Keeping People of Print as a website is appropriate because I am trying to aid and engage creative's research processes. I have found that students and designers use computers when researching, rather than apps or tablets because the computer allows the user to view images and text on a wider screen, providing more room for larger images and type, increasing legibility. Laptops and computers also have more controls due to the touch pad/mouse and keyboard allowing the user to easily navigate and explore the interface.
Concept #1
Educational Research Hub
User can create an account so that they are able to save projects and designers to their own 'library'. The directory can become more of an important section of the site as it will suggest projects and designers based on previous searches, further enhancing the research/inspiration process.
- Organise the information into clear categories and disciplines of design
Finding a specific category is problematic on the current site as the 'categories' section of the site is hidden. Making this more obvious will allow the user to explore specific and relevant research more easily.
- Save projects
Due to the large amount and continuously updated content, trying to revisit a project can be almost impossible. To solve this the user can save projects and/or designers to their 'library' so that all their projects are in one place.
- Personalised
Being able to save projects allows the user to personalise the information they look at. The site can also use cookies in order to suggest relevant projects based on the users previous searches and saved projects.
- Discovery
This can feed into the previous point. The current directory is random inconsistent, in order to inform the user on design studios and designers they're not familiar with, the directory can be personalised to the user based on their previous searches and liked projects.
Accounts usually get rid of adverts which dominate the sites side bar, this gives the user an incentive and motivation to join.
Site Map:
Created an initial site map so that I can determine what the navigation menu should display. As I have identified that the People of Print's navigation bar is obtrusive and crowded, I aimed to simplify it with the intent to immerse the user in print media.
Disciplines
User can search specific disciplines of design such as graphic design, illustration, fashion and photography.
Techniques and Processes
User can search for articles and submissions from specific techniques and processes to do with print. Eg - Lithography, typesetting, embossing, etc
My POP
Central in the menu to draw the audiences attention and encourage them to use it. This is where the user can view their saved projects, suggested projects and a personalised directory.
Shop
Magazine, Posterzine and Store - The current menu has 3 tabs that takes the user to the same shopping page. Simplifying this to one will declutter the menu.
Community
Submit to people of print, news and events - Currently, to find specific articles about events, the user would have to browse through the small categories bar to find the events section. This is a time consuming and un-engaging user experience. Hiding this section in the small categories bar doesn't expose the user to all of the sites features.
Created a sitemap that illustrates how the sites menu bar will aid the user to gain as much inspiration as possible and take advantage of all that People of Print has to offer:
Concept #2
Site Map:
Created an initial site map so that I can determine what the navigation menu should display. As I have identified that the People of Print's navigation bar is obtrusive and crowded, I aimed to simplify it with the intent to immerse the user in print media.
Disciplines
User can search specific disciplines of design such as graphic design, illustration, fashion and photography.
Techniques and Processes
User can search for articles and submissions from specific techniques and processes to do with print. Eg - Lithography, typesetting, embossing, etc
My POP
Central in the menu to draw the audiences attention and encourage them to use it. This is where the user can view their saved projects, suggested projects and a personalised directory.
Shop
Magazine, Posterzine and Store - The current menu has 3 tabs that takes the user to the same shopping page. Simplifying this to one will declutter the menu.
Community
Submit to people of print, news and events - Currently, to find specific articles about events, the user would have to browse through the small categories bar to find the events section. This is a time consuming and un-engaging user experience. Hiding this section in the small categories bar doesn't expose the user to all of the sites features.
Created a sitemap that illustrates how the sites menu bar will aid the user to gain as much inspiration as possible and take advantage of all that People of Print has to offer:
Concept #2
Make the site immersive and interactive so that the navigational system is as inspiring and engaging as the content.
Make the sites navigational system similar to the techniques and processes used in print - interactive features will help to achieve this and make the experience more immersive and inspirational. This was influenced by my research into Minimalist design in order to see how successful design organises a lot if information.
Minimalist Graphics, Julia Schonlau:
'With today's visual landscape cluttered by advertisements, ranging from backlit poster displays to guerrilla marketing strategies, minimalist design can appear almost reactionary.'
Colorcult created a magazine and screen printed posters to accompany it with the purpose to make the information immediately readable in a society where we are constantly showered with information trying to communicate with us:
The content could be argued to be ambiguous as the purpose of minimalist design is to put the function as the primary consideration. The large amount of white space focuses the audiences attention on all aspects of the design, immediately informing the audience. The use of geometric shapes, icons and lines help to channel the audiences attention to the information.
This design can be translated onto screen and provide opportunity to immerse the user in print media by integrating the physical actions and tools used to create print media.
Icons
Integrating the physical actions:
Minimalist Graphics, Julia Schonlau:
'With today's visual landscape cluttered by advertisements, ranging from backlit poster displays to guerrilla marketing strategies, minimalist design can appear almost reactionary.'
Colorcult created a magazine and screen printed posters to accompany it with the purpose to make the information immediately readable in a society where we are constantly showered with information trying to communicate with us:
The content could be argued to be ambiguous as the purpose of minimalist design is to put the function as the primary consideration. The large amount of white space focuses the audiences attention on all aspects of the design, immediately informing the audience. The use of geometric shapes, icons and lines help to channel the audiences attention to the information.
This design can be translated onto screen and provide opportunity to immerse the user in print media by integrating the physical actions and tools used to create print media.
Icons
- Geometric - Keep it simple
- Lines - Off cuts and scrap paper from test prints, etc can communicate and immerse the user in print media creating an emotional and reminiscent response to their practice.
- Arrows - Points to key information + navigation
Integrating the physical actions:
- Ink Jet printer - Loading screen or presenting a project
- Rolling ink - Changing from one page to another or as a screen saver and the user must wipe off the ink to view the information below.
- Printing press - Print the information onto the screen
Creates an emotional response, especially to those who practice with print media.
Decision
The range of feedback I received during 1-1 crits, group crits and anonymous crits has given me a wider perspective of the brief so I can make an informed decision. Concept 1 would be the most appropriate solution to the problem because it allows me to organise the content into categories, thus making exploring the diverse print disciplines and techniques and processes efficient and objective. I also aim to take elements of Concept 2 because the site needs to be engaging and immersive in order to improve the user experience. Integrating physical actions of print, along with the natural and digital marks created during print processes will immerse the user in the world of print. These interactive features aim to create an emotional response to those familiar with the subtle marks and icons usually associated with print media.
Decision
The range of feedback I received during 1-1 crits, group crits and anonymous crits has given me a wider perspective of the brief so I can make an informed decision. Concept 1 would be the most appropriate solution to the problem because it allows me to organise the content into categories, thus making exploring the diverse print disciplines and techniques and processes efficient and objective. I also aim to take elements of Concept 2 because the site needs to be engaging and immersive in order to improve the user experience. Integrating physical actions of print, along with the natural and digital marks created during print processes will immerse the user in the world of print. These interactive features aim to create an emotional response to those familiar with the subtle marks and icons usually associated with print media.
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