Wednesday 26 November 2008

Surfing the Highs and Lows of iMedia Wave

The past 2-3 weeks since the previous journal entry have brought a mixture of emotion and anticipation as the HND Interactive Media course has moved on from completion of the first assignment to the crossover into the second and third projects which are running concurrently.

There was initial despair following the posting of first assignment results when only two students gained a direct pass. I, along with the remainder of my colleagues, received a referral which, considering the effort which was put into the submission, was personally disappointing.

However, when it transpired most errors were due to minor technical oversights it was a relief to know that I had been able to convey the technological terminology satisfactorily.

The workload and pace are now beginning to increase significantly with a greater designer influence being determined through our website planning tasks which dovetail neatly with the study of typography and grid systems. These have a strong newspaper influence – an area in which I have felt very much at home.

Running alongside the introductory lectures to the two new assignments has been the production of an electronic Christmas greetings card which proved challenging as I was unfamiliar with the appropriate design programmes.


A little help from others via a quick tutorial enabled me to put in a basic entry but viewing the offerings from colleagues has made me realise I will need to practice on design applications much more than others who are more familiar with the programmes being used.

As we moved more into newspaper and magazine based design I made an hour-long presentation using my past experience as an editor and publisher of my former magazine which illustrated many of the terms and techniques we are now encountering and was pleased with the complimentary feedback I received.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

An Industrial Insight

As students of web design we were fortunate to receive an industrial visit from Dave Pannell of The Design Mechanics who generously gave up his time to present a useful insight into the work practices of a small independent design company.

Dave has been a valued friend of the Interactive Media course at Wakefield College and it was beneficial to hear how highly a businessman values the course and it’s target to not only produce qualified students but one which is also aimed at creating employable web designers.

It was both gratifying and encouraging to see an example of a no-nonsense approach to web design and underline how essential the practices we are learning in the classroom and via theoretical briefs translate into real situations within the wider context of the web design business.


As a former designer with leading regional agencies, Dave and his business partner have taken a unique route to promote their company on a transparent price-led module which has taken much of the mystery out of customer’s perceptions of the web design industry. As a result, and by drawing on his previous experience, The Design Mechanics appears to be in a strong position to adapt to changing market conditions brought about by a downturn in the economy.

Accompanying Dave on his visit was former college student Craig Burgess who still retains an active interest in the running and support of the invaluable forum dedicated to Interactive Media students. Craig has been employed by Dave’s companies since qualifying and he was able to offer a first-hand insight into what students might expect if they are fortunate enough to secure employment.

His experiences, especially when demonstrated through a question and answer session, were positive and demonstrated how the particular aims of the course have proved invaluable in preparing him for work within the industry.

Overall the visit proved worthwhile but it would be helpful if alternative speakers could provide differing views of the business. Sadly, not all agencies are as forthcoming and we are therefore grateful for the time Dave and Craig gave so freely.


Tuesday 4 November 2008

Bodoni Fonts – History & Uses


Although its origins are over 300 years old, the Bodoni typeface is regarded as a Modern or Didone font.1

Designed by the Italian engraver Giambattista Bodoni in 17982 the font which bears his name drew upon the influences of the older serif Baskerville face to produce a font which was seen as being more pleasing on the eye.

Bodoni's characteristic contrast between thick and thin strokes to the vertical axis combining with thin 'hairlines' resulted in an attractive, delicate font but one which could prove difficult to print. Nevertheless it was used prolifically in the publication of Italian books from the C18th – a language to which its design was obviously suited.

Much favoured in its early years in billboard advertising, Bodoni fonts were adapted in the early C20th by countless variations – most noticeably Bauer.3

With the advent of the digital age the elegance of Bodoni was initially difficult to reproduce faithfully on screen and legibility could become a problem working in certain point sizes which the very essence of Bodoni only served to exaggerate.

Today much of this has effectively been eliminated by the modern interpretations from established suppliers such as Monotype and Linotype who list more than 100 and 300 examples in their libraries respectively.

Bodoni-based fonts are still highly regarded by designers for their luxurious qualities and are often used by glossy fashion magazines. Bodoni poster-style fonts made popular in artwork produced in the Swinging Sixties are now enjoying a revival.

An up-to-date example which has received world-wide exposure is the title adopted for the film production of Abba's hit musical Mamma Mia!

References

1. I Love Typography, www.ilovetypography.com
Date/Time Accessed: 4/11/08 at 10.20 am

2. Bodoni, www.en.wikipedia.org
Date/Time Accessed: 4/11/08 at 11.15 am

3. Bodoni Type Sample, www.will-harris.com
Date/Time Accessed: 4/11/08 at 11.30 am