:- Postmodernism

This week we researched Postmodernist, which was a response to modernism. While modernism was about idealised and utopian life/world, postmodernism was about scepticism, irony and critiquing the philosophy in relation to universal truths and objective reality.
We also looked at some work of famous designers and creators such as Wolfgang Weingart who is a famous graphic designer and typographer.
At the end of the lecture we were retaught a bit of HTML as that we could begin the design work for the Web Essays.

Week Ten:- Internet History

In week we talked about the internet and how it was created by Sir Time Berners-Lee.
Internet Of Things Is Not About Chasing The Cool Factor
It hard to imagine a world without the internet as most teens and young adult (such as myself) have been using it since an early age and don’t even remember a time before we got it. The internet has now become a thing that we don’t even thing of anymore, it has become global and we assume that everyone has it. Everything now is technological and its all at the tip of our fingers.
It has changed the way we communicate, gather information, entertain ourselves etc. We are connected in a way that we never were before. It  has also opened up a path for social networks and different apps to be developed.
Things in the future will just keep advancing and getting technological and the internet and everything on it will continue to grow.
Coursework Task – 
I also received  feedback on my Web Essay – The feedback can be viewed on My Web Essay post.

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