Visual Signs for Home Appliances. (Audi Design Foundation Brief)
This years YCN Briefs included one from the Audi Design Foundation, with the emphasis on Communicate a message universally, without using words. I took the brief as a challenge to do an entirely graphic/illustrative piece, something that I do not do often as I believe that I can not illustrate good.
Initial ideas were making instructions for old people on how to use the computer, t-shirt designs for everyday, traffic lights that the colour would go through a gradient so you know more accurately when to start driving… Until I came to a simple, everyday one, why not make visual signs showing us how to use home appliances (toaster, kettle, oven…)
That was it, the decision was made and on to work. Initial sketches, reading the brief again (any adult anywhere (other than people with severe visual impairments) should be able to understand the message), group peer and tutorial discussions showed a good feedback, as well some good points I needed to alter so the message was clearer.
And well as I wanted to actually take the signs into the “environment” that is the kitchen, I just took our shared toaster and made the project on it. So this is the final outcome.
Do you think it gets the message across on how to use a toaster to make a toast?
(Try thinking you have never made a toast or seen a toaster before.)
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A bit more info on what to focus. Maybe a glow/highlight around electric socket. Similiar in other. Also the bread in last img could be a bit more browned.
Hm maybe, but it is hard to determine when to stop adding elements as not to make the thing too complicated. And also I wanted to just have maximum of 5 images to make the meaning as simple and forward as possible.
For the browned toast, it is darker, but would have to adjust the colours for print also
Teach me how to use a fork and a knife…
Maybe
Otherwise I got recommended that I should get the book – Open Here: The Art of Instructional Design.
It is supposed to be the best thing on pictograms and illustration for instructions, so if you are interested in this kind of communication try and get it.
Ideally a book would have no order to it, and the reader would have to discover his own.
You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.
Michael…
This is great…
[...] visual sign for making toast. This years YCN Briefs included one from the Audi Design Foundation, with the emphasis on Communicate a message universally, without using words. I took the brief as a challenge to do an entirely graphic/illustrative piece, something that I do not do often as I believe that I can not illustrate good. Whole idea and development: yukaii.com » Blog Archive » Visual Signs for Home Appliances. (Audi Design Foundation Brief) The illustration: And application on the toaster: So any comments, ideas, critics on how to develop it further. I believe getting a bit more accurate print, making the steam more red or white would help it. Just think there is possibly some space to improve it still. So? [...]