In The Spotlight
Designers
critiquing designers, it’s nothing new, in fact I believe it is our responsibility.
Giving effective feedback can be very difficult at times, but being able to
explain ones likes or dislikes about a piece takes time, practice, and real
forethought. If a designer does self-critiques, he will further his ability
to dissect other’s work. But remember, before doing a critique or blurting out
your opinion, ask yourself vital questions, such as: Who is the target audience?
What are the size/color restrictions for the piece? Does it have unique elements,
and are they appropriate?
For example, I did an ad for
a florist. I had it critiqued. Someone, who will remain nameless, says,
“I don’t think the typeface is a good choice for this. I would rather
see something more elegant, like a script.” “Who is the target audience?,”
my art director asks. “Men buying gifts for women.” The art director
says, “It was a good choice. Having used an elegant script, this ad would
not appeal to its audience, making it much too feminine.”
What are your critiquing experiences?
Home Sweet Home
The concept of having a
link to the home page of a site seems to be common practice. Right? I’m
not a really big fan of actually having a link labeled home in a sites navigation.
I realize not all web users are very computer literate, but I think when labeled
as home the link is more confusing than helpful. I make sure that the logo/site
identifier is always linked to the main page, and that logo/site identifier
is always at the top left-hand side. Maybe “home” can be replaced
with “main”, but that’s just an idea.
As we just begin the second half of 2004, one must reflect on his/her accomplishments
thus far. Set new goals, achieve higher standards, and reach out for those dreams.
Although the year is half over…