Layout

I found this layout to be very interesting. Although the only colors used are black and white, there is such a wide variety of typeface used throughout the layout. There is a definite clear figure/ground here. It is obvious that the black text is set on a white background. However, what I find interesting about this is there is figure/ground relationship within figure/ground relationship. For example, the words, "to lead once more" are white on top of a black/gray background, whereas most of the words are black text on a white background. Another eye-popping concept is the bold lettering and the large font used on some of the words. I'd assume while reading this, that the words which are bold and capitalized are of importance. The spacing between the words, or the leading, is also very distinct. I like this layout. It keeps my attention with its interesting format, but it's not over the top to read.

Reading About Type

I chose to read the four articles, Typography- Wikipedia, Fonts 101, Eight Simple Ways to Improve Typography in Design, and Five Simple Steps to Better Typography. The biggest commonality and generalization between all four articles was the readability of a typeface. Every article mentioned something about the importance of reading the information with ease. Another issue of importance was the leading or the word spacing. In general, I think what I got most out of reading each article was the importance of clarity. When reading an article or anything of length, it is important that the type is simple and properly spaced, otherwise the reader will have a difficult time finishing the article or won't fully understand the concept of the article.

Given what I have read, a few specific guidelines I will follow are:
1.) Leading: This was an important factor in each article. In order for a type to be legible, the leading must be appropriate as well.
2.) White space vs. black space or the figure/ground relationship. Just like in using Illustrator, this will also be an important concept when using InDesign.
3.) Readability and Legibility: Although these are two different concepts, they are connected aspects of type. The two concepts help define the character of type and will bring ease to the reader.
4.) Typefaces (In general): It is important to choose a typeface that can be read with ease. For example, if one has to fill out a form at the DMV, one most likely will want a clear, standard, and easy to read typeface. If the form was in some type of calligraphy, for example, information could definitely be misplaced or not understood properly.

In general, I think that most of the information was basic. Adjustments to make lettering more legible, harmonic, and readable are of importance. One thing that I found to be interesting was in the Fonts 101 article. I think its neat there are websites that can transform your specific handwriting into a font. The use of technology and everything becoming so digitalized is an interesting concept overall.

Figure/Ground

After reading the articles, I had a chance to better understand the difference between figure and ground. The way I see it, ground is the background of the design. I would look at it as the white space as of right now. The ground it the part of the design that needs to be filled up with the figure. For that matter, I see the figure as the image that has been created on the ground. These concepts are important because it makes a difference when looking at the image. It's important to know whether one is defining the ground or the figure. There was a good example of this in one of the readings about the vase/face image. In order to understand how such an image is created, I think it's important to know the difference between the ground and figure.

I think I have already used these terms in my own work when designing the first tile. It's important because the more involved we get in creating the tiles, the more difficult it may be to grasp the difference between the ground and figure.

In most of my tiles created so far, there is a clear difference between the ground and the figure. However, I may only know this because I created them. It may be more difficult for someone else to look at a tile and decipher the two.

Design Brief Ideas

My three  choices are:

1.) Tiles on a bench at the zoo
2.) The hallway at a children's hospital
3.) The walls of a new Milwaukee transit station

For the tiles on a bench at the zoo, I feel the audience will be both for  children and adults. The tile needs to be pleasing to both audiences and impress the adults so they can explain to their children what it may convey. This tile will be meant for children and adults who have a love for animals or are just interested in learning more about exotic animals.

For the hallway at a children's hospital, I'd like to create something that is obviously appealing to the children. Something that is cheerful and will lighten up a child's eyes while going through a rough time. Like the zoo tile, the audience will also be geared towards the parents of the children, who are also going through a hard time. I'd like to create something that is light-hearted and will help brighten up any child or parent. Also, this tile could be geared toward the nurses and doctors who are working in the hospital everyday. The tile designs for the employees will hopefully give them a little variation and inspiration.

For the walls of a new Milwaukee transit station, I think the audience would be geared toward people who need to get from point A to point B quickly and smoothly. I'd like to create something that keeps up with the everyday chaos of constantly moving from place to place. Yet, I'd keep it simple and intriguing. The hustle and bustle of everyday life can become stressful, so keeping it simple in a stressful environment may be the best way to create this tile.

Design Brief #1

After reading the first design brief, I feel more excited than concerned to begin working with a creative outlook. However, one concern I do have is only using black and white. I understand that color is very important and probably requires a lot of attention, but I'm worried that using only black and white will take away from some of the creative output. Another concern of mine is only being able to use one typeface within each tile. However, I also feel like this will simplify things and keep the design neat and organized. In general, I am looking forward to beginning this project.