Design People, without People
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- yurimon
Any body know of an inspiring graphic design that is an engaging and personable but does not use people in photographs do convey the message of engaging and personable..
Just looking for inspiration...
thanks...
- CanHasQBN0
A handwritten font might be something that helps. It shows a person wrote it without using a photo of a person.
- BaskerviIle0
I can't tell if this is a joke thread.
We're always asked by clients to make design 'more human' but if anyone suggests handwriting as a solution then I see red. Sure evidence of humanity is useful, but that doesn't necessarily mean using handwriting. In fact if you use a handwriting style font then you're being less human, at least use real, actual handwriting.
In general, the amount of humanity is more about tone of voice and copywriting than handwriting and photos of smiley people
- vaxorcist0
what sort of client......
I'd say things like an old leather wallet, keys on a chain, for a woman, a scratched up lipstick tube, various personal effects... but that might not work for a "business stock" idea... for that, maybe an old leather briefcase with the combination lock opened?
- CanHasQBN0
Using actual handwriting is not practical most of the time, like if it's a web project that needs to be edited from time to time. You don't want the client bugging you every time they want to edit a headline. If it's a one-off poster or something, then fine, do the handwriting yourself.
And there are many fonts out there that have different options for the same letter, so that there is some variation.
- vaxorcist0
really worn out iPhone case from the back or side? on top of a table cloth covered in a crumbs from a croissant and a few small coffee rings?
- yurimon0
haha some funny comments. its health business. All of or any stock photos were rejected. biggiest issue in this business is to make it personable and people to feel a relation and attraction.
The layou of the website is great. image content has been rejected. I am also trying to avoid cliche which they do not like. so its challenging....
- detritus0
What we've learnt about Baskerville this week—
• Irritated by people's judgements of his attire
• Angered by the use of 'handriting' fonts
• Possibly racist- Wait, sorry.detritus
- I think that last one might refer to me. Sorry, a terrible misrepresentation of fact.detritus
- 1) irritated by lame graphic tshirts
2) angered by use of handwriting fonts, true
3) Not at all racist!BaskerviIle - pfft - I see your response to '3 in the code - the lady doth protest too much!detritus
- yurimon0
Stock photo option was rejected. No photo I picked or they looked through themselves fit the bill. Also tried to avoid healthcare cliche's we see on most websites (differentiation)
I can use photos but cant be of people. So challenge would be to still create a sense of personality without using people.
I have thought of using silhouette outlines or lines with certain background photos, like nature...
- Chimp0
What about personal items you have a strong connection to.
e.g. A model airplane my dad gave me when I was 7.
Or
Your favorite T-shirt
- Chimp0
My Converse trains I keep on wearing but are nearly dead
- vaxorcist0
...sounds like they may be asking for impossible..... or very innovative in a way that may be rejected... why? Healthcare images are usually so crisp and clean and bright and anything "personal" is usually somewhat worn out, organic... messy even... or possibly stereotypical, or too impersonal... or... whatever..
...so...don't play charlie brown to their lucy....
- Chimp0
You might want to ask the client a few more question to find out what they consider to be a 'sense of personality but not using people'.
Sounds a bit like 'I don't know what I want until I see it', client.
- 23kon0
Stock photos, especially those within certain industries like healthcare are ALWAYS going to be cliched, posed, cheesey corporate crap!
Tell your client that if they want images that are more human, much more real-life, then they should get you to commission some shots.
Adding a candid element to the shots (from interesting angles, real people, not afraid to be gritty) will make for MUCH better shots.
- 23kon0
If you commision a photographer you can also get them to shoot in a certain style or in post-production colour-wise.
Giving your client their own "style" of shot will set them apart from their competitors and also makes for a good brief for any future shoots.
- fadein110
illustration
- BaskerviIle0
I worked on an international private healthcare rebranding a few years ago. We had the same issue with stock photos of the medical profession and patients etc. So we ended up commissioning our own which turned out so much better. The category is full of generic stock images of doctors etc. It was pretty easy to art direct what we wanted and stand out from the crowd completely
- Abram Games always said hands are a better non-specific way of showing people than facesBaskerviIle
- yurimon0
Baskerville: what was the budget for hiring a photographer?
if it ok to ask...
- doesnotexist0
wayfinding systems
- rosko_picachu0
De-bug the brief, arrrgghhh!!! Change the words for words that mean the same thing but use words that will give you ideas.
If i was given a brief that said "convey the message of engaging and personable.." i'd have to change it to words that have relevance to the punters who will see the promotional material and myself.
Did you ever go and see a film, or look at a magazine and say to your friend, "Wow, that was so engaging and personable!"
It's just emotionless business speak for "We want something that looks shit hot, shows the personal touch and has personality" or whatever.