OUGD405 - Study Task 1 - Symbols

Session Notes
30 / 11 / 15

Objectivity 

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Subjectivity

Objectivity 

   - Professional, convincing and sophisticated

   - Not affected by personal opinion, experience

   - Avoid subjective language - I feel.. I think..

   - Focus on why that decision has been made, 

     how it is effective

   - Avoid descriptive approach.. focus on analysis, evaluation,          context, theories, audience, research

   - Not based on aesthetic preference

   - Need to be aware there are other alternatives when designing..      need to justify my approach in light to others

Subjective 

   - An opinion, not agreed upon. AVOID!
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Pictograms

30 / 11 / 15

Our next task of the day was to apply our understanding of pictograms and symbols to develop a visual monotone symbol to effectively communicate a chosen sport in the Olympics. We had to work within the grid and use only shape and colour, considering the particular audience, scale, impact and clarity. 
Thus producing a range of responses before selecting the most appropriate design. 

I first began by comparing all the different pictogram designs throughout the ages within the Olympics... http://www.tapook.com/2012/07/olympic-pictograms/
... looking at the different approaches to design that have been taken in relation to the country which is hosting the games.

I was very influenced by the early 1968 designs in Mexico City due to the simplicity of only using symbols/sport equipment in the pictograms. This is something that attracted me as having only been around for 4 of the games, I have only ever seen more of the modern pictogram designs which all involve a person carrying out the activity, so going back to the old is almost ringing back something new and fresh for the current generations.

It wasn't until the 1972 Munich Olympic Games where there was the birth of the most famous pictograms, designed by Otl Aicher, and acclaimed by many as smart and elegant, this having defined the genre now. Functional and neat, Aicher's design is “a very good example of German cold geometry”.

This being the actual first building block in Olympic pictogram design, also influencing other pictogram design, it is an approach which will influence my design but I will try to bring my own original slant to, e.g. not using the entire body of the person maybe?

         

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