PROJECT 8 :: FINAL CRITIQUE

for our last critique of the semester, each student will interact with a peer’s work and provide commentary about that project, addressing what works well, what does not, and so on. after initial feedback, the rest of the class may provide input. each student will have eight minutes total, with the last two minutes given to a statement by the creator. that statement about your work should directly address one question:
- in what ways does your work clarify the communications process beyond what a printed diagram can do?

before 8am
- place a final swf file named “lastname_na_project8.swf” in my CAS dropbox.
- place three screengrabs and a written version of your statement on your blog.

yay! done.

PROJECT 8 :: USER FEEDBACK

on or around monday nov 29, you will need to connect with two kcai freshmen (individually), show them your project, and ask them to fill out this feedback form. turn in the form at final critique.

please review this form before taking it out and let me know if the questions seem odd, or if i need to ask additional or different questions. i think this will get you some good feedback but one never knows until it's out there. thanks!

PROJECT 8 :: FINAL DESIGN WORK

for monday, nov 22, i'd like you to have tightly composed digital, color storyboards of three simple tasks the user might engage in. these are called "task scenarios" and helps designers to imagine how people will experience their work. each storyboard should utilize a minimum of three frames. here are a couple of examples:

a freshman looks at the starting state of the piece, clicks on "sender", reads some explanatory text, and closes the text.
or
a freshman is looking at the "noise" video and turns on three additional sound files at once, then turns two of them back off.

by monday, you should have a very strong idea of the final direction of the work, including all the basic functionality you want to include and near-final compositions. post images of your three task scenarios to your blog.

PROJECT 8 :: NON-LINEAR NARRATIVE

using your individual schematics from visual language class as a base, design and produce a non-linear, viewer-controlled narrative so kcai freshmen have a solid understanding of the communications process. you should take full advantage of the screen-based interactive medium to clarify, augment, annotate, and provide examples of the communications process.

see the following links for interactive info graphics.
news graphics on newyorktimes.com
a nice piece on the 2010 fifa world cup
where americans are moving on forbes.com

requirements

• documented user feedback from two freshmen at the semi-final stage, so you have time to revise before final critique.
• provide two examples of how the communications process works.
• 1024x768 flash file.

considerations

• how can you best take avantage of this medium to inform a viewer/listener/reader in ways that other media (posters, books, print in general) can not?
• what form might examples take?
• how do you integrate new layers of information without overwhelming the user?

project objectives for grading

• apply knowledge of narrative, its manipulation, and application across media in non-linear form
  (how well do you construct an interesting experience?)
• apply the communicative potential of the various temporal elements (duration, motion, and transition) and communication channels (image, text, voice, music, sound effects) to classroom projects
  (are the channels you’re using giving different types of useful info?)
• apply deeper technical understanding of flash, photoshop, illustrator, and video / sound software and apply to the production of classroom projects
  (does the project function properly?)

due
wednesday dec 1
a digital file should be dropped in my cas dropbox and three screen shots with learning statement posted to your blog. filename “lastname_NA_project8.swf”

PROJECT 8 :: SCHEDULE

mon nov 15
refined, finalized schematic due as a color print to tyler.
initial brainstorm on clarifications, augmentations, and examples. lots of iterations.
visit senior MX presentations.

wed nov 17
garrett demo on flash actionscripting
refine concepts / design

mon nov 22
design / production

wed nov 24
thanksgiving break

mon nov 29
semi-final production piece due. prep for showing freshmen.
homework: take feedback forms and discuss project with freshmen. make changes based on feedback.

wed dec 1
final crit. turn in swf and feedback forms.

PROJECT 7 :: CRITIQUE STRUCTURE

final crit is 8am to 10:40am on wednesday november 10. we will have two guest critics – frank oviedo('04), partner at liquid 9, and josh lambert ('10), graphic designer at liquid 9. here is what is required for delivery:

• .mov are the only acceptable file formats. no swfs will be accepted.
• all projects delivered to my CAS dropbox no later than 7:45am wednesday nov 10. anything time-stamped 7:46 or later will receive a zero. only documented personal issues will be excepted.
• filename: lastname_na_project7a, lastname_na_project7b, etc. 
• statement about what you learned posted to your blog, labeled "na" or whatever label you are using to denote this class. consider answering the following questions: 

1. how have you deepened your understanding of theory such as story structure, plot, etc? 
2. what new things have you discovered about using communication channels of image, voice, music, text, sound effects? 
3. what new things have you learned about the specific qualities of motion, duration, or transitions? 
4. what have you learned about how design principles (balance, contrast, direction/motion, emphasis, rhythm, unity)can play out over time on the screen?
5. what process-related things have you learned (storyboarding, planning, production, etc)? 
6. what form-related or technology-related things have you learned?

