Design People, without People
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- cannonball19780
It's important to identify objective descriptors like "personable" early on. That way you can steer them towards something a bit more actionable like "transparent".
Customers who can see just a little of the inner workings of the business and know that there are human hands at work can extrapolate the rest and this develops trust. If you have an opportunity to build that into the project you can create that feel.
- cannonball19780
Another opportunity to make things feel more "personable" is by leaving human artifacts like stories or testimonials where people interact with your client. Leading with examples of how humans interacted with humans can help guide when a potential customer interacts with your client for the first time. This could be captured with video, or some written story, or even pictures.
- cannonball19780
Maybe conducting an exercise to help the client define what personable means to them would help uncover some more specific descriptors. Or if the client isn't too "executive" and willing to be a little more hands on with the project, have them send three examples of what they can describe as personable with a sentence.
- cannonball19780
just spitballing here
- no... this info may be useful to me in an upcoming pitch,,,, thanks!
vaxorcist
- no... this info may be useful to me in an upcoming pitch,,,, thanks!
- TheFatBaron0
"Personable" isn't just achieved through design. How's the writing on the project? I know QBN is mostly design focused, but I'm not kidding. A lot of healthcare brochures have the same tone. Perhaps the writing can be updating to give the piece a specific voice and personality?
Also... what about illustration? Is that an option?
- I need to be careful because i am afraid i will comit a certain amount of time and it would be unlikedyurimon
- vaxorcist0
Do you have to indicate all the side effects of the medication or procedure anywhere in fine print?
- MrT0
It's not just the execution where these factors come into play.
Depends on the message too. Surely it's relatively easy to appear human and personable in say, a charity campaign. If you're designing a piece of marketing, no amount of handwriting will get away from the deeply unpersonal fact that you're just selling shit.
- Amicus0
I know we all have different ideas of what is funny, but using humour or wit can go a long way in differentiating a brand.
- 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
- yurimon0
thanks everyone, your advice was helpful ...