Form and Function

Form follows function is a principle that states that the shape (form) that something takes should be chosen based on its intended purpose and function.

Often applied to architecture, engineering, and industrial design, the statement form follows function applies to graphic design and desktop publishing too. For designers, form is the elements that make up our designs, our pages. Function is the objective of the design whether it is a sign giving directions or a book that entertains with a story. In print design, form is both the overall look and feel of the page as well as the shape and look of the individual components - the typefaces, the graphic elements, the texture of the paper.Form is also the format whether the piece is a poster, a tri-fold brochure, a saddle-stitched booklet, or a self-mailer newsletter. For designers, function is the practical, getting down to business part of the process of design and desktop publishing. Function is the purpose of the piece whether it is to sell, to inform or educate, to impress, or to entertain. It includes the copywriting message, the audience, and the cost of getting the project printed. Function needs form in order to accomplish its goal. Form without function is just a pretty piece of paper.

Function is deciding that a poster plastered around town would be the best way to inform the general public about a band's upcoming club performance. Function is specifiying how much the band can spend on that poster. Form is choosing the size, colors, fonts, and images based on the function and arranging the text and graphics so that the poster attracts attention and looks good.

To practice the rule of form follows function, start the design process by first getting as much information as possible about the purpose of the piece you are creating. Ask questions about how the piece is to be used, such as: Who is the target audience and what are their expectations? Is the piece supposed to sell a tangible product or an idea? Is it to develop goodwill, create branding, or public awareness about a company, an event, an issue? What is the budget for this project? What quantity of this piece is needed? How will this project be distributed - by mail, door-to-door, in person, as part of a magazine, newsletter, newspaper, or book? What action is the recipient likely to take with the piece - throw it away, stick on the wall, file for reference, pass it around, fax it around, put it on a shelf? What elements are required by the client - specific colors, specific fonts, specific images, a certain printer?

Once you know the function of the piece and the practical parameters and limitations for putting the job together, you get to put it into a form that supports the function using your knowledge of the principles of design, the rules of desktop publishing and graphic design, and your creative vision.

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Graphic Design vs. DTP

Graphic design and desktop publishing share so many similarities that people often use the terms interchangeably.

There's not really anything terribly wrong with that but it is helpful to know and understand how they differ and how some people use and confuse the terms.Answer: The short answer: graphic design jobs involve the creative process of coming up with the concepts and ideas and arrangements for visually communicating a specific message desktop publishing is the mechanical process that the designer and the non-designer use to turn their ideas for newsletters, brochures, ads, posters, greeting cards, and other projects into digital files for desktop or commercial printing

While desktop publishing does require a certain amount of creativity, it is more production-oriented than design-oriented.

Graphic designers use desktop publishing software and techniques to create the print materials they envision. The computer and desktop publishing software also aids in the creative process by allowing the designer to easily try out various page layouts, fonts, colors, and other elements.

Non-designers also use desktop publishing software and techniques to create print projects for business or pleasure. The amount of creative design that goes into these projects varies greatly. The computer and desktop publishing software, along with professionally-designed templates, allow consumers to construct and print the same type of projects as graphic designers although the overall product may not be as well-thought out, carefully crafted, or polished as the work of a professional designer. Graphic design is the process and art of combining text and graphics and communicating an effective message in the design of logos, graphics, brochures, newsletters, posters, signs, and any other type of visual communication.

Desktop publishing is the process of using the computer and specific types of software to combine text and graphics to produce documents such as newsletters, brochures, books, etc.

Graphic design and desktop publishing are often used interchangeably but, in part because it is an activity also used by non-designers, desktop publishing is often considered a lesser activity than graphic design. In truth, the two are separate but intertwined disciplines.

Not everyone who does desktop publishing does graphic design, but most graphic designers are involved in desktop publishing - the production side of design. The term desktop publisher can refer to a designer or a non-designer but it often carries negative connotations of an amateur.

Some graphic designers are quite vocal about their distaste for desktop publishing, which is somewhat amusing since much of what they do does involve desktop publishing. What they are really upset about is not desktop publishing itself - it's an invaluable part of the entire graphic design process - but rather the misuse (real or perceived) of desktop publishing software by non-designers.

All the FAQs: Career & Business | Software | Design & Layout | Graphics | Type & Fonts | Prepress & Printing

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Doing Pro Bono Right

The two main rules:

1. Do it for the right reasons.

In comments to a recent blog on Working for Free, Sheryl and Kelly describe some of the right reasons to do pro bono work. Giving back (to your community, to a cause that's dear to your heart, to your church, etc.) is at the heart of most pro bono design work. Other reasons for doing volunteer work are important as well but will differ from one person to the next. You can gain valuable experience, build your portfolio, and perhaps expand your horizons beyond the type of work you normally do. ?You might get work somewhere down the road that is directly attributable to your pro bono work, but don't do it just for that reason. Down the road could be a dead end.

