Collaboration class #7: Context

 Context

Week 7

• What does the word ENTROPY mean and why is this relevant?

Disorder; Involving too much content or idea's can take away from the oringinal concept. A problem I constantly come across when deciding whether to continue a picture; It is rare for me to finish a painting or drawing and be completely happy with it. Adding more and more into the image doesn't always help and can often ruin what you were oringinally going for.


This clever little show throws so much information at the audience that it become somewhat overwhelming and irritating to watch. Although the show is well done, I think its a bit too clever for it's own good.

This video is a decent example of how one of there usual segments looks.

• If you are attuned to everything around you, does it help you deal with what is in front of you and why or why not ?

Gaining information from your surroundings just by being aware and understanding is definatey helpful and can help you relate it to the task at hand.

• How is this different from FOCUS ?

Focus is being singled minded and dedicated to the task at hand without taking in any outside inspirations.

• Being “comfortably lost” is a balance between what 2 feelings?

It aslmost descrides the word " intruige" perfectly
it is a balance between confusion and curiousity.

• Describe a recent scenario when you found yourself to be “comfortably lost”. Did you enjoy the sensation?

When I listen to my favourite music and look at my favourite artworks i'm comfortabley lost. It is often inspirational and at the same time daunting.

• If you couldn’t hold back the urge to write on the “don’t write on this page” page – what would you write? 

I would definately not write anything...
I'd draw a picture..
  

Edward De Bono's "6 Thinking Hats"

• Which hat best represents your group? Why?

our  group is best described as the green hats. we all have ideas coming out of our ears.
Some of the ideas conflict and it's is very clear that we all have specific tastes.
Most of our time is spent brainstorming and throwing out new concepts and ideas.

• Describe the Exhibition Group meeting where you may adopt the BLACK hat

The blach hat needs to be put on by everyone in the group. It gives us an idea of how much work is actually involved in the project. I may adopt the black hat in areas of editing where I believe I have a keen eye for detail and can Differentiate --> between what is relvant and what serves the project best. 




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfV6RzE30

Collaboration class # 6: Thinking hats

 Context

 Week 6

The progress of our Collaboration Music Video.

This week we discussed  Edward de Bono’s “6 Thinking Hats” to help our creative juices flow. The hats are basically a project planning thinking guide.

	Blue Hat Thinking- Process Thinking about thinking What thinking is needed? Organizing the thinking Planning for action This is mainly a task of getting four minds thinking on the same page and compromising to be happy with everyone else's idea's.
	White Hat Thinking- Facts Information and data Neutral and objective What do I know? What do I need to find out? How will I get the information I need? We need to storyboard the video and organise how long each scene will take and when people are available. we also need to tke int o account for editing time.
	Green Hat Thinking - Creativity Ideas, alternative, possibilities Provocation - "PO" Solutions to black hat problems This is again a matter of getting people on the same page in a group production like this.
	Yellow Hat Thinking- Benefits Positives, plus points Logical reasons are given. Why an idea is useful When an idea is brought forward and is accepted, everyone else can own it a little and gett excited about the project.
	Black Hat Thinking - Cautions Difficulties, weaknesses, dangers Logical reasons are given. Spotting the risks Time frames that we can work together within, equipment use, technical difficulties and taking into account that some footage may have to be re-shot.
	Red Hat Thinking - Feelings Intuition, hunches, gut instinct My feelings right now. Feelings can change. No reasons are given

Inspiration or motivation can be lost. confidence that the project can be done well should not be lost and needs to be re-inforce 

2. Reading Quiz
1. Describe the relationship between complexity and simplicity 

Complexity allows us to identify simplicity when we encounter it. If we had no contrast to compare, there would be no foundation for either concept.

2. What analogy does Maeda use to demonstrate this relationship?  

Maeda descrides how blank surfaces like an empty page in a book invite chaos, in the same way that a counter top at home collects change, mail, keys and so forth. 

3. In what context does Maeda discuss rhythm / beat in relation to the fifth law Contextualise this relationship and discuss how this can be used in relation to the Student Exhibition - giving specific examples 


 Maeda talks about phrasing of beats and rythm's. He also mentions counterpoint which is a method in music where multiple musicians hover around the same rythm and tempo while each person is sitting at different speeds' for example; whole notes, half , quarter etc. Doing this hides the simplicity of each instrument and allows each part to flourish when neccessary aswell as compliment the overall sound.

