FINISHED

I handed in my assignment both physically and online.

For the Website I feel I did well but one struggle I faced with the InVision app was the inability to put a link over top of a Screen Overlay, meaning whenever an image appears if the cursor is moved the link remains but the image/text title for the page doesn't work.
This also means that on the main directory page I couldn't link to the Plague cover as the trash that appears behind the title takes up the screen.
I tried to ifnd tutorials everywhere but I couldn't fix this issue, so where the whale has "home" above it it leads to the front cover.

Each page has a fully functional link, with the "Plague" title at the top consistently linking to the cover photo whenever clicked. Each page has an interactive theme; images such as trash appear when hovering over the models on each page.

Although it was very difficult, I appreciated the challenge of creating a fully functional website simulation.

Workbook (12/10/2015)

For the front page I decided I didn't quite like the flow of the overall image -- everything seemed too simple and I didn't like this. Also it didn't quite seem to work with the "Vogue" theme.

Front Page before

New Main page

This page will have the same hover images, plus a line of garbage behind the title "Plague" will appear when hovered over.

After a consultation with Lee regarding the website, she said the colour palette and imagery was good, but the type layout was too condensed and I needed to change them. After consulting a magazine on type layout, I hung up printed images of my website:

I noticed the cover page's main focus was the title and the eye looked at everything around it AFTERWARD because the title is placed in the center. Then on the next page, the images and titles make more of a "zig zag" shape which is a more interactive way of processing the page's information.

I took this into account for the next two pages with the information on them. At first I had a title with an underlined rule and the information in blocks continuing the zig zag shape. However, this didn't seem to work, so I changed the type to be in 3 squares, one on top and two on the bottom (like a pyramid) because the eye still looks through the information in a zig zag formation.

I did similar to the other page for the next page of information, just upside down so that it maintains the visual flow.

The final page will have a block of information in the top left corner in a bigger text (So what can you do?) then a 2px length line on the right and information underneath (flush right). 

A map will be in the bottom left with certain pieces of trash scattered around the page. 

Website so far:

This is what I have been able to make on the website -
Each page links to another page successfully, and invisible images pop up when hovered over.

Workbook (6/10/2015)

Phoebe and I finalized the poster so we can print it on Friday.
Although I edited the poster in RGB, I realised after the lecture by Tim, printed images should be done in CMYK.

The poster on the left is RGB and the one on the right is CMYK. Although I personally liked the CMYK one on the right as it had a more "Vogue" feel to it, Phoebe and I agreed the RGB image had more color and seemed more visually appealing. 

I have also been working on the website and made quite a few changes after the interim discussion yesterday:

The first 2 pages will go in this order --
The first image will be the "cover photo", and when the title is clicked it will lead to the next page - the home page. Only the titles will be visible on this page, and when the text is hovered over the animals will appear.
The next two pages (a third is to come) will be filled with the information as shown.
The pink page is about if we do not confront our pollution problem, instead of being able to swim in the sea we will be wearing it, just like some of our endangered species! It then says what we can personally do to fix this problem in different ways:

The next fashion statement?
We hope not!!

If we don’t start to take responsibility for our actions, instead of the rubbish being on our beaches, we’ll be wearing our pollution just like certain animals in our ocean such as the blue penguin, seagulls and even orca whales!
We need to confront our problem before it becomes the next fashion statement instead of working around the problem.
Like the first step to any dilemma, we need to admit that we have a problem instead of avoiding it any longer.

Certain ways of solving this include getting a small community together and simply doing a coastal clean by foot, boat or kayak you can prevent litter travelling out to sea and damaging our animals.
What can we do to decrease pollution:
- organize beach clean ups!
- reduce the amount of your own personal rubbish
- make sure only rain goes down the drain and take care of the local streams
- research your local beaches

C’mon guys, it’s your beach too!

