SP20

Jack responded pretty quick via email. It read the following:

“Hi Meg!

I recorded all sounds in my house including: coffee pouring, walking, Tv static, and white noise. Using iMovie’s audio edits, I modified the recordings below very slightly.

I also used Bob Marley and The Wailer’s “Three Little Birds”.

Action

• Introduce
• Coffee aspect (personal touch from questions)
• Music choice- “Three little birds” Bob Marley and the Wailers
  • Most positive song on list
  • Well-known and easy to dance to
  • Increases the fun, humorous mood of movie
• Breakdown of movie
  • Quote speaks of functions being looked at only when broke at time, so I intentionally broke the movie to include it
• Share link to Spotify

This is the character I made for myself. I used the complementary blue and orange combination for the clothes due to limited colors, and the orange suits the brown and tan of the skin/hair.

This is a practice claymation to work on my iMovie skills, as well as see how camera position, settings, and angles contribute to the final product.

Plan

The claymation uses black and white to color transformation to represent when design goes well. The dance movement flows and is loose, unburdened. The idea is that I am gifting my recipient good energy and hope during this quarantine. The characters are representative of me and him. Originally it would the replication of a hypothetical meeting; however, I decided since the gift is music, a dance party was more appropriate. Smooth texture and organic form promote a sense of leisure and freedom, while keeping the video clear to the viewer.

**Changes- I only used myself as the character and made the camera view that of the observer. It provides a first person experience.

1. PhotoStory SX

Photostory was the first app I tested. I did not find it easy to use and had to look up how to input the images I wanted. I found that the free version of this app was limited and unhelpful. I attempted to create a short digital “flipbook”; however, the storage was to limited.

2. iMovie

I am more familiar with iMovie, and I discovered I could create my digital “flipbook” quite easily by inputting photos and timing it accordingly. iMovie was more user friendly, and despite being the free version, I could successfully create a short film.

1. Motionbook

I practiced a lot with Motionbook, and I found it to be a user-friendly app. I wanted to incorporate photos in my animation, so this was not an appropriate app for what I wanted to do. But this works super well if wanting to draw each frame and create seamless movement. See attachment for short practice creation.

1. Sketchbook

I got familiar with sketchbook in the Narrative project. It works well for drawing out scenes using my ipad. I figure I can use this in conjunction with Photoshop’s timeline as it lets you edit and revise images and then render it into a video. In replies see the video made in collaboration of Sketchbook and Photoshop.

Jack Mcdermott-Sweeney

I acquired various information through his designer website and social media, but the response to my questions guided much of personal component. I highlighted major influences.

1. What is your definition of design?
   1. To design is to think. Design is a way to approach problems and come up with solutions that bridges gaps between disciplines. Design is a practice in empathy and the attempt to understand the experiences of others.
2. Are there any design quotes that you know or that have shaped your design style/process?
   1. “Effort will never betray you.”
3. Why design?
   1. I love the ambiguity of design — it’s the perfect blend of art and science. I like the challenge of subjectivity and the process of researching a problem.
4. What do you hope to do as a designer?
   1. I am a UX designer and product strategist.
5. What aspect of a gift do you consider the most important?
   1. The most important thing about a gift is who it comes from and what they mean to me. I’m likely to respond stronger to an accompanying note, card, or letter than I am the actual gift. I’m not a very material person so intent is always more valuable than the act of giving.
6. How the packaging of a gift add to the experience of receiving it?
   1. There are some really cool ways packaging can reflect the character of the gift or even be incorporated with the gift itself. When I had this project in design foundations, I spent the majority of my time working on the packaging — it set expectations for the gift inside.
7. What’s one thing you wish you would’ve known going into this project?
   1. The receiver might not have anything to say about your gift. When I was in your position, I never got to meet the receiver of my gift, and they never reached out with thank you or, more importantly, feedback. It was a serious bummer — so just know I’ll be sure to express my gratitude.
8. What hobbies outside of design interest you?
   1. Baseball. Running. Music production. World travel.
9. How would you describe your aesthetic?
   1. Simple and ascetic. I don’t like flashy or attention-seeking colors, patterns, or tricks. I value bare-bones design sensibilities — look into Dieter Rams’ principles of good design.
10. How would you describe yourself?
    1. My bark is worse than my bite.
11. What would be your last meal on death row?
    1. Breakfast bagel and hot coffee.
12. If you could live the life of a character from a movie or TV show, who would you be? Why?
    1. Leslie Knope, because she has her sh*t together.
13. What would the name of your autobiography be?
    1. My Short Stupid Life.
14. You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?
    1. Johnny Cash.
15. Favorite font?
    1. Helvetica.