February 10 — Propaganda poster critique
Week 4 · Tuesday
Key takeaways
- Poster critique: Designs were critiqued for poor hierarchy, excessive borders, and illegible text. Key advice: use the rule of thirds for clear focal points and align text left, not center.
- New assignment: Create a slide deck on a topic of your choice, due Thursday, to apply design principles to a multi-canvas project.
- Final project: Will be assigned Thursday, with spring break as a potential work period.
Topics covered
Propaganda poster critiques
Live critique of student work. Common issues identified:
- Poor hierarchy — when everything is the same size, the viewer’s eye has nowhere to go
- Excessive borders — borders trap the design and waste space
- Illegible text — contrast matters for readability, not just aesthetics
- Center alignment — left-aligned text is easier to read; center alignment should be intentional, not default
Key design advice
- Rule of thirds: place focal points at the intersection of grid lines
- Alignment: left-align body text; center alignment is for headlines and short phrases
- Scale: if something is important, make it big enough to be seen first
New assignment: “Slide deck that doesn’t suck”
Apply design principles to a multi-canvas project. 5-7 slides, minimal text, consistent visual style.
Due today
- Alien propaganda poster (50 pts) — due before class at 10:00 AM