Reply To: Report from Scandinavia

[Glenn Millam]

The more I look at the 2 versions of this second design, I do not like it. I will give my thoughts couched in answers to Charles’ concerns.

Charles Wilcox wrote: Glenn, a few thoughts (#4 is the most important):

1. Is it necessary to have the plus sign between ‘H’ and ‘B’? Since the diagram arrows imply they are combining, the plus sign is redundant.

I am beginning to question the idea of having the entire reaction on the shirt. We shouldn’t assume that people know much about physics or scientific diagrams. I put the “+” in there after thinking about how someone with little knowledge would think about the diagram… there was little for them to grab onto. Diagrams such as these are too arcane for most viewers. They would understand a plus sign, and see that there are two things being added together. Still, I think it is too complicated, too messy, and too abstract for the average viewer, and it detracts from the aesthetics of the design as a whole.

Charles Wilcox wrote: 2. Should there be a depiction of the temporary ‘C’ atom formed where ‘H’ and ‘B’ combine?

3. The ‘He’lium symbol shouldn’t be in the center of the reaction; there should be three arrows going away from the center with three ‘He’lium labels on the output nuclei, just like the two nuclei going into the reaction.

4. Where’s the energy release depicted?! The whole point is that this is a huge source of energy. It needs to be listed along with the ‘He’lium output, but with much more emphasis; bigger font, bold… something. Actually, I’d place it at the center as some “explosive” icon with a “+ 8.7 MeV” label. The ‘He’lium output lines that I suggested in point 3 should then come away from that explosion.

Like I said, I believe the diagram concept may be too much for the t-shirt’s scope. What is the purpose of the shirt? Two things, I think. First is to be an interesting thing for people who wish to support the project to wear around their friends, and make a statement. Second, it should peak a viewer’s curiosity about the message the shirt is conveying, and get them to visit the website for a proper education. Wearable advertising that people will actually wear.

Thats why I like Reswan’s tag-line for the shirt. People have an idea of what fusion is, and they know that we still have yet to make it work as an energy source. Telling them its closer then they think plays on their hopes to get them to find out more.

My placement of the He in the center of the burst was to show the timeline of the diagram, i.e. 3 He atoms and a lot of energy (the burst) are the end result. Still, I think that this weakens the whole message. People do not care about how it happens so much as they care IF it can happen. I am thinking about reducing the whole diagram down to what is really important about focus fusion, which is that it will make hydrogen-boron fusion energy a reality.

Perhaps we can make this shirt two-sided, and on the back have a short list of the main benefits of focus fusion, and put a more detailed diagram there. Maybe even include a link to the “What Is It?” section of the website, assuming that people will have time to memorize it from reading someone’s moving back.

The energy release is in the purple starburst background. It is the object showing the energy from focus fusion, and is also meant to be what draws the eye.

Charles Wilcox wrote: 5. With the current top-to-bottom layout, it will be cramped if you add any of these details. Changing the reaction to proceed left-to-right would give you room to expand, and keep the very top and bottom text where it is.

I didn’t intend to be critical of the current design, but I do think my ideas would provide clarity and potency to the idea depicted.

Please be critical. This is the time to hash out ideas. The nice thing about CafePress is that, for no money down, you can create lots of different concepts and sell them all on shirts (or mugs, or all sorts of stuff). I don’t see a problem with making several designs with different goals.

A t-shirt design with a well-made and attractive diagram may not be the best design in mixed company, but worn by a physics student in class, it might turn some heads, and win some converts. I will work on that next, after I get this one out the door.

I guess the way to think about this current design is that it is intended for a general audience, and it does its work by drawing the eye (the burst), putting a question in the viewers head (the tag-line), and gives them a way to sate their new-found curiosity (the URL). Another design can be for showing the hard science behind focus fusion, for those who have more knowledge on the subject.

Charles Wilcox wrote: P.S. I really like the stylized plasma focus you created here for the background.

Thanks. You have no idea how much time I spent trying to get that to work right.