Sins and Virtues of Graphic Design

[hybrid56k]

Hi everyone not sure if this is the correct forum for this but here goes. I am in university studying graphic design, we have just been given a new brief to design a 20 page booklet on the Sins/Virtues of graphic design. I am really lost on where to start and was hoping that I could get some ideas on what you all consider the sins/virtues to be. This project has me really worried so I would appreciate all the help I can get.

Kind Regards
Allan

[PrintDriver]

You are gonna get some smart aleck answers on this one I'm sure. LOL! Welcome to the forum. We're a fun bunch. Take any off comments in the manner intended.

Literal sin and virtue:
Sin- misrepresenting product
Virtue- environmental awareness in design choices.

[hybrid56k]

Ok thank you

[hybrid56k]

Sorry forgot to mention I have to design a page for each sin/virtue and there are seven of each.

[vtwin_gary]

this sounds more like a sunday school question.
it's threads like this that make me glad i didn't go to school for design.
i never did like school, sorry i can't help.

bump this again on monday when more people are suppose to be working but are here trying to kill some time.

[Two-Toe Tom]

are they looking more for ethical sins/virtues like trying to convince toddlers to start smoking or sins/virtues relating to graphic design principals like using comic sans in hot pink?

[hybrid56k]

I think the later sins/virtues relating to graphic design principals like using comic sans in hot pink?

[vtwin_gary]

comic sans

[Two-Toe Tom]

oh, that's easier then, virtues would be like making good use of white space, having good visual hierarchy, colour schemes that resonate with the target audience, etc. sins would be the above post, poor legibility, widows in paragraphs, etc.

[hybrid56k]

Yes things like that, but 14 of them in all and how to I show these ideas. Iam really struggling with this brief.

[Two-Toe Tom]

just show it by example. like...





























use of white space.

























.

[Two-Toe Tom]

sounds like you could really get creative with this project, you should have fun with it :)

[hybrid56k]

I need the actual 7 sins and 7 virtues thats what I am really struggling with

[Renton]

Don't use fonts named after cities. That's one of the sins I read from one of my design teachers when I was in art school.

[cornfed]

I think you're going to find that this subject is much deeper than listing out 7 things for both sides. The idea is probably for you to research various ethical considerations that are unique to graphic design, the social responsibilities that are unique to us, business considerations that we must adhere to, etc. One thing that pops in my mind is the use/lack of use of contracts. In my mind, it would be sinful to perform a job without a contract. A lot of designers are guilty of this and get burned for it. An example of a virtue would be using our talents for persuasive advertising to steer the world towards more compassionate acts. However, I think the idea is for you to conduct your own reseach and, ideally, have a list of about 50 sins/50 virtues where you can pick and choose the ones you prefer, can pull off design wise, etc. Good Luck!

[kevincdg]

this actually sounds like a really fun project. you can use kerning as either sin or virtue as well, and could have fun on a page of all really terrible kerning for sin.

also, for sin, you could use excess font usage -- you know, those lovely designs with 8 different types and only 5 words of text. :)

goodluck!

[frankster]

Def get good kerning and evil kerning in there.

note to self: read second page of posts before posting something someone else has already said. :rolleyes:

[Seapony]

I need the actual 7 sins and 7 virtues thats what I am really struggling with
You certainly get around...that could be seen as both "sin" and "virtue" ;)

Really though, if you're still uncertain about exactly how to go about this, I recommend you have a chat with your professor so that he can clarify your assignment.

On the other forum you mentioned that you had to illustrate 7 sins and virtues of your own in graphic design. Like I told you then, it seems like a pretty retrospective assignment based on your creative strengths and weaknesses.

We can do the work for you and sputter them out, but in the end you have to be the one to explain why it's sin or virtue, see? Making blanket "comic sans, bad" statements would end up cheating yourself, in a way. You shouldn't expect us to tell you what we feel is virtue or sin because it's a pretty "gray" relative topic. There was a time that comic sans was properly used for whatever it was originally intended...in that respect it may have been seen as virtuous, until it was used in any and everything because it came with the computer's system fonts...turning it into a laughable sin.

Either way, this assignment can be fun and even "eye opening" profound. So go...have fun.

;)

[Drazan]

I think every topic concerning graphic design can be portrayed as a sin or a virtue depending on the approach.

Think of it as bad design example vs good design example using the same technique. Kerning, color, font choices, image use, scale, layout, etc. Everything relies on everything else to be successful.


