April 2013 – Brady MVCC Digital Design

The last project of the semester is the creation of a multi-page portfolio using Adobe InDesign to showcase and describe the work you completed in this class. It will have a written description of the development process (start to finish) in all the projects you created. It will have visual elements that depict all or parts of the print layout projects you have produced. You may create a new image for the cover. Lastly, the digital portfolio you create will be as be intended for screen (computer, iPad, tablet, etc.) and will have interactivity added using InDesign and Adobe Acrobat.

The portfolio size and number of pages is up to you. I would create at least 5: cover, contents, and projects.

MARCUS_portfolio2010fall_DIGITAL_ILLUSTRATION

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A brochure is a paper collateral that informs people about a product, service, or location. Informing with a brochure can be quick and cost-effective.

In corporate design brochures and booklets are a standard tool for promotion and advertising. They are tiny books or magazines which lay around in conference halls, offices and waiting rooms. Sometimes they contain an annual report of the company or showcase the portfolio of an artist. Brochures can also be included in CDs and DVDs; however, usually they are given away as freebies (e.g. they may contain a calendar or some poster inside).

In either case, booklets serve advertising purposes and since they are usually short (max. 20-25 pages) they need to look good and be informative in order to focus users’ attention and effectively convey the message.

PROJECT 4: BROCHURE DESIGN

Your project is to design a brochure for a product, service, or organization of your choosing. Look at examples found thru links here on the site.

Creative Brief questions: Answer these and give to me before continuing.

Background — what is the background of the project? who is it going to be created for?
Target audience — what do they already think about this subject? Is there anything that should be avoided?
Objectives — what is to be accomplished?
Single message — what is the one thing to tell the audience? What is the single thing they should remember about the offering?
Mandatory elements — what mandatory elements such as the client’s logo, address, phone number do I need to use?

Brochure Folds

Procedure

Step 1: Research! Learn about your chosen

Step 2: Brainstorm! This can take many forms: doodling, sketching, writing lists of related words, etc. Each of these are performed with pencil and paper.

Step 3: Create the Grid that will act as the skeleton on which you build your design. Consider different layouts, images, typography, compositions, etc… all of which can have variety while remaining unified by the underlying grid. Develop thumbnails and turn the best ones into more refined comps for your layouts. Remember to utilize a GRID.

Step 4: Begin your composition in InDesign. Use what you’ve learned in your lessons to create an interesting, innovative, eye-catching, brilliant, elegant, mind-bogglingly great brochure. There will be no 8.5″x11″ sheets of paper folded into thirds. Use interesting paper-stock, torn edges, embossing, or whatever you can think of to make this brochure truly memorable.

Step 5: Print out samples throughout the design process, even if it’s at a smaller scale, just so you can have an idea of how this thing will work. Then print off samples at actual size, even if it’s cropped off, so you can get an idea of type-size, and other details.

Step 6: Show it to people. See if it works. Rework, revise.

This brochure should:

look good and work well
capture the imagination
utilize creative and innovative production techniques
clearly communicate all of the information provided
fit in to the brand of your chosen client (company, organization, etc.)
utilize images, color, graphics and the logo for that company, organization, etc.

Here are some interesting examples of great brochure designs:

http://www.designyourway.net/blog/inspiration/print-inspiration-from-55-splendid-brochure-designs/

http://thedesigninspiration.com/articles/30-best-brochure-designs-for-your-inspiration/

http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/galleries/brochure-design/

http://www.behance.net/search?search=Brochure+design

http://crazypixels.net/burst-of-creativity-collection-of-awesome-brochure-designs-for-inspiration/

http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/quick-tip-using-the-print-booklet-feature-in-adobe-indesign/

http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/quick-tip-creating-a-french-fold-template-in-indesign/