Testing Results

To evaluate how well the final Capstone Design Project was completed, it is important to test the final product. To test the project Graphic Designs for Seasons, surveys were handed out with the final products to both the clientele and customers. The results of these surveys were then analyzed and a conclusion on the outcome of the project was determined.

Testing Procedures
Two different surveys were created. One for the clientele to determined how happy they were with the final products, and one for customers to see how they responded to the products. The majority of the questions asked on both of these surveys were asked in the form of a scale of numbers. The person taking the survey would answer the question by rating the answer on a scale from 1 to 10. This allows for quantitative analysis which is easier to draw conclusions from than regular open-ended questions. The survey for the client, shown partially in Figure 1.1, mainly asked questions about being happy with specific products such as the business card, the symbols, the ads, etc. Also, at the end was room to add additional comments as well as room to write about any thing they would want to change over all. This was then handed to the client with the four menus, a half page ad, a full page ad, and a business card.

The second survey, which is shown partially in Figure 1.2, was created for customers to answer. This survey asked questions about how appealing the products were, how appropriate they are for the main theme, and how easy it was to read the products and well as use them. Part of this survey asked the customer to identify with an age group. This was done to see if the products overall were better targeted to a specific age group. These surveys, as well as the four menus, a half page ad, a full page ad, and a business card, were handed out to random customers at JavaMoonCafé in Manalapan during the restaurant hours. They were given the background information of the Capstone Design Project and the project itself prior to completing the survey.

Due to difficulties in handing out the surveys to random customers, and to the excitement of the completed product by employees of JavaMoonCafé in Manalapan, the customer surveys were also handed out to those that worked at the restaurant during the testing dates of May 13th and May 14th. Also, since only one set of menus were created as well as only one full page and one half page ad, surveys were given out one at a time.

Self & Design Evaluation

I. Scope of Project
The owners of JavaMoonCafé in Manalapan are looking to get out of the JavaMoonCafé franchise and start their own business called Seasons. As a new business, the establishment would need new graphic designs to represent itself on paper. Also, seeing as Seasons would be a restaurant, the business would also need menus created.








II. Description of Solution
For my project, I created four menus, each corresponding to a different season, a business card, and a half page and full page advertisement. These items included a wordmark which I also created as part of my project.







III. Discrepancies between Original Design and Final Solution
One major discrepancy that occurred during my project was due to printing errors. Although designed exactly to scale on the computer, when printed, the dimensions of the final business card and menus were slightly smaller than what they should have been. The final dimensions were approximately 1/8” off. The business cards were completed upon printing and no issues were encountered when completing the menus which provided steps after the printing process.











IV. Successes and Failures
One success of my project included using the software Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 (Figure 2) to its full extent to create professionally looking graphics. A failure would be that when first creating the graphics for the menu, the resolution was set at 72 pixels per an inch when it should have been set at 300 pixels per an inch. Increasing the resolution of each image was time consuming but easily done.
Also, when I gave the menus to Staples to have them laminated, I never gave specific directions, nor asked how the end product would look. Because of this, the people at Staples cut the edges of the lamination themselves, presumably with scissors, and therefore also cut part of the menu. This caused the edges of the final menu to be, in some cases, crooked and even open.










V. What Was Learned From Failures
From my failures I learned to make sure the resolution on a document is at an appropriate number before working on it, and I learned to get the specific details and ask questions when working with an outside group that is performing a service for you. The next time I need something to be done, I need to clarify what it is I need and what.







VI. Learning that Occurred
From this project, I learned how to use many more aspects of the software, Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9, than what I knew existed. I also learned new terminology that applies to graphic design that helped me to better communicate with my mentor.







VII. Design Flaws in design
One of the design flaws occurs in some of the symbols of the wordmark on some of the menus. On the spring menu, the grey layer of the inside flower was never deleted and can be seen on top of the black inside lines (Figure 3.1). Also on the spring menu, the grey lines on all of the symbols are thicker than those of the other menus. On the autumn menu, the inner lines of both the leaf and flower were never thinned. The leaf symbol on all of the menus has a random drag line that was never purposely designed in the creation of the leaf symbol.(Figure 3.2)

















VIII. Improvements in Personal Characteristics
Through this project my problem solving skills greatly increased. When I encountered the problem of the resolution being the wrong size, I assessed the situation and created a way to fix the problem in the least amount of time, without losing the quality of the image. The resolution of the “artwork” on the menus could be increased without completely distorting the imagery. The wordmark had already been flatten to the layer and when the resolution of the image was increased, the wordmark had looked choppy. So instead of redoing both items, I simply cropped the wordmark out of the picture, cloned the background, and reapplied the vector wordmark. I then learned to save both the flatten copy, and the un-flattened copy in case of another mishap.
My communication skills also greatly increased. Prior to this project, I would avoid having to talk on the phone to a stranger at all costs. This project forced me to call various places such as Staples and Office Max, making me more comfortable talking on the phone. Having to e-mail my mentor, who is a stranger I have never met, was also difficult for me in the beginning of this project. Towards the end of the project, I was able to e-mail him freely with any help that I needed.
The Capstone Design Project improved my organizational skills by forcing me to deal with large amounts of files and physical documents. I had a draw in the CAD lab to keep my stuff together in school, and all files on the computer were sorted into various folders so I knew where to find what I needed when I needed it without much confusion.

IX. Conclusion
I have successfully completed my Capstone Design Project with both success and failures. The failures I was able to fix and learn from which added to the overall amount of skill and knowledge I gained from participating in the project itself. Although design flaws may be evident, they do not take away from the main purpose of the final solution. I feel I have completed this project with maximum effort which resulted in gaining new skills as well as improving on already existed ones.

Calendar for Marking Period 4