Brief

University of Kent at  K College

HND/ Graphic Design

Year 1, Term 2

Course: Visual Communication (Group Project)

Date Set: Monday 12^th March 2012

Date Due: Thursday 29^th March 2012

Preamble & Objectives

Having spent the first two terms exploring elements of typography and graphic design we thought it would be beneficial now to consider how to resolve a more complex design problem. Graphic designers often work as part of a team on larger design projects, and this brief is written to enable you to explore and understand the needs and dynamics of working in a group as well as dealing with complex information (see Tufte’s book: Envisioning Information amongst others). Your group you will need to discuss and understand the task you are being asked resolve. You will have to divide your resources to research different aspects of the brief and because this is a team brief, you must be in attendance at college, unless your designated activities dictate otherwise. You should consider its resources, appropriately utilising the many individual skills within the group. Any decisions about the content and it finished presentation will be arrived at democratically by your group, and we will expect, as part of your submission, information about the devolution of these tasks within your group. There will also be an opportunity for peer assessment on completion of the project.

The Brief

The Independent Newspaper is producing a series of A1 information graphics posters about cultural theories.

Part of the academic information that you need to know and use as a designer is the theory of Semiotics. This can be regarded as complex.

Your brief is to design, as a group, an information graphic that explains the theory of semiotics as straightforwardly as possible. You should include background to the theory (who discovered it); what the theory consists of; how the theory is used (with examples).

You should use as broad a range of visuals as you feel is necessary to explain Semiotics to the Independent’s readership. Make your information graphics clear and understandable.

Outcomes

Specific and generic Learning Outcomes for this brief can be found on Moodle.  Each member if the group will be graded independently according to how their own evidence meets the learning outcomes.

Research

You will need to in your own sketchbook that you have grasped Semiotics. As well as this you should research information graphics in general, and newspaper information graphics in particular. You will need to show that you have researched techniques for visualizing the information.