Week 1 — Semiotics: changing connotations

Due (all posted to the blog):

• document: city safari, documented to your blog
• find & label: graphic artifacts
• read/post your responses to your blog
• definitions

Studio:

02 exercise — Found artifacts

Annotate your existing samples of graphic design that best exemplify the signs listed below. 

• pragmatics
• sign
• signifier
• signfied
• icon
• index
• symbol
• syntagms
• paradigms
• denotation/connotation

Choose two of your graphic finds. Layout designs (in Indesign), labeling and defining the various terms of semiotics.

(tessa canon)

(jody brewer)

(kaylie beckley)

03 Exercise— Code meaning: changing connotation

Simple changes in a form can alter the meaning (connotation) of an object. Chose one artifact and visually alter your chosen design (crop, isolate, reframe if needed) to create at least 6 different connotations. 

Connotation suggestions:

fresh, handmade, naive, drab, official, simple, friendly, retro, loved, high tech, mystical, independent, young, healthy, ironic, natural, calm, luxurious, artistic, adorable, clean, old-fashioned, casual, rigid, mass produced, scary, confusing, whimsical, optional: come up with a few of your own.

Identify the denotations and the connotations for each alteration (there most likely will be multiples.) Print each to a separate 8.5 x 11.

Homework:

• document: graphic artifacts documented to your blog with connotation and denotation identified and described for each image
• change: connotation on one graphic artifact, six different ways. Label and post images to your blog
• read/post your responses to your blog (see sidebar)
• visible signs by crow, pages 52-57, 70-75
• type & image by meggs, pages 14-15, 58-59

Tessa Canon:

original

DENOTATION - connotation
SIMPLE - dangerous, bold, graphic, tribal, symbolic

HANDMADE - organic, unravelling, fragile, old, loved

SCARY - violent, dangerous, sarcastic, mean, blood

OFFICIAL - patriotic, important, sharp, intelligent, strict

HIP - trendy, cultural, dreamy, flag, foreign

Bri Dallas:

retro

ornate

juvenile

whimsical

futuristic

Week 1 — Introduction to semiotics

Note: Your process blog will be 50% of your grade. This semester it will be imperative that you keep up with your blog and homework assignments each day, as they will build upon each other. Post each image as a jpg. Provide articulate descriptions to all of your imagery, reflecting your understanding of the materials presented. Keep up with your readings and reflections.

Maintain this daily, as I will be checking each class. As you go through the semester, you will be referring to the work you are doing now, and it will be a drag to have to recreate everything. 

Due (all posted to the blog):

• print: 10-12 city safari images
• bring: proof of car insurance 

Studio:

• semiotics lecture, parts 1 & 2
• identify and label city safari images
• research design artifacts

01 exercise— City safari

Test your newly learned knowledge about icons, indexes, symbols, paradigms, syntagms, and signified/signifiers.

In class, pin up your 10-12 photos of a “typical” city block, applying semiotics to the various signage. Using post-it notes, label the following:

• sign
• signifier
• signfied
• icon
• index
• symbol

Be sure to photograph your wall imagery with details and post to your blog.

(anna de sando)

02 exercise— Found graphic design artifacts

Seek out 6 graphic design examples/imagery/artifacts, online or via photography or both. Choose a subject matter that interests you from the artifacts list below.

This is meant to be a list of the range of work currently addressed by design practitioners to help you when you look for existing "found" samples of communication theory. Select areas that exemplify what you strive for in your own design work or that you want to learn more about. 

Find examples to scan from design publications. Look at books, magazines, etc. anywhere other than online. Shoot real-world examples with your camera. Screen resolution screen grabs accepted for screen-based environments (marked with *).

categories

• logo (the stand-alone mark)
• book covers
• promotional posters (e.g. gig posters)
• packaging design
• guerilla advertising campaign (localized, unconventional, low-cost) 
• online advertising campaign* (e.g. micro-sites, banners, take-over ads, etc.)
• way-finding signage (planned signs to help people navigate the built environment)
• retail or food service environment (all printed material from wall graphics to menu)
• motion graphics* (e.g. movie titles, must include type, captured as storyboard)
• publication design (feature spreads, subsequent pages)
• museum exhibit
• websites*
• mobile app* (must include social networking features)
• infographics (diagrams, maps, graphs, charts, timelines, interactive*)

Bring in hard artifacts as well as your tools: analog methods (e.g. stickies, pencil, highlighter, etc). Note: labeling should be thorough, insightful and clear.

Before the next class, print out images onto 8.5 x 11s, and pin to the wall. After you have pinned everything up, be sure to photograph your wall imagery with details and post to your blog. Please have everything posted and on the wall before class starts.