I delivered a guest lecture to a Public Health class at Brown University. The lecture was an introduction to graphic design as a way of making meaningful form from observations, and some examples and analysis of existing design campaigns that could be applicable to public health students interested in ways to make their messages come to life.
9. Human Centered Design
Involving a human being or members of the specific target
community involved in the production and testing of a
product as early as possible.
10. You can engineer a perfectly functioning machine, it’s
technically efficient and accomplishes all its goals—but
when a human in a certain situation goes to use it, may not
account for unique situations (because humans are
complex creatures).
11. What is Graphic Design?
The arrangement of text and/or image to convey
a message to many people at once.
12. A (Very) Brief History of Graphic Design:
Rooted in Technology
34. Generating a Concept:
What is a concept?
It’s a larger, meaningful theme that connects all of what
you try to make and all the visual output you generate. It
is a glue, guide and aspect that often connects with your
audience on an emotional level. It stems from the
“content” of your message.
39. CDC
If you’re living with HIV and not being safe,
you could be living with a lot more.
Protect Yourself. Protect Others.
Printed in the USA, August 2007.
Washington Post
55. preventable.ca website:
“we took over Vancouver’s much-
loved sculpture “A-maze-ing
Laughter” at English Bay. We dressed
the sculpture in oversized orange
lifejackets, along with a small sign
that reminds people to have a word
with themselves before thinking that
drowning only happens to others.
Our intention: to change your
attitude about safety on the water.”
58. Boostup.org was a campaign by Ad
Council and visualized by ad agency
Publicis Kaplan Thaler in 2010.
Mission was to help high schoolers in
tough neighborhoods graduate.
Integration of concept and visual
form: giving students a boost,
literally and figuratively, use of
environment and everyday flow
through space.
61. Board Games &
Video Games
“Zones has been designed as part of
Public Health England’s (PHE)
national youth health campaign. It
encourages young people to think
and talk about the health issues that
affect them growing up, and help
prepare them to make informed
decisions.”
http://campaigns.dh.gov.uk/2013/05/08/zones-board-game-now-available-
for-youth-groups-and-clubs/
63. Deconstructing
Visual Form
Contrast & Visual Hierarchy:
What is Most Important
Composition and Organization:
White Space, Arrangement, Grid
Emotion and Personality:
Color, Typography, & Shape
80. Resources
Graphic Design Process
Skolos + Wedell
Guide to Graphic Design
Scott Santoro
Graphic Design for Nondesigners
Tony Seddon, Jane Waterhouse, and
Rick Landers
designobserver.com
AIGA
Graphic Design Thinking
Ellen Lupton
A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design
Chip Kidd
imageofthestudio.com
