Project #3 Final Statement

From what I have taken away from the communication models, especially the Berlo model, is that even though some might not understand it we all participate and experience all of its components effectively. So from using them as guidelines, My design artifact turned into a Designers Field Guide to Communication. This booklet is meant for an academic environment for students or within a design conference/exposition. I have effectively used my communication model as the base for this booklet. This field guide takes you step-by-step through each component of the communication model and annotates the theory/definition of each component, and explains the real life application of the specific component. Each component has its own spread with a left facing page dedicated to the theory and a right facing page dedicated to the application. I've directly used my post card conversation of the debit card as the visual and text based annotations. The debit card monster from that conversation has inspired me to create a whole new set of icons that act as mascots for each communication component. The booklet is concluded by my original info-graph, which displays a clarity and confusion chart based on the timeline throughout the communication process.

The cover and back cover show the icon set and a shield with the number six on it. This represents the six components of the communication model and the shield reflects the an insignia or sense of authority to highlight that this is a field guide or government issued. The color palette compliments the images color of the postcards. I also thought they were bold enough to exude a sense of authority and felt a little on the political campaign side to give off a propaganda element.

The type used throughout is within the Universe family. I felt that this has a large range to utilize different applications of body copy, display type, and bread crumb indicators. Fette Egyptian is the base for the numerals throughout the book. I thought that they looked dated and complimented the creme colored background of the page color.

Overall I believe that I have met the objectives by creating a visually engaging, multi-page design artifact by my booklet and the appealing icons, and linear layout. I have directly used the communication model and have dedicated an entire page for an annotated reference to the Berlo and the Shannon/Weaver model. And finally my post card conversation was the inspiration and the real-life application representation through out my booklet.

I have learned a great deal of exploration, definition, and communication throughout this project and semester. I believe that I have progressed and have brought a piece of each previous project to the next that has served me well and given me a good foundation of visually communicating different styles and techniques of design.

Project #3 Final Process

Here are a few screen shots at my process and final fixes before calling my booklet "done."

The process screen grabs are primarily last minute type changes, tightening up my grid and columns and modifying my icons.

Project #3 Booklet 11/30/09

These are the revisions I have made over the break.
I have modified all of my icons to look more cohesive by rounding almost all corners, watching my line weights and spacing in between forms.

I have added image from my post card conversation to introduce clarity of the text. They all align with the grid and are introduced by their icon mascots.

I've reduced the loud qualities of my type and created more contrast between weight and size. The Universe family is used throughout for continuity.

I have redesigned the cover to reflect a crest or insignia, which reinforces the "field guide" feel. I have removed all of my stars that were definitely competing with my icons and replaced them with the circular pattern from my "noise" in my communication model.

The bar meter was a mistake and I have changed it back to the line graph that represents the levels of confusion and clarity throughout the communication time line. The icons pin point where the clarity level is on its specified component.

And lastly, I have re-included my "sender generator" from my first iterations to create more variety and reduce its mundane predictable path.

I am currently working on a similar page for Message and possibly Noise and Channel.

Project #3 Full Booklet

My booklet is finally complete, as far as this stage goes. My Model of communication is present and reflects the inner pages in color and hierarchy. My chart is a meter showing the level of confusion and clarity represented by the stars. The stars are a repeated element showing the level of clarity on each introduction page, of each component of the communication model. The left facing page of each spread acts as the introduction, definition and theory of that specific component; while the right facing page shows the application and postcard conversation. I felt that this booklet acting as a field guide iconic mascot would act better that photos of the postcards. The icons are a working progress, but overall I think the essence of the icons and book is close to completion.

The name of the booklet is "The Designers Field Guide to Communication"
I am still working on the cover, but think it has a nice guide-like quality to it depiction all of the icons.

Enlarged Detail of Inner Spread Pages.