Expressing the Meaning of a Word

http://papress.com/thinkingwithtype/teachers/Word_Lecture.pdf


This is exactly what we did!  Cool! : )

typography video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki6rcXvUWP0

Color Glossary- neat!!

http://www.colorcube.com/articles/theory/glossary.htm

Propel Definition

propel |prəˈpel|verb ( -pelled , -pelling ) [ trans. ]drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward: the boat is propelled by using a very long paddle | [as adj. in combination ]( -propelled) a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.• [ trans. ] figurative spur or drive into a particular situation : fear propelled her out of her stillness.ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [expel, drive out] ): fromLatin propellere, from pro- ‘forward’ + pellere ‘to drive.’

Propelling Man

Exactly my thoughts when I hear the word propel!! : )

This also is a fantastic design.

This photo was similar to what our first prototypes looked like.  However, we wanted to create something different.

Innovation!

And we thought we had good ideas!! This is amazing!!

Visual Writing Handout

            Through visual writing and mind maps, people are able to organize their ideas and are able to spontaneously brainstorm new innovations.  Mind maps help to create new pathways and new ideas.  There are a couple types of mind maps: one is a handwritten, quick map through sticky notes or a large piece of paper, and the other is through a software program.  To create a mind map, you can start with the central word, circle it, and then continue branching words from it.  One main importance is to not question the brainstorming until the map has been completed, and it is important to not worry about diverging from the original subject, because it can greatly help to lead to new ideas.  Arrows, lines, images, and shapes can also be added onto the mind map.  After creating the map, it is good to take a step back, ask questions about the work, and try to find patterns that emerge within the word bubbles.  Not only do mind maps aid the brainstorming process, but also word lists.  These concept ideas are generation for new creative processes, and are the associative ways that our brains generate these new ideas. 

Reflection of the IDEO Video

            IDEO, as we learned from the video, is an extraordinary company.  It helps organizations and businesses expand and grow through creative ideas and innovations of design.  From the IDEO video, I learned that to develop great design, it takes more than just a paper and pencil.  It takes time, lots of research, and an unfathomable amount of drive. To get started with amazing design, it first must begin with brainstorming.  The most important thing is to not be afraid to express random ideas, because no matter how crazy the idea, they may end up leading to the right idea or pathway for a great design.  The whole team hung up drawings of their ideas of the new shopping cart, with sticky notes, mind maps, etc. to discuss and vote on.  Next, the design has to be put into action.  After the team arrived back together after extensive research, each person began to work on a different aspect of the shopping cart, such as safety and mobility.  Through this, I learned that it is important to have a team of experts from all areas of the subject or the design being concentrated on in order to ensure that the design is well rounded.  Finally, the team creates three or four prototypes of the final design, and from those they are able to figure out which prototype is the most efficient and the best in its aesthetic qualities.  This taught me that it is important to create multiple prototypes in order to weed out the bad aspects and innovate to create perfection.  The final prototype was made after their five days of hard and grueling work, but they managed to find the solution to improve the poorly designed shopping cart into something consumer friendly and modern looking.  Through the IDEO video, I gained the steps and the tools for improving my future creations, and I now know what it takes to create good design.