Lisa Scharf

Project 4: Visual Design Critique

Critique #1 - Trench Warfare Illustration from

Danzer, G., et al. (2003). The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21^st century. Evanston, Illinois:

McDougal Littell. p. 376.

Overall Pattern

Alignment Acceptable The illustration lines up images and facts based on the

design of the trenches.

Shape Acceptable The illustration has facts arranged almost in a circular

pattern. Some of the facts are aligned based on the rule of

thirds. The image follows the concept as well. The least

interesting point in an illustration is the dead center, and

this illustration avoids putting important material in the

dead center, by instead arranging important and

interesting facts around the edges of the design.

Balance Acceptable The image has a good balance of illustration and text

information. The upper right and lower left corners

balance each other by adding two more detailed views.

Style Acceptable Colors are used to convey realism. The cut-away portions

of the illustration provide age-appropriate details for

class discussion.

Color Scheme Acceptable Key facts and details are highlighted in red to catch the

viewers’ attention. Colors are muted and earthy which

reflects the subject well.

Color Appeal Acceptable Muted earth tones reflect the muddy, bleak reality of the

trenches. Colors do not stand out as striking and catchy,

but the colors used reflect a somber mood for the image.

Arrangement

Proximity Acceptable To give a sense of the trench system, only the trenches for

one side are shown together. This allows the viewer to

see the complexity of the layout without the clutter of

showing the opposing side at the same time.

Directionals Poor There is nothing in the diagram to move the readers’ eyes

in a specific pattern. Factual information may be missed

because of the randomness of the placement of the details.

Figure-Ground Poor Since the colors are dull, the factual boxes don’t stand out

Contrast as strongly as they should. Two labels aren’t even boxed

in white to draw attention to them.

Consistency N/A This diagram is not from a series that follow rules.

Verbal Elements

Lettering Style Acceptable A sans serif font is used which is crisp and uncluttered.

Letter Size/Spacing Acceptable Lettering size is appropriate for the illustration size.

Appeal

Surprise Poor There is no real surprise. The illustration is a straight-

forward diagram of the concept of World War I trenches.

Texture N/A The illustration is two-dimensional.

Interaction Poor Students are just supposed to view the illustration.

There’s no interactivity or even reflective questions

about the visual.