: Graphic Design

I recently finished reading a small, impact-full book called “Epic” by John Eldridge. Though the book is primarily a Christian theme, I realized as I was reading the prologue how the importance of a “story” has implications in design. A good quote to consider might be one spoken by Samwise Gamgee in J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings:

“I wonder what sort of tale we've landed in.”

One of the key ideas in Epic is that every situation is a small part of a larger story. The design implication here is that every solution should anticipate a story, and have a plan as to how each story should unfold. Using personas would be a good way to achieve this. This sort of consideration leads to designs that are meaningful and relevant. William Shakesphere's Macbeth has a good quote that could also be applied to design, and that is to avoid a design that is:

“...but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.”

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Every now and again, I have to remind myself of the difference between additive and subtractive colour, and which colour mode—RGB or CMYK—uses it. The way I remind myself is with a simple rule called "which way to white.” It works like this: Take a piece of paper that has been printed like an advertisement, presumably CMYK ink printed on a white sheet. How do you get the white colour? Take the ink away. CMYK = subtractive. RGB is therefore additive by deduction. So, CMYK = subtractive, RGB = additive, and "which way to white" helps you remember that.