Download - First Impressions

First Impressions Jamie Gomez

Everyone has first impressions.

You had a first impression when you

first glanced at this book. Conscious-

ly or not you tried to figure out the

content by looking at the front cover.

Based on their personal first

impression, most graphic designers

try to gain meaning from everything

visual around them, but by having a

deeper knowledge and understanding

of first impressions, the communica-

tion in your design will improve.

We as humans can use our first

impressions of others as a defense

mechanism. We can choose things

that we don’t feel are going to be of

any use, a waste of time or a

potentially dangerous situation in a

matter of seconds simply from a

negative first impression.

If you look or talk to a stranger, it is

easily possible to create a life story

for them based on the way they are

dressed, talk or behave.

We deconstruct this information and

create a first impression judged by

out perceptions without gaining a

full understanding. of the subject.

As a designer it is very important,

when visually communicating to try

and break this barrier and think in

different ways.

Try and see the world through the

eyes of the person you are trying to

communicate with and understand

what their first impressions are. What

turns them on and off?

To further understand how first

impressions work I have tried to

understand the first impressions of

people and from that I will be able

to transfer the skills to good graphic

design.

The idea is to ask people one

question and hopefully from their

answers I could gain a deeper

understanding of first impressions.

The interesting thing about this idea

is that when you ask people this

question, you already have a first

impression imprinted into your mind.

When the question is answered, you

are often shocked and the way you

deconstruct first impressions starts to

change.

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover. Its Easier Said Than Done.

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What do you think people’s first impression is of you?

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Covent Garden 16.03 GMT

I don’t need to say much, thats just

the way I am. People like to

chatter and chatter away, whereas I

am wiser and listen to the bullshit

that people speak and generally just

answer questions when they are

answered.

Ewan

I guess I am upbeat, enthusiastic,

well I hope so. I never want to

offend anyone, thats why I always

try to appear approachable and

treat everyone how I would want

to be treated.

Mattheias

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ChrisNo photo. No Answer


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Yeah, like I said, I’m busy

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

No, I’m busy.

You’re waiting for a bus

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I recon that my first impression is

that I am approachable and friendly.

I have to be, because if I was not,

I should really not be a comedy club

promoter.

Kosta

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I feel like people look at me and think im dangerous. I get the feeling that people feel uncertain around me.

Roy

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Vincent I’d say I am good looking and relaxed,

well thats the impression that I try

to give off.

I think that everyone has an ideal

first impression, its whether they cre-

ate it or not.

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We’re approachable, I hope that we

come across that way, if we didnt

then we are not really doing our

job well!

Lisa & Terry

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Good looking. Arrogant.

Fashionable. Enough said really...

Andrew & Gabriel

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I would say that i am easy to know,

happy, smiley and approachable,

although not alot of people do ap-

proach me.

Antti

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You alright mate, do you mind if I

ask you a few questions?

Nah, Nah, I saw that you are

giving out cd’s and I wanted to ask

you what type of tunes

you make.

Sounds good man, can I get a copy?

Here ya go, here is 3 quid.

Your not from the council are you?

Oh yeah, ha, no worries man, yeah I

make everything man, indie with hip

hop over the top, yeah man, its new

and its fresh.

Yeah of course man, pay how ever

much you think its worth.

The Con-ArtistQ A

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I’m good looking, thats about it.

Just one good looking guy.

Tony

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Im a phycologist, I find it very

interesting that you have asked me

this question, because it is a very

difficult question to answer. I would

say that I am absent minded.

Makku

22

I dont know. People normally say

im straight talking, but i dont know

if that is the impression I give off.

I dont go around giving opinions, if

people ask me to give my opinion, I

do.

Lin

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I think that people look at me and

think, “mum” because its what I

am and i base my life around my

children.

Margret

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I would say the same thing, as

margret, im a grandma, I love my

grand children, and when people

normally look at an old person, they

always think the same thing, old or

grandparent.

Beth

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AndyA lot of people think I am a police

man, because of the uniform.

Out of my work clothes I would say

im quite arrogant, very loud and very

chatty, I wont be quiet for more than

five minutes.

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I think people would think im shy.Im quite loud, people normally look

at me like, “what a weirdo”

I would rather not say

Selena AlisonI recon people look at me think im

good looking, ha, oh my god that

sounded so bad, but i am quite

pretty.