This band "Isis" is awesome at counter point and this video shows them discussing how they would like the directon of the songs to go.

Art by Alex Grey

Simple design genius

Seems complex at first, but on a closer look, its just a bunch of circles and numbers.

Starts out very simple, ends up looking quite complex.

I think the main point for our collaboration video is to focus on all the key events in the video and then add in extra parts that we think couldn't hurt. 

 references:

• http://www.12manage.com/methods_bono_six_thinking_hats.htm
  http://www.debonoforschools.com/asp/six_hats.asp 
  http://www.apple.com/macmini/design.html
  fastcodesign.com

   

Collaboration class #5: Brains

Brains

week 5

2. Reading Quiz

Question time: answer the following questions as succinctly as possible in your own words.

            –  Describe the relationship between teaching and learning according to Maeda?

Maeda says “knowledge makes learning simpler” meaning; the more you know, the easier learning becomes through the process of relating previous learnt material to the new information.

            –  Describe the importance of the use of metaphors in learning, why would you use 
them, how, give an example?

Metaphors are the easiest way to relate a completely new method or idea to someone by relating the new concept to something else that they have already had experience in.

            –  BRAIN - what does the acronym stand for – why is it important?

BASICS are the beginning

REPEAT yourself often.

AVOID creating desperation

INSPIRE with examples

NEVER forget to repeat yourself
 

This method re-enforces the age-old saying of “practice makes perfect “.




 

       –  Describe a situation where you have been required to teach someone a skill. 


Learning songs in a band. Teaching someone else a riff. Muscle memory is required and repetition is key.

How could you apply the BRAIN principle to it?

·      
  Inspiration is created through feeding off each other’s ideas.

·       A song or jam always starts off better if it is simpler.

·       Desperation is avoided by discipline.

·       The rhythm is created through repetition.

Brainstorming ideas for our collaboration film.

Still unsure of what we are doing but there is a lot of good ideas being thrown around, mainly to do with camera angles and camera tricks. We want to incorporate various elements of the course that we are learning, like film, photography, design n, etc. 


This video shows the art of dozens of artists around the world who are all involved in this ink drawing project.

 


References:

• http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2011/05/27/study-autistic-brains-are-chemically-different/

• http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/money/superannuation/make-your-next-move-awinning-one/story-e6fredku-1226207705337
• http://www.tylerstrading.com/repetition-repetition-repitition/
• http://cheezburger.com/template/1329746
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiIQvDsTlZs

Collaboration class #4: Branding

Branding

Week 4

3. Reading Quiz

Answer the following questions as succinctly as possible in your own words

1. What is the major benefit of saving time?

You gain more time to focus on more important things.

2. How do designers integrate time into their products? By having things like “new” written on them or having a specific trends or fashions incorporated into the product such as style and color.

3. Explain the relationship between making waiting shorter with making waiting more tolerable

If you are waiting for a long time with no distractions from the wait, you will find it a lot more boring than if you had a screen to watch or a simple game to play; some video games try to put little mini games within their loading screens to make the waiting time seem very quick and often unnoticed.

4. How can you use your timeline to increase your own efficiency as a designer?

Planning ahead, making good use of experience by taking notes and honing in on what has been learnt. Time management.

5. Briefly outline an event or activity in which you are adept at time saving?

Illustration, charater design. Process is broken up into,:

1. Rough sketch

2. Clean up sketch,

3. Outline/dark areas

4. Under painting/shading, (mid tones and highlights established.)

5. Painting process begins.

6. What part of your design/multimedia process do you need to improve at, in terms of saving time?

Time management, enthusiasm and technical software and computer knowledge.

Today in class we discussed Branding. It is arguably and unintended result of Andy Warhol’s pop art revolution. 

Andy Warhol

One of his most regonised pieces.

Another example of what Andy calls art.

 

I used to be very into name brand clothes and that sort of thing, until I got a bit older and realized how much marketing was really going on and just how much I had been affected by it. Nowadays I only where clothes that have a nice design and comfortable material. The only branded clothes I do and would where are from brands that actually have a product that I would advertise and endorse. These are bands shirts, maybe guitar brands or drums brands and any good artwork or intriguing images.

Katatonia; a band i happily advertise regularly.

Meshuggah, another band i like to promote.

Cymbal brand thatis regonised around the globe

Chinese branding, but you still know what they are!

Arabic Branding

Is this more enticing?

Or are theses?

 We all know which one looks more appealing. This is due to smart marketing. 

This is a really interesting video that explains the history of branding in a fun and informative manner.

Collaboration class #3: Emotions

Body Language

Week 3

2. Reading Quiz

Answer the following questions as succinctly as possible in your own words

1. What does the acronym SLIP mean according to Maeda?

Sort, Label, Integrate, Prioritize.

 Define each character of the acronym, S L I P in one sentence

Sort; arrange into groups

Label; give the groups names

Integrate; combine groups and minimalize where possible

Priotize; arrange groups from highest to lowest importance. 

 

What does Maeda say is only a pinkie away?

 The quick path to simplicity.

Why is this important to us as designers?

 In order to structure, plan and organise.

What are the principles of gestalt psychological theory?

 That humans have developed skills in identifying patterns based on their experiences and interactions, and that these patterns can be utilised to invoke an emotional response.

Where might one find the aesthetics of blur?

Paintings throughout history.

Why is blur important in interactive design?

 It allows the artist to put emphasis where needed on the piece of work, and create unfocused imagery on the intended area.

It can create focus in advertising and can be vital in a busy movie scene for example, where the settings is a really busy and chaotic environment but the focus is meant for the chsracters facial expressions. Blurring out the environment and surroundings would ensure the expressions would be seen and read.

Why do good designers squint when they look at something?

So they can see what stands out the most and what the balance and proportions are like. 

      
















 

Body language can be interpreted in many different ways for example; 

Scheming wink, gives you an uneasy feeling.

Flirtacious wink, gives you a much better feeling.

 A person nods his/her head up and down

Your in for it!

  A person’s lower lip trembles slightly

they were crying, or they could be nervous.

  A person smiles slightly

simple  way of saying hello.

  A person yawns

tired, or bored.

  A person shrugs his/her shoulders

unsure?

  A person inhales quickly

tired, frustrated, trying to calm down. doing chi breathing exercises. 

 

  

references:


http://www.amiria.co.nz/artist/good-artist-models-for-painting/

Collaboration class #2: Humans

Week 2

Human body language

Reading Quiz

–  What does the acronym SHE mean according to the book?

Shrink: to create something and then make it seem more impressive by scaling it down.

  Hide: reducing all components possible is already done so some can be hidden, like in a flip top mobile phone.

 Embody. To give the product or creation a sense of importance, by careful design and marketing.

    –  In your words define ‘humanist technologist’

A person who researches humanity issues using technological resources.

–      How can you apply the notion of reduce to your own design process? (give a specific example)

I really appreciate the notion of reduce within a variety of mediums that I try to regularly practice. Within music it is very effective and I just can’t help but relate Maeda’s teachings to that.

I also think its quite clearly evident within painting or illustration. I often have a problem of not knowing when to stop or when to give up. It will be interesting to see how the SHE acronym may help my paintings and drawings. 

            –  From what you have read in Chapter 1, explain the relationship between complexity and simplicity (give 3 specific examples from the book OR your own experiences)

1.“Organization makes a system of many appear fewer” I really like this quote from Maeda.

It explains how something with many complex parts can looks simpler by being organized and simplified.

2. Within a song. It often sounds simple and as though it is one sound. When you break it apart and tune your ears to what sounds are really happening, only then you realize how complex it actually is.

3. A poster design, or digital art image. It may look smooth, simple and clean cut, but beneath the final image are a number of complex layers with different attributes and effects. The point is, without creating multiple layers you would not get the final simplified image with such perfection and quality. 

 Presentation: IDEO Deep Dive

What type of organisation is IDEO? 

They are a Design Firm that specialises in product research and design.

 What are the different processes they employ in design research?

 They use their own experiences as well as the experiences of others to guide their design planning.

 How did they define the range and scope of the problem? 

        They visited users of the product in question and got their opinions on the             current problems associated with the product. 

How could you apply their methodology to developing a concept for your exhibition piece?

  Asking lectures and other students of their opinions of my ideas for the exhibition piece.

How can you apply the notion of reduce to your own design process? (give a specific example)

I often tend to overthink things, starting with the most simple option can enable you to extend what you would normaly do, as you will develop a more relaxed approach and feel less overwhlemed. This has recently become very eveident to me in music compostition.

Class discussion mainly revolved around Body Language, and the importance it holds in daily interaction.