Art 454 Multimedia Design - Fall 2008
Assignments
Jonathan Maxwell
Assignment 1 Kinetic Painting
Thinking of artists such as Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Malevich, Mark Tobey and so on, create a composition of abstract shapes and forms, then set it to motion using shape and motion tweens. You will design a starting composition that will flow to various states, and then start over (this process must appear seamless). Focus on creating compelling compositions that adhere to the styles and motifs of the aforementioned artists. This project will familiarize you with the Flash's timeline and keyframe concepts. At the end of the project you should have a firm understanding of how shapes and symbols are created, manipulated, and animated. For your project submission, please include the source fla, an swf file, and a page or Word file that is a brief write-up that describes your creative process, what you learned, and what gave you difficulty. Place all of this in a folder labeled "lastname_454_A1" and upload it to the 454 drop box on my server. So if your name is Bill O'Reily your submssion would look like "O'Reilly_454_A1".
Due for critique at the start of class on Wednesday September 10th.
Getting started: http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/flash/articles/flacs3_createfla.html
This might also be useful.
Assignment 2 Animated Head
This project has not yet been attempted in this class. Record a brief piece of audio of someone telling a story of some kind. Then in Flash, animate a head that visually adheres to what the person on camera is saying. Keep this around 30 seconds in length. The head could be composed of elements taken from a real photo, scanned pieces of a drawing, or simply drawn shapes in Flash. Do not use any music. The background can be anything you prefer (should it relate to the story you are telling? Place all of this in a folder labeled "lastname_454_A2" and upload it to the 454 drop box on my server. So if your name is Bill O'Reily your submssion would look like "O'Reilly_454_A2".
Due at the start of class on October 1st. (Note, this originally said 9/15 -- that's a two week extension)
Checkout: presstube.com and hoogerbrugge.com
Assignment 3 Hand Made Music Video
In this project you will find a piece of music that you respond to emotionally and create visuals for it. You can use public domain music from various online archives, you could use a piece by permission from one of the area composers in the music department or you can make your own music if you are so inclined - the important thing is that you only use music you have a right to use and distribute legally. The imagery can be abstract, representational or both. It can also incorporate video and other forms of audio. It needs to be at least, about, somewhere around two minutes in length. As always turn it in to my server and be sure to include a project write-up.
This is due October 20th at the start of class.
Assignment 4 Graphic Narrative - Re-enact a scene from your past
I'm putting this project on hold, jump to Assignment 5 for thenext project.
Incorporating the techniques we've learned so far, create an graphic narrative that re-enacts a scene from your past. This can be humorous or serious. It can include both vector graphics and bitmapped images. You can include sound and music. Make your stage 800 pixels by 600 pixels at 30 frames per second. The length and sophistication of the piece should fit into the scope of a project that can be completed within two weeks. So, complicated imagery may mean less imagery; complicated interactivity may mean simple imagery. Simple interactivity and imagery may mean more sound treatment and story content. You must decide what you can successfully achieve in the time allotted. This project is due October 8th at 6pm. Place all of this in a folder labeled "lastname_454_A3" and upload it to the 454 drop box on my server. So if your name is Bill O'Reily your submssion would look like "O'Reilly_454_A3".
Assignment 5 Quartz Composer
Quartz Composer is a visual programming environment that serves as an excellent introduction to object oriented programming and it is also a great place to build stunning real-tme motion graphics. Imagery and data can be culled from multiple sources (user input devices, cameras, microphones, and data from the internet. These can be brought together to visualize, represent and/or control imagery on the screen. So users can control or be directly controlling what they see on front of them. Fun stuff. Using Quartz Composer, construct a motion-based composition. Essentially, you could approach this project as you did Assignment 1, but you are not restricted to abstract imagery. You can also add a plethora of interactive elements as well. Your composition could access the built-in camera, the built-in mic, or use live data from the internet (audio, text, images or even, video). Try to incorporate at least one aspect of interactivity or responsiveness, a strong consideration towards visual composition, and thoughtful subject matter. Maybe you could make a screen saver that conveys imagery and information about your community, or serves as a kiosk-like interface for visitors to your apartment, or your childhood. Make it interesting. Simply zip up and turn in the .qtz file that you create in Quartz Composer. Write a description of your creation and technical process describing what you learned and found most difficult.
Due November 17th at the start of class.
Quartz Composer Programming Guide (instructons, tutorials, etc.)
Assignment 6 Choose One:
Assignment 9 A Scene from Your Past
Thinking of banal or profound moments in your life, you are going to re-create an animated version of a scene from your past. This should be an animated re-enactment using multimedia in Flash. You can use photos, drawings or a combination of the two. It should have a voice-over narration. Keep it short; 1 to 2 minutes. Keep it simple, only animate a few things. Keep the idea simple as well. You don't need to create a complex plot. Sometimes the best short stories come from non-events (walking to the car in the parking lot, ordering a sandwich, etc.). Make your stage 720x404 @ 30fps.
Due Dec. 15th for the Final
Interactive Presentation
Take the story-telling aspects of the previous projects, but this time give the user some control over what happens. This control could be allowing the user to alter the mise-en-scene somehow. So, the interactivity could control time, imagery, actions or all three, but keep it simple. This could be a pragmatic informational presentaion (how to shop at Wal-Mart), or it could be a persuasive presentation (why you should or should not shop at Wal-Mart) or it could be a documentary presentation (my sublime existential experiences at Wal-Mart).
Look at all this stuff here.
Due Dec. 15th for the Final