Major Project Assesment

Hi All,

Just a reminder that the Major Project and 5 blog entries are due in the week 13 class. Yes, that’s Wednesday 17.10 or Thursday 18.10.

You should you hand in the following assessment tasks on a clearly labeled disk with your student details

1. Your Major Project and a 2 page soft document (approx 500 words) outlining any challenges and/or observations relevant to the production of your Major Project. The aim of this document is to provide evidence of the creative and decision making process you have undergone since you submitted your proposal.

2. 5 permalinks or URLS of your 5 blog entries.

Note: Students are required to present a brief walk-through of the completed project to the class. You may read from your documentation.

The final due date for the Major Project and Blog Entries is Friday 19th
October. Any work handed in after the week 13 class must have a signed cover sheet and be placed in the B Design dropbox on level 2, building 94.
Note: Any student requesting an extension must do so before the due
date. Late work will incur a penalty.

If you are having difficulty with the submission of the above assessment tasks, be sure to contact me at dean.keep@rmit.edu.au.

I look forward to seeing your projects.

What is Conceptual Thinking?

Conceptual Thinking is the process of employing creative techniques
and critical thought to develop new ways of approaching issues
and solving potential and/or existing problems.

Even if there is not an obvious problem, a fresh approach
and an open mind may result in improved design outcomes.

The list below provides a brief outline of Conceptual Thinking.

A more detailed PDF can be downloaded by clicking on the
link below.
development-resource-guide_conceptual-thinking-2.pdf

Source cited:3.10.07
www.gov.ns.ca/…/DevelopmentResourceGuide_2005-06/Development%20Resource%20Guide_Conceptual%20Thinking.pdf

Photoshop vs. Reality

William Mitchell Cites 1989 as the dawn of the
post- photographic era when digital recording
and processing began to replace photography. The introduction of photoshop
challenges the conventions of traditional photographic practices, as well as
our perceptions of visual authenticity. So what are the implications of this shift?

The before/after images of U.S. newsreader Katie Couric (pictured below)
demonstrate the power of digital imaging applications to alter both the
appearance and public perception of a given subject. In a world where the
image is king, digital imaging software enables high profile celebrities to
achieve and maintain an appearance that is merely a digital deception.

So is this a problem or is it an expectation that we look our best, no
matter how we achieve that goal. As we spend more time online and
less time in RealLife (RL), is the designing of avatars that reflect our fantasies
rather than realities a given?

Take a look at the video below to see a photoshop makeover.

glumbert – The Extreme Photoshop Makeover

Interactive artwork exhibition in Melbourne

Escape into Experimenta Playground, an exhibition of art that begs to be touched and invites your interaction.
interactive artworks :: video installations :: short films :: extreme art on screen

The exhibition is located at
The Art Centre Blackbox on the yarra.
25 August to 23 September 2007
12noon – 8pm daily
FREE ENTRY

For more details visit the experimenta website http://www.experimenta.org/playground/

(sourced 6.8.07)

Project Proposal Due Week 8

Hi All,

The presentations are over and there are a lot of interesting projects in the pipeline for this semester.

Your project proposal is due beginning of class, week 8. That means next week!

The project proposal document is like a written version of your presentation, and it should include the Aims and Objectives, Design Content or Treatment/Synopsis. Include supporting material such as sketches, screen captures, site maps, bibliography, and research, etc.

The project proposal document should be an absolute minimum of 2 written pages, plus any supporting documentation. It is intended that a reader of your document will get a clear picture of what you intend to produce for your major project.

Don’t forget that the document is worth 15% of your overall mark. The proposal document will help you to stay focused on your design goals and will enable you to reflect upon your media practice on completion of your major project.

Good luck,

Dean.

Please note that your city stories are due in class
this week (week 6) as noted on the concept development
blog (http://conceptdevelopment.wordpress.com/)

THE MAJOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

Your major project presentation is due next week (week 7)

So what will you need to do for your 10 minute Presentation.

Delivering an effective Pitch or Presentation to an audience
requires a great deal of organisation and confidence.
A good presentation should include enough support material
to provide an audience with a clear outline of your concept
and a strong sense of the completed project you intend to make.

You may like to create a presentation in Powerpoint or Flash.
You may just have sketches that you pass around the class, or
you can use the data projector to show online examples of similar
projects. The choice is yours, but the most important thing to remember
is that you are being assessed on your ability to clearly present your idea to the
class in a logical manner.
Make a note of what supporting documentation you will need.
EG, Photos, sketches, a list of points to
cover, or a well prepared speech.

Note: The presentation only goes for 10 minutes so allow enough time for
questions from your peers. I suggest that approx 5- 6 mins talking and the
rest of the time for questions should do the trick.