The next page is explaining facts about New Zealand pollution and statistics about our beaches:

Wellington waterfront’s diving platform was closed because faecal contamination spiked nearly 500 times the safe levels. Majority of New Zealand rivers were used as bottled water (the water is taken directly from the river) majority of these rivers are now so muddied with sediment, algal blooms and pollution that they cant even be used for swimming Each year, plastic waste in water and coastal areas kills up to 100,000 marine mammals 1 million sea birds, and countless fish 95% of the world’s cities still dump raw sewage into their water supplies

Marine debris is a worldwide problem – every year approximately 7 billion tonnes of garbage progresses towards the sea.  46,000 pieces of plastic litter is covering the ocean, and only 30 percent has sunk. This will remain in the environment for hundreds of years.

“Almost a quarter of New Zealand’s beaches were and water ways were tested in Auckland, were unsafe for swimming” – NZ Herald

Water pollution in New Zealand is becoming and increasing controversy; one third of New Zealand’s beaches are contaminated with sewage, and 49 out of the 350 beaches in New Zealand are classified as polluted. 

The third page will explain the beach clean up day, details on how to find it and some more statistics about New Zealand beaches and how joining this clean up day could prevent these statistics from getting any worse!!

I am also making a sticker page for our extra item. Although it doesn't contribute to our grade I'll still print these out because theyre still fun to have!

Week 5 Session 1 (Interim)

Today we had our review, and I was told to make the following changes on the website and poster:

POSTER:
1. Lighten or remove seaweed hanging off the model as it is overpowering and too dark. This takes away focus from the headpiece which is the focal point of the poster.
2. Zoom in on the model and lower her so only the top half of the body is visible. Although it's cutting off the rest of the bikini the top half is still visible enough to show she's wearing beach clothes.
3. Make the font a color that corresponds with skin tone and darker colors - this will be a challenge.
4. Possibly add more detail to head piece.

WEBSITE:
1. Change the vectored animals to look more distressed/littered on as this is the theme of the poster.
2. Put clothes on vectored humans to continue beach theme like on model.
3. Color scheme does not quite work with the poster - this is due to using photography for the background then changing them to a negative/divide. Introducing new ideas/developments are not ideal at this point, so I need to keep the background to a solid color with a subtle gradient. Less filters and effects, more solid colors.
4. Try having a white border on each page

Workbook - Website Progress (4/10/2015)

I have been working on Phoebe and my website.
Originally I had the idea to make the page simple with 4 objects straight down the middle and when the mouse hovers the 4 images (starfish, trash, shell and tampon) it would lead to a directory for each separate topic.

This was how the page turned out. Origibally I had a black border but Phoebe suggested that be removed as it suffocated the image and made the page look cheap.
For the background I took a photo of my hardwood floor and inverted it to make the image seem "beach-like".
However I didnt like how this looked as it was too simple so I developed this idea further to something a little bit more detailed. 

I made the background color a little more saturated and changed the title to plague. I then created some vector reference images and when the titles are hovered over these animals appear.
I made the font italic to make the page seem more of a Vogue parody.

This is the second page for the website below:

I used a stock photo of rubbish for the background and divided it then colored over top with blue. Originally it was brown but it looked too gross for a "high end" fashion magazine. Phoebe and I really want to play on the idea of the images appearing optimistic in a bad situation. Hence why the model seems happy to be bathing in crappy rubbish.

The third page:

I inverted an image of a Wellington beach and placed a model in the bottom corner of the image. This is the third page because it is less aggressive in the idea of pollution - it implies and idea of what COULD be achieved if we had a polluted-free environment, while also maintaining the color scheme.

The vector images I kept referencing, I made a page of vector images that Phoebe and I will use throughout all of our products (i.e: the pamphlet she's working on). These are the main images we will be using among others.

For the models I decided giving them clothes would be too simple, so instead I only vectored the skin and left the clothes blank so the backgrounds will shine through to make the models actually seem like they are a part of the problem without them noticing it. They're bathing in their problem and working around it by making it seem like a fashion statement instead of a problem that needs to actually be fixed.

