Last night I made a preliminary studio pitch to Mich and the research students. I was taken pretty well. Below I attached my draft. Mich suggested that work on 5 different variations to this is idea of connecting the digital to the natural in the medium of storytelling.Also I have to expand further on the questions, "Why are you interested in code?", "What are the key notions or accepted status quo regarding your inquiry?", "What has this to do with graphic design?", "What is the possible scope contribution to the field?", "Who is your audience?", "How will you conduct your research? What are you reading? Are you using outside experts?",and "Do you have a feasible time-frame?" Also I have to provide contact information for my outside advisers by next Wednesday.
Thesis Studio Proposal
Background
In order for code to reach its full potential as a creative medium, one must consider it’s natural attributes. In the comparison between code and the creative medium of poetry, it is evident that code cannot be considered literally as a creative language. Code will have trouble conveying absolute meaning in the natural world because it is based on a numbered based sign system. Instead, one must consider that code doesn’t exist within our natural world, but rather within its own. It is this exclusion from our world that allows code to create it’s own.
This world of code mirrors that of the natural world. Its base level languages are pre-disposed to take values from our natural world. This pre-disposition, to accept our information, allows for the manipulation and adaptation of the digital world. The base languages are redefined as HLLs with the human user in mind. These HLLs make them closer to our own language by using human words and syntax. These languages have since become specialized in certain areas of the digital world to further adapt it to our needs.
The unique duality of code, as a communication language, shows dual natural existence. Code is the bridge between the two worlds, taking human ideas and turning them into reality. This is done by the conversion from the natural world to the digital world. The extent of the digital world mirroring the natural world can be found when considering Facebook. This social media created a copy of the social community by storing information digitally. Through the implementation of the hypernarrative, a website becomes a uniquely digital experience that changes as the user interacts with it. All of these factors culminate in the creation of a unique creative medium called a craft language. This medium shares important elements with the two distinct fields of craft and communication.
What am I going to do?
I propose to make an augmented reality popup book. There are two reasons why I am taking this route. First, code is communication and to use in the form of storytelling will provide the avenue to explore the code as a creative medium. Code must say something to both the human reader and the computer. Secondly Code existing in two worlds, the natural world and the digital world, and it is here that I want mainly explore. I propose a story that tells two stories simultaneously, one in the natural world, one in the digital world. The story will be written in a way that the original lines will be expanded when looked at under augmented reality. Color will be used as a tool for contrast to provide a distinct look into both of the worlds. The illustrations will also be completed with two different styles, one will be de-saturated pencil drawings (natural) the other will be energetic colorful statements. The story will be able to be read both ways, but each one will give a different meaning.
Another reason why I chose this, as my thesis project is to play with the notion the digital world is a mirror of the natural, that it is imbued with the natural. I wanted to imbue the natural world with the digital. With this project I would be able to place a piece of the digital world into the natural by imbuing a book with not only with strictly technology but also technology but by making it part of the story giving it a reason to be there.
What sets my project apart
I set out to incorporate augmented reality into my work, not apply it superficially. The story will be told twice from different points of view. The augmented reality will exist as a storytelling mechanism, it will tell the story from the boys mind.
Timeline
Feb 1
• Bring in the concept for approval
WHAT NEEDS FINISHING
-START TO WORK ON THE COPY AND STROYBOARD
Mar 7
• Complete storyline
• Complete a storyboard for both pencil illustrations
WHAT NEEDS FINISHING
-WORK THROUGH THE STORYBOARD AND ILLUSTRATE THE STORY
-FINALIZE THE TEXT PLACEMENT AND “POPUP” PLACEMENT
-CONSIDER MUSIC
Mar 21
• Both the digital illustrations and the pencil illustrations finished
• Final page layouts hashed out
• Decide on materials for book build
WHAT NEEDS FINISHING
-NEEDS TO RENDER THE AUGMENTED REALITY FOR THE BOOK
-MUST ASSEMBLE TWO COPIES OF THE “NATURAL WORLD” BOOK
April 18
• Ready for class presentation and Q and A
Why are you interested in code?
Code is logical and creative. In my past work my aesthetic has a structural element to it. My work is normally not very colorful, tending to be grays and de-saturated colors. My work is always based on reality, not really subjective abstractions. I play with the special depth of the image to pose interesting spaces. I feel this is probably why I connect with code. It is based in reality; it can be creative in the way you problem solve. A it is certainly logical.
What are the key notions or accepted status quo regarding your inquiry?
Augmented reality exists in games in for information. But I feel much of it is applied and not really fully incorporated in the overall design or expression.
What has this to do with graphic design?
This would highlight what I hope to be a new way to approach the use of augmented reality (code) in the creative world. Code’s existence in two realms I believe can be taken advantage of.
What is the possible scope contribution to the field?
The incorporation of augmented reality into the storytelling process, I feel this is worthy of my time.
Who is your audience?
Everybody. This would be a story that tells a story with the help of augmented reality, everyone who has that technology should appreciate it.
How will you conduct your research? What are you reading? Are you using outside experts?
I am relying on my workplace www.genuineinteractive.com for help through my research. I will have to find out exactly how my designed will be rendered in augmented reality and how to do this. I will be using genuine’s resources to compile the information into 3d images. The experts will be again at genuine.
Do you have a feasible timeframe?
Yes.
The Entenmann's company uses a classic feel to lend their products the "broadway" feel on the early twentieth century. This is appropriate for this company because it was founded in 1898 in Brooklyn. The typeface of the logo is called bold Meturas Face MT (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006031610462). This script reminds people of a better time, where food was actually food and not processed awfulness. The golden age of America, when the modern roots of this country was being established. This design promotes the idea of the home-made freshness and that of quality ingredients.
I find this ironic. The classic hometown feel of the type is superficial idea. These donuts are probably the furthest thing from homemade. These lard rings are mass-produced in a factory by underpaid workers that more than likely have eaten thousands of these things and is utterly repulsed by them. I find this very interesting. A connection can be made to the typeface here. The battle of Meturas was a decisive battle in the second Punic war between Rome and Carthage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Metaurus). A war is being waged in the modern food industry, unfortunately it is against the people who eat it. They hide these processed foods behind the facade of "fresh," "local," "organic." Entenmann's is certainly doing that here.
