What does a designer actually do?

Summing up the video 'what does a designer actually do?':

He says: In order to answer this you would think it depends on what type of designer, yet they all do the same thing - problem solving. They attempt to meet un-met needs by creating new possibilities. To sum up in three words 'creative problem solving'. Its developing methodologies that work. If you want to be innovative you have to learn from the people that have mastered this.

I say: I agree with what was said in this video. Problem solving means requiring a solution. This could take time as it could require using multiple prototypes, but then again it depends what kind of problem needs solving for the extent of creativeness needed. From my last moving image project we had a few problems we needed to solve. We figured our narrative wasn't particularly strong, and the lighting was really dim. In order to solve the lighting problem we had to move location - this involved then changing the narrative anyways as we couldn't produce our original idea.

Summing up the video 'the importance of failing forward'

He says: It's an iterative process- using prototypes allows you to give form, but it's a way of constantly failing. Why? because it is the best way to make steady progress on a difficult challenge. Every misstep achieves one step closer to achieving innovation. His motto is 'fail early and often'. This is one step in the continuous design process.

I say: I partly agree with what he says here. I do believe you learn from your mistakes, not necessarily whilst making them but most definitely after. By receiving feedback also, you are able to use this to propel you forward. Reasons why I disagree are I don't believe designers intend to fail first in order to progress. I think its more having the intention that something will work and then realising it isn't quite what you expected so you try again. Also, prototyping can be an expensive process, whereby making hundreds of prototypes to purposely fail would be a waste of time, money and materials. With all of my project from last term, I either re-designed or re-created another version to improve them, some of which were after receiving feedback. Therefore, personally, in order for me to improve my work, I feel I create more than one, so I am learning and improving on my mistakes. However, I don't fail intentionally to 'fail forward'.

Summing up the video 'ask stupid questions':

He says: Designers are trained to question everything. A joke designers tell about themselves is 'how many designers does it take to change a light bulb?' the answer being 'does it have to be a light bulb?' They are constantly asking themselves 'is this the best way? why are we doing it this way?' Innovation often happens or even begins by someone asking a stupid question. It's not easy to ask stupid questions, it's what designers learn how to ask the right stupid question.

I say: I don't entirely get why its a 'stupid question' when really he is explaining that designers just question everything they do, in order for them to know their process and whether it's the right way to go about it. I can't really think of any stupid questions I may have asked about my recent projects, although someone did ask 'what kind of stupid question would class as asking a stupid question?' Also, off the subject a little, but we found a stupid but also quite realistic question online: 'do blind people see their dreams?' Ha that got me thinking and also laughing about that one.

I like

I saw this video whilst watching the music channels and I was intrigued, I really like the video to this song- I like the style - like Pop art maybe?? I'd love to know how this is produced etc it looks amazing with all the techniques/use of colour/filming- looks really fun. Maybe I could do this one day? =)

New Quiz

I've managed to almost finish my second quiz- again at the moment without video. I figured out how to put music running all the way through the quiz whilst playing, but then I thought what happens when you watch a video- I'd have to find out how to stop the music so you can hear the video, orrrr have a question on a video that doesn't require the audio on it. Hmm. Anyways here are a few shots of my quiz so far:

This is my homepage. Each title uses animation to come in from different directions. I kept the instructions page as from feedback, is a good idea.

Each artist/band has their own homepage as above with a total of four questions. This was a solution from my previous quiz that had too many questions simultaneously. Therefore this is why I created different options on the homepage - meeting the criteria of at least ten questions, just with the option of answering a minimal amount per artist/band.

This is how I have presented all the questions - keeping the same theme throughout each quiz. I lightened the background so the question and answers were easy to read this time - solving a problem from last time.

I've kept the background the same throughout and also kept the scoring page quite simple. There is an option to go 'Back' which will take you to the homepage in order to choose another artist/band to complete.

Problems I need to solve and working on at the moment:

>>1. The scoring only seems to work on one of the artists. For some reason it finds an error with " var score=0; " which is needed at the start of the quiz but will only run on one. I'm not sure if it needs a different code to run more than one scoring system for each of the quizzes??

>>2. I can add sound playing throughout, but would prefer to have the option of a 'Play' and 'Pause' to listen to some music in order to answer a question on it.

>>3. Video. Just need to find a way of making my computer to like it.

Tuesday Lectures?