Workbook - Progress on poster so far (2/10/2015)

I did not attend Monday and Tuesday classes as I had other commitments, but I made sure to have some spare time to consult with Gray and Lee.

Gray recommmended I make a couple changes to the poster such as removing the netting from the face as it was too much detail in the wrong place. Also the headpiece should be more trash oriented as that is the main focus of the image. I also changed the light green seaweed to a more grungy brown since seaweed is a "good" thing, and that isn't what we want so we want to emphasise the bad parts of the ocean such as the oil.
I also added pubic hairs, a condom, gum and other distrubing garbage to made the image more uncomfortable.
Phoebe and I also decided to change the name to "Plague" as it is more relevent to the topic while parodying Vogue.

First Poster

Second Poster

Third (Final) Poster

Web Page Front Page Design

I quickly did a design on Photoshop to show a rough idea of what I intend to create for the main page.
For the background I took a photo of the hardwood floor in my kitchen and created a negative and lightened the opacity.
I then got 4 images from google to show each of the pages that these images will navigate to (although they may not necessarily go in this order).

Starfish: "what the epidemic is"
Rubbish: map of different beaches in Wellington
Shell: "latest fashion trend" (to continue the vogue theme. This will lead to a page with models lying down covered in trash)
Tampon: How we can prevent this issue - this includes personal ways that we can prevent trash on the beach as well as details on the beach clean up day.

FINAL

Final image work in progress

I merged Phoebes idea with mine to make it similar to a Vogue cover photo. I also added her idea of the mesh over the face.
I felt the image was too simple with the model straight in the center (we removed the text that would normally surround the model as this is meant to be a poster so we wanted it simpler).
So I gave her a shaul with sea weed and gunk all over her and stretching off the page, taking up the poster and adding an interesting twist to the image.
I also changed the background colour because grey looked too 2 dimensional, so I added a gradient with a sand colour underneath to maintain the hint of a dirty polluted beach. Also, I wanted to use this colour for our website too. 

Workbook 22/09/2015

For homework we were to analyze websites such as NZ Opera and 350.org and dissect their style and why certain aspects were necessary.

I liked the NZ Opera website because it is simple, clean and is aesthetically pleasing because the image takes up majority of the page and the information is framed around it, with the information tabs along the top making the information easily accessible.

NZ Opera

350.org was more information based (below). The white title on the dark background stood out, but it was a lot more information based and packed with a lot of information which none particulary stood out to me since there was so much, and there was no focal point for me to solely focus on in order for me to understand what the theme was. 

350.org

Below are some design ideas for the website.
For the main page, I like the idea of lining up 4 items; a starfish, a shell, a piece of trash and some grains of sand, all laid out on a hardwood floor with the vibrancy taken down so that the color of the wooden floor will still have a grey tinge like the background of our poster while still maintaining a "sand" like tinge.
Also, when the cursor hovers over the 4 items, they will light up and be clickable;
The starfish will direct the viewer to information about the epidemic and why this is an issue.
The shell will have a link to "fashion statements", which will link to a page of clothing with trash all over it. This will be because we want to show the viewer that if they do not address the issue soon, we will end up working AROUND the problem and find ways to make it seem as though it is less of epidemic. This is also continuing the Vogue theme. This page will probably have a model lying along the beach wearing "summer" clothes, but instead of putting it along the bottom it will be placed along the side - "vertical" theme.

Design ideas

Below is possible layouts for my website. Keys will be along the bottom also (i.e: about, news, map, etc). 

Week 3 Session 2

Today in class we begun with a lecture where we were shown examples of transmedia and various examples.
Always consider the visual hierarchy; "what interested me enough to keep me here?", what feeling is this website creating?

In the second half of class we were taught how to use InVision, a website simulator for designers. Along the bottom are some notes taken on how to use the software.

