Research into Graphic Design Trends and Colour Schemes

Through keeping up with the production schedule I have completed the tasks of; skills profile where I stated existing knowledge skills and skills I'd like to learn through this project, Mood board of the theme of my magazine and Typography, Market Research of a questionnaire to the target audience to gain information of what they like and dislike within a magazine and their hobbies and interests. I have also started creating my sketches of the front cover, double page spreadsheet and contents page with annotations and explanations. This is my mood board of my theme and Typography:

Mood board of colour scheme, images and fonts

Mood board of Typography styles for 2011

Through secondary research into magazines and deconstructions to see they styles, techniques and generic conventions used, I have also researched into trends into graphic designs for 2011 which include trends within; layouts of mobile devices, websites etc, colour schemes which are popular used by graphic designers for websites and magazines etc, typography trends and their meaning, imagery trends within graphic designs, which can help when generating initial ideas and developing on ideas to use popular trends to attract the audience furthermore.

Image trends within graphic design 2011 : Manipulation and Vintage

Photo Manipulation

Through research into trends for 2011 of graphic designs, I researched into trends for imagery and it is clear photo manipulation by using effects, filters, editing still remains highly popular because the talent to do it which not many people can achieve effectively such as editing the image so detailed that the image is as a surreal imaginative. I found through research photo manipulation is highly used for mobile advertisements to emphasise the quality of the technology within the phone.

Vintage

Gerdarntz Memory game

‘The game contains 250 from the more than 4,000 pictograms Gerd Arntz drew between 1928 and 1965, and were scanned from the original prints in the Arntz archive of the Municipal Museum The Hague’.

“As a politically engaged graphic artist and designer Gerd Arntz (1900-1988) portrayed the world in wood and linoleum cuts. During the 1920s, he conveyed his vision on social wrongs and the rise of Nazism in Germany in his prints. He did this in such a simple, direct style that anyone - regardless of their education and nationality - was able to understand his images.”




Colour Trends

I have researched into Popular trends of colour schemes for 2011 to find the best appealing colour schemes to use throughout my magazine. From research into trends of magazines I found popular colours used in magazines which is a trend for 2011 include Blue colours of; Peapod, Blue Curacao and Regatto, then through further research into colour palette trends I found the colours dark blue, light blue and green which is seen in this website, which stands out and is eye catching. Other colours which are within the colour trends for graphic designers in 2011 include, honeysuckle, coral rose, russet etc.

Layouts: Influenced by related media; website design  

Massive Images as backgrounds

With the internet speeds becoming faster, websites are pushing to the limits with animations, HD Videos and huge beautiful images. This websites use larger photographs to portray their message, the web content and functions lay over the top of the photograph which shows good contrast. The use of using huge images on a layout with accompanied font is the message is clear to the point, also it creates a very impressive visual impact towards the readers. Web designers play with different design variables which include being used by photographers such as; depth of field or focus. Within website design, there are other possible ways to portray the message clear and big, such as large videos or illustrations, typography. There are different large background styles which include;

·         High quality photographs as backgrounds

·         Graphics and illustrations as backgrounds

·         Animations as backgrounds

However, the use of photographs and illustrations are more commonly used as the bandwidth is becoming cheaper with the internet connection speeds increasing, websites can afford to use this more and more. This style of using large images for the background is what I’m going to use for my magazine front cover and double page spreadsheet, as it is striking and the subject of the magazine will be clear and stand out. I will also accompany images and font surrounding the main image such as the website layout of champney’s website.