THINGS: I just don't understand what this was all about- or see any relevance to our course. It reminded me of my old Fine Art lessons...I thought we were doing Multimedia!?

No way - she's actually doing it

I joked about making another quiz, due to the fact that i'm not entirely satisfied with it, BUT, check this, she's doing another one. I'm even not hating Flash so much so maybe it's a good thing.

Problems encountered with the first quiz:

1. After receiving feedback, I noted that others found it quite tedious to answer over ten questions on a driving theory

>>Solution - change the subject matter and not have as many as 20 questions in one go

2. The font did seem a little hard to read with every question being used in a different colour font with a different background

>>Solution - Use a simpler background and possibly keeping it consistent with the same colour font

3. I tried to add sound to every incorrect answer, which meant out of three possible answers per question, two answers required sound. This made it quite complicated and therefore didn't go to plan.

>>Solution - Have a song playing consistently throughout the quiz

4. It was hard to find a video to relate to this subject- well just adding a video in general

>>Solution - Base it on a subject that is easier to find a video- and learn how to upload it this time

Helpful tutorials

http://tinyurl.com/yhsh6sw

This is a useful link I have used to help add sound to my quiz. It also gives tutorials on uploading videos too- mine just isn't working at the moment.

Also, I've just been browsing other peoples blog and found someones final quiz- it's amazing! Although it's really put me on a downer because I have no idea how to make mine look as good - I'm actually considering starting another one so I can improve my knowledge and understanding of the software, and also because I do feel I can do better.!!!

Talking up the Essay

I found this seminar last week quite useful for a starting point and process for the visual essay, I just forgot to talk about it. We were split into three groups, where we each had to produce a plan for either the beginning, middle or end. Considering I'm not 100% sure on my pathway I am going to choose for next year, I noted down and answered the following as a whole:

Beginning
>>What and why is my pathway choice?

>>May consider: the pathway you enjoyed or learnt the most from/ the subject that has grabbed and really interested you/ your learning background before entering the course

>>How might you get to know the challenges and opportunities in some detail? Where are the sources I might go to?

>>Could ask other years and how they came to the decision/ from working in groups/ asking graduates who are a few years into their working careers

>>How do I discuss my work? Specifically, how have I used research?

>>Online journal/development/feedback- from students and lecturers/previous research methods

That was my plan for the beginning of the essay. Below is what I noted from the other two groups that I may find useful:

Middle

>>How might I find 3 practitioners?

>>Online/magazines/books/previous work

>>Who are my 3 practitioners?

>>Tim Burton/Glue/Peter Saville - Who and what inspired them?

>>How do I demonstrate their work as innovative and thought provoking?

>>Comparison/user friendly/visibility/context- film- time was made and based on

End

>>How do I demonstrate my reflection?

>>Imagery/videos/text/journal/own work

>>How do I demonstrate what I have learnt from examining the work of 3 practitioners?

>>Identifying/describing/own or others work- concept/ideas/conceptual focus/social conscience

>>What kind of content is my conclusions?

>>2nd and 3rd years work- could include in visual essay

Visual Essay: mini =)

These are a few images and words that I believe show why I want to choose a pathway: Moving Image

Mastering Imagination.



Taking chances.



Creativity & Innovation.



Connecting to the world great ideas.

Found this...

So I was browsing other peoples blogs to get inspiration for my next project, and stumbled across this. Iv'e not seen it advertised myself but think it is very much inspiring and related to Multimedia. Wish I knew how to make this...

Draft Quiz

Below is a draft version of my quiz. Theres only a few things left to amend. First, I noticed that a few of the questions aren't displaying properly--took me ages to figure out why not, but I needed to change the properties of it to multiline, duh. Also, I don't think the sound is working on deviant art, but I'm going to add more. I'm adding a related sound to the question, which will only sound if you click the incorrect answer. I therefore need to add this in on the 'Instructions' page. Still working out how to add a video on to the quiz- although I have come to the conclusion that my laptop doesn't have the video encoding software that is needed..I think. Overall so far, I'm pleased I have managed to get it to work..better and quicker than it took me for the interactive narrative game, however I do think its lacking something..I can't put my finger in it at this moment, but when I do, I will fix it..or just make another! Bit optimistic maybe?? Ha, yea.
Draft quiz-Driving theory by ~hgregory1990 on deviantART

Un Chein andalou

So this is probably the shortest film iv'e ever watched, 17 minutes long I believe....and what a surprise it is also probably the strangest film iv'e ever watched, it literally made NO sense. BUT this was the whole idea of the film! Why anyone would do this I have no idea, but apparently it was made to provoke an emotional response?? It was a Spanish, silent film released in 1929, by a director who was also a play writer, poet and an author. This film consisted of a surrealist movement, which without this ever being invented, pop music videos wouldn't exist today. I don't get that either, but its still good to know.

