ITAP Lecture 2- Research & Development

The Following will review how both research and development is vital in order to get the best possible results when a visual communicator.

An understanding and knowledge of ‘an audience’ can enhance and focus the
communication-

Understanding your audience is critical in order to successfully conveying the correct message to the viewer. This is due to the fact that knowing your audience allows you to take the right steps in order to produce what is needed. For example a graphic designer would need to have a final image with elements that targets the correct audience. In order to do this, research needs to be undertaken to know what the brand is offering, and then seeing how that can be conveyed to an image that is relevant for the viewer.

Taylormade Golf Advertisement

Above is an example of a golf advertisement for Taylomade's new range of drivers that uses a range of techniques to sell the product. For example, they have looked at what golfers commonly want in a driver, with this usually being straightness, forgiveness and distance.  


With this in mind they have incorporated text that shows how the product can make you hit it longer and cleverly included another element. This being the word "farthest", as they know that the average golfer can be extremely competitive, and an aspect of this is wanting to out drive your playing partner. This is just another example of how knowing your audience can improve the products saleability. As well as this they also have factors such as a glossy image, social networking sites and separate logos, all used as marketing tools that the viewer can relate to in order to buy the product. 


The notion of ‘inspiration’ derives from constant inquiry, based on research,
observation, recording and experimentation-


Designers all across the world are always on the outlook for inspiration to create the best possible work. This comes in the form of endless amounts of visual recording in order to bank ideas that artists may have, and then developing their ideas into what they feel is relevant. 

Current designers take a number of different steps into consideration when searching for their next big idea. Research is vital in order to understanding your practice and seeing what previous artist have done and how that can improve your own work. Also, random occurancies that take place in everyday life can spark an something that designers may feel could be developed into something bigger and better.  

Above are a few examples of some designers sketchbooks

As you can see, above are examples of what a designers sketchbook may look like. This shows how a designer may take a primary idea and develop it into a possible final piece of work. As well as this, a sketch book can include other references to their thoughts with photographs they have taken, notes, paper/magazine clippings and much more.

With all these visual references recorded, it allows an artist to take an idea and possibly move on if they feel they don't have much more to give. This means that they can comeback to the idea when they are re inspired and develop it further. It may also help with future work as the artists can refer to past ideas to help them with any current commissions.