For extra tips try these URL’s

http://www.suncam.com/events/tipsbttm.htm

http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/powerpointinbusiness/tp/bus_pres_tips.htm

NOTE: YOUR MAJOR PROJECT PROPOSAL DOCUMENT (MINIMUM

OF 2 PAGES) IS DUE AT BEGINNING OF CLASS WEEK 8. USE THE

PRESENTATION TO GET  SERIOUS FEEDBACK ON YOUR PROJECT.

Cheers,

Dean Keep

Films for you to Watch!

If you are interested in photography, film and art.
I suggest that you take a look at the following films
that are available in the Audio Visual section of the
RMIT Library.

Cindy Sherman: Nobody Here but Me (DVD)

Maya Deren: Experimental Films (DVD)

Bill Henson:  The Art of Bill Henson (DVD)

Nan goldin; I’ll be your Mirror (DVD)

If you have any suggestions for the list just email
me or add a comment.

Enjoy!

Concept Development Assessment 07

Concept Development COSC1014
Assessment 2007

How will I demonstrate my learning in the course?

There are five components of work that will be assessed in this course:

1. Digital Storytelling: City Stories narrative project. 20% – Due week 6

2. Class Presentation of Major Project Proposal: 15% – Due week 7

3. A proposal document of 2 pages minimum 15% – Due week 8

(This will enable you to make changes based on peer feedback.)

4. The Major Project: 40% – Due week 13

5. Blog (electronic visual diary) 10% – Due week 13
All students are required to present 5 Blog entries that respond
to the class material, external influences on your art practice,
programming, and production choices.

Digital Storytelling: City Stories 20%

Students are required to produce a 1-2 minute film or equivalent interactive
project exploring notions of the city. The “City Stories” assignment has a focus
on promoting strategies and skills in conceptualisation and construction of
time-based narrative projects.
This project aims to improve skills in the following areas:

Brainstorm- Get an idea.
Synopsis
Script.
Storyboard.
Camera angles and shot construction
Data Collection (images, sounds, video, etc).
Organise data in folders.
Edit data.
Production
Publication

Class Presentation/Pitch of Major Project Proposal 15%

The 10 minute presentation of your proposal to the class provides a valuable opportunity to road test your ideas and get feedback from your peers. It is required that you put together a presentation that clearly outlines the inspiration, aims and proposed outcomes of your major project. Supporting documentation may take the form of a visual presentation, or you may choose to present physical objects or soundscapes, etc. Discussion of your presentation with the tutor is highly recommended. Note: This exercise will be assessed on your ability to produce a well planned, and professional presentation. Please allow time for questions from
the class after the presentation.

Proposal Document 15%

All students are required to hand in a written proposal document (2 pages) and any supporting material used in the presentation. The proposal will outline what you intend to produce as your major project.
Note: The proposal document must be presented as a hardcopy document. No soft copies documents will be accepted.

The Major Project 40%

The major project may take the form of either a “Research Document” or a “Hands-on Project”. Students selecting the “Research Document” must provide an in-depth analysis of the process and the necessary supporting documentation required for the production of the project.
Students selecting the “Hands-on Project” must complete an operational prototype and a 2 page document (approx 500 words) providing a detailed overview, or walkthrough the project.

Electronic Blog 10%

Submit your best 5 entries from your blog. The blog is intended to promote research and critique skills. Students are encouraged to document works and experiences relevant to the
course work.

Tutor: Dean Keep
Email:dean.keep@rmit.edu.au

URL: www.conceptdevelopment.wordpress.com

Also see my Mobile Movie blog

www.mediamongrel.wordpress.com

Second Life: Your Online Virtual Community.

Is corporeal chaos causing you a cartesian conundrum?
Second Life (SL) is an online virtual community that
offers users the convenience of building your dream
self and lifestyle without having to leave your computer.

You can earn real dollars in SL, so why not set up shop
and forget about the 9-5 hussle and bussle.
Join the happy people at SL, forge a new career and share
good times with your close circle of avatars.

Enjoy!

“Ning” and “43 Things”: Online social networking.

Okay, so the world is a weird place full of self absorbed and shallow
people that you have nothing in common with, or is it? Online social
networks provide people with an opportunity to communicate,
share media, and discuss goals with networked people from around
the world.

At ning.com, you can blog, upload images and video all at the one site.
It’s like a one-stop-shop for social software junkies. Think youtube.com
with more options.

Or maybe you are just trying to find people with the same dreams and
aspirations as yourself. No problems there, just check out the 43 things
site to find people with similar goals. Perhaps you always planned to
learn French, or you had a dream to trek across the Himalyas. At
43 Things, you can share your dreams and inspire others to achieve
the lofty heights of self improvement regimes.You can also get
support from your online peers.

You can find out more about 43 Things at the link below.
http://www.unc.edu/~mchabib/43things/

Enjoy!