HedoneDesign | BlackBerry themes

HDTP stands for HedoneDesign Theme Procedure. HDTP tells you that the theme was made from a well-defined steps and therefore ensures maximum quality, usability and speed.

We need to be aware that only the right production concept, experience and knowledge of tools can lead to a result which is suitable to our clients.
HDTP includes all the steps of theme developing. Starting with a theme sketch, the basic plot of the curves, importing material for graphic processing, export graphics in the correct format, a review of graphic material, and finally the formation of theme.

The basic idea, and every piece of graphic material can cause excessive memory consumption of your BlackBerry® Smartphone. This leads to slow performance and customer dissatisfaction.
HDTP tells you that the theme is made by a mapping procedure that allows you to be satisfied with the final product.

Below is shown the first few steps in the development of one of HedoneDesign theme.

Many users expressed their wish to learn more about the process of making a HedoneDesign Theme. There is much talk and chat about themes, many reviews of them, and there are numerous theme designers – but only a few address the making of a theme, the design, the effort needed to compose a theme. This article will show you what we do, how we do it and help you better understand our work and themes.

The process always includes several persons because this is how we ensure best quality and include more and better ideas directly during the process.

It is wrong to assume that a BlackBerry® theme can be made in a day or two. Ok, it can be done – but WE never did it so fast. The process of graphics design solely takes anywhere from a week up to two, and then the theme needs to be assembled in theme builder, animated, tested and HedoneDesign Quality approved.

The production of a theme starts with an idea. We designate people to collaborate on a theme and we go through the ideas, which would make your BlackBerry® not only different, but also more useful. We always try to exclude factors which could influence (in a negative way) the operation of your BlackBerry.

The image (001) is showing a sketch made when drafting one of the themes. Many ideas are first thrown on paper. The basic set-up is checked. This part of the process is important because the theme needs to be functional and shall be placed beautifully onto the screen of your BlackBerry.

When we finish the idea part of the job we are left with guidelines which tell us enough to draw a quick sketch (002), which will be the foundation of the design. The sketch contains the basic information about how additional functions, gauges and multifunctional icons shall be included in the design. It is therefore impossible to »loose« any of the fundamental parts and we should possibly force it in after the work is almost done and into a position where it does not fit perfectly.

The sketch therefore contains various short and precise descriptions about which part represents what and how it shall function (003).

The sketch is reviewed and evaluated – if we decide to make at theme from it, we start drafting the basic vectors, which then shall make up into a beautifully designed graphics. The vectors are developed in stages and are used for various theme segments. First we design the basic shape of the future theme (004). Each circle and edge is exported separately so we have the option to manipulate each segment of the design separately.

Based on the basic vectors we then add elements, needed for functionality of the theme.

On the image (005) you can see additional spaces for icons, and the image (006) shows how we’ve created the battery and signal gauges. All elements are then again exported separately so we can use them separately in the final design.

When we are done with the vectors we need to start manipulating colours and adding effects which will give life to the graphic design. Each step is separately tested on BlackBerries of all kinds, because the look & feel of the computer cannot give us the actual impression. The first of the steps is shown in image (007).

We haven’t used the right background in this step, nor did we use the exact effects. It is about setting the foundation which will later be the point of departure for the ongoing design and adding other elements.

Icons are one of the basic thinks in all themes, therefore they are one of the first thinks to be added in the graphic design. The image (008) shows the foreseen design from an image where icons are arranged at the upper part of the internal circle. After thinking about it we realised they should be placed in a different way.

The image (009) already shows the ideal solution for placing the icons. This solution allows enough space for icons and enables good resolution and visibility. We add the battery and signal gauge thus creating the first working prototype which serves as the starting point for sorting out the functionalities of the theme. The animator and the designer have to find out how to compose the theme, which segments are going to be animated, how to arrange the graphic elements sorting etc.

After finalising the basic icon set-up we need to arrange the set-up of focused icons. In this case we decided to use icon darkening for the focusing function (010). We always need to be careful to emphasize the focus in two ways at least – thus enabling, besides the icon focus, also the focus which enables that the icons of programs which are not part of the operating system to be focused as well. Many software producers forget about automatic focusing of icons when they are selected.

After reviewing the design we add the final elements, details and particulars, which make the design alive and really make it shine out on your BlackBerry® Smartphone. Among these details you will find shading correction, glow, colour balancing and background additions, which are used in the final theme (011).

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