OUGD202 - Brief 1 - Silent Movie

Silent Movie

Select a word from the randomiser

Produce a minimum of 5 x five second animated sequence that explore the visual communication of this word through the use of letterform only.

Background

Software will not save a bad idea. An application of fundamental design principles, appropriate research and development methods and the ability to evaluate the communication of ideas are what you need.

Designing for Digital Media is all about organisation. Once you have worked out what you want to do there is a range of systematic approaches that can be used to develop your ideas. Working to restrictions is essential. You will become aware of what you can and can't do with the time and technology available. Live with it and learn to think creatively around the problems that you encounter.


Mandatory Requirements

• The word that you have chosen (or the letters included in those words) must be used in each of your resolutions.
• Your resolution must be produced using Adobe After Effects and be delivered as a QuickTime Movie
• You should work to an aspect ratio of 16:9
• You can only use black, white and one other colour (the colour can alter for each resolution)

Deliverables

5 x 5 second animated sequences

5 x 15 frame post production storyboards

Test pieces/sequences, design sheets and test storyboards appropriate to your resolution

Studio Deadline

Thursday 10th January 2012 - 9:30pm


Out of the randomiser I chose...

SPIN and FLOAT

Tasks for Thursday 1st December

For each word, come up with (a minimum of...)

20 other words that relate to it
20 meanings/interpreations
20 objects
20 situations
20 typefaces in 3 sizes

* THINK LATERALLY *

OUGD202 - Design Production / Digital

Just like print, there are limitations which will affect our creative possibilities.

Software workshops

Primarily After Effects
iDVD
Toast
Support

Practical

Storyboards
Timelines
Schematics
Animatics
Sequential thinking

20%  - Research - Practical and contextual
20% - Conceptual development
20% - Practical development
40% - Selection and resolution

This means that 60% of our work is done away from the computer. Don't get caught up with software as software will not save a bad idea.

Organisation is key

Create folders and label accordingly
Work systematically
Clearly label files and have specific file names
Structured design process
It WILL go wrong
Blog everything but avoid having posts full of screenshots
Create Issuu pdf's and upload movies to Vimeo


Digital Media

Fundamental principles and key considerations which we need to address

Interactive media is something which a user can... interact... with and the process in which it takes is defined be the user. Static or passive media, however, is confined to one viewing, mainly consumer media.

Interactive  - Web interface, DVD interface, games design etc
Passive - Motion graphics, flash animation, film/tv titles

Web

• Web page layout
• Asset design & production
• CSS (Cascading style sheet)
• Interface design

Mobile technology

This technology is ever-changing and constantly updating - designers and developers constantly need to adapt in order to reach a wider audience. Time and project management is therefore essential.

• Native software
• Mobile phones
• iPod, iPhone, iPad

Game/interface

• Different form of interaction (Xbox Kinect for example)
• The keyboard and mouse is almost becoming redundant due to touch-screen and motion capabilities
• Games can outgross the highest grossing films
• Interaction between game and online culture is growing

Design is often driven by technology whereas we need to look at the opposite.


Motion graphics

Underpins interactive technologies. It is a visual experience.

Animated stings
Idents applies to brand and logo (sound, colour etc)
... and so on

• Simple ideas, well executed
• Drive by the idea, not the technology
• Developing ideas over a period of time
• Rarely individuals who do everything (storyboards, timelines, design, software, pre/post production)

Storyboards

• Explains your idea without the need for technology
• Systematic design process
• Content, direction, colour etc
• Flow charts

Considerations

• File size & format
• End user capabilities
• End user technologies
• Fixed/specified aspect ratios (Widescreen is 16:9)
• Colour modes (RGB, web safe)

Research

• Lateral thinking
• Word association
• Find the extremes
• Materials and their limitations
• Trial and error
• Try, test and modify

OUGD201 - Evaluation

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN		LEVEL	05
Module Code	OUGD201
Module Title	DESIGN PRODUCTION - PRINT

END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION

NAME

Joe Warburton

BLOG. ADDRESS

j-warburton1013.blogspot.com

1.  What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
Throughout this module, I have gained extensive insight into commercial printing. The ‘Top 10’ manual of things you need to know about print allowed me to explore aspects of commercial printing I had never come across. I learnt how to set up an artwork to print in the form of colour management, scale, resolution, preflight and so on. We had a screen printing workshop in Blenheim and in Vernon street last year but I never put this into practice within my work. However, this project allowed me to explore print processes which I had never fully investigated therefore screen-printing seemed like the perfect choice to experiment with. As I eventually created a packaging consisting of a black substrate, I chose to screen print pearlescent, metallic silver ink. Despite the lengthy process for such a small amount of information, I believe this has been worthwhile and my knowledge in this aspect of print production has vastly improved.
2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
The concept development phase of this module, in particular for the ‘Good is?’ brief allowed me to explore my concept in more depth in order to devise a story or background to which I would eventually base my project on. In past projects, I have usually delved straight into digital design as opposed to creating a thorough rationale and exploring my concept through all possible aspects – this usually produces a body of work that is not as thought out as it could have been. The visit to Team Impression provided me with a huge insight into commercial printing. Although I had researched into print processes and production, I hadn’t fully understood the process, limitations and outcomes in which they can produce until this visit. Understanding the limitations of colour, stock and print processes allowed me to create an informed decision as to how I would print my products in industry.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
Before beginning this course, my work was predominantly advertising and design for web. Through this module however, I have picked up an extortionate amount of new skills which I have adapted to my work. I believe my passion now lies within print due to the tactile nature of printed outcomes and the endless possibilities in which it can produce. I believe my strengths lie within brand identity and packaging as this was most prominent through the ‘Good is’ brief. I believe the simplicity and minimalistic aesthetic of my designs reflects the concept of nostalgia effectively.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?
I believe my time management is lacking – I need to prioritise and organise my time effectively to avoid panic and frustration at module hand-in. Through the workshops given to us during the early stages of the design process, I was able to focus more so on concept development and research as opposed to digital design. However, I still did not have a focused concept towards the beginning of the physical design process that ultimately disrupted by design development due to the multiple changes I had to make. I hope to rectify this in future projects by outlining what I will create.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
Define my concept early on – Despite the numerous revised rationales, it was nearer towards the end of the project where I had a definitive concept outlined including what I will produce, the story/background behind it and the context of the products. Define my target audience in advance – Similarly to my concept development, I need to define who I am aiming my product/outcome towards as this may alter the design decisions dramatically. Although I had a fairly clear concept as this was a novelty gift, I originally intended to devise a nostalgia pack catered to everyone – obviously, this was near impossible as everyone has personalised and individual memories and in the progress crit, it was noted I could create a pack based on a particular decade which resulted in a more defined and focused target market (albeit a very diverse one). When doing to-do lists, stick to them – Now and again, I create to-do lists which although help keep me focused, I rarely abide by them. I need to make sure I am following my progress constantly. Explore all aspects of print – Although I had experimented with screen-printing and possible foil-blocking, I need to book an induction with letterpress, laser cutting etc as this may prove beneficial in future projects.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance					x
Punctuality					x
Motivation			x
Commitment				x
Quantity of work produced			x
Quality of work produced			x
Contribution to the group			x
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.

Good is...? Presentation boards

What is design for print? Final print manual