Research Project

I have just started doing some research for next years research project. I want to start with my passion for fine art and mix it in with my interest for digital technologies. So far I haven't got a title but I am going to look into-

• Mik Godley who has started to use an ipod to paint and prints them onto canvases
• The technical implications of fine art and graphics
• Creating something traditional in a modern way
• Brushes/sketchbook app
• Second life art gallery to see what may become of the art gallery in the future
• Tate gallery app
• Marketing

So i guess a vague start to my question would be Integrating fine art with digital technology. Image resolution/presentation of fine art websites. (I know doesn't make a lot of sense at the moment but that will change)

YUMI Group Blogger

http://ukyumidesign.blogspot.com/

For the rest of the project (until May 28th) most of my posts are going to be on the above address as part of our group project

Yumi Mood Boards

I have made two mood boards to help express the theme of Yumies and to help the design process along between the client and ourselves.

Mood Board One: This is about 1950's American diner culture that has a more 'adult' feel. It's about elegance, bold colours working together and iconic symbols of 1950's America- the retro phone, the glamorous women and of course the traditional 50's family.

Mood Board Two: I have used delicate pastel colours, typography and food to express a mood more about the food that YUMI's serves.

Brief Three: Yumi's Ice-cream Parlour

This is the first time at uni since the first term that we have done a group project (although I have worked as part of a group for projects outside of uni) so I want to get as much experience of how to work effectively as part of a team as I may be doing this in future jobs. Communication is going to be the biggest part of making this a success, not just between our team but with the client to make sure we are all on the same page.

So far I have had one meeting with Mohamed, the owner of YUMI. He made a few specifications and gave me some ideas that I am going to talk to the group about. He wants YUMI's to be-

• Family orientated but still attract students etc in the evening.
• The menu to be interchangeable
• Vouchers you can print off
• A brand people can relate to

The Logo:

A Mind Map:
Below are tow website that the owner likes but they have two very different themes. One of which definitely won't work for a family based website!

http://www.theicecreamists.com/#/BASE%20CAMP: this website has a strong band, is bold and sells that product to adults but I can't see any elements that I would consider influencing our site. The theme is far too adult for a family website. I do like the use of colour around twitter and facebook as it contrasts with the pink title so they both stand out against the background.

http://www.benjerry.co.uk/: I really like this website as it stands for want Ben and Jerry's is friendly, fun and enjoyable. It has relaxing colours with games to advertise the different flavours. I like the home made animated feel created by the style of the pages. Also the videos about their ice-cream also have a 'cartoony' feel that gives the brand a friendly feel.

Illustration Friday

I've found this really cool website through .NET magazine that is for illustrators and artists of all skill levels. Every friday there is a new theme for any one to base a creative piece on, in any media. I really want to take part in the next theme and if I enjoy (I'm sure I will) I might make it a weekly thing to get my creative juices going.

Robert Dunn:http://rwdillustration.blogspot.com/2010/04/illustration-friday-dip.html

I really like his work, how he seems to have taken a simple idea of a posh woman, taking her dog for a walk and created a mechanised, 'other worldly' cartoon theme.

Bonnie Gloris: http://www.bonniegloris.com/Mixed%20Media%20Pages/mangled-and-distressed.htm
She has a range of work in many mediums and worked for some quite impressive cliental as an illustrator/ portrait artist. I love the texture and layers of her work. It adds character and a hidden narrative that all the layers bring together.

Fixed Elements In Website Design: The Good And The Bad

A vital part of a creative website is the positioning, which doesn't necessarily mean just a simple layout. It means taking into consideration where the most accessible position is for the navigation bar, the content, where would the area go dedicated to networking go (twitter, facebook etc).

Fixed elements have some advantages in website design that if used in the right way can draw the users attention to the content in the right way. Fixed elements are elements that are fixed to their position in relation to the screen rather than fixed to the website page.

http://www.webleeddesign.com/

This website has been my favourite for it's use of background graphics that moves with the screen. I like the way the simple, colourful graphic moves down the centre of the screen whilst you scroll as it creates an animation through objects that it moves through therefore drawing your eye down the page to follow the content. The object also changes it's opacity at the same time so that you can see the content clearly. Also I like the way that the animation works with the the word 'absorb' as the graphic sinks into the typography.

http://cdharrison.com/

Although I like the style of the fixed drawing I find it quite annoying that I have to scroll down to see all of the options as the fixed element is in the way.
http://bulletpr.co.uk/

I really like the movement in the website created by the blue and pink lines that move when you click on one of the navigation options. I like that the navigation is a fixed element because it is easily accessible and gives the user a reference point that they can always go back to to navigate their way around the site. Additionally, you can see the pages moving which matches the 'old school' style of the illustration that could have come out of a magazine from that era.

Looking at positioning more closely has made me think about bringing in different elements I can use to my future websites, such as illustrations that follow the screen but don't affect the visibility/accessibility of other features.

Saira's Photography Website

This term has been a very testing one. Need I mention why? Well here goes. PHP have been the biggest challenge of the year so far and I'm sure there is plenty more coming in my direction! Overall I am pleased with my website but there is a lot things that I want to change about it and develop for the client. The hardest thing about working with this particular client was merging my brief with what she wanted. Basically she didn't want the PHP page but I needed to use PHP to deepen my skills base, which I think I have. Both the log in and the journal page are working but I want to develop them by styling them and making fit work with the website design on a more professional level. Also I want to experiment more with the interactive gallery menu. From feedback I think I need to make it more accessible and clearer as to it's use.

On the other hand I think the colour scheme works well, her photos and the centre of the website and nothing takes away the focus from them. Also I like the logo being half Punjabi and half English to represent her multicultural heritage. Also O have saved space on the photos whilst keeping the clarity of them so they can still engage the viewer.

Decode

I really enjoyed the Decode exhibition at the V&A in London. I made a bit of a day of it and went to see some documentary photography at photo8 that my friend (a photography student that I've done a website for) has introduced me too.

I found the decode exhibit to be very eye opening when it comes to how technology is developing within our society. It has provided people with more artistic tools of which to explore the depth of our minds and the ways in which we can communicate in. To me the most outstanding work is that which draws on he creativity of the user. Many pieces are a creative, digital response to our physical form.

This is one of my favourite pieces because it allows visitors of decode to rework the code to animate the image in their own unique way.

The piece below is by YOKE, based in Copenhagen. It combines interaction with programming and audio engineering to create a responsive installation. I like the way that the user can interact with the website with a seemingly everyday object, such as the hair dryer that you use to direct the movement of the dandelion. A simple idea used to get the user to interact with an everyday object in a new way.

On the second half of our trip to London we went to photo8( http://www.foto8.com/new/).

The work was very vivid and had a sense of texture to them that not many photographers manage to capture. My favourite piece was of an old man in a boat but his skin was dropping off his shoulders, telling the story of his hard working life. The exhibit addressed issues concerning the oil ruining our landscape and destroying lives.