Photo of my notes from both lectures

Workbook: Critiques

For poster 1 ("One mans trash is another kids treasure"), it was suggested I expand on the idea of rubbish and the beach/sand and have a sand castle decorated with rubbish. I should also change the font to something more playful and simple, as the demographic is parents with children so it should appeal to adults, but catch the eye of children. I was also advised to take a photo of a beach and use that instead to experiment with mixed media, but it must be a photo of a New Zealand beach (not restricted to the Wellington region).

For poster number 2 ("The latest fashion trend") which is also the idea that Phoebe and I want to use for our final, we were told to combine both our poster designs. 

Phoebe created a magazine-style poster based around Vogue magazine with a photographic style, and I created a more illustrative poster using vectors. I will transfer my model onto Phoebe’s background of Vogue, and we simplify the poster by removing the text that was crowded around her model to “VOGUE – the latest fashion trend?” and then have the details of the beach cleanup day written in white to separate from the call to action. This will subconsciously cause the viewer to create a separation between the two pieces of information.
We changed the tag line to a question as this is the call to action.
The image will be using a summer beach theme instead of a grotty winter beach type image as we are playing on imagery and want to make our poster seem glamorous and stand out to the viewer – we are trying to express that pollution will soon be glamorised in order for the issue to seem like less than a problem than it actually is; it’s showing the possibility that we will end up working WITH the issue instead of ADDRESSING the issue.

Note: need to consider font styles.

Workbook: Poster Design no. 1 further development.

For our critiques, I was told it was a good image/idea, but continue with the beach idea by having the model in a bikini.

Note: I may also add the beach in the background to make it seem as if she's actually on the beach trying to make a statement.

Workbook: Poster Idea no. 3

This was a quick mockup sketch I did because I liked the idea behind it (colours arent the best...)

I merged a dirty jandal (one belongs on the land/our feet) with a bright gold fish (the other belongs in the sea) to show the contrast between the two - merging these two objects together can appear that the litter on our beaches is developing into more of a problem than we thought.

I considered a tag line (certainly not in this font) that says "one belongs on the land, one belongs in the sea, keep them separate, don't litter" and then the details of the beach clean up

I don't think I will continue with this idea however.

Workbook: Poster Idea Design no. 2

I like the idea of using a sand bucket with trash on top of it, as this can appeal to children and adults. I will use bright colours to capture the audiences attention, but keep the trash bucket grey (more detail to come), as it resembles a trash can.

Further development on can, considering changing the tag line, but happy with the overall image. Considering changing the trash can color or shifting the text lower as there is not much of a differentiation between the two. OR changing the color of the text may also work.
I feel a frame on the picture always looks professional, however may not be needed for this poster.

18/09/2015

I have put further development into my poster (below). I didn't like how strong the border was, even though it was quite thin, the black did not contrast well as nothing else in the image was straight black, so I decided to change it to white as there is less of a clash to the image.

I also removed the vector ovals on the trash bin because they looked too tacky -- it made the trash can look too 2 dimensional, so instead I used the burn tool to shade certain areas such as the bin and the trash on the sand - this made the image look slightly more 3 dimensional while still maintaining a simple child-like theme to the poster.

I'm not sure whether or not I want to use stock images in the background beneath the vectors (i.e: water stock image in the sea and sand stock image beneath the sand vector) to make the image seem more realistic -- it doesn't take away from the childlike theme, but seems to be quite over powering. I intend to develop on this in future and search for other options. Perhaps using a different, lighter stock image (as seen in bottom right) to compliment the white border? 

Week 2 Session 2

Today Phoebe and I had critiques, and most of them were positive. 

The comments essentially said they look amazing, though needs more of a link to the beach. The context could be introduced via tag line. We were also told to keep playing on pastiche and detail making sure that the beaches are present. 

Photo of the critiques written down

Workbook: Poster Design 1 & 2 (W.I.P)

Poster design I did in Photoshop regarding the pollution in our beaches.
"Don't make this the next fashion statement", with a trash bag over the woman's head instead of a swimming cap.
I especially like this idea as it's glamorous, however after further development I will put more crap on her face i.e: plasters, cans, oil etc.
I like the idea of using turquoise as its a bright color which also relates to the beach/water.

