Richard Oliver
Design Concepts - D300.18 (Jun 25, 2007) - Astrid Garcia
Lab 1
Objective: Exemplify your understanding of the principles and elements covered this week by discussing their use in two different websites.
www.veteransforcommonsense.org/
Element - Space/white space
Good use of white space. Even though the content of the website is radical, even incendiary, the use of white space produces a clean and calming effect. Plenty of space is given between the main elements: top banner, left menu, introduction, "Latest News," "Latest Blog Entries." There is even some extra space created around the individual blog entries by giving a left margin for each paragraph.
I was sent a link to the website in a message from a militant member of "Veterans for Peace." I was quite surprised by the calming use of white space and the soothing color scheme of Veterans for Common Sense. My reaction was quite positive. The minimal design supports the website's commitment to rationality over emotion.
Suggestion: I would have given a bit more white space to the left of the items in the menu in the upper left.
Element - Size
I like the size of the banner at the top of the page because its width is indeterminate; it re-sizes depending on the size of the browser window. The height is sufficient to contain the three elements: logo, Web address, and photo of The Three Servicemen Statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The exaggerated size of the headlines clearly define the major sections.
Lab 2 - Print ad illustrating line and white space.
Objective: Locate successful use of line, and space/white space in a printed medium. Explain how it was used successfully based on your understanding of the elements.
Line
The line echoes the profile of the Lexikon model Olivetti pictured at the bottom of the print advertisement. The line leads the eye downward from the visual of a bouncing ball and stylized typewriter keys to the three bold typographic elements.
The three words lead to the logo, olivetti and on to the model's name, Lexikon. From there the profile of the machine leads the eye to the bottom of the page to land, perhaps, at the manufacturer's name BRITISH OLIVETTI Ltd.
White space
In 1954 clearness, lightness, and speed were desired features of a manual typewriter. The generous use of white space on either side highlights the three most important words, or "message" of the ad.
The white areas above, below and to the left of the brand name, highlighted in white on a black background achieve a successful positioning.
White on black is repeated in the photograph of the Lexikon, only £55!
The 1954 Olivetti Typewriters original vintage black and white advertisement has yellowed somewhat with age. Select the image to see the original, or learn more about it at AdClassix.
Main Project
Objective: Create a composite that will continue to incorporate new material as the course progresses.
I would like to re-design the highly pedestrian and uninviting website for the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine monasteries. www.osb.org/amcass/
My comp, with the arms of the Congregation (to be reduced in size), can be found here. I'm trying to use CSS without tables.
Contact
Bro. Richard Oliver OSB
Saint John's
Abbey
31802 County Road 159
Collegeville, MN 56321-2015
Comments, questions, or suggestions?
Write
to me.
Rev.
28 Jul 2007 /
Disclaimerwww.employees.csbsju.edu/roliver/hwg/design/style/week01.html