Due: Friday 1/30
How to turn in the project
Use the assignment dropbox on Blackboard to submit your three badge designs in one master .ai file. I would recommend putting each badge design on a separate artboard at 8×8 inches each. (Help with artboards here.) Then, export each badge separately as a .png file (go to File > Export) at a resolution of 300 ppi (pixels per inch). Share the .png badges to your Pinterest or Tumblr and label them with the project name.
Introduction
Like a logo or an icon, a badge tries communicate a message through a simple, intuitive design that is immediately recognizable. Similar to fabric badges or pin-on buttons, digital badges are images that members of an online community earn for completing a challenge, learning a skill, or reaching a milestone. Community members share their badges to show solidarity, pride, and status. Badges are an informal way to share credentials or accomplishments on social networks like LinkedIn, but they are also a growing trend in classroom settings. In COM 200 (an introductory communication course), my students will complete weekly challenges related to a blogging project. I will issue digital badges to acknowledge the completion of a challenge – but I need your help and design skills!
Instructions
Create a set of three digital badges using Illustrator. Your badge designs should:
- Look like they are part of a set. Each design should be substantially different (do not simply change the colors or words of each badge, for example), but the three images should show consistency and a similar identity when viewed together.
- Use at least three of the following Illustrator tools: Gradient, Pencil, Brushes, Anchor Point, Reflect, Type, Shapes.
- Visually communicate the blogging challenge and appeal to an audience of college students, specifically Communication Studies majors.
The challenges
Design badges for three of the following weekly challenges:
- week 4 / Weekly blogging challenge: Choose and customize a WordPress theme; install plugins and experiment with sidebar widgets.
- week 5 / Weekly blogging challenge: Create tags, categories, and custom menus.
- week 6 / Weekly blogging challenge: Give your blog an identity and promote it.
- week 7 / Weekly blogging challenge: Use images, and use them well.
- week 8 / Weekly blogging challenge: Try something new.
- week 9 / Weekly blogging challenge: Strengthen and grow your network connections.
- week 10 / Weekly blogging challenge: Try something new.
- week 11 / Weekly blogging challenge: Use video/audio.
- Week 12 (no challenge)
- week 13 / Weekly blogging challenge: Add a blogroll (i.e. a list of links to blogs and resources within the blogger’s community).
Remember, here are the assessment criteria I am using for your projects and mini-projects:
- CONCEPT – idea, intention, and meaning (Does the artwork clearly communicate something to the audience?)
- CREATIVITY – originality of thought and expression (Does the artwork show innovation and uniqueness? Did the designer approach the task in an expected or unexpected way?)
- COMPOSITION – arrangement and organization of elements (Has the designer carefully considered elements such as balance, proportion, texture, color, shape, and positive/negative space and user navigation?)
- CRAFTSMANSHIP – attention to detail (Does the designer carefully construct the work? Are all details carefully finished and/or intentional-looking?)