Saturday, March 24, 2012

ROCKSOLID: collections website - formal exploration


The following are three explorations for formal direction for my collection website about crystals I started collecting when I was 8. The collection website has grown from the required 15 objects into 24 of my favorite specimens and 9 info graphics about the rocks. 

 LOGO/ BRAND  EXPLORATION:





The idea behind rocksolid is to meld scientific cleanliness with different aesthetic approaches. The shapes either inspired by Jar and specimen labels or geode formations.


DIRECTION 1:


Direction one has the tag I mentioned previously that is inspired by apothecary jar labels and scientific labeling of specimens. I added some abstracted geode-form line drawings around the edges to fill in the padding area. Not only is the simplicity deriving from science labels but I wanted to allow the Crystals to be front and center, allowing them to get the attention they demand. After all this is a website about the collection, so why distract the viewer from the thing i find most beautiful; the rocks.


 In this direction I thought it would be a nice contrast from the cleanliness of the stark white background to add woodgrain. Its a stretch but the wood is something form within nature just as the crystal specimens are. Although I like the direction, I am still working on finding a way to render the crystals in way that allows them to stay as vibrant as before (on the white background).

 

 DIRECTION 3:
 These are a little messy as far as clarity of direction and cohesion but bear with me. Here I wanted to try and show all the logotypes in similar applications and spacial relationships. So in that sense I categorized them as one direction instead of having 4 or 5 to talk you through.  

1 comment:

  1. Really nice interactions. I definitely think the first direction is the strongest. I like the connotations you have going on. You'll need to be careful that your type in the label and info graph isn't too small and delicate for the screen. I think the rocks could be a bit larger on the macro page, they seem so tiny. Currently, the label seems a bit disconnected (formally) from the navigation. Consider how you can bring those two closer w//o being exactly the same.

    The micro page needs a title for the rock, but is otherwise on the right track.

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