Everyone say 'I'

Last week in IPD we discussed the amazingly advanced technology of the Ipad and the Amazon Kindle. It is amazing to think how far we have come since only 50 years ago.

I was originally going to write about all these advancements and all the tricks they can do, however, I think I will just show you, because thanks to technology (hyperlinks) I can do that.

So enjoy, but before you go I just want you to consider this, and I may just be the only Gen Y saying this;

Yes these advancements are incredible, but whatever happened to the intimacy of hand written letters, the personal phone call, does it all have to be through a 2D multi-coloured advanced screen?

Technology is a beautiful thing, it transforms lives, changes rapidly, it is ever evolving, which makes us Gen Y adapt to change and pick up new tricks daily. Though I do not wish to have lived in the 1920's, I do wish people were not so swayed towards technology and still used both forms. Does it not feel as though future generations will lack certain skills and knowledge?

From the Ipod to Iphone, from the Ipad to Ivoting. Are we making everyone say I?

Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q1RithxrzY,

 



 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myqkadSYT2Q

We can do it!

The South Australian Country Women’s Association is a non-profit, non party political and non sectarian organisation aimed to help women and children in need. It is made up of volunteers to assist with programmes that are aimed to help these Women and children with education and training, personal skills and self esteem. Other activities include: art and craft, music, drama and floriculture.

Last Thursday in IPD we were given the task of designing the new pamphlet for this organisation. The aim was to market it at a younger audience, particularly young adult females.

I wanted my pamphlet to not only have a feminine feel but to also have an inspiring, strong character appeal. I wanted young Women to not only feel like they can become a part of this association for a good deed, but to also feel that they are intelligent and strong and that they have the potential to do so.

The image I used on the front cover was how I gave the pamphlet the ‘feminine but inspiring’ appeal. The overall pose of the Woman with the headline ‘We can do it’ gives inspiration and strength. While it would seem the Woman has taken on a masculine role, her head scarf and facial features still express her femininity, as does the logo on the cover which I decided to leave pink. This decision was also to have the logo stand out from the picture, easily noticed by the reader.

The image of the Woman was originally in colour; however I felt a black and white scheme worked better as the image was originally too many bright colours that clashed with the overall theme of the pamphlet.

I used a soft pink as the main colour for the pamphlet, as it represents femininity but it is not as confronting as hot pink. I then used white and different shades of gray to balance out the pink, as too many bright colours can be overwhelming. I also did not crowd the pages too much, for the importance of white space.

I chose to lay out the text in paragraphs as my original choice of dot points were limiting and messy, and found it difficult to get the information across that I wanted to.

I then used the image of the children cooking, as not only a representation of activities that people can volunteer to help with, but also because younger women can be easily swayed by helping children, as opposed to just helping other Women. The photo makes the organisation look fun and easy, while the children look adorable.

Then, using the organisations slogan on the back cover ‘Sharing and caring with action’, which also reinforces the feminine but strong appeal; I kept the back simple with a grayscale colour to match the front cover, used the organisations logo again and website address, as I feel this may help target the younger audience also, as opposed to calling or dropping by.

'Brrriiinnggging' back the LBD

Always interested in the unusual articles, I scanned the technology section of the AdelaideNow site to find the famous ‘Little Black Dress’ has had a makeover. CuteCircuit, a London based fashion company has created a dress with an extra feature; it can make and receive phone calls!

This handy little number works by slipping your SIM card underneath the garment label and special gesture recognition software allows you to pick up a call by raising a hand to your ear. Dropping your hand will then end the call; And yes, the dress will actually ring. You can even change your ringtone.

Described by Mashable (technology website) as "a dark, richly textured, form-fitting silk jersey" the dress will only be able to handle a couple of pre-programmed numbers, making the calls from your dress limited, no doubt it will be updated within two years programmed to hold more anyway.

known as the M-Dress, this little number won’t be available until 2011, and despite CuteCircuit not revealing the price, Mashable reports their non-cellular dresses cost about $200. An outfit and phone for $200? The ladies will be pleased.

Though before rushing in and buying, I would stop and consider the health effects. When the top neurosurgeon in Adelaide won’t even use a mobile phone, questions arise as to what this dress could do to your body while wearing it. Will it be fashion to die for?

All considered, this still blew me away. I mean technology is rapidly growing, but does this not sound as though it belongs in James Bond?! A female Bond, now this could get interesting. Get prepared ladies, this may be the new fashion statement!

http://www.cutecircuit.com/products/mdress/

Say what you mean, and mean what you say

“The art of conversation is the art of hearing as well as being heard”

- William Hazlitt

In week 5 we gave our presentations for our class 'Issues in publication and design'. While they were all on a different topic they all had to abide by the rules of Reep- Diana Reep that is. The main rules of Reep are: Balance, proportion, sequence and consistency. When abided by correctly, they ensure the most effective piece of documentation, as the design of a simple sheet of paper will determine how many people pick it up and actually read it.

 

The topic I was given was 'The ethics of everyday language'. Using work from William Zinsser and Dr Neil James I emphasised the importance of everyday language in everyday life. I used the example of an American journalist- Toni Sieple who, in 1973 visited her gynaecologist complaining about abdominal pain. After examining her he said, "We can fix that, it's an easy repair" and booked her in for surgery. When admitted into hospital Sieple was asked to sign a consent form, she recalls looking at this form and not being able to understand it; confused, nervous and intimidated by the large amount of text she recalled her Doctors words "easy repair" and so, she signed. It was not until after her surgery that Sieple was informed the Surgeon had performed a hysterectomy, needless to say Sieple was distraught.

Luckily for her she was already a Mother of three but she was still concerned her Doctor had not told her. So, the issue here was, the Doctor did not say what he meant, which is one of Dr Neil James' rules for communication; and the consent form may as well have been in a foreign language.

 

Using examples of consent forms I expressed how important conversational language is in areas such as the medical profession, where they deal with the young, elderly, educated and mentally challenged people. In professions that require education, regardless of dealing with everyday people in everyday situations, they tend to give monologues as opposed to coversations. It is because of this that people like Toni Sieple walk out of an 'easy repair' with valuables missing.