User Testing: Final Product

Although this was a brief user testing experience, I thought it was important to revisit with a previous user and get their feedback on the refinements made toward the project. I was only able to revisit with one of the thirteen, but tis better than nothing.

Here is the result of the testing. I must say that I am quite satisfied.

Project Statement: Renewable Solar

Project Statement:

The two annotations accompanying this poster deepen one’s understanding of solar energy in many ways. Piece #1 is a Renewable Solar Jar, which contains a single message for a mass audience. By having this prototype of solar energy displayed next to the poster, the audience will see the beauty and genius of solar energy, evoking them to either consider or convert. Piece #2 acts as a call to action, while also providing yet another example of renewable solar.

Elements of logos and pathos are clearly demonstrated in both pieces. In piece #1, the message in a bottle appeals to the audience as a logical and informative experience, pushing them in the direction of renewable solar. As individuals manipulate the display piece, they connect with the central idea in a way that is personal and thus elements of pathos are present. Aside from this, having a single message that must be left or recycled for the next viewer encourages people to participate in a renewable experience. Piece #2 acts a logical demonstration of solar energy, thus appealing to the reasoning of a mass audience, while also appealing to the audience’s emotion through a call to action.

These annotations do generate empathy in the viewer as shown in the user testing. Although these objects were targeted toward residential homeowners, who have a good understanding of solar energy; all audiences seemed to be moved. 

To finish, both pieces work remarkably together. They serve their purpose of moving audience members to convert to renewable solar in both the museum setting, as well as a public place.

Final Products: Renewable Solar

Piece #1: Renewable Solar Jar

 

This piece would be located right next to the poster. Audiences will be able to interact with the solar jar and the message within, in order to become more informed of renewable solar. The goal and hope is that audience members will be moved to implement solar energy into their residential homes.
Piece #2: Billboards

These billboards will be located across the countries, so that all can benefit from them. The idea is that the billboard runs on solar energy, allowing it to light up at night and propose a call to action to audiences.

Journal Entry: Thinking Form

Roman Cieslewicz is a famous designer from Poland. He is more prominently known for his work with Vogue and Elle, but Cieslewicz  has also taught at l'Ecole National Superieure des Arts Graphisques.  He is also well known for several posters; in fact, he's designed over 380 posters over the course of his career. I admire the abstract forms that are constantly occurring in Cieslewicz work. Many of these forms seem to be completely out there, but in the end they all blend really well together.

Bruno Monguzzi is a famous designer from Switzerland. He attended school at Ecole des Arts Decoratifs where he received a scholarship to study typography, and photography in London. Mongguzi was the designer for Museo Cantonale d’Arte, Lugano. I found these two posters very appealing because of the contrasting colors. The contrast truly makes these letters take on a three dimensional form, making them pop off the page.

Calabersi Swiss is a designer  known for his work in advertising. Later in his life, he began working at the Studio Bogari in Milan.  These two images produce an extremely interesting layering effect, creating a pleasant contrast. I love these images because although there is a contrast, the two images layered on top of one another have a very common theme. An anchor for a steering wheel, arrows outward for arrows inward. 

Wim Crouwel attended the Academy of Arts and Crafts Grningen.  He began his career as a freelance designer, but later went into a partnership with Kho Liang Je. He later became a full-time professor at Deift University. These two images are beautiful. They remind me of an old fashion postcard or perhaps a vintage traveling poster that one would hang on a wall. The typography on these posters is very beautiful and abstract but one can see that he most likely employed a grid. The type seems to reflect the architecture in the background which comes as a pleasant surprise.

1. Will Burtin conducted his freelance work through his design studio he opened up with Hilda in New York City. During this time, Burtin also started working at the Parsons School of Design, leading AIGA to name him a director within the Institute. I was drawn to these photos due to their abstract forms but also the cool colors that he employed throughout each spread. These spreads act as if they were a puzzle because everything seems so carefully arranged. 
   
   
   
   Bradbury Thompson graduated from Washburn University, and then began working at Capper Publication. He was later promoted as an Art Director with Rogers-Lellog-Stillson where he would experiment with CMYK color process. I love these two posters above due to the typography, illustration, and more importantly the coloring. The overlaying of colors was very unique to the time period and I believe Thompson truly revolutionized CMYK coloring.

User Testing

This past weekend I administered a test for the original prototypes paired with a piece #2. First I created a mini survey for users to fill out after they were shown the many experiences accompanying this poster.

Here is the survey unfilled:

I placed each experience in a different folder. The first folder shown to the users contains the assigned social poster. After they have a few minutes to view this poster, I then begin introducing the required accompanying connotations with a paired piece #2. They were shown in the following order and were referred to as Display #1, Display #2, and Display #3.

Display #1

Display #2

Display #3Here are pictures of users taking the survey in an eco-friendly environment. This setting in my opinion is very appropriate due to my topic of solar energy. These pictures show 3/12 users.

Here is documentation of the surveys. I was able to obtain twelve user experiences, and happily they came in a variety of ages and genders.

The general consensus of this survey was that Display #1 performed the best as being informative and engaging the viewers the most, although many loved the visual appearance of display #3.Danke.

Refined Piece #2

I have decided to revise the second component of the project. After class on the 23rd, I felt that my initial revised pieces could be pushed a little further visually and conceptually.

Piece #2:

Most Recent:

Revised:

The revised sketches of the billboard represent what it would look like during the day, but more importantly at night. The billboard would have a unique shape, not the typical rectangle. As shown in the revised formatting, there is a black outline that curves around the lightbulb, this part would be nonexistent to create an organic curve, which would further attract viewers driving or walking. Another appealing aspect about this billboard set it that it is run by solar energy. During the day it collects energy from the sun, then at night it lights up the typography and lightbulb.
Most Recent:

Revised (Ever so slightly): 

This piece remained the same, but I did go back to photoshop to further correct the photographs. This makes them appear more natural.
Most Recent:

Revised:

Initially this piece was to only contain water bottle stickers. I had created original icons for solar energy awareness and I thought they could be put to better use. Therefore, I decided to create multiple types of merchandise that could make the public more aware of solar energy. I begin by creating a logo for renewable solar. I drew inspiration from the social poster as well as my simplistic vector icons. I then began by refining the main icons/pattern so that all icons were readable. After the pattern refinements were completed, I applied it to pins, t-shirts, car stickers, bike stickers, and water bottle stickers.I decided to go further with this piece, because I believe people respond to campaigns that create merchandise to make the public more aware. I believe simplicity is best which is why I continued the vector forms, mimicking the poster.

Piece #2 Revised

Lightbulb Plant:

Billboard:

Stickers: