Research and Development

I had a look at several different blogs and found that there are various different methods of research to help with developing your work. Below are all the ones I came across:

>>Movie trailers

>>Short films

>>Film directors - influence own work

>>Similarity of courses - Theatre Design/Film

>>Feedback

>>Local design companies - web/media/graphics/multimedia

>>Designers - Chris Pallaris was one I came across

>>Websites - ilovedust/youtube/deviantart

>>Internet - artists and designers for inspiration

>>Interactive games

>>Video games

>>Software tutorials

>>Own sketches/own work/own skills

>>Novels/comics

>>Interviews

>>Practitioners

From this, I have realised that I rarely put my research methods on my blog. I think showing your research is a major part in the design process, as it helps not only you, but the audience/user have a greater understanding of where your ideas have come from and how they have developed. I tend to write up and explain what I'm doing, but not necessarily how I got to that point. Maybe now I will make a note to self and do this.

Todays seminar was almost like my tutor sessions - we got into groups to come up with 5 questions between us that you could ask other students about their work in terms of development. Below are the five questions my group came up with, including the answers from someone form another group.

1. How do you begin to start your project?

>>Caleb: Use ideas from personal interests - for online environments project, like games and quizzes so made a quiz about games!

2. Where do you find your research from?

>>Caleb: Idea for this project actually came from the top of my head

3. Why does your research influence you?

>>Caleb: Just based on personal interests

4. From looking back, have you changed it in any way?

>>Caleb: Multiple times. You're always looking at your work thinking of new ideas. Getting peoples feedback also helps with this.

5. Has your development helped you choose your pathway?

>>Caleb: Yes. I knew from when I came into the course what I wanted to do.

I was then asked his groups five questions:

1. How much time do you put into your work each week?

>>Me: In terms of my Online Environments project I would say definitely more time than given seminar time. I worked on mine almost everyday using tutorials etc to help me progress further

2. Where did you get your resources from?

>>Me: I thought of a particular target audience and based my project focusing on that, (learners). I could then use the internet to collect a number of theory questions, and view hazard perception clips. Feedback was another resource that made me realise some faults and I chose the option of making a new and improved idea.

3. How do you go about critically analysing your work?

>>Me: I usually get feedback from my tutor and other students, and also if necessary the targeted audience. I also analyse my work personally to see how I can improve my own skills.

4. How does the final work help progress the next piece?

>>Me: After completing a project I tend to feel more confidence about starting the next one. This is in terms of having developed my skills and knowledge on the software.

5. How has your work changed since you started the course?

>>Me: My work has definitely changed since I first started - Most softwares I had never used before and am now feeling pretty confident about them all. Therefore my work has developed through new skills and a new way of working. Since starting the course I can see where my strengths and weaknesses lie, helping determine which pathway to choose for year two.