2. Use a contract.

Working pro bono only means you're not getting monetary compensation for your work. It doesn't mean you aren't providing a valuable service or product for your client. Protect yourself and the client by using a contract. Spell out exactly what you are offering pro bono and what you aren't. Typically, you supply the design work but the client pays for the printing. Or, arrangements are made to secure pro bono or discounted printing services. Either way, spell it out in the contract so you aren't left with a bill you weren't anticipating. If you are expecting some sort of tangible non-monetary compensation (such as credit line/link on their Web site or a free ad in the company's newsletter) put it in your contract. Just as with paying clients, if you require a certain number of printed samples for portfolio use, include that requirement in the contract. Even though they aren't paying for your design services, non-profits, charities, churches, and family can all potentially be picky, even demanding, clients. ?Or not. Be prepared either way to deal with demands on your time that you might not have intended when you volunteered.

6 Tips for Doing Pro Bono Web Design - Good advice here although I don't necessarily agree with #6. Sure, sending a statement showing what the client would have paid is fine, but I'd make it clear that it's not an invoice right up front, no "make them sweat" games.Drawing Up a Contract for Pro Bono Design Work - Mulitple designers who do a lot of pro bono work chime in here with advice on using a contract, what to put into a contract, and dealing with nice and not-so-nice clients.Business of Design Online: Working Pro-bono - Scroll down for a list of good article and advice on why to work pro bono and how to find pro bono jobs, drawing up contracts, and even a sample pro bono contract. Pro Bono Work Questions - The main thrust of this Graphic Design Forum discussion is giving up rights to your work and what you can reasonably ask in return (a credit line every time a logo you designed is used, probably not reasonable).Improve Your Portfolio With Pro Bono Design - David Airey tells us that "Pro bono publico (usually shortened to pro bono) is a phrase derived from Latin meaning 'for the public good.'" It can be good for your portfolio too. He explains how to approach a business about doing pro bono work.

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Drawing Vector Images

Digital photographs are bitmap images made up of thousands and thousands of pixels while vector graphics, even if based on a photo, are drawn with lots of lines (& math) in an illustration program such as CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator. Often, you can tell the difference by sight because vectors tend to be slightly artificial, just a touch too perfect to be pixels.

But sometimes it's hard to tell. Take a look at these people pictures drawn in CorelDRAW posted at Designbeep. On a few of them, at first glance you might mistake it for a photograph.That's some serious vector work.

The Language of Curves - from About.com Graphics Software, you'll find explanations for paths, nodes, handles, splines, and Bezier curves including detailed illustrations which can be really helpful if you've never worked with vector paths and curves.The Anatomy of a Vector Illustration - at Mike's Sketchpad a vector illustration of a bird is dissected to show the objects, curves, and points. The article includes tables comparing certain vector elements from CorelDRAW, ?Illustrator, FreeHand, and Canvas.Vector Drawing Tutorials - learn how to use CorelDRAW, Illustrator, and other vector drawing programs.

In addition to being the right tool for vector drawing and logo design, illustration programs can often double as page layout programs for projects that don't involve tons of text and lots of pages (that is, not for books and newsletters usually). You can design your ads, business cards, posters, and simple brochures in an illustration program.

If you don't have the time, patience, or skill to draw your own you can get some free vectors to use in your projects. Here's a random sampling of the many vector art sites out there to get you started.

Vectorious.net sells vector art but they also have freebie vectors in their Vector art blog where you'll also find tutorials, tips, and collections of inspiring vector illustrations.FreeVectors.net showcases free downloads of vector art from a variety of authors for personal use and some are also licensed for commercial use or have creative commons licensing.Vecteezy has free vector illustrations, icons, and patterns from many authors. Some will be personal use only but others have more liberal licensing.

What software do you use for vector artwork? Do you use illustration software for page layout projects too? Share with us in the comments.

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Stick Figures

Awhile back in the forum Imjumper wrote, "I am looking for some software that has a wide variety of stick figure people~I have Art Explosion 600k and it has some but I am looking for something with a large selection. Know of anything?" Tell us in the comments. Browse these stick figure images I've found or learn how to draw your own in the tutorials.

Drawings of Stick Figures

If you're looking for images related to stick figures, here's what I've found (for free and for purchase). Includes collections, individual images, and dingbat fonts. Not all are strictly stick figures but they come close.

ScreenBeans Clip Art from A Bit Better are a cross between stick figures and cartoon silhouettes and available in Windows and Mac packages and a lot of different themes.FreeVectors.net turns up a lot of people silhouettes. Not exactly stick figures but might work for you.deviantART has all kinds of images of stick figures, including animations. You'll need to check the terms of usage on each one.Flickr turns up a lot of pictures of signs and some drawings when you search for 'stick figure.'Fontspace has some stick figure dingbat fonts. MyFonts sells P22 Frau Jenson People.ClipArtOf has individual royalty-free Stick Figure Clip Art & Illustrations for varying prices.Hand Drawn Stick Figure War Brushes are for use in Photoshop (no commercial use though).