Start by writing down a bunch of graphic terms, then list the good things to do with it, and then the bad things that can happen. Then once you have the list, you can chose which you think you have the strongest visual conviction and go from there.

Part of design is coming up with the concepts, ideas, and figuring out the execution. Asking us to give you a list, is kinda asking us to do half your homework.

[frankster]

you had to illustrate 7 sins and virtues of your own in graphic design.


so does this mean you need to design a page on each of what you consider to be your own personal sins and virtues, or does it mean that you have to design a page each on what you consider to be 7 sins and 7 virtues involved with graphic design?

[Red Kittie Kat]

You said you need the "actual 7 sins and virtues" Are you basing this on the 7 deadly sins theory? ie. gluttony, sloth etc. I'm not sure why you are coming up with 7 otherwise.

If not, I don't think there is an actual list of 7 sins of graphic design .. it's more of an interpretation of what people think they are personally ... and I'm sure there are a lot more than 7 :D

[Seapony]

so does this mean you need to design a page on each of what you consider to be your own personal sins and virtues, or does it mean that you have to design a page each on what you consider to be 7 sins and 7 virtues involved with graphic design?
In the other forum, his wording led me to believe that it was the former.

I really think he needs to have a chat with his professor, before he gets inadvertently misdirected by the responses in the forum(s).

:)

[hybrid56k]

It could be a bit of both Frankster.

[hybrid56k]

This is what my brief says.

Using your experience so far, list your own seven deadly design sins and seven heavenly design virtues. Use each of those as a page design in a book. The book will need a cover and can be either sixteen or twenty pages long, depending on how you lay it out, if you have a contents page, a seperater page or whatever. The size of the page has to be 230 x 160 landscape i.e. it is bound on the short edge - the reason for this will become apparent.

The book has to have a title, and it needs to be 230 x 160 landscape

The sins/virtues can be as serious or as playful as you like.

Each sin/virtue has its own page and design, use illustration, photography, type for the design - the components are up to you.

The book can be bound using a comb binder.

[cornfed]

Well geez, we can't help you. This is one of those 'Look Inside Yourself' projects thats supposed to help you grow as a designer. Since I only know you through your 8 post, then I have no idea what you should put on those pages.

[hybrid56k]

Thanks for the reply I know this is a personal project, I just can't figure what my sins and virtues are though.

[PrintDriver]

How about you list some things and we'll expound, or not, seeing as it is up to you as a designer to come up with ideas for a brief in the real world. We dislike doing people's homework for them without a little effort at the outset.

As the brief says, "using your experience so far", which is bound to be kinda limited at any point in a newb's college education. Go through your portfolio of past work and read the notes professors have made on your projects (you do keep those, right?). Start there.

[hybrid56k]

/Users/allandavies/Desktop/msinoo4.jpg

What about something like this but maybe using my own photos of myself.

[hybrid56k]

Sorry I meant this

[PrintDriver]

Yes.
That's a good start.
You get the idea.

[hybrid56k]

I need a couple of sins/virtues though I like the idea of use of space for the virtue i thought i would take a picture of myself in a empty room and then the sin it would be me many times in that room really crowded.

[jlknauff]

it's threads like this that make me glad i didn't go to school for design.Your jazzy avatar makes me believe otherwise. You had to have studied with the masters :D

[Red Kittie Kat]

lmao jlk ... he didn't design that ... there is a story behind it ... now if I could only find it lol :D

[hybrid56k]

Im confused. What is everyone on about.

[Red Kittie Kat]

pay no attention to the brief hijack ... they happen around here from time to time ;)

[jlknauff]

lmao jlk ... he didn't design that ... there is a story behind it ... now if I could only find it lol :DLol, yes, it was from the kid on the modeling forum selling $10 logos. :cool:

[Red Kittie Kat]

That's it!! Thanks Jlk :D

[hybrid56k]

anybody know how I keep this thread going it seems to have stopped having input.

[kevincdg]

well based off what you said this seems more like an assignment you should be doing yourself, since it's relaying your personal flaws and virtues of design. we can't tell you what those are, and you won't grow if we baby you too much. you have plenty of information here to complete the assignment, imo. :)

[hybrid56k]

So do you think I should go the photographic idea to show each virtue and sin

[achipmunk]

good luck, buddy!

[jlknauff]

anybody know how I keep this thread going it seems to have stopped having input.Yes, drink POWERTHIRST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRuNxHqwazs)!