OUGD202 DESIGN PRODUCTION DIGITAL - evaluation

1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

This module has introduced me to a range of software I had never even heard of before. I have developed basic skills from these programmes, allowing me to create interesting resolutions and a simple, user-friendly website. However, I feel that I am getting stronger and better in these programmes just as I am forced to hand my work in, I have found myself constantly finding new tools, shortcuts and simpler ways of doing things throughout this process and I do not want to stop learning about this software just because the brief has come to an end. I am definitely interested an excited to move onto dreamweaver as I have found iweb quite basic and restricting. However, I must say that I think iweb was the perfect programme to introduce us all to creating a website which is easy to navigate around and has all the basic tools needed to create a working website.

I do not believe I have pushed myself with aftereffects, sticking with simpler ideas and effects. I am still pleased with the outcome but believe it could have been stronger and more interesting. In contrast to aftereffects, I really enjoyed iweb and found the whole process of having to organise your files; create schematics and link it all together really engaging and fun! For me the iweb has always been the interesting side to this module as I started to design my website before I even thought about storyboards. So in hindsight, I think I should have time managed myself better and tried to put equal emphasis on both sections of this module.

Overall, I believe I could have pushed myself more with both software programmes, however believe I made more effort with iweb as I had more interest in this area and the animation did scare me to a certain degree.

2. What approaches to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

My christmas research took a more practical route, as I did interesting and unique experiments (I talk about this more in question 3). This has shown me that I do not need to just sit at a computer and go on wiki to find out the answers. Last year I enjoyed the research side of things as I did a lot of primary things. However, had forgotten about this side of it and I think my christmas work has shown me how I can link primary and secondary together to be more interesting.

My research after christmas was more secondary, looking at existing artists, opening sequences and title sequences. However, this was just as important to my design development, just in a different way. The x-mas work showed me that my topic is fun and bold, and then the research after x-mas showed me the possibilities for animation and website design. I definitely needed both aspects of this research to put my work together and make it fit with the brief to the best of my ability.

3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

This module has been excellent for my organisational skills. I set-up a file system from the very beginning, therefore allowing me to stay on top of all my files. It also meant setting the iweb up was a lot easier as I could simple drag a whole file onto a certain page. This module has shown me how organised and efficient I can be and I hope to take this found skill into future modules.

I also think my christmas research is one of my strengths in this module. I took a practical approach to it and did some unique and diverse experiments with my topic, ice-lollies. I also used a range of different medias, including photography, stop motion animation and drawing. The primary and secondary research from this section was also hands on, as I recorded the dimensions of each lolly, the nutritional values, visited the wall's factory and managed to track down an ice-cream van in December!!!

My iweb is my favourite thing in this module and loved recording my work in this way. The schematics of it also helped me work out how it all linked together, my work normally jumps around a bit and I find it hard to show how one thing has developed onto the next, whereas here the schematic made me consider this more.

4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

I believe my animation to be my main weakness as I could have developed and pushed it further. I think I was too safe and scared my the programme! This is not an excuse as I should have worked harder on the animation to overcome this worry and to understand the software better.

In the future I am going to work harder on the bits I find difficult. Otherwise I will never feel comfortable using certain software. I also intend to continue to developing my time management skills, I have seen a difference in this module and have not been panicking at the end, however I still believe I could improve more. Setting myself mini deadlines has definitely helped and I intend to carry this through to the next module.

5. Identity 5 things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

1. Work harder at the things I struggle with. Therefore, I will not be scared to use them in the future and will gain more from the experience and software if I tackle it straight on.
2. Time management. I definitely worked on my time management for this module and it definitely helped me, as I could have been in a lot of trouble if I had not stayed to it. However, I still think I could improve more, setting mini-deadlines worked well for me so I will try this again.
3. Ask for people's opinions more. I know everyone has different views and thoughts, however I think having more crits, even if they are a relaxed session with a couple of friends, will help me work out what I could do differently and would also for more diversification.
4. Use college facilities more. From the end of January I started to stay later and come in on saturdays and found my work was improving and I got a lot more done as I had no distractions. Therefore, this is one thing I will definitely be doing for the next module.
5. Enjoy it. I have enjoyed this module, even if it not my strongest or best area of design and I think this has made a lot of difference. I have wanted to do the work, and have wanted to experiment etc. Therefore, in future modules I need to locate and find the aspect of that module I like and work towards that to keep me going and wanting to succeed.

6. Please rate yourself on the following areas.
5=excellent, 4=very good, 3=good, 2=average, 1=poor.

Attendance = 4
Punctuality = 4
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 2
Quality of work produced = 2
Contribution to the group = 3

my final animation

Below is my final animation for this module BEFORE MY CRIT.



During my final crit, the following points were raised.
1. The yellow line is not very clear.
2. Perhaps the lolly shapes should be filled in once the line has completed drawing them.
3. Is the font clear enough at the end?
4. Do you need to know what each ice-lolly is?
5. Pace.
6. Ending; the music and how is finishes.

