In a time where visual communication seems to be the core ingredient to exchange messages and ideas with the world, graphic design sees itself in the search of the best way to make such messages reach their public. In the attempt to find a solution, this project proposes the adaptation of emotional design’s theories into the graphic design world.
“Great designs, like great art and literature, can break the rules and survive forever, but only a few are gifted enough to be great.” (Norman, 2004)
The project started with the analysis of Don Norman’s frameworks and theories about emotional design, as well as other authors and thesis that complemented such theories. My intention was to adapt and implement them into the graphic design world through a best practice’s manual. As so, I deepened the search with an enquiry made to graphic design students, which supported the relevance of this project to the matter in question, as well as the accuracy of the object on which I wanted to publish my conclusions – the manual.
As a result of this investigation, I came up with a book of eighteen principles to achieve an emotional graphic design, illustrated with works of the well-known graphic designers Stefan Sagmeister and James Victore who already work within these frameworks.
Silver Category winner of the 3rd ELISAVA Professional Edition Awards '15 for "its exhaustive research work with a formal expression that values emotions".
Master's final project, MUDIC - ELISAVA, January - June 2015