Framing is likely one of my favorite parts of design; it can often mean the difference between a messy draft and a finished product. Sometimes the existence of a frame can make a design seem more professional, such as with some album or book covers; other times, the frame can make a design seem more amateur. I often play around with framing in my work; both writing and design. I’ll use frames to draw the eye to a certain spot in a design, or I’ll use a lack of a frame to create a feeling of open-air and freedom. My mom also plays with frames in her work; she mats her photographs to make them pop, and keeps her paintings as unframed canvases by choosing to paint the edges instead and add depth.
Language frames communication in both science and everyday life. In survey-based science, word choice is called framing. Depending on how a sentence is phrased, the question may influence how a survey-taker responds. For example, the question ‘Do people spend 30 minutes or an hour online’ would elicit a smaller numerical answer than ‘Do people spend an hour or ten hours online’. In this way, the survey is not always the most accurate form of information gathering.
Windows and doors frame everyday life. Smaller windows may make a space feel enclosed, or a building intimidating, while large windows can create a sense of freedom. Large doors are often intimidating and can be a representation of power, while smaller doors create an air of adventure and mystery; I know when I was young, I always got excited to see what was behind a tiny door at a friend’s house, even if it ended up just being pipes and vents.