BeccaAlex

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My first impression would be, “oh

dont mess with him, he looks a bit

tough, when infact, im the most

harmless guy you’ll meet. I think its

the hair or lack of, that gives the

impression I’m a hard nut.

m a pianist. would not have thought

that would ya?

Jay

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I’d say I appear focused. i know

what i want and i know how to get

it. If i dont know how to get it, i’ll

find out.

Dave

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Look i dont have time for your ques-

tions and stuff, I cant stop and talk

because i have lots of contracts with

many important people.

Im a busy man you know.

Gold men

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Anthony & MiriamPeople look at us and think we’re a

happy couple because thats what

we are.

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What? Right now? People probably

think we look like a bunch of idiots.

What more would you expect on a

stag do.

Tim, Tom, Dan &Robin

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Im a teacher, so it depends whether

the person views me at work or not.

at work, im that teacher that no one

messes with, and i have created that

impression. Outside of work, I give

off the impression of just a normal

person, casual.

Linda

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I’m not doing any of your pschycology shit mate

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Piss off and just let me get on with

my work

Bin Man

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SoueffApproachable. I have to be. If I was

not approachable, you wouldnt have

picked to choose me to talk to. It

is important for my job that I am

approachable, otherwise I would not

make any money and lose my job.

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People think im wild because of the

hair, the piercings and my outer

image. I think that puts people off

getting to know me. I’m down to

earth, people just dont bother to get

to know me because of my outer

shell.

Joanne

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Im a pretty jolly person, and i think

people would think that when they

look at me. Im happy pretty much all

the time, im rarely sad.

If someone were to meet me and

have a first impression of me on an

off day, i dont think they would ever

talk to me again.

Amanda

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CarlosMoody, Because i am a very moody

person. To be frankly honest with

you, you are pissing me off a little

bit with your questions.

45

When people look at me, they

probably think, “who’s that charming

young man?”What about when your

out of uniform?Yeah definatley the

same thing..

Can I take a photo of you?

No

Chris

46

Good god I have no idea and if I

knew, I’d probabley change it. I’m in

a rush, got to go.

Gary

47

People think I am strange or foreign,

because of my accent, but i guess

people would also say I am likeable.

Mani

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People would most likely think I’m

positive and cool.

Ron

49

I guess I’m mouthy, confident, quite

arty, maybe even a surfer dude. Im

always energetic, so yeah, I rekon

people think I’m energetic.

James

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Yeah, I’ve got a friendly face,

everyone loves my face.

Connor

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Im just your run of the mill, happy

guy. I like to appear optimistic and

hopeful. I let god work through me

and with his strength and power

anything is possible.

Benjamin

54

Tim & TomWe’’ are just two cool guys

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People would look at me and think,

“oh god she’s overweight”. I mean I’d

love to be seen as sexy, but I dont

really think that it comes across much.

To be honest it depends on whether

you just see someone or you speak to

them.

Tracy

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TomI dont know really

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People probably think I’m a loner. I don’t really depends on oth-ers and I am pretty happy doing things by myself.

Steve

60

HenryAn Old man, what a stupid question. What do you see when you look at me?

Um.. An old man.

Exactly.

You have a point there Henry

61

MauroI don’t know really, people probably

think I’m a nice guy.

62

MuratJust a geek really

63

MarcusQuite cool, you know, people would

look at me and think, this guy has

got style, he’s cool.

MuratJust a geek really

64

How u doing? Don’t worry I’m not

trying to sell you anything or ask for

money. I basically want to ask you

one question.

What do you think other people’s

first impression is of you?

Yeah, If thats ok.

Hurry up, I’m on my break.

Rather not.

Yes.

Go on.

No idea.

Guess your going to ask me for a

photo arnt u?

And do u mind if I ask you your first

name?

66

NeilOff putting I guess. I don’t really

hang around with the ‘right crowd’

as it were. It could be because of

where I work aswell. Did you know

that they did some reasearch be-

cause Toni & Guy were losing cus-

tomers and the results showed that

the staff were not friendly enough.

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SteveTired, knackered, Exhausted stressed.. anything else?

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RajDepends on what I’m doing really

or how I feel.

70

CharlottePeople look at me and think scary.

I guess thats good because for the

job. A lot of my friends have said to

me about their first impressions of

me and it is always, “I thought you

were so scary when I first met you”,

but underneath I’m a big softy.

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References

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