Thesis (MTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / The youth faces unique challenges due to constant movement within the global economic and technological contexts. A digitally oversaturated world with constant access to globalised, mass information makes it challenging for communication designers to reach this audience on important matters. The South African context further complicates matters as youth unemployment is at an all-time high, a lack of quality schooling continues to feed poverty and inequality, exposure to gangs, violence, trauma and sexual abuse contribute to antisocial behaviour and drug and alcohol abuse increase risky sexual behaviour. It is therefore important to connect with the youth on these matters. The need to explore the mechanisms and content which will successfully connect with a South African youth audience was identified. In response to this, this study explored what the youth considers to be meaningful communication. The main objective of this research was to explore what types of visual communication have meaning for the youth to enable communication designers to connect with the South African youth market. The study used case study methodology and data was collected qualitatively through a questionnaire and participatory methods, including two co-design workshops (with 20 participants, aged 20-27) and a small group discussion (with 5 participants). The study featured a co-design approach, which focused on collaborative meaning-making through the visualisation of communication pieces. The study identified several interconnected themes which relate to a bigger category of association. Three major categories of understanding were identified: perception (how the youth see their world); engagement (how the youth experience their world); and relevance (how the youth relate to their world). These themes provide visual communication designers with valuable insights relating to the youth audience.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-37).

Digital technologies have become fundamental to communication designers in their professional practice. The speed of technology change has been profound, and communication design educators, professionals, and students are challenged with reimagining what constitutes an education responsive to digital transformation. Attempts to address these changes have often been reactive, emphasizing digital skills requirements without always examining what practices best support design students as they prepare to pursue careers in various communication design-focused positions. The question of how educators can best prepare and support communication design students for what awaits them in the workplace is at the center of this study. Through mixed-methods research, including both survey analysis and in-depth semi-structured interviews (N=202), this dissertation attempts to answer that question by analyzing practices incorporated by communication design educators, professionals, and students.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2007. / Adviser: Timothy Jachna. Includes bibliographical references.

This research proposes that traditional typographic knowledge does not sufficiently address the design aspects specific to screen typography such as 3D space, motion, time, sound and interactivity, and that traditional design principles require adaptation and expansion for screen. This practice-­led study presents a broad critical review of the emergent field of screen typography spanning screen media technologies, traditional typographic knowledge and contemporary practice. Its findings contribute a definition of the field of practice including an overview of the history, origins and properties of screen typography, a classification of practice areas, and key practical principles used in related screen-­native disciplines such as film-­making, animation and human computer interaction design. Due to the rapidly changing technological environment of the screen, obsolescence is a key concern for this research and highlights the need for sustainable typographic design methodologies not aligned to specific technology. In this context, and following a literature review of traditional design principles, the work of Emil Ruder (1914-­‐1970), a Swiss modernist typographer was identified as distinguishable in the field and particularly relevant to screen typography because of his holistic design approach underpinned by conceptual principles and systematic practical methods. This thesis provides a detailed analysis of Ruder’s methods set out in his book Typographie: a manual for design (1967) and uses the findings to develop an experimental practice methodology for screen typography. The developed methodology sets out a matrix of the constituent parts of typographic design practice that include: typographic elements, typographic properties, and design principles, which can be combined to create practical exercises in screen typography. The practice matrix was evaluated through peer review, then tested and applied in practice to the design of a series of experimental practical samples and online repository type4screen, and to an iPad app of T.S. Eliot’s 1922 poem, The Waste Land.

Luxury fashion brands face a new challenge as to how to sustain brand growth while maintaining the exclusivity of brands due to the democratisation of the luxury phenomenon which is mainly driven by the emergence of ‘new luxury’ and changes of consumption style ‘trading up’. Luxury consumers are becoming disillusioned with the vulgarisation of luxury goods and prefer exclusive luxurious experiences. In order to keep pace with the changes in luxury consumer needs and promote an image with creative and luxurious connotations, luxury brands increasingly associate with contemporary visual art through diverse kinds of channels. Among the channels, great attention has been given to contemporary visual art exhibitions within a flagship store due to its benefits: geographical location, cutting investment cost and offering direct art experience to consumers. However, there is no theoretical research investigating the main points to be considered in applying contemporary visual art exhibitions to flagship stores of luxury fashion brands. Moreover, there is a need for a systematic approach in applying contemporary visual art exhibitions to flagship stores of luxury fashion brands as relying mainly on a designer’s intuition might pose a problem: delivering different messages from those intended. Through the research, four main propositions were identified which need to be considered when luxury fashion brands apply contemporary visual art exhibitions to their flagship stores: 1) brand communication with consumers, 2) the fit between brand identity and that of an artist, 3) consumers’ value/benefits in the way that enhance consumers’ aesthetic experience of art and 4) artists’ value/benefits. Models including a conceptual model and a design tool kit were developed and tested with experts in this field. The proposed models are decision supporting tools which provide a comprehensive overview regarding the main points to be considered as well as support finding a high fit artist to brand identity. They offer advantages as follows: 1) the conceptual framework improves understanding of the needs/values of the three main stake holders such as luxury fashion brands, consumers and artists for this practice and provides an insight into how to address them in applying contemporary visual art exhibitions to flagship stores of luxury fashion brands 2) the tool kit assists in making a decision when selecting artists or artworks and offers benefits to all the stake holders: 1) luxury brand value by managing their touch points effectively that ultimately lead to enhancing brand communication, 2) consumer value by preventing confusion caused by disharmonious messages from all the touch points within flagship stores, and 3) artist value by finding a matched brand for synergy between brands and artists.

