keep in mind that the more visual you make your research, the more likely it will be reviewed and understood. it is your job as designers to communicate this information clearly and in an engaging manner. as i mentioned in class, it is much more useful to visualize your research in ways that show patterns, similarities, differences, and any other relationships you discover. consider the lowly list vs a mind map:
the list shows no relationships between items -- it is simply linear organization. this mind map, simple as it is with its "mini-lists" at least starts to show relationships between foods. you can certainly go beyond this mind map in how you might show patterns, similarities, differences, and other relationships in the content you are finding.
so, how do you clarify and organize your thoughts on a] what branding is and how it works, b] architecture brands in general, and c] the current state of k-state design+make branding in ways that show [with minimal "telling"] the depth of your understanding on these topics?
how can you visualize your research and annotate/comment on it in ways that make sense to others, even in your absence?
a quick word about research sources
i mentioned to some of you [most of you?] the alina wheeler book "designing brand identity" and to a small group of you the usefulness of looking for information [e.g. architecture brand identities] beyond what google can get you. i am serious when i make those suggestions. if you expect to do quality work sitting inside your studio with a laptop, you will find yourself ill-prepared for serious design work. besides, all other average designers already work that way. i expect to come into studio wednesday to see lots of things culled from the real world in addition to internet searches -- identity design books, logo books, architecture firm collateral, photographs, and anything else you think will help you in this pursuit. use the library -- it's their job to help you research. call up architecture firms, tell them you're a student, tell them what you're doing, and ask for promotional pieces or even a sample of their stationery set. go take photos of the signs on architecture studio façades. find the stuff k-state has already made and look at it. if you have not already, actually read some of the material that david sent us. generally act like a sponge at this point so the visual design work you are about to do is the smartest it can be. and have fun doing it!