Universal Principles of Design - Appeal

Concept 1 - Archetypes

This is a concept that often is employed in visual design, but subconsciously.  We often don't realize that we select our font, color, imagery, etc. based on the topic and the feeling that we hope to put out, but we are using this exact concept.  I especially liked the discussion of the "Hero's Journey."  It is a given that at least one movie per summer (a low estimate!) involves this exact story.  For example, I haven't seen it yet, but I can make this prediction, "Indiana Jones, you must save the world."  "No."  "Indiana Jones, I want you to save the world."  "OK, but I hate snakes."  "Doctor Jones, look out."  "Wow Indy, you saved the world."  The End.

Concept 2 - Attractiveness Bias

This is sad, but so true.

Concept 3 - Baby-Face Bias

An interesting principle.  I was particularly surprised by the statistics relating abuse of premature babies to normal-term babies.  It is astonishing.  However, I wonder if there are other factors that lead to premature births that may also relate to higher probability of abuse.  I can say, though, that there is an obviously different perception in personality of the people on the left of page 29 from those at the right.

Concept 4 - Color

While I read this section in one of the prior reading assignments, I decided to review it since it was relevant to the current assignment.  In re-reading it, I caught the sidenote about the effect of colors on peoples' attitudes -- " . . . the only observable influence of color on behavior is its ability to lead people to repaint walls unnecessarily.  For those determined to use colors to calm drunks and win football games through the application of color . . . "  HA!

Concepts 5 & 6 - Fibonacci Sequence/The Golden Ratio

Finally, something of importance to a math teacher!  However, it's importance in design is directly downplayed by the author's in the final few sentences.  A fun story though: my first year of teaching in my current district came during the height of the popularity of the Da Vinci Code.  As a true procrastinator, I had yet to read it, but have since.  On a test in my Advanced Math class, I asked the students to list two irrational numbers (numbers that go on forever without repeating; i.e., pi, the square root of 5, and 2.362357...).  On one of the first papers, someone listed "pi and phi."  I laughed. I thought it was a hysterical display of sense of humor when they didn't know another correct answer.  Then another student listed "phi."  "A cheater!" I deduced.  And another.  "Yet another copier!" I figured.  After a few dozen listings of "phi" I decided that I should ask Google where they had found this word, only to discover that my 8th grade students were aware of the Golden Ratio, while I was not.