WHAT IS the JOSHUA TREE EPIPHANY?V1.01 DIGITAL MEDIA & MULTIMEDIA DESIGNBy Gabriel D’Amato

THE JOSHUA TREE EPIPHANY is C.R.A.P.

THERE ARE FOUR BASIC PRINCIPALS THAT MAKE UP THE JOSHUA TREE EPIPHANY.CONTRAST: Avoid elements on the page that are similar to one another.

REPETITION: Repeat visual elements of the design throughout the entire piece.

ALIGNMENT: Every element should have some visual connection with another element on the design.

PROXIMITY: Items that relate to one another should be grouped close together in the design.

*JOSHUA TREE EPIPHANY (DESIGN)

The Joshua Tree Epiphany is the application and recognition of four basic design principles that make up a good design (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity). The theory was developed by Robin Williams the designer, NOT the actor.

http://www.ratz.com/

YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THIS

BADDESIGNWHY IS THIS BAD?

There are a few things that make this a bad design if looked at with the Joshua Tree Epiphany in mind, but what are they?

GOODDESIGNWHY IS THIS BETTER?

Compared to the previous design, why exactly does this design please the eye more?

Point out CONTRASTING elements.

Find instances of REPETITION.

What about the ALIGNMENT?

Find elements using PROXIMITY.

GETTING USED TO USING THE JOSHUA TREE EPIPHANY CAN TAKE SOME TIME.

• CRITIQUE OTHER PEOPLES DESIGNS. TRY TO FIND JOSHUA TREE ELEMENTS.

• BE CRITICAL OF YOUR OWN DESIGNS BEFORE YOU ASK FOR INPUT.

• GET SOME INSPIRATION FROM OTHER DESIGNERS… THEN DO BETTER.

• PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS WILL BE IMPRESSED THAT YOU KNOW THE TERMS, AND CAN SITE EXAMPLES.

• USE THE ELEMENTS IN EVERY DESIGN, NO MATTER WHAT THE FORMAT.

NEWBIE TIPS:

TRUE STORY

A CLOSER LOOK at CONTRAST

CONTRAST IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ADD VISUAL INTEREST.In order for contrast to be effective, it must be strong. Don’t be a wimp about it.

If two items are not exactly the same, then make them different. Really, really different.

Contrast attracts the eye faster than almost any other design element.

You can contrast anything. Fonts, Colors, Negative Spaces, Shapes, Textures, you name it.

The best designers are the ones who can add natural contrast without being too “in your face about it”.

*CONTRAST (DESIGN)

Contrast refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest, excitement and drama.

https://sites.google.com/site/principlesofdesignsite/home/contrast

BE THAT KIND OF DESIGNER

REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION

REPETITION IS WHAT TIES A DESIGN WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS TOGETHER.Repeat aspects of the design, throughout the entire composition and watch it all come together in the end.

You can use repetition with almost any element you can put your mind to (fonts, shapes, colors, text styles, images, spatial elements, negative space, etc).

Using a pre-made color palette is a form of repetition (assuming you actually stick to the palette that is).

Repeat the same fonts, but use the entire font family (bold, italic, light, etc). Just make sure that elements that are the same use the same repetition rules.

Repetition can also be knows as Design Patterns, Consistency and Cohesive Design.

*REPETITION (DESIGN)

Repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, value or image tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create rhythm. Repetition can take the form of an exact duplication (pattern), a near duplication, or duplication with variety.

https://sites.google.com/site/principlesofdesignsite/home/repetition-pattern-

GET GOOD WITH TYPOGRAPHY

FIND THE ELEMENTSPICK OUT AT LEAST 5 ELEMENTS OF THE DESIGN THAT ARE REPEATED.

On the next slide are two different parts of a newsletter that use the same design elements. See if you can pick out at least five elements that are repeated throughout the design.

BONUS: CAN YOU IDENTIFY MORE THAN 10?

A QUICK WORD about ALIGNMENT

ALIGNMENT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT IN LAYOUT DESIGN BECAUSE IT ……allows you to arrange elements in a way that matches how people naturally scan the design.

…helps balance the overall design so that it is visually appealing to the viewer.

…creates a visual connection between related elements of a design (similar to but not the same as Proximity).

Alignment (like the name suggests) is all about organizing elements relative to a line or margin.

This doesn’t have to be a literal line in your design; in fact, it’s usually an invisible margin implied by the way your design is arranged.

The two basic alignment principles are edge alignment and center alignment.

*ALIGNMENT (DESIGN)

Alignment is the arrangement of elements in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions with other elements.

REMEMBER THIS FOR SURE

THIS DESIGNER NEEDS TO FIND A NEW JOB

THIS DESIGNER COULD DO BETTER

THIS DESIGNER AND I CAN BE FRIENDS

ABOUT PROXIMITY in GOOD DESIGN

IN A NUTSHELL: PHYSICAL CLOSENESS IMPLIES A RELATIONSHIP.When pieces of a design are scattered all over, the design appears unorganized.

Group relevant items together to make them seen as one cohesive group.

Items or elements that are NOT related to one another should NOT be in close proximity to each other.

IF USED PROPERLY, PROXIMITY WILL INSTANTLY SHOW THE VIEWER VISUAL CLUES TO THE ORGANIZATION OF YOUR DESGIN.

Don’t be afraid of negative space in your designs.

*PROXIMITY (DESIGN)

Proximity, as defined by the "Universal Principles of Design," states that elements that are close together are perceived to be more related than elements that are further apart. Proximity in web design is most commonly achieved by grouping information.

THAT IS A ROOKIE MISTAKE.

FIND MORE EXAMPLESGO ONLINE AND FIND EXAMPLES OF GOOD & BAD USE OF THE JOSHUA TREE EPIPHANY.

Use every designers best friend (google.com) to find at least 5 examples of both GOOD and BAD application of Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity in designs of any kind.

Be sure to find examples of bad applications of each kind!