How to Apply to DTS
Summary
While working with Dallas Theological Media Pro team, I was given a simple video covering the application process. (The project had been sitting on the shelf, already started by a previous team member, and just needed to be done.) The content, which was very informative, afforded some broll. Most of the video, however, would be screen recordings of a mock person named “Gala Greens” clicking through the online application.
If you’re imagining a very dull and painful video to watch, you would be experiencing my own anticipation before beginning this project. Even with broll and upbeat music, the potential for a painful three minutes was high. Thankfully, my experience as a graphic designer came into play. Where film faced its limits, graphic design brought life.
Three simple decisions made a huge impact. One, manage viewers’ focus. Two, add visual interest. Three, increase readability. I hope you enjoy these next few minutes.
Three Simple Decisions Changed Everything
![How to Apply: Design Brought Focus, ex 1](https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_1.jpg 1008w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_1-300x168.jpg 300w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_1-768x429.jpg 768w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_1-90x50.jpg 90w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_1-650x363.jpg 650w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_1-1000x559.jpg 1000w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_1-50x28.jpg 50w)
![How to Apply: Design Brought Focus, ex 3](https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_3.jpg 1008w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_3-300x168.jpg 300w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_3-768x429.jpg 768w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_3-90x50.jpg 90w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_3-650x363.jpg 650w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_3-1000x559.jpg 1000w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_3-50x28.jpg 50w)
![How to Apply: Design Brought Focus, ex 4](https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_4.jpg 1008w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_4-300x168.jpg 300w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_4-768x429.jpg 768w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_4-90x50.jpg 90w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_4-650x363.jpg 650w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_4-1000x559.jpg 1000w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_4-50x28.jpg 50w)
![How to Apply: Design Brought Focus, ex 2](https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_2.jpg 1008w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_2-300x168.jpg 300w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_2-768x429.jpg 768w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_2-90x50.jpg 90w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_2-650x363.jpg 650w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_2-1000x559.jpg 1000w, https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Focus_2-50x28.jpg 50w)
Manage Viewers’ Focus
We took screen recordings of the online application. These recordings often contained a lot of visual noise.
The voice-over refered to a specific portion of the screen, but the entire screen was shown.
So, when appropriate, to manage viewers’ focus, I added a soft blur to everything except the content being referenced. In one situation, I even highlighted the words.
Add Visual Interest
![How to Apply: Design Brought Interest, ex](https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Interest_1.jpg?time=1722031662)
![How to Apply: Design Brought Readability, ex1](https://m12e50.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/screenshot_h2a_Readability_1.jpg?time=1722031662)
Increase Readability
Final Video
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/A8d12nkYv0o/maxresdefault.jpg)