• any process work for this project posted to your blog and properly labeled. refer to previous posts for basic expectations in this area.

the crit structure is as follows:

• provide a very brief setup, explaining the context for the work – where it appears, what the basic purpose is. other than that, the work should basically speak for itself.
• frank and josh will lead with initial impressions, the good, the bad, the ugly.
• other classmates may join in after that. 
• eight minutes total for each student.

PROJECT 7 :: LINEAR NARRATIVE :: PROCESS

okay, many of you have not posted any process whatsoever for this project. here are my basic (average) expectations:
storyboard for 5-second i.d.
final logo i.d. video with statement of what you learned (not what you did -- we can watch that)
storyboard for longer-form narrative
final narrative video with statement of what you learned
anything above and beyond that will begin to "exceed my expectations", if you know what i mean.

LECTURE :: SOUND

well, it's not so much a lecture as a collection of thoughts and resources.

 in developing your five-second logo i.d., keep in mind the power of sound to add a level of "finish" to the visual channels of type and image that you are all currently using. we have been talking about how a logo is the visual signature for a company which embodies a few of their key attributes. linear narrative can build on those attributes to add more meaning through how the logo is constructed over time. for many of you this additional narrative and meaning is happening in image and text channels. it's natural that sound can add even more layers of meaning to the story.

as you know, there are three sound channels -- voice, sound effects, and music. consider if one or more is appropriate to what you are designing. do sound effects enhance the visual presentation? would a spoken tagline complement your logo nicely? how about a short clip of music? 

consider the "sound mark":

“A sound trademark is a non-conventional trademark where sound is used to perform the trademark function of uniquely identifying the commercial origin of products or services”
-- wikipedia

this is the sonic equivalent of a logo, branding your activity and making it memorable. think about the three tones often used alongside the NBC peacock logo. i'm sure there are many others. i would argue that it should communicate an idea different from that of a visual mark, but of course you may argue differently.

sonic brand (aptly named) is an example of a studio designing sound for brands.

technically speaking, some of you may have already begun using garage band for sound editing, but audacity is free and pretty easy to use.

download audacity here
and a nifty how-to handout to help you use that free software.

and finally, a few examples for your entertainment and consideration.

music with lyrics
family guy theme song
oscar mayer jingle

mcdonalds “you deserve a break today”

mood-setting music
a great study of its effects

note the hierarchy and sequence within multiple sound channels:
mood music + sfx sound design project
mood music, lyrics, + voice over for sony
click video thumbnails on the left to listen

voice / voice-over promo reel
cheesy, yes, but it's a career for some people. choosing an appropriate voice is critical.

t-mobile sound mark
this commercial includes music, voice-over, a sound mark and logo i.d. at the end.

T2 FIELD TRIP SCHEDULED

monday november 8, at 9:30, we will be taking a field trip to T2, a commercial video, post-production, and motion graphics studio in the crossroads. many of you know garrett fuselier (kcai '08), who works there in their "experience lab" i think they call it (something fancy like that). he will take us around and show us the full range of what T2 does, including his main area of fusing narrative and interactivity into unique experiences. it will be quite cool. visit their website for more info on what they do.

more details to come as we get closer to the date.

