Sunday Progress

In its final stages, the logo has some other ideas being picked at such as outlined text or outlined squares. I think the color scheme has been pretty much decided on and we're going with gray and red, they seem to work the best and people have been responding to it well. The reason we're taking so much time with the logo is part of the branding. The company does quality video editing and there is no way to show the trait "quality" in a logo. Hesseltine often has told us in his class you can't tell a logo to say "quality" but you have to have other traits show through in order to communicate that. So a well-designed logo can inspire more trust than a cheesy half-assed one because it shows that the owners or company cares about their public image and perception and they want the logo to do that and speak for its work as well.

There was some concern in the font being too plane so i'm doing a little more investigation into that, checking out which typefaces will work. due to the vectors I am still sticking with sanserif for a more modern look.

Project Update

My project is in two major areas:

• The technical challenge
• The animation/story

The Technical Challenge
So, this week (with the help of a friend) I was able to make some progress one of the technical aspects, that being how to record SMS text messages into a database.

1. Go to "http://www.andrewhainen.com/phptest/twilio/sms/app-sms.php"
2. From your phone, send a text message to the number (415) 599-2671.  In the text body, write the number "8850-7927" (dash included) and then write whatever you want.  (e.g. IP is a cool class)
3. Go back to that website from step 1 and you will see your text displayed along with your phone number.

It is a sketchy way of doing it right now, but that's because I haven't purchased a phone number from this company yet.  After I do that, one doesn't have to type in the PIN.

The next step is sending the amount of texts received over to Flash, and then having the animation determine what to do.

The Animation/Story

I was/am totally stuck on this part.  The issue:

My story will play out and at a certain point the viewer will have to help out (text in) to get the protagonist's story to finish.  So, if there's X amount of texts stored, then he can proceed.  If there's less than X amount of texts, then his quest takes a different route.

I'm bouncing back and forth between countless story ideas trying to find a non-gimmicky way to entice the viewer to text in more, and make it compelling and believable.  One of the biggest changes I've made is simplifying what the protagonist wants (good guy must catch the bad guy scenario) because it was making my life hell trying to find a reason why the viewer wanted to really help out the story.

Screenshot of model I'm working on for setting:

Long ways to go, but making progress.

Further Developing Ideas

Expanding on the 5 ideas post I have expanded some of the the conceptual drawings for the first video ("Walking on Eggshells"). I want the video focus on the themes of obsession and the pursuit of things that can never be fully grasped in one moment.

The costume of the obsession

As I currently visualize the character, she will be illusive and ghost-like to the character that pursues her. The skirt if the costume is layered sheer textiles with numerous fine chains and findings on all layers of the costume.

The costume for the seeker/voice of the song

Nearly plainclothes with sight alterations, there is still a possibility of Incorporating visual changes into this character's during the duration of the video.

5 ideas... (a little late)

my goal for my ip project is to explore one or more of these three constraints while using the material concrete to the best of its abilities:

1. the idea of modularity (using one mold to create 3 or more different pieces of furniture.)

2. the idea of bringing nature inside through furniture (joining wood and concrete to create a somewhat indoor garden)

3. the idea of visual imbalance (cantilevers)

My first idea was to create a small coffee table where herbs such as mint could grow using hydroponics. By bringing nature inside and making an interactive table I would like to remind the end user of where his or her food came from. I also would like them to realize that once the food/drink reaches the table the experience doesn't end there.

Second iteration for the same food idea. A dining table where herbs such as basil and parsley could grow.

Third IP idea iteration. In this iteration I explored the concept of using one mold for concrete and joining that with urban wood to create 3 different types of furniture. I am also exploring the idea of cantilevers in this iteration.

Fourth IP iteration where I explore the idea of imbalance and using concrete as an inlay to join materials together. I am also exploring the idea of cantilevers here.

Fifth IP iteration where I decided to explore the idea of joining metals/my jewelry aesthetic into my furniture.

Sean Thompson's 2011 IP Project

http://seandgt.blogspot.com/

Multiple Impressions and Mark Dion, a comparison

In the past two weeks, we have visited two exhibitions: Mark Dion's Waiting for the Extraordinary and Multiple Impressions (Chinese woodblock prints) at UMMA.

From the Multiple Impressions show, select two to three works, describe them and describe the Mark Dion installation. In the context of your upcoming IP presentation, comment on the how these two exhibitions look at the concepts of reception (how do the exhibits engage the viewer). How does each exhibition interact with the viewer? Does the exhibition succeed?

Please answer in the comment area to this post.

5 ideas & development

I took my top 5 logo ideas and presented them to Prof. Doug Hesseltine, who agreed with my sentiments that the logo should remain abstract and not directly reference film reel, video, or a house. There were a few that he encouraged me to pursue as opposed to others. Taking those to the computer for finalization enabled me to explore and "sketch" once more in the program and come up with a few more ideas.

Those ideas I presented to my peers and business partners and they particularly liked one which they told me to pursue and work on a bit more. A few versions later brings more of the finished version, and now the task of color awaits.

some of the initial sketches:

the sketches stylized in the computer, along with brainstorming new ideas that came into mind:

the top left idea of the prior image was the most favorable, so i went into further editing and revisiting:

the top row was revisited andfinalized further to this:

and now we are playing with color

natalie freilich