Welcome

This blog was created with the purpose of sharing useful information and links for WU students enrolled in the MM321 Visual Communication class. If you have a suggestion for a link, please e-mail me at maria.stover@washburn.edu

Post # 1: Design Magazines to follow

Smashing Magazine

Post # 2: Typography

“What Font Should I Use?”: Five Principles for Choosing and Using Typefaces (mandatory)
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/12/14/what-font-should-i-use-five-principles-for-choosing-and-using-typefaces/

Great examples of creative typography (mandatory): http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/black-white-typography-graphic-design/

Type families (not mandatory, but highly recommended):
http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/type_basics/type_families.htm

Origins of the Alphabet (optional)

I Love Typography web site (optional)

Interesting text web site (optional)

Free font web site (one of many; you need Mac fonts for HC07)
http://www.dafont.com/


Text Effects in InDesign

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-5-high-impact-typography-effects-in-adobe-indesign--cms-21711

Post # 3: Business Cards

Does Your Business Card Pass the Trash Test?http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/advertising/a/bcardtest.htm

More tips and inpiration:
http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/5-tips-for-designing-an-effective-business-card

Really creative Business cards (just for fun)
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/05/20/effective-business-card-design-better-than-a-plain-ol-business-card/

Advanced techniques in how to design and prepare for printing a business card
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/09/08/creative-business-cards-techniques-and-preparation/

Post # 4: Graphic Design Theory

Excellent web site with all design elements explained (mandatory: go over all sections)

Gestalt principles (supplement to handout)

Visible Narratives: Understanding Visual Organization (highly recommended)

Delboeuf illusion (mandatory)

As applied to serving sizes: New research links plate size to serving size Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/niche/get-healthy/nutrition/new-research-links-plate-size-to-serving-size/article_8ffe66f9-9202-530a-86f2-b469c41cd08e.html#ixzz1kr7cd07z

Post #5: Color

CMYK vs. RGB basics
https://www.lynda.com/Illustrator-tutorials/RGB-vs-CMYK/97951/104604-4.html
 
Color Wheel
Good web site with definitions
http://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator

Second option with examples
http://colorschemedesigner.com/

CMYK 
Screen Printing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzJTVDXvEds

Spot color

PANTONE: What is Pantone (pms)? http://www.printernational.org/what-is-pantone-pms.php

Online Interactive
 http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/9780240824147/interactives.asp

Spend some time with the Exploring Color interactive 



Extra Credit:

You can get extra credit if you complete Poynter's course on Color in Design: (please notify me in advance)
https://www.newsu.org/courses/color-news-design


Interesting article about color of your car and personality:
 https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_blogs/Blogs?action=blogpost&blogkey=insidethemission&postkey=2012_05_16_car_color&EID=corp_cc_2012_08_Under250-04/

Post # 6: Images

Vector and Bitmap Images
(mandatory)

Image File Formats - TIF, JPG, PNG, GIF Which to use?

Free font of the month and images from Veer

Free stock photos
(search engine for stock photography) 

Stock Exchange – free high-resolution images 
(you need to create an account for this web site)

Just for inspiration: The Top 100 ‘Pictures of the Day’ for 2012: http://twistedsifter.com/2012/12/top-100-pictures-of-the-day-2012/

Post # 7: Photoshop Tutorials

Here are the links to your Photoshop Tutorial:
Step 1: Photoshop  (good for beginners): http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/photoshop/


Step 2: Resolution
Watch these two videos from Lynda.com:
http://www.lynda.com/Photoshop-CS3-tutorials/for-designers/337-2.html
Video 1: Identifying image resolution
Video: 2: Resizing and resampling (key to know how to convert 72  dpi to 300 dpi, if you have to)

Step 3: Layers
Next, watch this video from Lynda.com and pay attention to what it means to have a flat image (.jpg) and layers (.psd) 
http://www.lynda.com/Photoshop-CS4-tutorials/Up-and-Running-with-Photoshop-for-Design/85079-2.html
Click on "Understanding selections and layers"

Then, watch this video on how to combine and use opacity with layers:
http://www.lynda.com/Photoshop-tutorials/Photoshop-CS6-Essential-Training/97619-2.html
Click on"Exploring layer basics"(scroll down)

Step 4: Backgrounds
Selection basics - marquee
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/understanding-adobe-photoshop-cs6/selection-basics/

Selection basics - magic wand
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/understanding-adobe-photoshop-cs6/magic-wand-tool/

Quick selection tool - basic
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/understanding-adobe-photoshop-cs6/quick-selection-tool/

Detailed one on a person: http://tv.adobe.com/watch/adobe-evangelists-terry-white/how-to-remove-a-background-from-an-image-in-photoshop-cs5/



Extra Photoshop Tutorials (with text effects)
http://www.photoshopstar.com/

http://planetphotoshop.com/category/tutorials (awesome stuff here)

Post # 8: Grids and more

What is a bleed?  (mandatory)

Rule of Thirds, Visual Center, Grids
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/designprinciples/l/aa_balance4.htm


Piet Mondrian Grids (video)
http://www.sfmoma.org/explore/multimedia/videos/182

Grid Tutorial:
 http://www.creativebloq.com/computer-arts/basic-grid-layout-tricks-indesign-10127826

Post # 9: Logo Design

The Evolution of The Logo
(homework)

NYT article: Warmer, Fuzzier: The Refreshed Logo
(homework)


10 Common Mistakes In Logo Design
(homework)


Evolution of Washburn's logo 
http://www.washburn.edu/about/ichabod/logo.html
(mandatory)

Famous Logos with Hidden Images

http://list25.com/25-famous-logos-with-hidden-images/2/
(in class)

Case Studies:
Google Identity: typography and color 
https://design.google.com/articles/evolving-the-google-identity/

Logo design history of some famous brands 
(highly recommended)

Microsoft Unveils Redesigned Windows Logo (2012)
 (highly recommended)

Logorama (short film)- mature audiences only

The Logo Development Process: A Case Study
http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/the-logo-development-process-new-england-breeze-case-study/

20 Questions To Ask Clients Prior To Designing A Logo (mandatory) http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2009/07/20-questions-to-ask-clients-prior-to-designing-a-logo/

Illustrator Tutorials: 

http://www.lynda.com/Illustrator-tutorials/Illustrator-CS6-Essential-Training/97951-2.html

(understanding vector graphics) 

Post # 10: Brochure Design

Brochure Writing Tips
http://www.dcfb.com/Pages/brochure-writing.html

6 Tips for Trifold Brochure design (with examples)
http://www.visiblelogic.com/blog/index.php/2011/02/6-tips-for-tri-fold-brochure-design/

What is duotone? http://www.printernational.org/what-is-duotone.php

Post # 11: Web Design

Evolution of Web Design (to explore this graphic, click on it to enlarge): http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Evolutionweb-full1.jpg

http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/31/10-principles-of-effective-web-design/
 (mandatory)