Blog Entry #4

Wayfinding Branding

 These signs are all based outside of Mammoth, California and while you are driving towards Mammoth they appear periodically on every major highway around Mammoth Mountain. I believe it is successful, it speaks to their target market and is consistent in its design so that passers by can recognize that they are advertising and branding the same thing. They have similar design but the images are different along with the text. They all also feature a block of text, "Two Daily Flights From LAX," playing with the concept of flying and air travel.

Typography

I believe this piece of typography works or what it is. It is designed to be artsy and creative, not for every day functionality. It provides a deeper story into the meaning of the text when the author designed it. It gives a voice to the text, it doesn't just say it, it tells a story as well.

This typography is both stylish and functional. It takes into account it's target audience and plays with what they expect while still giving them something unexpected. They expect to see their coffee listings on a blackboard with types of coffee etc. It still looks hand-drawn and keeps with the traditional coffee shop style while giving it a clean sharp look to keep up with modern design styes. It also does a great job of creating contrast with its style.

This typography sticks with a very retro style and goes back to a very 50's-60's typeface. I believe that the current state of design, retro text styles are very in, and very up to date. The typefaces are also very consistent with one another and you can tell they belong together. They make a statement by being so different than recent styles and they have a great, easily readable style.

Types of Design

Visceral

The Shelby Cobra has visceral design. It looks so different, and has o many qualities that no other car on the road does it creates a want. When it comes to cars, it may not be the fastest, or the longest lasting vehicle but it will always be highly sought after. Its lines are unmistakable and those who get the opportunity to own one in the car community gives you a connection to a car that most of your colleagues wont have.

Behavioral

This updated washer and dryer are a great example of behavioral design. Washing machines have gone through many changes throughout the past 50 years. They used to be hand driven, difficult to use machines. They have now upgraded to touch screens, settings, and styles of wash all to make the wash more convenient and less time consuming. They have made many changes in order to make washing clothes less of a hassle.

Reflective 

Reflective design is when something is fashion over function. People buy things not because they work better or have greater functionality, but because they look better. Apple products are a great example. You can get almost an identical Windows or Microsoft product that has nearly identical features to an Apple product for a third of the price. However, many consumers still pay the extra money to buy the Apple product because it is sleek and looks better than some IBM products.