Notes from another CCCC session that I found engaging. In this session, the presenter spent a good deal of time thinking about design from the standpoint of a writing teacher, and I found her angle on it informative. In particular, I found her categories of balance, unity, gestalt, and hierarchy a more nuanced way of talking about the Robin Williams principles of contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity. I hadn’t really thought about using Homestar Runner for a writing assignment, but now I might.
Here are some notes:
Chandra Lewis-Qualls – “Identity Interface: Rhetorical Analysis, Graphic Design, and Comics”
- Intro
- How is identity created in online comics, analyzing with graphic design theories
- Her subject position: I am a feminist rhetorician interested in visual design and communication, deeply immersed in gaming
- Graphic Design
- Mildred Friedman — “Graphic design is an art form that depends for its efficacy on the degree to which words and images communicate a coherent message.”
- You get the effect of the intent based on what isn’t explicitly evident
- Why Use Graphic Design?
- By focusing on design strategies, we can discern alternate ways to shape idetity online
- Graphic design has a longer history that visual rhetoric and insights from the field could prove valuable
- It opens up conversations between academics and designers
- 1964 “The First Things First Manifesto”
- Graphic design has a long history of critique and wanted to point out the fact that design is not neutral and has value; they were pushing against the consumer and material aspects of graphic design and wanted to share their thoughts on it
- New Media Analysis
- Cheryl Ball has suggested that we need to analyze “the semiotic elements [of new media]”
- New Media critics often look at five major design features and ignores the sub-texts of design
- Graphic Design Components
- Balance — controlling the negative space, creating visual interest
- How are the elements arranged?
- What effect does this have on the composition as a whole?
- Unity — creating harmony with a color, shape, or typeface
- What are the elements that create unity in this piece?
- Gestalt — the combination of elements create an idea or message that isn’t explicit, but is an underlying argument in the design
- What is the opinion underlying the design
- Hierarchy — dominant element in the design of various levels of interest
- How to create interest
- Branding and Identity
- Multiple experience with the product
- Created through advertising, design, and media
- A symbolic embodiment of the product
- Creates associations and expectations
- Includes explicit logo, fonts, color schemes, etc
- Focus on web comics
- Try to create an embodied experience for the characters
- Homestar Runner.com
- Irreverent surreal humor
- Strongbad’s identity
- Types answers to visitors and is very sarcastic
- Using these concepts in class
- How do you visually convey your identity online (ethos)
- Freshmen create a MySpace page
- Upper level students create a digital portfolio to represent their work