PROJECT 7 :: TIMELINES

BRANDING STUDENTS (excluding kibera tv)

mon oct 11: 10 5-frame storyboards due, 1 frame/sec (1280 x 720 proportions). work in small groups (three groups of five) to determine a direction to pursue.

wed oct 13: kinetic type lecture. refined, tight 5-frame color storyboard due.

mon oct 18: semi-final production due.

wed oct 20: logo i.d.s due (no crit)

mon oct 25: artifact decision and content outline due.

wed oct 27: brainstorming results due.

mon nov 1: storyboards due.

wed nov 3: refinements / initial production due.

mon nov 8: semi-final production due. T2 field trip @ 9:30!!

wed nov 10: final crit on both projects
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

KIBERA BRANDING STUDENTS 

mon oct 11: 10 5-frame storyboards due, determine a consistent frame-rate based on how long your bug is animated, if it is animated. (1 frame/sec or 5 frames/sec, etc) (1280 x 720 proportions). work in small groups (three groups of five) to determine a direction to pursue.

wed oct 13: kinetic type lecture. refined, tight 5-frame color storyboard due.

mon oct 18: semi-final production due.

wed oct 20:  logo bugs due (no crit)

mon oct 25: brainstorming results due on content/story structure for the opener.

wed oct 27: rough storyboards for 3 directions due.

mon nov 1: final refined storyboard / digital work due.

wed nov 3: refinements / initial production due.

mon nov 8: semi-final production due. T2 field trip @ 9:30!!

wed nov 10: final crit on both projects
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

INFORMATION STUDENTS

mon oct 11: have a project selected and some research / content gathered. share initial ideas in small group discussions.

wed oct 13: kinetic type lecture. finalized content due. brainstorming results due on possible story structures.

mon oct 18: rough storyboards for 3 visual directions due (same basic story structure). determine a direction to pursue.

wed oct 20:  final refined storyboard due.

mon oct 25: initial production due.

wed oct 27: production progress due.

mon nov 1: production progress due.

wed nov 3: semi-final production due.

mon nov 8: near-final production due. T2 field trip @ 9:30!!

wed nov 10: final crit.

PROJECT 7 :: FINAL (LINEAR) DELIVERABLES

for the next five weeks, we will take everything we have learned, along with some of the visual elements you’ve developed (logo, type, colors, and maybe even some content or concepts) and apply it toward two final artifacts for your portfolio.

determining artifacts
branding students: the first artifact will be a 5-second time-based ID (aka a logo build). this can be used at the end of commercials, the start of promo videos, on the company website, etc, and will take approximately two-weeks.

the second artifact is your choice. you should consider the nature of who your company is and what it does, then identify a fundamental application of a narrative approach to your brand. two examples: a company that makes playground equipment may use a laptop-based video about their product line in presentations. a bike company may produce a looping animation to play on screens in their trade-show booth. you will have  approximately three weeks.

kibera tv students: the first artifact will be a logo bug that appears in the corner of the kibera tv programs. it can be kinetic or static, but should be shown composed over sample footage to provide context.

the second artifact will be a 15-second opening title sequence for kibera t.v. (technical specs to come).

information students (choose one):
- a web-based video on how the product works and is different from similar products (approx 1 minute). see this speckyboy article for examples.
or
- an environmental narrative on a popular practitioner, to accompany an exhibit about the product (approx 1 minute). see open’s “house of swing” project for examples.

project objectives for grading

• construct messages over time that address stated communication objectives
• interpret principles of 2-d design within temporal media
• demonstrate an understanding of story boarding through sequencing explorations
• apply knowledge of narrative, its manipulation, and application across media in linear form
• apply the communicative potential of the various temporal elements (duration, motion, and transition) and communication channels (image, text, voice, music, sound effects) to classroom projects

due
wednesday, november 10, 8am in the classroom.
put all digital files in my CAS dropbox before class. filename “lastname_NA_project7a.mov” and “...project7b.mov”.

PROJECT 6 :: MOTION GRAPHICS STUDIO REPORT

make a 5-minute report/presentation on your assigned studio.
ray: buck
kelsey: we are royale
bryan: trollback+company
loren: agency: collective
bethany: eyeball
ben: knife party
janna: stardust
brandon: tronic
vi: ca square
taylor: digital kitchen
keaton: mk-12
joseph: imaginary forces
julie: pleix
ian: brand new school
karen: psyop

required info

• description of the studio
• a couple of significant projects
• context in which their work appears (broadcast, web, environmental, etc)
• purpose the work serves
• depth of meaning/concept in the work (why things are structured, look, behave, or move the way they do)
• how could this type of work be applied or adapted to new technologies or media (mobile, ipad, etc)? what all would the designer have to consider?
• audio-visual presentation, in keynote or pdf. 

