Today1) Overview of projects

2) All the pretty colors

3) Activity: Redskin Tornado

4) Activity: How to build a palette by sampling from images

5) Activity: ACE color scheme testing

6) Revising color palettes for ACE

7) Homework

ChangesI just wanted to quickly remind you all of the changes we agreed to last week in terms of our projects:

1.We added the video project, starting next week (with 3 weeks of materials gathering and then 4 weeks of editing)

2.This will move the start of the web project, but only by a week (in terms of the introduction). The video and web projects will overlap significantly

3.The print projects will now be due on xx

The Joy of InfographicsLet’s start our consideration of color with a quick tour of some really impressive infographics that will allow us to condense some of our knowledge and expand on a few interesting ideas.

Soooo… What does all of this tell us?

And how might we apply it?

Ripped from the headlinesThere is currently– once again– a debate over the identity of the Washington, DC NFL team, the Redskins.

If you’ll recall, Miami had a similar dilemma in the 90s.

We can talk about……if Washington SHOULD change their identity or not, if you’d like. Of note, of course, is the visual iconography and what it brings to mind.

Recall Wysocki, Kress and Barthes: images carry elements of culture. Let’s look at the current Redskins gear/logos.

Activity: I did a little bit of research on the Redskins. They were the Boston Braves at one point, and previous to that they were the remains of the Newark Tornadoes.

The Braves have the same basic issue as the Redskins, so…

Activity: I want you to pick a color scheme and font to go with the new “tornado” logo on the next slide (which I did some quick edits on, but is basically clip art). Think about everything we’ve learned about text and color in the last two weeks as you work. We will then put these on display and talk about why you did what you did. The logo as PNG file, as well as the images on the last few slides, are on Niihka in a zip called “skins”

BREAK

Activity: One of the best ways to put together a color palette is to sample colors from nature. It might sound sort of overly simple, but we want to see colors that go together naturally, and (of course) things that exist in nature naturally coordinate. A frog, for example, wouldn’t be the wrong colors for a frog.

Activity: To sample colors, you want to do a few things. One, you want to create a set of squares on a blank image (just use the shape tool). You can do splotches if you want, but I like to make sure mine look good. You then use the eyedropper to sample the colors you want, use the bucket to fill your square on the other image, and repeat as needed.

Activity: If you are struggling with your color choices, don’t be afraid to look at photos– or go take photos of things– to sample from.

You can also, of course, also use a cool tool, like…

Next Activity: Equipped with the stuff we have learned today and the tools in the PowerPoint and your readings, I’d like you to do some analysis and stress-testing of the color schemes you’re planning to use for your ACE documents.

Next Activity: As you work, think about what changes you might make or changes you need to make.

Also use this time to coordinate and talk through your progress. I will circulate to check in with your teams and answer any questions.

Homework: Because of our adjustments for the inclusion of the video project, we will not be starting the web project next week, but we will be starting our data gathering for the video project.

Read: Read for class: Kimball & Hawkins Chapter7, Golombisky & Hagen Chapters 10 and 11, and Chapter 11 in Lynch and Horton