OUGD503 - Studio Brief 02 - Evaluation

In evaluating the effectiveness of the final book designs, a number of strengths and weaknesses were discussed. This was done through peer reviews throughout the development and final stages of design production, as well as through on-going discussions with my collaborative partner. One strong point of the final design was considered to be how the characters fit into the backgrounds. The use of texture on both meant that the designs were consistent in aesthetics which brought each scene together nicely, despite characters and backgrounds being designed separately.

However, this consistency could also potentially be seen as a limitation of the final design, since the use of texture on both the characters and backgrounds could have meant that the characters got lost amongst background details. However, this was overcome through the clever use of drop shadows on the characters which makes them stand out amongst the backgrounds.

Another strong point of the design is the use of type. It was suggested that the use of Caslon, a more traditional serif typeface, works well in ensuring information is communicated effectively since this was specifically developed for extended passages of text. It also means the story is able to be read clearly by younger readers who may still be developing their skills.

In continuing to evaluate the use of type, it was suggested that the way in which each page is typeset works well to produce a link between text and image with each enhancing the communication of the other and providing interactions between them, which would help young readers engage better with the story.

However, although this worked effectively to provide a clear indication as to how the illustrations form a narrative, which the brief states as an important aspect, it was also considered that this could decrease the legibility of the text since some has been sloped and set into curved lines which would involve readers to tilt their head in the reading process. The placement of a title on the cover page was also thought to be harder to read since the black text blended slighting into the light grey background and almost looked a bit out of place on the page.

Despite some of these criticisms, the final produced book goes above and beyond the requirement and communicates a strong response to the brief in a very professional manner, representative of an actual published children's book.