the entire process should take you about three hours.


considerations
how can this report be an interesting narrative in its own right?
how can your presentation be as seemless as possible in terms of software you use?

project objectives for grading

• construct messages over time that address stated communication objectives
• hold a perspective on the practical applications of narrative in the design field and its practitioners

grading breakdown: objectives 70%, craft 30%

due
wednesday, october 6, 8am in the classroom
collect all your reports onto one or two computers to minimize transition hassles.
put pdfs of final visuals / speaking notes in my CAS dropbox before class. filename “lastname_NA_project6.xxx”

PROJECT 5 :: COMBINED NARRATIVE

combine your two detail stories to give a bigger picture of what your topic is about. the end result should be two channels working together to give us two different types of information that form into a larger, more complex narrative. media is totally open. remember we are experimenting to understand the full potential of the media and the way the communication channels work within them. have fun with it.

requirements
your two previous communication channels are allowed. work with your existing content -- keep the adding or subtracting of content to a bare minimum. the challenge is to make the two existing stories work together in an interesting way.

branding students: select a color palette and options for supporting typography for your brand.

considerations
how can you use what you’ve learned in the last two projects to improve on your previous efforts? can you edit better? can you have higher production values?
what kinds of relationships and juxtapositions can you achieve when combining two communication channels?
how do you reconcile two very different mediums into a single, seamless final form?

project objectives for grading
apply the communicative potential of the various communication channels (image, text, voice, music, sound effects) to classroom projects
apply knowledge of narrative, its manipulation, and application across media in linear and non-linear forms

due
monday oct 4, 8am in the classroom
any digital files should be dropped in my cas dropbox and posted to your blog. filename “lastname_NA_project5.xxx” please pay attention to proper file naming requirements.

SCHEDULING

here is what is due, when

wed sept 15
project 3 :: detail narrative
some lynda.com progress (some class time will be allotted)
brand folks: 5 logo sketches

mon sept 20
reading response on your blog
some lynda.com progress (some class time will be allotted)

wed sept 22
project 4 :: detail narrative 2
some lynda.com progress (some class time will be allotted)
brand folks: final black and white logo

PROJECT 4 :: DETAIL NARRATIVE 2

select a new area of your poster to use in creating a second detailed narrative exploration. this is, again, you experimenting with unique ways to develop a short story that provides more detail about one aspect of your content. it should honor the content, but we are not overly concerned about the audience at this point.

examples: create a mission statement (brand folks), historical roots of the topic, the culture (visual and otherwise) of the audience, details about products involved, communicating about an experience, etc, etc.

requirements
one communication channel allowed – image, text, voice, music, or sound effects – but it can’t be the same as the previous project. media is totally open. take risks, be inventive, but keep your short deadline in mind.

branding students: select and refine a final black and white logo for your company, separate from this story, due along with this project.

considerations
what is an appropriate and interesting point-of-view to use?
how can you best take avantage of your medium to captivate a viewer/listener/reader?

project objectives for grading
apply the communicative potential of the various communication channels (image, text, voice, music, sound effects) to classroom projects
apply knowledge of narrative, its manipulation, and application across media in linear and non-linear forms

due
wednesday sept 22, 8am in the classroom
any digital files should be dropped in my cas dropbox and posted to your blog. filename “lastname_NA_project4.xxx”

TRANSITION EXAMPLES

if you find great examples of the transition types from the lecture, email them to me an i will post them here.

here are the types:
action edit – movement of camera positions during subject activity.
"i met the walrus" (thanks keaton) –tons of camera position shifts, but lots of other interesting builds and transformations happening as well.

directional edit – directs the eye to a new position on screen.

form edit – transition between elements with similar physical forms.

concept edit – juxtaposing two shots in a way that plants an idea or suggestion in the viewer’s mind.
"words" by everyone on vimeo (thanks keaton)

combined edit – any combination of the above

uncategorizable (our catch-all will be here)

REQUIRED READING

"understanding comics", pp 60-73, on my reserve shelf at the library.

