Overarching Concepts
Lets take this opportunity to organize Audience and Theory Notes for the assignment due Friday.
Our group played with a few ways to best represent the information collected from the class. The ideas we expanded on were:
1. Choice and Control
2. Design and Function
3. How Time Applies to these concept
4. Audience Feedback
Our group decided to really look further into design and function. One of the reasons that I was sceptic/anticipated doing this topic was my personal lack of knowledge on the subject. In the end, the group exploring this topic should/can be very helpful to not only our group, but the classes. Unless people came into the interactive media program with a basic understanding of design, I doubt most of us really understand what and why certain elements are important for design and function.
Looking at design alone, our group really liked the way iTunes Music Store was laid out. The site had a lot of white space, small graphics with featured areas. There is a strong focal point with the main areas of interest at the top of the page.
Design is extremely important in reaching your audience. Design incorporates a lot of different aspects of interactivity. Design is the central element of the list of overarching concepts that the class discussed. This is because design incorporates choice, control, usability, aesthetics, etc.
In terms of function, our group liked the layout of websites such as Craigslist. This site is very easy to use, has a clear purpose and functionality. It may not be the most beautiful, or artistic looking website but in terms of usability it satisfies all requirements. Ease of navigation is key when your taking about usability.
Some of the basic artisitic elements that need to be applied to design and function include:
1. Text- bold, italicized for emphasis
2. Color- complementary colors are more appealing
3. Position- People’s eyes move from top to bottom. The top of the page should contain the most prominent information and as the audience reads down the page the less attention the information needs.
Our goal is to break down these elements and create a visual where design is the center or core with the next level being tools/elements that are the most relevant and the next level begin less important as the first etc.
Hopefully, in the end, we will come up with a great new way to discuss the importance of design and function.
