10. Screens and Light

I'm still flushing out the visual design of the Hub system, particularly focusing on typography and color. The logo has been set with an inline, but I'd like it to take a step further conceptually. Sure it looks fun, and even has a bit of modern and vintage flare, but what sets it apart from all the other inline typefaces out there? So I returned to what my app is all about: Maps. So using the inline to reflect a road system or grid has produced some interesting, although busy and fractured possibilities for the Hub logo. I'll be moving forward with simple versions, and possibly some variations in line wait to differentiate possible major and minor roads.


At the midsemester critique, outdoor lighting was brought up as a possible issue when considering the contrast of the design and how colors influence this when on screen outside with the iphone. This of course greatly matters to my system as it would exist almost completely outdoors, and needs to hold up to the glare of the sun. Type itself is one of my main concerns, as it's legibility will serve as the best test of success when dealing with this environmental challenge. Below are 4 images of different color combinations. The first 2 directions have 5 colors in the palette, while the last 2 have a max of 3. The 3 color limitation restricts color to black, white, and a single high contrast color; In this case yellow and orange, reflecting road safety systems and signage as well as caution. The 3 color options seem to provide far more contrast, so I'll be continuing with orange, black, and white.

Another viewing option for night was brought up later in an in class discussion. Most GPS units in cars have a secondary night time display mode for when the sun goes down. This way the colors and light aren't bright enough to distract or annoy the driver. I'm considering this as a possibility for the hub application as well, but as the application doesn't function while the rider is in motion, I'm not certain that the brighter colors and lit screen could or would distract a cyclist on their route. I might put it as an option in the system, but only dedicate a few seconds in the first scenario to show it as an option.

I've also began designing a few frames for the Missouri Department of Transportation desktop/ website end of the system. Rather than animating a 3rd scenario for the final presentation of Hub, I'll be putting a few screens at the end of the first 2 presentations. In this way, the MoDot users can be seen reacting to the catalyst the rider users provide when posting safety hazards and imagery.