Sure, just about anyone can draw a stick figure (maybe) -- I drew the stick figure above. But here's how to draw good stick figures.

How to Draw Stick Figures shows you the basics and several styles of stick figures (not all stick figures are the same!).This How to Draw Stick Figures tutorial goes into details on proportion and balance.In Stick Figure Tutorial you have to at least know how to draw a line and a circle, goes through various body parts and poses. It concludes by telling us "You'll need about 10 years until you can finally draw stick figures realistically."

Updated March 2011

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Proofreading Marks

Three important rules of desktop publishing are: 1. Proofread, 2. Proofread, 3. Proofread. But once you've proofread the material how do you indicate the needed changes? You don't have to be a professional proofreader to benefit from the use of standard editors' marks and proofreading marks.

Proofreaders' proofreading marks are a combination of symbols and short notations used to mark up both draft documents and typeset pages. Markup may occur at two different stages: when copyediting material (editors' marks) before typesetting when proofreading typeset materials (proofreaders' marks).

The symbols are virtually identical but may be used slightly differently depending on the material.

Why to Use Proofreading Marks
Just because most of your work is done on the computer doesn't mean marking up a hard copy is obsolete. There are some types of errors that only become obvious when seen in print. Don't rely solely on what you see on-screen.

Proofreaders' proofreading marks provide consistency and help to avoid miscommunication. Whether sharing work with others or proofing your own work, proper use of proofreaders' marks saves time and frustration. "Whether you are communicating with your own reader or with the client, standard proof symbols offer a graphic system adapted to saying much in small spaces, with precise, determinable meanings and relatively little ambiguity in use. I suggest they are indispensable." Max Field"When you edit your own work, use them. If you just make chicken scratches all over your copy, then go back to it a day or two later, you'll find yourself saying 'what did I mean when I wrote that?' If you ever find yourself working with a copywriter, your copywriter will use them, and you had better understand what they intend for you to do to change the copy." Valerie Martin Stuart

How to Use Proofreaders' Proofreading Marks
There's no need to memorize every one of the dozens of symbols used in proofreading. You'll become familiar with the most frequently used symbols quickly enough. Keep a chart handy for everything else.(See the sidebar for several different charts of proofreaders' marks.) At the copyediting stage text is often double-spaced, leaving plenty of room for inserting editors' marks and notations within the text. At this stage most markup will indicate additions and deletions due to grammar, spelling, and style. In single-spaced or typeset material use carets, circles and other simple marks in the text to indicate a problem. Place proofreaders' marks and notations in the margin adjacent to each line of marked up text to indicate what to do. Markup at this stage indicates typesetting errors such as transposed characters, incorrect fonts, improper indentation or text spacing, widows and orphans, or missing design elements.

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Fifties Color Palettes - Atomic Age 1950s Color Combinations

Atomic Age Color Combinations
Color Palettes with CMYK Formulas

These Atomic Age era color palettes are quite bright compared to earlier browns, grays, and more subdued combinations. Not as vivid and eye-popping as what was to come in the Sixties, this era still had its share of bright pinks, seafoam green, and chartreuse. Reds leaned toward orange or pink while blues were closer to cyan.

C100Y100K50 | K40 | C10M25Y80 | C40K100 | White
A dark green pairs with the neutrals of gray, black, and white and a lovely harvest gold.

C80M100Y100K15 | M60Y80K10 | M35Y100 | M15Y35K25 | C40K100
A warm, earthy color palette with golden yellow and a touch of taupe.

M100Y100 | M20Y100 | C40K100 | White
Vivid red, bright yellow, and black.

Two shades of blue-green, a red, a brown, plus a dash of black and white.

C12M95Y60 | C75M6Y20 | C4M5Y2 | C40K100
The palest pink stands in for white in this palette with a definite 50s flavor as seen in the pinkish red and bright light blue.

M40Y10 | C50Y10 | C40K100
Another red/blue/black look uses light red (pink) and light blue as highlights and accents with lots of black.

M75Y100 | C22M30Y55K5 | C15M70Y75K20 | White | C40K100
A warmer color palette of browns and orange with black and white.

C10Y100K15 | C50Y100K20 | C10M100Y80 | C40K100 | White
This isn't a Christmas red and green - there's decidedly yellow tinge to those greens.

Color Meanings and Mixing Colors
Discover the cultural meanings for these colors and more ways to mix and match colors.

More Color Palettes
Explore more color palettes to evoke a certain mood or make a color statement.

Use Swatch Books
Use PANTONE Color Guides to get just the right shades for your color palettes and to find CMYK-PMS color equivalents.

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