after reading, reflect on your blog about, A) how this reading changes the way you think about "transitions", and B) how these ideas could be applied in your work moving forward or the work you've already done. what things could you try, given your subject matter? a couple of examples will do nicely.

due before monday sept 20 -- reading and written blog responses

PROJECT 2 :: SOME THOUGHTS

i whipped through the posters on the wall and have some thoughts:

always always always consider spelling and grammar and tone/style in your writing. many of you have typos of all kinds in the writing.

think about how you read janna's poster in relation to how you read joseph's. joseph's is a traditional column of text, although it is broken up in the middle by the large statement which can draw us in for further investigation of the detail text. with janna's, you move across the poster space, once block at a time and find yourself in a very different place than when you started. "wow, we just took a trip with our eyes."

think about how this is like reading a book, listening to a story from a friend, or any other narrative model. how might that translate onto a single page? do you want to move the reader/viewer literally through a linear set of "spreads", from upper left to lower right? do you want them to dive into the middle and end up at the edges? do you want them to move quickly, slowly, or both? what kinds of narrative rhythms can you set up (text image text text, text image text text)?

consider how moving across the space of a poster relates to time. or consider how reading slowly or quickly is related to space and time. or consider how moving across a sequence of images creates a mini-movie on the poster.

i like what ian said about "layering" of information and the mental image that conjures for me. how can you create layers of designed information that the viewer/reader has to work their way through? could you literally draw out those layers onto your poster and then plug content into them?

keep pushing these ideas into whatever media you're working with. work to make the most of the medium. this is our time to experiment and try to push into new areas and make new discoveries.

PROJECT 3 :: DETAIL NARRATIVE

select one area of your poster to use in creating a more detailed narrative exploration.

examples: create a mission statement (brand folks), historical roots of the topic, the culture (visual and otherwise) of the audience, details about products involved, communicating about an experience, etc, etc.

requirements
one communication channel allowed – image, text, voice, music, or sound effects.
media is totally open.
take risks, be inventive, but keep your short deadline in mind.
branding students: develop five logo sketches for your company, separate from this story (or included?)

considerations
what is an appropriate and interesting point-of-view to use?
how can you best take avantage of your medium to captivate a viewer/listener/reader?

project objectives for grading

• apply the communicative potential of the various communication channels (image, text, voice, music, sound effects) to classroom projects
• apply knowledge of narrative, its manipulation, and application across media in linear and non-linear forms

due
wednesday sept 15, 8:00 am in the classroom
any digital files should be dropped in my cas dropbox and posted to your blog. filename “lastname_NA_project3.xxx”

PROJECT 2 :: POSTER

utilizing and refining elements from project 1, expand on your topic or company in a narrative sense-making/research poster.

include existing information and add new info as required.

considerations:
how does one create a single-frame narrative?
what can you do in a poster that you can’t do in a screen based linear narrative?
how is simultaneity vs sequence controlled?

requirements:
size: 24” x 36”, color tiled printout

include new information regarding your topic and audience:

• historical references / recent precedents (what came before? what inspired this? how did this start? etc)
• visual language/culture surrounding the topic
• sources of stylistic visual inspiration
• objects or products associated with the topic
• diagram of a “participant’s experience” with the topic or organization (how do they interact with the topic, product, or service?)

branding students: include an organization name

project objectives for grading:

• maximize the narrative affordances of a poster as opposed to a film
• apply knowledge of narrative, its manipulation, and application across media in linear and non-linear forms

due:
wednesday, sept 8, 8:00am on the junior studio wall space

OPEN

i saw scott stowell, principal of open design studio in manhattan, speak at ku last night. his office does a fair amount of motion work that is quite good.

jazz hall of fame videos
some great examples of informationally-oriented motion work. these are meant to educate people who "don't do jazz" about the lives of jazz legends. essentially, these are information graphics, but have a very emotional/poetic aspect to them.

"the future" video for time magazine
conceptually elegant and simple information-oriented piece to promote a series of special issues about the future in time magazine.

open's entire motion portfolio. lots of good show packages and station branding in here.

