Portfolio

Design + Research

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Insight

Mobile App

Mobile App Designed for Dementia/Alzheimer's Sufferers and Their Caregivers.

The design decisions made within this app are based on secondary research, observation, and healthcare industry interviews.

Often dementia and Alzheimer's sufferers also suffer from low vision. Large interface icons, san-serif typeface, and high contrast color palette ensure best visibility during use of this app. Strategic use of yellow as an accent color helps point out important areas throughout the interface. The design and placement of the icons are organized specifically for obvious understanding of each function and ease of access.

Motion Pictures

iPad App

One of my all time favorite pastimes is going to the movies. There's just something magical about experiencing a film in theaters. I remember growing up and looking forward to the Friday edition of the newspaper. I'd scramble to the Arts and Entertainment section to look up new movies coming out, critic reviews, and movie times. Once I got to the theater, I was often reminded of why I didn't go more often, it’s one of those few experiences you have absolutely no control over. There are distractions at every corner—people opening and tearing candy wrappers, and eating popcorn, babies crying, people laughing, people yelling at the screen, the ever-sopopular girl in the row in front of you whose phone can’t stop ringing, the guy who has to go to the bathroom and walks in front of the screen every 20 minutes. Speaking of bathrooms, seems like I never have to go to the bathroom while I’m at home…but as soon as I get to the theater, you bet I'll need to go a few times. I’m starting to rant a bit here, but I think you get the idea; it’s a love hate relationship.

I’ve designed an iPad app to help replicate that experience. I call it Motion Pictures. It’s a mobile experience meant to take away some of that control we are so accustomed to and allow us to enjoy a true movie going experience during the age of Netflix and instant streaming movies.

This app was mocked up in Keynote.

The sample video within this demo is the property of Disney and Pixar films. I claim no rights to "Partly Cloudy"; it is used for demo purposes only.

MmmBraaains.com

Design Research Blog

MmmBraaains.com is my method of keeping track of graduate projects. I blog about my process, research, feedback, and critique.

Mmm Braaains!!! is the cry of the Zombie, an animated corpse with an insatiable love for braaains. On a level weirder than I ever imagined, I relate to the Zombie culture (of course, not in the literal sense). I consider myself a lifelong student, always looking for the next thing. I have an insatiable love for learning and building new skills.

In design, there is always something new to learn. Whether it be a new tool, a new trick in a software program, a new trend, or a new medium to design for…there is always something to learn and skills to develop. MmmBraaains.com was made with the intent to help keep up with the design field.

Food for Thought. Thought for Food.

Search Design/Architecture

Wireframe

A developed search system for an online tea retail store,the design is stemmed from the current information architecture of the site, Teasource.com. This site has many opportunities to improve its usability and product organization.The largest return on investment would be to start by redesigning the search feature for the user who is unable to find the product he is looking for.

A "Simple Search" was developed, a straightforward search feature. Type in a keyword and results are listed accordingly.

An "Advanced Search" was also developed for a more specific search function for the higher end user of the site who has specialized tea interests.

A focus was placed on the search results. Research suggests that the user is more confident while searching if images are present to help confirm that what he found is truly what he is looking for. A hierarchy of product names, categories, prices, and descriptions ensures that the user quickly digests the information as he skims through to find the product he is looking for.

Romantic Restaurant Experience

Mental Model Research Method

We were approached by a client who is opening a new restaurant in six months. He wants customers to try his restaurant and become regulars because the experience meets their criteria so completely. the client asked us to determine these criteria. (Research Exercise Scenario)

The information represented by this Mental Model is the result of nine interviews. Each participant was asked to describe what helps him or her make choices in picking a restaurant for a romantic date. The red, numbered portion of this graphic illustrates the major points expressed by the participants. We determined six major categories that are considered in choosing a restaurant: Atmosphere, Cuisine, Location, Entertainment, Price, and Outliers(misc.). The numbers associated with each point are how many times (between nine participants) that feature was mentioned.

This data can be used to understand the customer base and target market for a restaurant looking to be a "Romantic Destination". The full research report can be viewed here.

User Testing

Identity: Logo, Business Cards, Marketing Collateral

User Testing, as its name suggests, is a user testing firm. I've developed an identity that speaks to the quirkiness of the industry term and invokes a respect for its scientific nature.

The marketing material associated with User Testing is also a comedic effort to diffuse the confusion behind what user testing actually is, observing users testing products...not actually testing the users.

User Testing Research

Research Findings Document Template

As previously mentioned...User Testing, as its name suggests, is a user testing firm.

This document is a template to be used by researchers, user experience designers, and account managers for presenting their test findings to clients.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Wayfinding

The Zoo uses a lot of wood carving signage to help delineate where you are. There is an opportunity to improve visibility and decrease patron frustration with the use of brighter colors. The wood grain blends into the “woodsy” backdrop of the Zoo and is easily lost in the scope of things.

Another major area of interest is time. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a sign that says "<--- Monkeys" and after following the sign to the left for 10 minutes or more in the blazing summer sun, you still don’t see any monkeys. A time reference involved in the signage is a possible solution, Such as an indicator that says, “A 10 minute walk from this point will lead you to the monkeys” or “5 minutes to the left, you will find flamingos”, etc.

