Words and Images

Can the shape, color and design of the words make a difference in the meaning of the words or the message of the words? Many people spend meticulous time debating and worrying about these components with words. This is an example of how the design of the words can make a difference in the effect of the message. 

This poem could have gotten the message across without the shape of the words but it is much more effective with the shape because not only are you reading the words but also seeing the words. There are more examples of this concept and it can be very effective use of images with words in a more obvious way than others.

This type of imagery is rather effective in comics, children's books and poetry because most of those are suppose to be more words than images. Poets for years have been composing their poems in images to convey the overlying story of their writing. The image above illustrates the man in the poem so the reader will be thinking about the man throughout the poem. This can also be an effective way of subtly pointing out something that may not be as obvious in the text. This would be a great example of how words and images use each other to portray ideas that may be hidden without the help of the other. 

Words and Images

Photo Credit: kh2rac 

To Write Love On Her Arms

         A picture is worth a thousand words, so what is an image with words? 

Words and images can portray a very powerful message to the viewer or just create something that is funny.

There is a balance between words and images. Sometimes they can enhance the image and other times they can over power the image. The subject or message of the graphic can dictate the proportion of words to images and vice versa. Presentations and articles need more words than images and if there are not enough words the message does not always come across. When giving a presentation there are common rules to the balance of words and images such as there should be an image for every paragraph or few lines of words and that there should be more images than words so the reader does not get bored. Everyone has their own style in this format but knowing the proportion of words to images can be the deciding factor to the success of your message getting across to your audience. 

Graphics that are more for advertising, posters, album covers and an assortment of others should have more images than words or the words should come secondary if doing one single images. 

The image above is an example of a good image to word ratio for an advertisement. The image for these is where the most information is going to be taken and if there are too many words the viewer may walk away before understanding the message. If there are no words at all though then the message may be left up to too much of an interpretation by the viewer. 

These are just two examples of the word to image ratio used in our day to day life. There are many others to explore and figure out what ratio you prefer.

West Side Story

The Jets and the Sharks! 

Objectified

The movie objectified took everyday objects and made the viewer look at the actual function and compare it to the form and aesthetics. The movie started out with a person waking up in the morning and showing all of the objects that person uses. It make it so apparent that design is everywhere and how many people don't even realize what actually is designed. 

For many consumers everyday objects are just there and they don't think twice about it. Many don't even put together that when shopping you are comparing all of the designed objects and choosing which object you think is going to function better or which you like for purely aesthetic qualities. A designer in the video brought up a good point and about how consumers have all of these options yet are not in an up roar when something doesn't work. He said there should be a riot when the function doesn't meet the need. There were many other great points in the video such as the sustainability side of design but content and form were two hey roles in the movie. They also touched on how designers can use the form to change the contents perception It was brought up the ides to form not following function so the viewer has to really figure out what the object is and about. 

Umbrellas

Rain, sleet, hail and thunder mean it is time for an umbrella. Once the rain hits umbrellas because the topic of choice, with what type do you have, pattern, size or effectiveness.

 Everyone is always comparing these mass produced object to see if they have the best or the umbrella they feel is the coolest. The quality of the umbrella itself can have different weights, textures and a variety of elements. Some have thicker material and heavier metal to pop open and withstand the wind. Others are smaller and flimsier so they can collapse into almost nothing. After element can be the size, first the span of the umbrella, second how small it is when folded up. The pattern and design of the umbrella is purely for aesthetic reasons and can be the main driving force to why someone would pick that umbrella. Looking at scale and how it can be played with to create different scenarios such as an umbrella for two, for children, or for full coverage. Scale can create a whole line of umbrellas for a company where maybe they specialize in childrens umbrellas. All the different elements can be manipulate or used to create an identity of the company making them or the person buying it. Scale, texture, pattern, shape, weight and size can become the focal part of the umbrella or all of them can be incorporated. 

The Central Valley, A California Landscape

When reading this title what comes to mind? Really, think about it. Agriculture? Cities? State Capital? Analyzing what is the identity of the central valley there has to be considerations of the identity in which people perceive it. Can a model with a river, crop rows and mountains be identified as the central valley? What if the mountains were metal, the crop rows in the air and the river made of mirrors?

The perceived notion of what an object plays a large role in design. When people know what the object is the message can be read by many people. The job of the designer is to figure out what people perceive an object as and how they can manipulate the objects to get there specific message across. 
Going back to the central valley and talking about how people identify objects with tasks or places can work for or against the designers. We could ignore the perceived notions and chance our message not getting across or go along with the image and use it. A good designer will take into consideration the perceived notion and use it as a resource for design.
Manipulating the objects to tell a story or show an aspect of that object that is over looked can change peoples outlook and make a significant difference, or just make someone laugh.

One Balloon

Round. Transparent. Shiny. Colorful. Delicate. Light. 

Happiness. Pleasure. Joy. Fear. Want. Desire. Freedom.  Smile.

Obstacles. Rolling. Air. Group. Color. Playfulness. Childhood. 

Attributes.

Feelings.

Inspirations.

All of these attributes, feelings and design inspirations come from this balloon.

Sometimes the simplest idea is the best.

Balloons inspire me to look at everyday objects and incorporate them into how I think of design. Stringing words together to make an idea using everyday objects around one may be all the inspiration one needs. Now some may be saying, “duh stringing words together is called thinking and writing”, but this simple act of writing this very idea down has inspired me to design a space based on these attributes, feelings and inspirations. Keeping these in mind and referencing them later on helps them actually be incorporated. It doesn’t matter how good someone’s memory is it is always a good idea to write these inspiration items down, no matter how insignificant they may be, because they could be gone by the time you are done writing. Most of the best writing is spoken out loud and unless it is written down only the people or person hearing it have the privilege of knowing it.

Lately people are more materialistic and ideas have to be on a grand scale so I have decided to think about the smaller things and how they can be incorporated into design.

So what is your inspiration? Is it in a small-scale object like a balloon? or a large-scale object such as a city?