Working Progress - Quiz

After definitely deciding to go with the driving theory idea, I brainstormed a list of requirements and possible questions.

Requirements

>>Include at least 10 questions-Above I have listed ten possible questions. These are simple listed multiple choice questions, all answered in the same way. Other ways I could do this is with imagery i.e road signs.

>> Questions that include video- I'm thinking a kind of hazard perception, although It would have to be a knowledge question based on the video as I would find it impossible to be able to create my own hazard perception, registering multiple mouse clicks in the correct places of the video--not possible!

>>Sounds- I could add sounds to the buttons, as in 'button sounds' or I could add sound relating to the question. Something I still need to experiment with.

>>Animated graphics- So far I have added animated text to my 'Title Page", where the option is given to 'Play' or list 'Instructions'.

>>Must record the users score- I'm currently trying to add a scoring system at the bottom of each question so the user knows which question they got right/wrong at the time of answering. However I don't know how to have the option of seeing the correct answers at the end of the quiz.

>>Optional difficulty- keeping track of the users name, high score and randomising the order of questions--I have no idea how????!!

The three different style of questions within my quiz so far.

Zero de Conduite

This was a 1933 film directed by Jean Vigo- a lyrical film maker. His film was immediately banned as it was thought that it may encourage rioting and rebellion. It was basically about a boys french boarding school, where the pupils decided they would rebel against who was in charge and escape. I think this was the first film with a narrative to ever use slow motion..and apparently the music to this specific part played backwards.

I thought the film was slightly boring to be honest. I didn't feel there was anything happening until the last ten minutes. Plus I hate having to read subtitles, especially when someones head is in the way and keeps moving. I'm much more interested in modern films that use amazing techniques and animation.

THE QUIZ

Its been a a very slow start, but I'm getting there. First couple of seminars were not very productive, mostly one man talking for two hours and thirty then falling asleep. Although, I did manage to make some notes that have in the most tiniest way helped with the coding of my quiz, considering that I just don't understand coding in the slightest. OH and them books I took out, NOT HELPFUL. They explain how to do the things needed in the quiz, such as animation, but its the most rubbish explanation in the world. Wasn't easy to follow in any way. SO it was back to the online Flash Tutorials. A little easier, but not for the animation part. I followed it step by step literally..and no it doesn't work, hardly surprising. I've just started the basis of my quiz and hopefully I'll pick up how to animate at some point.

My ideas have been so far:

Firstly, I made a brainstorm of any initial thoughts:

First Idea

I thought about who I would aim the quiz at. My first answer was at young children..making an online quiz as a method of learning. Possibly using a well known character such as Dora the explorer for example, to help them find it fun. So simple things children learn about (I think) are shapes, numbers, colours, animals etc. To make it slightly more interesting I thought about learning these things in another language..Dora the explorer teaches spanish..but I don't know any spanish..but I do know someone who knows italian..perfect! It could go something like:

Have a frame asking to memorise what 'circle' is in italian (with the italian spelling underneath) and then the next frame would be the question: What is circle in Italian? and there could be a list of three different spellings.

Above are a few possible question ideas. However, going by the brief it says you have to include video. At this stage I'm not particularly sure what I could include or how I would go about this, for example create one? or find an existing one..somewhere??.

Also, I'm not sure how I would test the user ability for this quiz, so not entirely sure if I have made this too difficult or unrealistic. So this is how I came about another idea...

Second Idea

Learning how to drive. Pretty much a theory test I guess, but with additional sound/animation/video it should turn out pretty fun!

A list of general questions for example could be:

How can you tell if you're driving on ice?

> The tyres make a rumbling noise

> The steering becomes heavier

> The steering becomes lighter

Other ways of asking questions are using images- different road signs. 'Which road sign means one way system?' Videos for this quiz should be a lot easier to find but we shall see. I have made the start of my quiz so far, below. Its not designed too complicated because I'm not great at Flash and just want to make it basic in order to get the coding right!!!!