因為今天四通八達的無線通信網絡對高速高質量通信的要求,加之無線通信資源的稀缺,使得資源分配在無線通信領域的地位越發的重要.多種多樣的無線通信資源和不同的設計要永使得資源分配問題變得很複雜,我們也很難找到一個通用的方法去解決所有的資源分配問題.在本文中, 我們研究一些典型的資源分配問題,通過最優化設計,給出恰當的高效的算法予以解決.本文中將會涉及集中化算法和分佈式算法。 / 在本文中, 我們首先研究協作通信中的功率分配和中繼選擇問題。這個問題因為其問題的組合性而變得很複雜。為了保證系統的性能並且同時避免過量的冗餘信息, 我們提出了一個新的概念"中繼選擇自由度"。更重要的是, 為了使我們的方法能夠適用於集中信息很難的大型通信系統, 我們提出了分佈式的解決方案。該方法在實際中可以比較簡單的實現。 / 我們接著研究多用戶接入網絡的"軟"服務質量控制問題。我們這裡考慮的情形是:用戶們有各自的服務質量要求, 比如有一個目標速率。因為系統的資源總是有限的, 如果有過多用戶, 那麼同時滿足所有用戶的服務質量要求有時候是不可能的。我們的目標是在這種情況發生的時候,優化整個系統的資源分配。我們提出了分佈式算法來解決這一個問題。 / 最後, 我們研究下行鏈中的波束成形問題。這裡我們出於實際情況考慮,系統中存在兩種用戶:優先用戶和非優先用戶。我們想要盡可能最大化的提升非優先用戶的性能,同時必須首先滿足優先用戶的服務質量用要求。我們這裡用不同的波束成形向量來完成這個任務。這個問題是NP問題,我們做了必要的一些放鬆處理來得到有效的較優的解。 / Due to the limited resources and high performance requirements in today’s wireless networks, optimization methods in resource allocation play a significant role in reaping the benefits from wireless communications. Various available resources and different design goals make the resource allocation problem complex and we are unlikely to find a generic approach for all problems. Thus in this thesis, we investigate several resource allocation problems and propose the proper optimization methods and algorithms that can efficiently give us desired solutions. Also, both centralized and distributed methods will be shown in this thesis. / We first study the joint power allocation and relay selection problem in cooperative communication. This problem is complex due to its combinatorial nature. In order to avoid high information overhead and system complexity while at the same time maintain system performance, we introduce a new concept called “relay selection degree bound“. Moreover, since in large scale cooperative communication network, collecting information and centralized control would be very difficult, we resort to distributed algorithms that can be easily implemented in practice. / We further consider the soft QoS control problem in multiple access network. Here we consider the situation where the users have quality of service(QoS) requirements, i.e., each user has a target rate for its application. Since the resources in the system are limited, these requirements will result in the infeasibility of the whole system if there are too many users. We aim at optimizing the performance of the whole system while this kind of infeasibility happens. We will see how distributed algorithms can work for this problem and give us desired results. / We finally consider the downlink beamforming problem where there are two kind of users in the system: priority users and non-priority users. We maximize the non-priority users performance while at the same time satisfying the priority users’ QoS requirements first. Here we adopt heterogeneous beamforming scheme to complete the task. Since the problem is NP hard, relaxation is done for efficient solutions. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Fang, Haoran. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-81). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.iv / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Motivation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Background --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Wireless Communication Schemes --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Mathematical Preliminaries --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Outline of the Thesis --- p.11 / Chapter 2 --- Resource Allocation for Cooperative Communication Networks --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Chapter Introduction --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- system model and problem formulation --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- optimal power allocation scheme for arbitrary configuration --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4 --- Relay selection in the MAC layer --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Algorithm Design --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Distributed Implementation of The Relay Selection Algorithm --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5 --- Numerical Results --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- The Convergence of Distributed Power Allocation Algorithm --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Performance of The Overall Cross Layer Solution --- p.34 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Improvements of Heuristic Markov algorithm --- p.36 / Chapter 2.6 --- Chapter Conclusions --- p.38 / Chapter 3 --- Soft QoS Control in Multiple Access Network --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2 --- system model --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3 --- Feasibility check and soft QoS control --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Feasibility Check --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Soft QoS Control --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Distributed Soft QoS Control --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Numerical Results --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4 --- Chapter Conclusion --- p.57 / Chapter 4 --- Heterogeneous resource allocation via downlink beamforming --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2 --- system model --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3 --- heterogeneous resource allocation via beamforming --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Relaxation and problem analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Randomization for final solutions --- p.66 / Chapter 4.4 --- Numerical Results --- p.69 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.70 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and Future Work --- p.73 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusions --- p.73 / Chapter 5.2 --- Future Work --- p.74 / Bibliography --- p.76

