Communication Techniques

• Freehand Sketching
• freehand sketching is a quick method that can be used to:
• create design ideas
• accentuate shape and form
• Freehand means that no straight edges are used
• pens and pencils

Crating

• crating is where you draw a 3D box around the whole object to help break it down into a shape
• enables you to draw in 3D
• use a ruler to help you draw straight lines

IMPORTANT: you should always annotate your sketches against the design specification

Rendering, tone, and texture

• rendering means applying colour shade to make it look realistic
• you can create tone by using shading to show areas of light and shadow. Show where your light is coming from
• you can add texture by using pencil or pen marks to create the illusion of a surface effect
• these techniques can be used to illustrate different materials

Tools

• marker pens are quick and effective
• pastels are good for creating tone, but they can be messy if you don't 'fix' your drawing
• coloured pencils are cheap and can be used with marker pens
• paints are time consuming and can be messy, but watercolours make good backgrounds

Primary and secondary colours (aqa,ocr)

• primary colours: red, yellow, blue. They can't be created by mixing colours together
• secondary colours are produced when two primary colours are mixed

Complementary colours (aqa,ocr)

• Opposite colours on the colour wheel are complementary-they work well together

Hue and tone (aqa,ocr)

• hue is the actual colour you see
• adding white lightens the tone
• adding black darkens the tone

Colour fusion and separation

• colour fusion is where dots of colour blend together to create another colour
• colour separation happens in printing where layers of separate colours are overlaid

Colour

Language and meaning (aqa,ocr)

• Colours are associated with different meanings. Knowing the different meanings can help you when making design desicions
• blue is a natural colour from the sky, calming, used for many purposes, associated with intelligence, unity, peace
• red is associated with flushed cheeks, raised blood pressure, anger, danger, mourning, communism, (china) happiness and prosperity
• yellow is associated with sunshine, happiness, warmth, being cheerful, cowardice, deceit, mourning, courage, peace, the dead
• green represents growth, envy, harmony
• orange is warm, citrus, good health
• purple represents royalty, lavender and can boost creativity

Image (aqa,ocr)

• colours can be used to indicate certain categories of product
• white and blue denote hygiene and are associated with cleaning products
• green and brown denote healthy/organic products
• colours are used in different cultures or religions to symbolise something. you need to be careful not to use colours that can offend anyone

Logos and trademarks

Logos

• symbols that convey a meaning
• tend to be about a product or a company
• some are well known enough to be described from memory

Trademarks

• a trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design which identifies and distinguishes the goods of one company.
• usually registered to the company so no one else can use them
• an SM…