The truth is that our minds search for meaning in everything we see, even blank space. Knowing this can e a big bonus for a visual designer because you can intentionally use “negative space” to send a message. Negative space is the area around and between the subjects of an…

Color, Typography, and Placement — If you’re a student or just a non-creative trying to put together a visual design and wondering how to get started, try breaking down the process, focusing on color typography, and placement. The Color Palette Start by considering what colors you want to use. A good place to start is by looking at…

The easiest way to explain the value of perception is to look at art. A painting that is worth millions in the mind of one person might also be worth much less to someone else. An example of this is the famous painting “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. …

Listen to the client! What do they want, and how will that inform your design choices? — The criteria for evaluating the success or failure of design outcomes is nested within design goals. A design goal can be usability, engagement, cost, positioning, performance, sustainability, brand image, etc. When a visual communicator works on a project, their design goals will be informed by the client’s needs and wants…

Module 6 Concept — Imagine you own and operate a small private daycare center. Recently, you’ve noticed that your enrollment has been declining, and you’re not quite sure why. You’ve asked around and done some research, but you can’t seem to pinpoint the exact reason for the decline. However, you have collected data on…

Data literacy is the ability to collect, understand, critique, analyze, and communicate various types of information, primarily numbers and often complex. Let’s look across the design field at all of the jobs were being able to comprehend and communicate data matters. Designers are often data-driven, meaning they use data to…

Which do you hold? Charismatic Authority, Formal Authority, or Traditional Authority. — Imagine that you are a new manager at a company. One of your first tasks is to lead a team meeting. You’re nervous, but you’re also excited to get started and show your team what you’re made of. You start the meeting by asking everyone to introduce themselves. As you…

Analogical Reasoning — Have you ever metaphorically ‘drawn a line in the sand’ or ‘leveled the playing field?’ These are examples of analogies we use in our thoughts and in communicating with others to make sense of a complex idea and bring persuasion and reasoning to decisions. Analogical thinking is a type of…

Sour Grapes — It’s called sour grapes, a term created from a story about a fox who wanted to eat some grapes but couldn’t reach them. The fox decided that the grapes must not have been that great after all, since he couldn’t have them. Even in the 6th century BC, the human…