I really enjoyed learning about the principles of contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity in Williams’ book. Graphic design can be a daunting subject to break down for a greenhorn like me. The author has a straightforward, beginner friendly tone. The many visual examples were vital for grasping the concepts she described. As I read the book, I thought, “Of course, this is so easy!” However, actually applying the principles was not so easy. Like anything else, it will take practice, practice, practice. Getting away from center alignment will be the most difficult for me. Letting go of Times New Roman and Arial will also be tough. As I practiced the concepts in the book, sometimes I couldn’t quite tell if my designs were more sophisticated or just kooky looking.
I have to admit I felt like my three year old daughter, ready to stomp my feet and pout, when I first started this assignment. Word for a design project, how gauche! I have always used Publisher for this type of project and I have always relied heavily on templates from Publisher and Word. I have always worried my flyers and newsletters look like everyone else’s because there are only so many templates available. However, at the end of this assignment, I felt like I had created a more customized, personal newsletter than I have ever created before. Now I know how to step out of my comfort zone and I have much more respect for Word. Also, I have heard Publisher isn’t included in all Microsoft Office packages anymore. I may run into computers that don’t have it installed.
These basic principles of design can be very helpful for both the teacher and the student. Both need to understand how to make their projects pop in a visual culture. The current generation of students may be creating entirely digital projects in the future. These projects may include pictures, graphs, and screen shots. Students will have to understand how to organize this visual information and balance it with their text. Teachers are fighting for the attention of their students and parents in a media-saturated environment. If a teacher can create a visually dynamic flyer or newsletter, it is much more likely to be remembered.
All in all, I am excited to use the lessons from the past two weeks in my professional endeavors.
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