Theme: the mem'ry lingers on...
The visual theme or style is determined
by the content, the audience, and goals. The best theme is one
that ties into the content to provide an integrated message .The
task of the the multimedia designer is ultimately world building,
and the theme is the environment by which the concept is fleshed
out.
A theme can be developed with graphics,
or an idea can be advanced by consistent use of metaphors
that reflect a real world environment. These elements will be
incorporated into the interface design.
The use of metaphors to model a real
world environment should not merely reflect the world that is
familiar to your end user, but it should expand it.
Example of metaphor: the use of a trashcan
icon on a Macintosh is a metaphor that communicates a function
that stays consistent over time. The end user can reasonably
expect to remove unwanted data in the same way household garbage
is handled.
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