Perspective Tool + Art Style Testing

I am still quite slow in my visual development so far. My proposed art style was an experimental art style that I'm not familiar with. Therefore, I took very long time to decide the visual approach for the project. 

Throughout this process, I realised that I am a very safe designer. Lacking of guts to experiment in my final year project. The unpredictable feeling drags me on and on. I keep looking at references, and some time lost in references too.

Although I have such struggle, I still have to meet the timeline proposed. So I thought of trying out the style using Adobe Illustrator to create something. At least something that keeps me going.

The image above is one of my visual testing, playing with alphabet and trees in a perspective mode. This work is created to test on user perspective while walking in the forest in first person point of view.

Parallel Sequence, Multiple Screen Narrative Sample Analysis

Example 1: The Wilderness Downtown

Wilderness Downtown project is an experimental interactive narrative project. By using the latest html5 web video feature from Google Chrome, this project uses pop-up windows to engage viewer attention. Instead of watching an ordinary film on the browser, there will be browser window pop up and close simultaneously to composite the entire viewing experience.

Other than pop-up and close browser windows in different timeline, some of the pop-up windows (the bird flying pop-up window) will move towards the center window and then the center window will have the same bird flying into its video. This gives viewer a "magical feeling" as if the birds are flying across the browser windows. (refer to Screenshot 2)

The other feature of this project is the integration of Google Street View into the music video. By typing in a US address, viewer can see their address street view appeared in the video from top view and street view. Computer generated graphics will also overlay on the video to make it as part of the story.


Below are more analysis and observation made on some of the narrative scenes:

[Screenshot 1]

A layout composition made of browser window engage viewer to pay attention the different scenario at the same time. Compared to watching traditional film in cinema or on TV, this is a different experience all together. 

[Screenshot 2]

(explained on the 2nd paragraph above)

[Screenshot 3]

The main character that leads the viewer attention starts from running. And on which ground/environment he's running on, the pop-up windows explain that further. In this scene, while the main character stop and turn around, the top left window of the chosen location that presented from a bird-eye view responding to the character's action and turn as well. 

[Screenshot 4]

Similar narrative with Screenshot 3, the continuous scene of it.

[Screenshot 5]

This part shows the other interactive feature of the project. Viewer are invited to key in the message he or she wants to talk to the younger self to remind them to care for the environment. The 3 blue-ish box at the bottom left corner are mini video of machines response to viewer's mouse click and keyboard activity. View can use his/ her mouse to draw branches. Once viewer's input the completed, computer generated graphic bird will rest on the viewer generated branches. Then these birds will also flying across the pop-up window into the city top view.

[Screenshot 6]

The main character remain running. But this time, it's from a lower angle to review the growing tree behind him. These tree are also simultaneously growing in viewer's chosen city on top view angle and street view angle. 

[Conclusion]

I find this reference helpful because it has the "illusion" and "magical" element in the viewing experience. Instead of choosing optical illusion art style, this video uses realism technique. Blurring the boundary of real and fact to create a make believe narrative the makes viewer's environment part of the narrative content.

Besides that, the choice of media and technology is also very creative. It effectively create an engaging viewing experience by using pop-up windows, viewer choice of location, viewer's personalized messages being responded with the animated birds... and etc.

Creating Op Art using A.I.

Technical Progress: Purchase Arduino Kit

To create a DIY pressure sensor like my finding in Joyslippers version 2, I need to gather material as stated in the tutorial. Among all materials stated. There's one material that I do not know. It's called "velostat". After research online for it a little more, I realised that it's a material which it's electrical resistance decreases when pressured. My main ingredient for the DIY pressure sensor.

To have a better understanding in how it works, I found this site very helpful. And it makes the DIY shoes achievable.

https://learn.adafruit.com/firewalker-led-sneakers/make-velostat-step-sensors

The next thing I need to do, is to purchase it and try it!

Art Style Development

After some good rest in the holiday, I think it's time to rearrange my plans and thoughts of the design development.

I've tried some C4D approach of creating some depth of view angle, explored how Adobe After Effect helps generate fake 3D using vector graphics to do animation. I've also found some tutorial that teach me how to create Optical illusion effect in Adobe Illustrator. So, the conclusion is to mix around techniques and tool to create the final artwork.

For the time being, I haven't really come out with much visual testing and design.

Plan for the coming week -> Draw full scenery design x 3 different art style approach

I started today with a reading of the thoughts behind one of my favourite reference. Daehyun Kim's artwork has very interesting style that other black and white art style don't have.

http://www.moonassi.com/

Who are these people? Who's face?

The face with no expression is borrowed from old Buddhist painting which has always fascinated me since university. I thought that the face is perfect to conceal their feelings because I don’t want to show directly if these characters are good or bad through their faces. The simple black suit which looks like underwear has been chosen in order to make you only focus on their gestures. I purposely don’t show the time, place or gender.

Above quote gave me even more in depth consideration for my work. In this case, what do I want people to focus in the woods. Based on that, I can then set the hierarchy of details to build a effective visual for the environment.

Getting to Know C4D

To start working on C4D, I need to first install the software onto my work station. But I realized that my work station does not has the compatible specs to support C4D, so I have to work on alternative solution. After many rounds of testing and finding, I finally manage to get a work station that has C4D installed. The work station is shared with another person, so the con of the solution is that they will be times that I might not be able to work on the project.

Since the holiday is 2 months long, starts learning and working on the visual should be fine. Even if I can't work on the project in some of the days, it should be manageable still.

Learning the software
I browsed through some Youtube video to help me familiarize with the working environment inside C4D. And particularly, some tutorials that create 3D out of low polygons seems very much a good start for me to pick up some relevant skills. So I compile some of them here as the skill set learning documentation.

Pitch Presentation Self Reflection

In the progress of re-compiling the Project Idea, Creative Solution, Media Technology, and User Experience Design, I reminded of the entire project scope. After organizing my thoughts, turning the idea into visual makes me reconsider the solution approach.

My plan of digital design production is to use Adobe Illustrator (A.I.), to create a fake 3D optical illusion environment. After making the first prototype, I realized that although A.I. has the perspective grid feature, it's still very difficult for me to construct a 3D environment from scratch without a 3D environment based software. 

After deep thoughts, I consulted Zui, tutor that specialized in 3D based software, to find out the possibility of constructing my project in 3D environment. There're 2 software that I'm aware of - 3D Max and Cinema 4D. Zui gave me a quick intro to the basic usage of the 2 software, and I decided to use C4D as my design development platform. The reason for choosing C4D is because the software comes with timeline. So I can model the 3D visual and plan the animation all in one software, then render into the interactive environment. 3D Max is more specialize in modelling, no timeline tools available, so that's the major reason I drop the software option.