POSTING MOVIES ON VIMEO

go to vimeo.com
click "sign up for vimeo" on the right side of the screen.
go for the free "basic" account.
you will receive a confirmation email, to which you have to respond.
once you're in, click "upload a video".
read over the compression guidelines info to make sure your video is as high quality as possible. most of these issues are covered in my demo steps.
hit the "upload a video" button and browse to your file on your computer.
add in a title and relevant info and hit "save".
you will have to wait in line for your video to be processed, so be patient.
all done!

PROJECT ONE :: 15-SECOND SUMMARY

with your topic chosen, define a narrowcast (subcultural; as opposed to broadcast) audience and make a 15-second summary telling us about the topic and audience.

don’t define the audience by traditional demographics (gender, race, age, income, class) but by lifestyle choices/beliefs/preferences. it can’t be college kids exclusively. give me consumer preferences, social status, hobbies/activities/affinity groups and why.

requirements:
must be screen-based, designer-controlled linear narrative.
resolution: 1280 px x 720 px (hd) (called HDV 720p in imovie when you start a new file)

• some help from a vimeo user on exporting from imovie 
• compression settings from vimeo

required audience info:

1. values and identity (purpose, relevant beliefs, sense of belonging)
2. visual symbolic codes
3. communications styles based on language and speech (slang/jargon, body language/gestures, literacy/education level, etc)
4. preferred media and distribution channels of communication

required subject info:
anything that will communicate the basic idea of your subject matter.

considerations:
communication channels available to you are image, text, voice, music sound effects.


project objectives for grading:

• construct messages over time that address stated communication objectives
• apply the communicative potential of the various communication channels (image, text, voice, music, sound effects) to classroom projects

due wed, sept 1 before the start of class
quicktime movie dropped in my cas dropbox and posted to your blog.

SEMESTER TOPIC CHOICES

choose your topic for the semester from one of the two broad categories below.

brand-based narratives:
for your subject matter this semester, create a new brand of your choice or choose an existing brand that will target a new audience. be sure to choose something you are interested in. this could be anything from dog food to a law firm; from a non-profit to a chain restaurant. in choosing the brand-based option, your main task will be to relate to the audience in an emotional way through storytelling.

information-based narratives:
choose a topic that requires a good amount of education and has lots of facts/information, etc. be sure to select something you are interested in. this could be anything from how electric cars work to the global water crisis; from urban agriculture to u.s. oil spills.  in choosing the information-based option, your main task will be to relate to the audience in a logical way, educating through storytelling.

- - - - - - - - - -

one special option i encourage you to consider for the brand-based option is “kibera tv”, an initiative of kibera film school / hot sun foundation and is a community-based news / entertainment channel dedicated to reporting from kibera as it happens. reports are placed online and are screened in video halls and open air screenings in kibera for the community.

with a population of over one million, kibera is the largest slum in nairobi, kenya. the hot sun foundation aims to expose  slum youth to new ideas and possibilities through training and exposure to the world of film. 

kibera tv on blogger
hot sun foundation

FIND+SHARE

we will look at one new short narrative form each class session, provided by you, dear students. the format is open -- it can be a book, magazine, motion graphic, short film, tv commercial or even a sequence of billboards. the important aspect is that it is a temporal narrative -- a story told over time. each person will be chosen at random in each class session, so have a few options in your back pocket at all times.

stick all of your found stuff here, or at least a reference to it if it's a printed piece. we will view in class to be sure everyone has the benefit of seeing them. good times, kids!

ABOUT THIS BLOG

1
all project descriptions, objectives, specifications and deadlines will be posted here. it is your responsibility to check regularly for important updates, new assignments and topical references.

2
i intend the blog to function as an ongoing dialog and extension beyond the classroom. If you have project-specific questions that arise outside of class please ask. Everyone is welcome to reply and I will respond on/before online hours or in class.

3
required readings and discussion topics are provided to clarify and expand your knowledge of issues addressed in studio and design in general. we will discuss these either as a class or you will be asked to post responses to this blog.

4
visual & creative inspiration abounds online and i encourage you to embark upon serendipitous or purposeful surfing. once you find something share-worthy post it to "find+share".

5
occasionally i will assign an online crit in order to provide an alternative forum for classroom feedback and collaborative effort.

if those reasons aren't enough to get involved, remember, your online presence does count toward your online participation grade. i evaluate post quality and quantity, which is factored into individual project grades under the "process" and "participation" sections.