Unit 1, Blog Entry 2: Attention Economy
Being newer to the graphic design industry, I have found it interesting to learn more about the shifts that graphic designers have had to make in recent years. It seems that we are constantly adapting and changing. Coming into the industry, my original assumption was that graphic designers made things look appealing but there is so much more that goes into a project. Not only do we research the project in depth (from our competitors to the impact on the environment) we also have many tools to use and technology to keep up with. How do we get our message across in a world of so much information that is all easily accessible? Is putting an advertisement on Youtube or during an NBC show on the computer effective? If not, how do we make it effective and what behaviors will the user have while it’s on? Will they get up and walk away or check their email on their phone during the commercial? We have created a world of “attention economy.” The growth and constant change of technology has caused us to compete for people’s attention. People can only take so much into their mind and we as designers have to figure out how to be the most effective capture their attention.
Not only do we have multiple kinds of information or tools (the television, computer, tablet, cell phone, etc.) competing but information is constantly being added on social media like Twitter and Facebook and can be gone in an instant because of the constant flow of newer information. I find myself with the television on in the background while I work on ten different things and checking my several email accounts and social media. How can we as designers do better at gaining the attention of the user?
(For some reason the blog isn’t allowing me to insert this video so here’s the link – http://www.youtube.com/v/owGykVbfgUE?)