The four basic design principles which are the main guidelines in graphic design have been utilized for years with the only aim to help and guide the readers throughout the document. According to Reep (2006, p. 134) readers do not pay attention only to the text represented in the document but also to the visuals which play a supportive role in the composition. Many theorists like Reep, Putnis and Petelin, Schriver as well as Kress have argued in the last decade that design is very crucial for the audience in terms of perception; the way people perceive information or the message that is to be presented relies on design and layout.
This exegesis serves as a discussion of the creation and the design process of three artefacts, each including text, visual and audio mode. The abovementioned artefacts are based on specific topics chosen from the book ‘Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home’ written by Emily Post in 1922. Emily Post has expressed and described the etiquettes of life based on her knowledge and experience at that time of the century. The essay focuses on an original etiquette from Emily Post – Balls and Dances - as well as two already rewritten by previous students– Bar and Australian Manners. The artefacts listed and explained below have been designed and created in regards with the main theories in design and desktop publishing.
The first artefact that I produced is based on Emily Post’s ‘Balls and Dances’ Etiquette. It consists of a text mode that is an up-to-date version of Post’s etiquette and is titled ‘Party Etiquette’, a visual mode that is represented in the form of a cocktail napkin and an audio part that allows the audience to be indulged into the topic by listening to a party mix appropriate for the occasion. The text for the artefact has been written taking into consideration Zinsser (cited in Miles 1990, p. 290) and his idea of ‘stripping the sentence to its cleanest components’. By leaving only the most important information in my piece of work I have assured that the reader won’t feel confusion and even ignorance after reading through the text. Although the artefact is a multimodal text that incorporates three different types of modes – text, visuals and audio, it is designed in a way that the reader would not be distracted from the most essential information (Walsh 2006, p.24). When written simply and concisely the final product is considered to be easier to interpret and relate to. By following the theorists I have created the text for this artefact according to the principles so it fulfils its main task of sending the right information to the audience and keeping them on path with the storyline.
Defining my project’s purpose and target audience was the first step I did before even starting to create my artefacts (Parker 1990, p.2). In order to produce good and coherent design for the visual part of the first artefact titled ‘Party Etiquette’ I had to decide on the medium I was going to use and the audience which was to be exposed to my message (the text). By carefully considering those variables I made the decision to combine creativity with more practical approach. The visual mode of this artefact is in the form of cocktail napkins which will be the medium for my message. The text will be printed on the upper side of the napkins so it is visible and easy accessible for the readers. Incorporating some graphic elements on the sides of the text together with an image and appropriate for the topic typeface will help the target group to better understand the concept. As Parker (1990, p.7) notes clarity and simplicity are critical to every design, that’s why when preparing the artefact I tried to eliminate the clutter, highlight the main information and reduce the amount of visuals. The graphics are specifically positioned on the sides and do not overlap the text so that the reader is not distracted and can focus easily.
The thought of books being judged by their covers led me throughout the design process of the second artefact with the name Australian Manners which is based on the original etiquette from Emily Post’s book – Greetings. The text that was rewritten from a previous student represents an updated version of the etiquette specifically tailored for the Australian culture. The visual mode I chose for this artefact is in the form of a handbook. The main idea behind the creation is to give one the basics of the Australian Manners when it comes to greetings. Choosing the images and the cover for the handbook was inspired by ...
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