Unit 2 Visual Activity
Chip Flemmer Student

I chose to do Activity 1

Use typography (black and white only) to express the words:

  • Collaboration
  • Alienation
  • Synergy
  • Bossiness

Use typography (black and white only) to express the words:

  • Anger
  • Discord
  • Harmony
  • Joy

The Unit 2 visual activity is based on Chapters 3 and 9. My target audience is middle school students in a study skills class.

My visual activity expresses eight different words in a manner that is intended to reduce the cognitive load and increase the likeliness that the information and meaning of these words will end up in one's long-term memory bank. Chapter three helped this process through imagery and information chunking which helps assist the person viewing.

Chapter Nine played a key role because I used various fonts (Georgia, Verdana, Alba Super, Arial, Rockwell Extra Bold, Algerian, and Harrington) to help express the meaning. I also used various fonts size to help enhance an emotion or focus the emphasis.

This is my first version of my visual solution.

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Describe your usability test (show your "tester" your solution, observe their reaction, ask them what they like most about the image and least about the image - or - ask them what they think you should keep and what they think you should change) I sent an email to my tester asking her opinion about the pro's and con's of my attempt to use typography to help express the meanings of words. She replied with the following email...

I think you've got the project dead-on this time, unless the "black and white only" refers to the background as well.  I really like Alienation, Discord, and Bossiness.  They're loud and clear!  Anger doesn't read well, to me.  If I didn't know the word, I wouldn't be able to grasp the meaning from that symbol.  I don't know what specifically to suggest, but I'd work that that one.  The fonts on Joy and Harmony are good, but I think their meanings could be better expressed.  What if the letters in Harmony were closer together, or actually touching?  Finally, I'd play with Collaboration.  Each time I look at it, different letter combinations come forward like "Labor" and even "Abortion."  While I get the meaning you're going for, these little sub-words that pop out might detract from what you're trying to say.
Insert the second version of your visual solution here.........
Justification (describe why you did what you did and how you applied content from each chapter from Unit 2 to your solution) From all the reading on chunking, I felt it was crucial to apply that to my work. The information on page 51 in the textbook was highly valuable in going over the cognitive load theory. I wanted to make my visuals match the way that most people think and learn. I didn't want the viewer of my work to have to use an excessive amount of mental energy to figure out what I was trying to convey. I like the saying that less is more as well as keep it simple. I tried to apply these principles to my work in an attempt for the viewer to process, understand, and retain my message. Describe how you applied information from Chapter 3
 

On page 215 I found proximity to be something that I needed to incorporate into my own project to show relationships. This was true in particular with trying to convey the meaning of alienation by having one letter isolated from the rest.

Also on page 215, in expressing discord, I found contrast to be very effective in showing the differences that I was seeking to express.

 Describe how you applied information from Chapter 9
 

On page 291 I looked through the differences of Draw Software and Paint Software to see what might work best for me.

I also looked on page 301 at the examples of alienation, bossiness, synergy, and joy. I didn't receive any major inspiration for my work, but it was more for a reference to make sure I was on the right track.

 Describe how you applied information the Resources section
  I must admit that I learned that expressing words through typography isn't as easy as one might imagine. What I might view as a successful attempt to portray a word might end up being nothing more than confusion for another. I have learned the value of usability testing. It is crucial not to blindly submit work as being "ready for the public" without consulting with others and getting a second, third and maybe even fourth opinion. Describe what you learned from usability testing