Text Complexity with Graphic Design!

Analyzing text complexity: Graphic Design

Within my research I wanted to find texts that would inspire, motivate, and help students dive into the world of Graphic Design. I wanted to target the range of high school students within this topic because this would be something I teach my older students. This would be a class they would take as an elective, and we could dive deep into the career of Graphic Design. The texts I am introducing you to today, tie along of motivating students and answering this big idea of: How can I find my voice as a graphic designer and make a successful career? Now this is a long post, so I suggest you sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonders of these texts and their complexity! Enjoy my fellow readers. XOXO 

Printed Text: (Book-based, Magazine, Online Articles)

**Meggs' history of graphic design / Philip B. Meggs, Alston W. Purvis.

Summary:

    "This is the unrivaled, comprehensive, and award-winning reference tool on graphic design recognized for publishing excellence by the Association of American Publishers. Now, this Fifth Edition of Meggs' History of Graphic Design offers even more detail and breadth of content than its heralded predecessors, revealing a saga of creative innovators, breakthrough technologies, and important developments responsible for paving the historic paths that define the graphic design experience. In addition to classic topics such as the invention of writing and alphabets, the origins of printing and typography, and postmodern design, this new Fifth Edition presents new information on current trends and technologies sweeping the graphic design landscape--such as the web, multimedia, interactive design, and private presses, thus adding new layers of depth to an already rich resource"--Provided by publisher.

**How Graphic Design is Evolving- Natalie Norcross 

Summary: 

    This article explains how the graphic design industry is constantly changing due to our rise in technology and how companies are trying to expand on that as well with their graphic design companies. This topic is constantly changing from how we do advertisements as well. This article also goes on to explain how if we want to expand a business in this field, we can do it at our own home. Adobe Creative Cloud is the main source to use for graphic designers including Photoshop, Illustrator, and even InDesign.

Quantitative:

            According to StoryToolz this article has an average reading level of 14.8 which means you would use this text at a college level. However, I feel with the right scaffolding you could teach this at a 10-12 grade level as well. I feel like the text is easy to read, and with the right scaffolding you can help students understand the context of this text. I would include a vocabulary list included with the text and what the vocabulary specifically means. This can help students understand the more complex graphic design vocabulary.

Vocabulary Includes:
·         Logos
·         Portfolio Design
·         Signage
·         Media impressions
·         Analytics
·         marketing

Qualitative:

    Analyzing the qualitative structure of this text I found it to be moderately complex to very complex. This is because some of the vocabulary used younger students might not understand such as analytics and marketing. If this was used at a younger level of course the explaining of these vocabulary items would be essential even at a high school level. I think this text is important for students to see the rise in companies and technology today. Also, having students realize that they can do this type of art on their own with the resources available to us such as the adobe creative cloud software. In today’s world, people are branching off into being independent graphic designers.

Task and reader complexity:

    This text would be used to help the purpose of motivating students to get into graphic design. This could also be used to help students with prior knowledge. I would use this in my classroom at a high school level to introduce the topic of graphic design and get students to think about this as a career for themselves. I want students to realize how free they can be with this field and if something really speaks to them, they can make a brand for themselves and find consumers to buy their design products! This article can be a branch to the bigger picture: finding yourself as an artist in the graphic design world and using your own voice for it. Overall, this article gives them the prior knowledge of what graphic design can be and continue to be as we grow in technology and art!

Multi-Media: (Video, Photo Essays, Interactive Visualizations)

**25 Iconic Graphic Designers of All Generation

Summary: 

This article is all about iconic graphic designers in history and their work. In the article each artist is portrayed with their work, their style of graphic design and links to pages about the artist themselves.

Quantitative: 

    According to StoryToolz this article has an average reading level of 12.2 which means you could use this at a senior high school level or even a freshman college course. I agree with this finding 100% a lot of the vocabulary in this article is more complex and at a higher level such as: 

Vocabulary: 

• evolution

• industry

• typography

• distinctive

• all-encompassing

• critic

With that being said, once again with the right scaffolding I help the students understand the meaning of these words, to help them understand the context of this article. 

Qualitative: 

    After analyzing the text structure, I would say this article is in the moderately complex category. A lot of the important information is bolded or highlighted to help understand the importance of a certain context. They also include imagery of the artist and their work to help with relation in the description of the artist’s art identity. 

Task and Reader complexity:

    This text would be used to help branch the big idea of students finding their art identity through the use of graphic design. Looking at some of these artists can help spark students to be motivated and in lack of better words, “set a fuel to their fire”. I can say this 1 million times, but I will keep repeating it. My goal as an educator is to be able to have students use their voice in their artwork. Tying that into the world of graphic designers and making students see other artists and how they used this medium, I want them to be excited and motivated to possibly think about their career with this field.

