B R I E F 3

This week we started with the 3^rd brief which is divided into 2 phases. Phase 1, which is what we are focusing on right now, is to challenge ourselves to make a pocket-size “protest” or provocation piece. The idea is for us to explore different method and mediums in order to get across our aims and evoke emotions in our specific target audience. We would then use the ideas we come up with in phase 1 to create a more developed product, publication or whatever else in phase 2. Today we had our copywriting workshop in which we brainstormed different ways we could make our copywriting for the provocation piece. We tested out 4 different methods, three-word reduction and repetition, five-word expansion, seven-word expansion with the choice of punctuation and reword, rewrite, refresh. In the first method we had to use 2 words, one word that represented the topic we were doing and one word that was supposed to evoke or provoke emotion, either negative or positive. Then in the second method, we had to add 3 more words to give the previous 2 words more context. In the third method, we had to add another 2 words. For the fourth method, we had to find written text about our topic and rephrase them in 2 different tones. Looking at an article about the findings of DES, I decided to choose these 2 statements.

We had one of our touch points with STFC today and it went really pleasantly. Since Poppy used to be a student and has been through the module herself, she knew what type of feedback would help us going forward. I was so pleased to know that her and her manager liked my designs and were intrigued by it. She mentioned that my telescope was the first thing they saw and wondered what it was. They felt that it inspired people to look more into the topic of dark energy. I already have an idea of what changes I want to make on both my infographic and key posters, just waiting for the Easter break so I don’t spend any of my Brief 3 time on that.

This week we tried out 3 different methods of brainstorming quick ideas and sketches. We had to write out our aim for the 3^rd brief and then test it out on the methods. We looked at the Chindogu example and I found his inventions very intriguing. Some of them were so obviously “good ideas”, that theoretically should work but end up awkward in practical use. Like for example the pillow hat and the duster pan shoe, which funnily enough has another form in the shape of floor mop slippers that are selling well nowadays. Other examples of unuseless inventions from his book that are widely successful today is the 360 camera (though the one in his book was human-operated) and the selfie stick. It’s interesting to see how advancement in technology can redevelop an invention once considered “useless” into something essential.

I had my first support session with Chris right after the copywriting workshop in which I discussed the idea of little activity stickers. I was thinking that would maybe encourage kids to be imaginative with the idea of dark energy. However, Chris asked me to rethink the idea; why are stickers the best method to “promote” education about dark energy to my specific target audience. He asked me to think about the best language that would connect to different age levels and also consider an interactive element to it. During my second support session with Chris this week, I still hadn’t thought of anything other than the stickers. I thought that stickers were something that kids of all age love to collect and engage with, so it’d made sense that they might garner interest about the “unknown” from it. I was still a bit fuzzy on how exactly I would promote a concept that isn’t even visible or something that we currently don’t even know much about. Chris advised me to work within the framework I already created in brief 2 with my 3D telescope. He thought it was already a very provoking object that intrigues people. I could see what he means, even Poppy mentioned how curious she and her manager were about it during our STFC meeting. I felt a bit reassured that we didn’t need to have a polished outcome for phase 1.

Another workshop we had this week was the Creative Tech Workshop. It will be split up into 2 weeks, so we have another session next week. I was particularly excited for this workshop because I was exploring a new medium and learning things, I have no clue about. I was also curious as to if I could use the tech for my phase 1 pocket provocation piece. The workshop went pretty smoothly, and I was able to understand up until the point where I had to make my own circuit for my infographic poster. Tanya, who was leading the workshop, gave me a really nice tip about diffusing the light so it would create a halo effect around the dash. I know where I want to put the lights and how I want them to light up, but I have no idea how I would map out my circuit, and how it would work with the switches as I want only one part to light up when one year is pressed and another part to light up when another year is pressed. I decided to note it down and to make sure to ask Tanya when we get a support session with her.

I mapped out how the circuit would look like to light up my poster.

2. Data Telescope Section^

The review session for Brief 3 was by far the most engaging one we’ve had. Since we stayed within our own rows and there were fewer people, we were able to have a nice discussion about our projects during the session. I almost always have one peer feedback form that’s empty. However, this time all three were filled and they all had really good suggestions that I would consider when polishing up the outcomes. As always, everyone is so nice and I really appreciate the positive comments. It encourages me to keep progressing and getting better. I also thought that everyone had created such great outcomes that it was really easy to comment and review projects. Everyone has come such a long way and really refined the way they present their final product. It’s really great to see.

I used after effects to make the gif that shows how the projection mapping works, pretty proud of myself for that, not gonna lie.