The project “Redux” was designed to further develop my understanding of principles of reduction, figure-ground, and creating a visual system. The goal of Redux was to create three icons to serve as wayfinding signs in a kitchen store. The process of this project began with choosing three items found in the kitchen. Using my chosen items, afork, tongs, and a measuring cup, I began the exploration process by sketching the items both on paper and digitally. These initial sketches served as inspiration for the final designs. Using Adobe Illustrator, I designed the final three icons using primitive shapes, rather than traced versions of the initial sketch. I preferred the primitive shapes for simplicity. After the three final icons were chosen, I chose a color palette with earth-like tones to reflect the mood of the kitchen store I was envisioning.The final three compositions follow a similar arrangement in which the icons and text are at a slight angle. The angle adds character to the signs, and unifies the text and icons. As wayfinding signs, the compositions are likely to be enlarged, I believe the icons are easily scalable and would still represent their respective ideas. Overall, the final designs of the Redux project create a unique and expressive visual representation of aspects provided by the original items.

To begin the design process, images were taken of three kitchen items that would be further reduced to icons.

The strongest images were chosen and converted to black and white. This helps with recognizing defining lines and tracing.

Using the inspiration images, sketches were made using pencil, marker, paper, and tracing paper.

In Adobe Illustrator, the Live Image Trace tool was used to digitize the sketches. Further variations of each object was then explored.

The strongest object icons were chosen and a color pallette for the kitchen store was explored.

The three icons were applied to artboards and wayfinding language was added to the signs. These are the early versions of the final composition.