(Unit 3 – 2.3)

How to follow a design process

-          Prototypes, mock-ups and proofs

Prototypes

A prototype is usually a sample of a concept to test a design. Prototypes are regularly used as part of the design process as this allows us to have an idea of what the final outcome or result will look like. Not only that, it will also increase the development speed of a project, which results in the development costs being reduced. This has a positive impact on the development as this makes it cost effective.

I am going to list some advantages and disadvantages of prototypes;-

Advantages

·         Cost effective (development costs reduced)

·         Reduced development time

·         Delivers a high quality result

·         Results in higher user satisfaction

·         Allows us to have an idea on what the concept will look like before final expenses are made

·         Shows users what to expect of the outcome

·         Developers can receive useful feedback

·         Encourages participation and involvement

·         Helps to identify any problems in the earlier design stage

Disadvantages

·         Developers can become too attached to their prototypes

·         Sometimes clients expect the performance of the final outcome to be the same as the existing prototype

·         It can lead to an insufficient analysis

·         It can sometimes cause projects or designs to be incomplete before they are ready

For example, if a table were being designed, a prototype could be making a paper or cardboard model as a sample for testing how it may look, feel or how it may be structured.  This would be a smaller scaled sample as this enables an inexpensive way to use existing materials.

Mock-ups

A mock-up is a smaller sample of what your design will look like. They are used to test the size or maybe the structure of something, using in expensive materials to create a replica. They are useful because problems can be easily fixed at this stage rather than when the real-life production is complete. Without the use of mock-ups, it can cause problems such as the time spent on the project and also the cost.  For example if a mock-up was made and then there was some decisions made on amends required by the client, this would result in the effiency of the project and also the organisation skills of the staff’s process. This would also have a

positive impact on the final expenses, as to if the final outcome was incorrect and the expenses were wasted, this would waste development time which is why projects should be managed efficiently and correctly. Mock-ups are also used for demonstrations and samples which are made either at full size or a scaled down version of a modelled design.

Mock-ups can be used to test colour, the finish of a product and the details of a design which cannot be visualised from initial sketches (if the design is 3 dimensional).
Mock-ups are also used for printing purposes and brochure design, such as layout concepts. A mock-up is the best method to use when developing ideas into a final concept. This is the reason for allowing yourself as the designer, what works best and what tweaks can be made, and also to allow the client to see the progress. This is also a good technique for receiving useful feedback from your client, as you can send them your mock-ups and they can provide you with any feedback that you require, which may be useful for you to take on board for further improvement.

In relation to myself, I have used the mock-up method during the design process for a Keepmoat Homes project. The project was to come up with an a3 sized brochure, showing their houses in an effective way to attract and sell their homes to clients. I began with initial sketches scaled down onto a4 paper, developing my ideas throughout a paper format onto a digital format.  This was an effective technique as it allowed me to see the way different elements worked with each other, and which one would suit the requirements the best.  

I then would allow the client to analyse the different design concepts, as this is the perfect stage for them to make any changes or decisions before I make the final design.

Proofs

Proofs are used as evidence which allows us to see what our digital file will look like when printed. These are used to check that the document comes out exactly how we intend it to.  For example, we use proofs to check that the elements on the page come out correctly, such as the text, font, graphics, margins, colour, size, layout, alignment, order of the pages and basically the whole positioning of the document.

In relation to myself as an example, I proof printed my work at the end of my process to test colours etc which designers usually do to see if their artwork will come out exactly as they expected before they send it to final printing.

(Unit 3 – 2.4)

Potential Sources of information

There are many potential sources of information which we can access and retrieve in order for it to help us to generate new ideas. There are many different types and formats of information which we can find to be useful and helpful when thinking of new ideas at the start of the process.

First of all, I am going to list a wide range of different potential sources which can help generate our new ideas;-

Electronic Format Information

·         Websites (web design)

·         Internet (world wide web)

·         Research -  Meanings of colour, keywords etc, relations, story, if it has a purpose

·         EBooks, Databases

·         Existing Designs (under the restrictions of copyright)

Paper Format

·         Books – trade /  magazines, handbooks, text books, industry manuals, journals, brochures, leaflets, articles

·         Mind Maps / Brainstorms

·         Evaluations

·         Project Brief – client requirements, restrictions, client/company guidelines, what the client wants it to achieve (job  specific)

·         Other artists work – colours, elements etc ( under copyright restrictions)

Verbal / physical Format

·         Colleagues

·         Friends

·         Family

·         Nature – anything around you

Keepmoat Homes Relevancy

-          Wave design ideas

For the Keepmoat homes wave design, I used various resources to help me generate ideas and concepts. I looked at various existing designs to have an idea of what is already out there and what is popular. I looked at the designs, colours and shapes etc, to think about different ways a shape and colour can make us feel or appear to the eye. I researched colours and their meanings to have an idea on how different ones would reflect on the company itself and what it could deliver to their clients. E.g. the colour red would in my opinion, reflect on the audience as negative and anger. However, if the colour was a cooler shade it would represent the company to be a more laid back, friendly image.

On the research of shapes, I think that a shape with straight edges, would be sharp and aggressive to the eye. However this is how i generated the idea of a curved design, the wave. The wave is smooth edged, which causes the eye to glide across the design in a positive light.

I also did various experiments with the wave design, including mock-ups and prototypes for visuals of how it may look in a layout (brochure).  

(Unit 3 – 3.1)

Copyright, Moral Rights and Intellectual Rights

Copyright

Copyright is a legal concept which gives the creator or designer exclusive rights to their work for a limited time. The duration of copyright is for the whole life of the creator, plus fifty to a hundred years from the creators death. Copyright is generally enforced as a civil matter but it also gives the copyright holder the right to be credited and rewarded for the work.

Moral Rights

A moral right gives the creator the right of attribution, the right to have their work published anonymously and the right to the integrity of the work. However, it doesn’t allow any alteration, distortion or mutilation to the work. If the creator loses the possession of their work but has third party copyright, they will still have moral rights to the work.
Moral rights rely on the relationship between the creator and their work. They also have the right to receive or decline credit and reward for their work, to prevent it from being altered without their permission, to control who runs the work, and to dictate whether or what way the work is displayed.

Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property rights give exclusive rights to a range of assets such as artistic work, discoveries, inventions and designs etc. There are types of intellectual property rights which include copyrights, trademarks, patents and industrial design rights.