Phoebe made the suggestion that instead we make the poster look like a magazine cover, and instead of a shower cap, we make the idea a Latin-american fruit head dress except the fruit would be replaced with garbage such as tampons, plasters, apple cores, chewed pineapple slices etc..
I like this idea because it also has a tropical theme and an upbeat attitude while still expressing the idea we want. It'll capture the audiences attention while still seeming glamorous.

Image design 2, reference images below.

Week 2 Session 1

Today in class we were asked to list a bunch of words on the white board under the head topics:

Topic, Audience, Tandibles Context, Tangibles Cont., Themes/symbols/metaphor, Cleaning, Ecology and Visual Styles.
Using these key terms we were asked to create some thumbnail poster designs as possible concepts for posters.

These were some of the designs I created. Lee mostly appreciated the Black starfish, and so Phoebe and I decided to do a poster design based on this concept. 

Workbook: Concept Sketches

Some idea's for a poster design for Save our Beach

I like the idea of putting the beach in a trash bag as this is a simplified idea.
Also, the drawing of a girl wearing a trash bag on her head with the phrase "don't make this the next fashion statement" would be a good simplified idea also

Workbook: Mood Boards

2 mood boards I created - one emphaises blues and how calming the use of blue, white and turquoise is while the second one reflects a more summer fun mood using more oranges, yellows and greens. However inboth images it is apparent that the use of blue and light brown reflect more than one theme at the beach (i.e: blue is the ocean, sky while light brown is sand or picnic baskets) so I may use these colours for future reference.

Week 1 Session 2

 Fig 1. Koha is the idea of gift giving, reciprocation and exchange. We must consider how art contributes to wider community networks.
I also took notes on trans media story telling and ethics

Fig 1. 

Fig 2. are notes on the actual assignment. Phoebe and I decided to do the assignment on Clean our Coastline. In the centre block I took notes on how we should use a video/image of the worst beach in New Zealand, as a visual example of the dilemma, on our website to grab the viewers attention.

I also wrote that in order for this poster to work, it needs to be a communal activity as it cannot just be solved by a small group of people. As a result we need to make this appeal to a wide range of people. However, we mostly want to larger people within the ages of 18 and 25 as these are the people who normally go to beaches to have picnics, drink beersies or simple get together in the sun -- they're the ones that normally consume packaged foods as well. We need to let this age group know that their actions may seem small at the time but it contributes to a huge dilemma -- we need to make not littering and staying tidy kiwis seem fun.

A second possible demographic could be parents with their kids who take them to play on the playgrounds by beaches.

We want to make the overall tone of the poster seem fun instead of sinister as scaring people into littering seems unrealistic. We want to make it YOUR beach day

Fig. 2

Fig. 3 is a Project Plan we had to fill out to show we know we know what we are being expected to do by our employer.

For Contextual Tangibles / Intangibles, I considered how colour can affect the brain subconsciously. For example, red is commonly used in Chinese restaurants because it causes hunger, and is also a striking colour that captures the viewers attention.
Phoebe and I decided to use the colour blue as it is a calming colour, and it could be used to represent the ocean and the sky on a sunny day. Since the brain makes these connections subconsciously this means the images will stick with the viewer for a long amount of time because the blue sky reminds them of day time so they feel calm in the back of their minds.

Fig. 3

Week 1 Session 2

Today in class we were asked to review Simpsons profiles and create posters that cater to the needs of the demographic. My partner and I chose Bart Simpson and created a poster with Radioactive man with the face left blank with the phrase "This could be YOU".
We chose to present the poster like this because Bart is a self absorbed tween who prefers to not follow by the rules but rather cater to his own. Through this information, we gathered that if he is self absorbed he would only want to participate in an event if there was something in it for him, so using one of his personal heroes on a poster that says "this could be YOU" (emphasis on 'you' for attention) could draw him in. Also, brighter more simpler designs would appeal to a younger simpler mind.