Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

Signpost
It is a display used to guide road users.
Occasionally, signposts are set out to show
information such as; the location and name of a
place. They are found on road-sides, crossroads,
paths, or streets to lead users to specified
destinations with clear text, or illustrations. Some
signposts display additional contact information
like the address, phone and email.
- Does your school have a signpost?
- Compare a signpost with a road sign and state
their differences.
We can make our conclusion with Smith's (1993, 58) Basic
graphic design to summarise visual and identification
symbols; “The graphic requirements ... may not need many
images. The design is possibly intended to clarify and
organise with a concern for continued reader interest ...”
All this must be carefully understood by learners before
embarking on any new graphic design artwork, task or
assignment.
How to design a card
There are so many types of cards; some cards are made with
decorative borders in small sizes and/or sometimes in larger
sizes. However, nearly all standard cards display a single
side or double sides containing meaningful messages,
illustrations and information intended for various set out
aims.
Thereby, cards are different and they are created for very
many purposes. For example business or visiting cards,
greetings cards and Christmas cards. We can take a double
page success card as our example. Such a card will display
two sides just like book covers.
Success cards show messages and many of them are
designed to display relevant or connected colours as well
as illustrations; basing on functions and purposes they are
meant to serve.
Accordingly, inside a success or a greeting card, messages are
usually evocative. That is to say, the message written in a
card is expected to bring strong memories or feelings to the
beneficiary or receiver. And outside on the cover of a card,
the message is usually (or supposed to be) brief and precise,
sincere and well-expressed.
Even though illustrations are routinely found on the
front part of a card, the ultimate methods of executing a
successful design is up to the inventiveness or creativity
of the designer. Above all, some creative designers use
approaches of collage art to produce cards.
In general, read and understand all instructions stated for
a specified card task or theme. The most important thing
for the designer is to pay attention to the title (theme)
of the card. For, it will guide you to determine a suitable
Illustration, colours and text. Then make decisions for the
most appropriate orientation. A card can be designed in
vertical or longitudinal orientations.
At an appropriate stage of incorporating text Galbreath
(2008, 37) suggests, “the formal character of centred text
also makes it appropriate for wedding invitations, ... and the
type of verse that appears inside greeting cards.” Here we
see that the appropriate way of presenting messages in a
card, is by placing it in the middle. At this stage a designer is
expected to assess the suitability of calligraphy writing for a
card in plan.
In a subsequent way, compare the executed design with
other types of cards, which may be reasonably similar to the
one you are making. Then, do necessary changes.
As you work to execute a card, take the sketch to various
concerned people for more advice, opinions; exchange
views about your design plan. It does not matter even
if they do not have rational ideas about the card. The
discussions or critiques can help the learner to see errors,
thus minimise misinterpretations.
Considering that everything is properly done, finish and
make the card ready for display.
How to design a poster
Posters are sometimes referred to as billboards. To a bigger
extent, posters are habitually used for outdoor advertising.
Posters can be produced by ways of—photography,
lithography, silk screen printing, block printing as well as
digital printing on large-format printers.
The main purpose of a poster is to visually communicate
printed or written message.
As a consequence of that, posters are typically displayed
in public places. They are expected to be striking and
noticeable. A poster is considered to be among the
most suitable means of making announcements and
advertisements intended to inform the general public.
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