**Graphic design trends of 2022

Summary: 

Video on the trends within graphic design of 2022 such as: 

1. 3D Design (0:47) 

2. Non-Fungible Tokens (2:57)

3. Maximalism (4:05) 

4. Simplified Logos (5:42) 

5. Minimalist Retro (7:13) 

6. Abstract Surrealism (8:37) 

7. Dreamy Muted Gradients (10:03)

8. Embracing Simplicity (11:31) 

9. Colorful Minimalism (12:36)

Video link

Culturally Relevant: (Music Video, Popular Culture Reading..)

**Graphic Design and Culture by Gideon 

Summary: 
    This article is all about the connection with graphic design and cultures within our ethnicity. It goes on to explain how graphic design has expanded so much to the point where people can do so many possibilities with this medium. Whether it be working at a big company or becoming their own graphic designer. The article continues to explain the connection between graphic design and cultures from: Latin America, Japanese, Chinese, and the Middle East art themes. One important point in their conclusion is “Different cultures around the globe have different histories, customs and beliefs that are evident in their art. Graphic design and art in general makes us view the world at a different angle.”  (Gideon, 2019)

Quantitative:

    According to StoryToolz this article has an average reading level of 14.3 which means this text is more of a college level. However, I think this could be used in high school more at a junior to senior level. I Believe this because the vocabulary can be something students may be challenged on, but with the right scaffolding (like I stated in the previous research of texts) students can understand the complex vocabulary and connect it with the text. I also want to highlight on using this only in a junior to senior high school level because of how complex these vocabulary words can be. Not only does this kind of prep the students for college courses, but also dip their feet into more advanced art vocabulary.

Vocabulary included in this text would be:

•          freelance
•          furthermore
•          perspective
•          perception
•          inexplicable
•          autonomy

Qualitative:

    I would say after analyzing this text it is in the more very complex range. Mostly because this text does not include many images for more of a visual connection with the context of the article. This text does have some higher vocabulary and would need to have prior knowledge of what graphic design is and the vocabulary that goes along with this topic.

Task and Reader Complexity:

    This article can really help students understand how free you can be with this medium. Connecting their life experiences with graphic design can really help make an impact on this world. Making the connection from other culture’s to their own can really make a motivational impact on the students as well. Again, this ties into that big idea of students using their own voice through graphic design to make an impact on the world and themselves.

**What Kind of Graphic Designer are YOU?!

                                   

Summary explained from the author:

    “Many designers go about their career and their life without ever really asking a fundamental question; what kind of graphic designer am I? In this video we explore this question from various angles and determine why it's an important question to answer. You will be able to understand some things about yourself as a person and a designer after today’s video, that will ultimately lead to better work and a happier life as a whole.” (Graphics, 2021)

Video Link

In conclusion!! 

    Now that I have broken down some of the complexity of these texts and the subjects of them... can you see what I am trying to get across? I can't express enough how important it is for our students to explore their voice within this field and make a name for themselves. These texts not only can be motivational for these students, but it also visually shows students what they can do and how far they can go with this topic! So let me challenge you today to try and find your voice within this topic and expand your graphic design mind! Let's help get these high school students excited about their future! Maybe they find something that really motivates them to achieve this understanding of their voice within art. So in a way my topic went from a broad "Graphic design" to finding their voice within this topic. 



Below are references used within this research! 

References

Dvornechuck, A. (n.d.). 25 Iconic Graphic Designers of All Generation. Retrieved from ebaqdesign:      https://medium.com/ebaqdesign/25-iconic-graphic-designers-of-all-generation-80005fcdbfa9#:~:text=25%20Famous%20Graphic%20Designers%20Michael%20Bierut%20Stefan%20Sagmeister,Massimo%20Vignelli%20Herb%20Lubalin%20Alexey%20Brodovitch%20Ladislav%20Sutnar

Gideon. (2019, May 22). Graphic Design and Culture. Retrieved from Aothar: https://aorthar.medium.com/art-generally-has-been-viewed-as-the-most-thriving-force-evolving-the-universe-with-its-alluring-fa0232fa7dc5

Graphics, S. (2021, July 14). What Kind of Graphic Designer are YOU?! Retrieved from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJFacWGsFaE

Mckinnon, J. (2021, December 6). Graphic Design Trends of 2022. Envato.

Meggs, P. B. (2012). Meggs' history of graphic design. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons.

Norcross, N. (2017, October 9). How Graphic Design Is Evolving. Retrieved from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/10/09/how-graphic-design-is-evolving/?sh=6565c0951ff3