The final major design element is engaging the children. Keeping in mind that kids are smaller and not always at the reading age, incorporating symbols and figures that are easily recognizable and at a child’s eye level is a fun and engaging answer to this problem.

Vindicator Multicultural Magazine

Multipage Layout | Magazine

My role as the Art Director & Graphic Designer for The Vindicator involved production of a 50 page magazine, including cover design, page layouts, and art/photo direction to photographers and other graphic designers to ensure a unifying direction in each issue. I managed a tight monthly production schedule. Once copy was finalized, we as designers made design decisions to express the emotion behind the article or represent the theme in specific lights.

Crop Circle | Urban Gardening

Identity: Company Name and Logo

Crop Circle is a company that provides those who live in urban environments or other confined living situations the ability to grow herbs, plants and vegetables. For every product the company sells, they donate (product) to nonprofit inner city rooftop and community garden programs as well as local parks.

The identity is a reference to the phenomenon of crop circles that "mysteriously" appear in heavy farmland areas. There is a double meaning to the concept of crop circle- not only is it a visual identity, but it refers to the business model the company employs of giving back to local communities when purchases are made in their stores.

Alderson-Broaddus College Battlers

Athletic Logo

The "AB" Battlers athletic department was faced with a challenge: the powers that be were looking to go in a new direction with their identity.

The "Battlers" name has history in the Civil War and represents the strength and determination of the soldiers in that era. AB wanted imagery that would inspire competition and energy in their programs. The Civil War cannon was the decided symbol to tackle their challenge.

Veterans Contracting

Logo

Veterans Contracting is a veteran owned and operated construction company. The design of this identity invokes the visual power of the Eagle and all it represents to veterans and other patriotic Americans. Paired with blueprint, construction type, aggressive, eroded illustration, and typographic style, this logo represents all that Veterans Contracting stands for.

NomNom Candy

Identity: Company Name, Logo, and Storefront

NomNom is a candy company with a soft spot for cute little monsters. The concept behind the name is the sound Cookie Monster (Sesame Street) makes when he eats cookies, "nom, nom, nom, nom".

Nomster is a product line from NomNom. Monster themed candy emphasizes a colorful monster scale pattern throughout each product.

The design of the storefront is geared away from a retail environment and more toward an experience. You enter through a monster's mouth (front door) and are lead throughout the store by monster footprints. A tongue carpet leads the customer from the sidewalk into the store.

Get Out and Vote!

Poster Campaign

Personal project to promote the importance of voting. I came across the featured statistic and was blown away. The emotion shown in this poster is what I felt, and I wanted that to translate into the design. The image of the angry, screaming man, paired with the eroded illustration style and typography sets the tone. I decided on the traditional red, white, and blue coloring to reinforce the political/patriotic feeling. A paradox between using your voice and visually gagging the angry man with the slogan “Get out and Vote” was intentionally placed to add more commentary on the issue.

Randy Johnson

Infographics

Randy Johnson, aside from being my favorite baseball player, is often considered to be one of the most intimidating baseball players of all time. His intimidation factor comes from two major characteristics, his size and his mullet.

The "Big Unit"(nickname) is 8 inches taller than the average baseball player (approximately). I've developed a fun infographic to illustrate that statistic.

Randy's beautifully flowing mullet is perhaps his major trait. Upon studying his career statistics, I realized an interesting pattern developing. Randy's hair has changed only slightly throughout his career, with the only major change taking place was during his tenure with the New York Yankees. The Yankees have a team policy that none of their players may have long hair or facial hair. Randy was forced to shave one of his intimidation characteristics, and ironically, he played the worst of his career without it. Samson is a famous story of a man with tremendous strength until he cuts his hair. I've developed an infographic to point out this interesting comparison.

Smoking & Health Awareness

Poster Campaign

The issue of smoking and its health effects is one that hits home to me, as many close friends have been affected by this issue. The statistic I found is targeting the African American community, which is already an under-advertised culture when it comes to health issues. I wanted to represent the facts in an interesting way; when dealing with death, one needs to tread lightly. The cigarettes in the box are imitating a bar graph, representing the astounding statistics in deaths compared to smoking in the African American community. The blurred figure in the background represents an average African American as he expresses his disgust towards the issue. His emotion translates to the information being conveyed. I shot this photo with a muted tone to reinforce the mood of the subject matter.

The Dark Knight | Joker

Lenticular Poster

This is an example of my production work abilities. I was presented with this opportunity when the Lead Designer of Trends International, a major licensor of movie posters and other entertainment memorabilia, injured his mouse hand and was set back with deadlines. I stepped up and was awarded this project. This genre of poster is Lenticular, perhaps better known as “3D”. This freelance project was a dream come true, as I have always had a nerdy interest in entertainment design, more specifically movie posters.

This poster was sold at Walmart retail stores.

KISS

Lenticular Poster

3D poster design for the band KISS. Trends International, a major licensor of movie posters and other entertainment memorabilia, was looking for a poster to help drive interest for their client's (KISS) KISS 2010 Tour.


Copyright 2007 – 2012 © Gary Meacher Design