Week 2 Outside of Class

Homework for next class:
-Bring drawing materials and tablet.
-Explore Website for Icon Design: Write 200 words on blog for what the website is about, how it works, how icons could enhance the usage.

• The first thing you notice when going to Mixmax.com, is that there is an entry bar to type in your email to gain early access to the newly developing website. The website as a whole has a very subtle design, minimalist and clean. The typefaces used are a simple sans-serif colored white against a purple-hue background overlooking some sort of desert. Towards the bottom of the page you see there are three, evenly spaced round images of the head developers of the website. Under each image is a name, position, and short description of what that person does, followed by a link to their own twitter accounts. As for the rest of the website, it is unknown unless you receive an email invite for access to the site (which I have not yet).
• I think icons would help this page in a way to guide the users through the content. I can see the use of very minimalist icon designs to tie into the already simple and clean theme. Possibly a very symmetrical design, no outlines, little use of color. 

-Readings:

• "Icons and Interface" pages 124 - 145
• "Type on Screen" pages 148 - 149
• Working with Color: Traditionally, logos were produced using just black and white. Color used to be a luxury. While today, color is dominant. While color plays an important role, designers must always consider the logo within the context of the company's page. For example,  a TV station or online business will have little use for a black and white logo.
• Digital Color Systems: Hexadecimal: Colors in HTML, represents the percentages of red, green, and blue, that make up a color on screen with six digits. A Hex color tag always starts with a (#) sign in HTML and CSS. RGB: All colors on screen are rendered in mixtures of red, green, and blue light. RGB is an additive system, these three colors combine in ratios to create a broad range of colors. RGBA: Same color system as RGB. with addition to Alpha. Alpha values measure on a scale of 0 to 1, which determine the transparency of a color. 0 would be transparent, while 100 would be opaque. PNG images use the Alpha channel.
• Color Harmonies: 
• Complement - Two colors opposite of each other.
• Split Complement - One base color plus two colors that sit on either side of the complement.
• Analogous - Two or more colors that sit next to each other.
• Triadic - Three colors spaced evenly around the color wheel.
• Square - Four colors spaced evenly around the color wheel.
• Tetradic - Four colors in two complementary pairs.

-Icon Capture: Post image of icon with a two line description of function. 15 Physical World, 15 Digital World.

1. Water - Found on a refrigerator, option to choose water.
2. Ice, Cubed - Found on a refrigerator, option to choose cubed ice.
3. Fan Speed - Found on a air purifier, option to change fan speed.
4. Don't Touch - Found on a bread slicing stand, don't put hands near blades.
5. Danger - Found on a ladder, careful when climbing.
6. Danger - Found on an oven, don't stick head in oven while shelves are rotating.
7. Manual - Found on a reclining chair, read manual for instructions.
8. Call Hold - Found on a phone, option to place call on hold.

1. Find - Option to type in a field specific names or keywords to search for a file. Found in Winrar.
2. View - Option to view specific files that are downloaded. Found in Winrar.
3. Devices - Option to select different devices such as printers, scanners, etc. Also adjusts sound options in devices such as headsets, etc. Found in Windows Control Panel.
4. Apps - Option to select and view different types of applications. Found in Google.
5. Notifications - Option to view notifications, icon will usually change and show a number when a notification comes in. Found in Google.
6. Go Mobile - Icon that will take to you a page with different option to go mobile. Found on USAA.com
7. Settings - Option to select different settings for the account/page. Found in MSN Email.
8. Chat - Option to bring up friends list to begin a chat. Found in MSN Email.
9. Full View - Option to stretch page to full screen size, or shrink down. Found in MSN Email.
10. Chat - Option to bring up friends list to begin a chat. Found in Facebook.
11. Privacy Settings - Option that brings up privacy settings for the account. Found in Facebook.
12. Favorites - Option to favorite a specific web page or view other Favorited pages. Found in Google Chrome.