Week 1 (of 6) notes from Visual Communication and Typography. How to ID a problem & an introduction to SWOT Analysis.

1. VISCOM01
Visual Communication & Typography: The root of problem solving.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

2. What you’ll learn in this class:
1. How to spot a problem.
2. Build a process to solve problems.
3. Learn to live in the details.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

3. What you’ll do in this class:
1. Learn to appreciate minutia & your surroundings.
2. Define how you work as a creative.
3. Create something you can be proud of.

4. I’m a designer, dog trainer, cyclist, spin instructor, craft beer drinker, traveler and problem solver.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

26. STARTHERE.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

27. What’s the problem?
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com
Create...a poster, a logo, a book, an app, a website, etc.

28. Thats not your problem, it’s only a vehicle to deliver your solution to someone else.

29. Your real problem is the one you haven’t discovered yet.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

30. ID

31. In your project, you’re going to identify both small and large
problems from the outset and along the way. Here’s some
thoughts on how to identify them.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

32. What do you [your client,etc.] want to accomplish?
Make a list.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

33. Let’s look at your list. And try to identify just one thing you
want to accomplish first.
Example: Concert Poster – To Buy Tickets
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

34. Okay, so what do you need to be able to accomplish this task?
1. How do you buy a ticket?
2. What is the ticket for?
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

35. BUY TODAY!Visit phish.com/tickets
Phish Tickets

36. Does this information solve the problem? Maybe.
But does it satisfy what your user is going to want?
1. How much does the ticket cost?
2. Where is it?
3. When does it go on sale?
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

37. PHISH LIVE!Visit phish.com/tickets
May 15, 2013 | Philadelphia, PA | $50

38. Does the solution solve your problem?
Test your hypothesis
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

39. SWOT

40. Strength
Weakness
Opportunity
Threat

41. Strength: What is unique?
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

42. Weakness: What could you lose?
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

43. Opportunity: What is to gain?
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

44. Threat: What is the obstacle?
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com

45. QUESTION.
VC01 | 2013 | Bradford M. Wason | brad@23rd5th.com