Therefore I came out of the crit and did the following experiments to see what worked.

Here I have tried a new font for the title and I have also experimented with filling it in with colour once the lines have finished writing it.




Here is the final animation.

I have changed the yellow line to a mint colour, stopped the music on a beat, and faded the title out so you are left with a white screen.

I have come quite a long way since my initial idea and development. However, I feel this has been positive, and allowed me to create an animation which fits much better with my subject matter.

10 patterns

All the patterns together in one short animation on after effects. I plan to link these together so that I can then repeat this wheel over and over. I then want to add the ice-lollies over the top of the patterns on a separate layer. I also need to think about numbers and the title?!

9 patterns

9 of the 10 patterns...

8 patterns

8 levels to this animation now....

7 patterns

7 patterns.....

6 patterns

6 patterns added into aftereffects to create the effect of a kaleidoscope.

5 patterns

5 ice lolly patterns linked together.

4 patterns

4 patterns added together to try and create the feel of a kaleidoscope.

3 patterns with a different blending tool

3 patterns with a different blending tool, just as the title says so!

3 patterns

Here is the video of 3 patterns together. I have also done another version at this stage experimenting with blending tools. Not sure which I think works better.

with 2 'patterns'

Here is a clip of the animation with 2 patterns so you can see what the interaction would be.

development of idea...

Mike has tried to help me with the mirroring tool, however it looks like this is just part of the tool and I can't do anything about it. Therefore, I am going to have to try and find another way to achieve the kaleidoscope effect. This is using rotation and a blending tool. I am going to add all the other levels to see if it actually looks any good.

pastille mirroring

Moving on from the stars mirroring each other I have now tried it with one of my lollies. However I have discovered a problem with the mirroring tool, the image is limited to the box it is created in. In other words as it rotates the corners are cut off but the invisible box that doesn't move with the rotation. I am unsure how to sort this....about to ask Mike, the IT guy, for help!

initial experimentation

For my animation I am thinking of using a kaleidoscope idea to show off all the vivid colours and patterns in the top ten ice-lollies. Therefore I first went on after effects to see what kind of effects are available to create mirroring kaleidoscope. Below is me playing around with the mirroring tool and seeing how I could make the patterns and lollies disappear into one another.

more circle development

Here I have removed the green background and simply repeated the circle of lollies a number of times. I think it has alot of impact and has a sense of being an optical illustion. However, I would prefer it if I could get the circles to rotate more like cogs, spinning each other around and around.

taking the initial circle idea...

Taking the initial circle idea and moving it to the top corner so that you can see just one quarter of the circle. I quite like this effect, especially as all the lollies move so quickly that you cant understand each one.

another idea...

Here is another idea I thought I would try out on after effects. It is very basic and have done no development to it. I just wanted to show the initial idea.

gnarls barkley - crazy

i have included this video and I intend to look into mirroring effects and how I can move from one image to the next, therefore I thought this video with the ink splats is a perfect example of how I could move in and out of each ice-lolly. Really like the effect created and will perhaps have a go at doing this.

i love!!!

I have just found this on you-tube and I love it! Basically the video starts with a plain ie-cream cone and then the cone starts to fill with ice-cream and then melts, until it is a puddle on the floor. This sounds simple enough, until I tell you it is done in oil paint!! Every brush stroke is recorded in video. Am unsure whether it is stop motion or what but it's brilliant! Now I have no idea what area/style to go down...definitely need to talk to tutors and show these videos! Am just off to have a look at this person's website now (the address is in the video)

another melting video..

Here are some crayons braking down into a kettle (unsure why!?) however, this got me thinking about the melting process and the elements involved. I thought, perhaps that I could start out with a melted ice-lolly or all the ingredients required and then rebuild/create the lolly. In other words, the liquids/ingredients come together to build up to a full ice-lolly. But is this another idea, when I should be focusing in?

melting direction

The other direction I was interested in from my research, bar the colours and overall stain patterns, was the actual melting process. As you can see on my blog I have recorded each lolly melting and I am interested in the different stages of the melting. However, I am unsure whether or not I can fit this into a title sequence and whether or not it would work?

another example of a possible direction...

Like the queen's nose, strictly come dancing uses a kaleidoscope effect for the opening credits. I really like this idea and think my colour palette (all the colours used in the ice-lollies) would make a brilliant, interesting introduction to the programme.

a possible direction I could take this project in...

This youtube clip is the opening and closing credits of 'the queen's nose' a programme I used to watch religiously as a child. I am interested in the kaleidoscope effect used and would like to somehow incorporate my top ten ice-lollies (or the melting marks left).

a simple audi advert

Love the simplicity of it. You recognize the brand straight away.

audi A5 ad...

Another brilliant audi advert, I love everything to do with it. However, my only worry is that I don't think there is enough 'car' in it.

Audi Q5 ad...

Who doesn't love this advert? Haven't made my mind up about the music though.