What are ‘educational typefaces’ and why are they needed today? Do Arabic beginners need special typefaces that can simplify learning further? If so, what features should they have? Research findings on the complexity of learning Arabic confirm that the majority of language textbooks and pedagogic materials lead to challenging learning environments due to the poor quality of book design, text-heavy content and the restricted amount of visuals used. The complexity of the data and insufficient design quality of the learning materials reviewed in this practice-based research demand serious thought toward simplification, involving experts in the fields of graphic communication, learning and typeface design. The study offers solutions to some of the problems that arise in the course of designing language-learning books by reviewing selected English learning and information design books and methods of guidance for developing uniform learning material for basic Arabic. Key findings from this study confirm the significant role of Arabic designers and educators in the production of efficient and effective learning materials. Their role involves working closely with Arabic instructors, mastering good language skills and being aware of the knowledge available. Also, selecting legible typefaces with distinct design characteristics to help fulfil various objectives of the learning unit. This study raises awareness of the need for typefaces that can attract people to learn Arabic more easily within a globalized world. The absence of such typefaces led to the exploration of simplified twentieth-century Arabic typefaces that share a similar idea of facilitating reading and writing, and resolving script and language complexity issues. This study traces their historical context and studies their functional, technical and aesthetic features to incorporate their thinking and reassign them as learning tools within the right context. The final outcome is the construction of an experimental bilingual Arabic-English language book series for Arab and non-Arab adult beginners. The learning tools used to create the book series were tested through workshops in Kuwait and London to measure their level of simplification and accessibility. They have confirmed both accessibility and incompatibility within different areas of the learning material of the books and helped improve the final outcome of the practice. The tools have established the significant role of educational typefaces, bilingual and graphic communication within visual Arabic learning.

Yuan, Yan. / Thesis submitted in: November 2007. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-87). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Wireless Mesh Network --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Architecture Overview --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Routing Protocols --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2 --- Contribution of this Thesis --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of this Thesis --- p.8 / Chapter 2 --- Background and Literature Review --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- VoIP on Wireless Mesh Networks --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Performance of VoIP on Wireless Mesh Networks --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Optimizations for VoIP over Wireless Mesh Networks --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Path and Packet Aggregation Scheme --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2 --- Network Coding on Wireless Mesh Networks --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- The Concept of Network Coding --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Related Work --- p.16 / Chapter 3 --- Adaptive Path and Packet Aggregation System --- p.19 / Chapter 3.1 --- Overview --- p.19 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Adaptive Path Aggregation Routing Algorithm --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Protocol Overview --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Data Structure --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- The Concept of Link Weight and Path Weight --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- APA Operations --- p.27 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Packet Aggregation System --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Overview --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Packet structure --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Local Compression --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Packet Aggregation/Disaggregation --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4 --- Performance Analysis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Integration of the path aggregation routing protocol and the packet aggregation system --- p.46 / Chapter 3.5 --- Performance Evaluation --- p.48 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Testbed Setup --- p.48 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Packet aggregation --- p.48 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Combined scenario: path and packet aggregation --- p.58 / Chapter 3.6 --- Summary --- p.65 / Chapter 4 --- Network Coding System in wireless network --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1 --- Overview --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2 --- System Architecture --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Packet Format --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Encoding and decoding --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3 --- Performance Evaluation --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Experiment Setup --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Performance Metric --- p.72 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Experiment Results --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.79 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and Future Directions --- p.82

This thesis describes the development of a model of the relationships between the designer and their visual outcome that is intended to assist the designers understanding and management of the viewer experience. To date the focus of design discourse has been towards theories of interpretation that offer methods to decode messages, one of the more significant being semiotics. The application of semiotic theory to the field of design has enabled a greater understanding of how meaning is produced in visual communication, it does not account for how the designer affects the type of engagement the viewer has with the material which is a significant aspect of the communication process. The aim of this research is to develop a model of the design/visual outcome relationship that will assist designer’s management of viewer experience. To develop this model, the author examined literary theory as it is a discourse that has analysed its own creative process extensively. While there are many useful parallels that can be drawn between design and literary discourses, it is the notion of distance that is the most useful for this research. Through modifying the textual devices used by an author to create these varying distances, a model that identifies four types of visual narrators was developed – Idiosyncratic, Implicit, Imperative and Esoteric. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of the design concept of distance as a method of analysis for design and proposes how the designers might adopt distance method for considering the viewer experience during the design process, as opposed to leaving it to semioticians to critique post-publication / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Design)