For the first class of IXD104 we were introduced to the brief of the project we will be completing over this semester. For our project we have to create a new music streaming app, for this we need to create a home screen, playlist and track screen. Our focus for the deliverable is illustrative(interface) and diagrammatic(dashboard).
Images are extremely important, they can help us learn, explain tough topics, inspire, grab attention etc. One of the most important things about images are that they can communicate and tell a story. Images have been used since the Stone Age where their main goal was to survive, below is cave art from that era. As we can see this image tells a story about their life. If these drawings were never carved into the cave we would not know as much as we do about such an important time period in history.
One thing I really like about images is we can also take our own story away from them. Many images, paintings and art have been perceived differently by many and people can make their own meaning of the image that may relate to themselves.
We also looked at Juxtaposition and how this can change how we see or feel about the images. By placing images beside each other can swap a story in our head and change how we perceive them. This may sound like an obvious piece of information but actually seeing how changing an image can impact your view was interesting. Below is an example of juxtaposition.
For the project we will be using illustrations, illustrations can also be communicative. We looked at how some famous logos were created, and how they are made up of simple shapes. Illustrations are how a majority of logos are created, practising and sketching different things can inspire the final design.
In the renaissance era famous painters would hire apprentices, these apprentices would spend around 7-10 years working underneath a successful artist and their role was to replicate the master’s art over and over again till they were ready to start painting with him on bigger spaces. This would allow the apprentice to not just learn how to get a similar outcome but the learn the process of the art. We will using a similar technique in order to learn the process of creating icons.
Paddy Donnelly is an Irish illustrator and author for children’s book, his illustrations on the front of his books are very unique, fun and colourful. Throughout all his covers there is a consistent style, for example, consistently using bright colours and cartoon style, he adapt his style of illustrating to meet the books narrative. I will keep this in mind when creating my branding as consistency is very important for a brand.
Vic Bell is an illustrator, brand designer and iconographer, her style of art is very cute and fun. I will definitely be using her work as inspiration for creating my icons for the music app. She also creates illustrations for drivers for companies like Uber, this reminded me of avatars. I think this would be a great idea to add on a music app, I would like to use this as a small add on for the app, I believe this creates a fun environment for the user.