6. PARALLELS - Open Lab Expo -  June 29-30

THE EXPO

This page provides details on the expo for the expo researchers/exhibitors, information for the public will be posted on the home page. 

Internal forum thread for questions/comments here: https://mediatechnology.leiden.edu/forum/viewthread/2195/

THE THEME

The theme of the expo is 'PARALLELS'. It is a play on parallels between models and reality, the digital and the analogue, the observation and the explanation, today and the future etc. Plus it's a site specific reference to the physical design of the expo space: a warehouse built on top of two parallel railroad tracks. See the homepage for a public facing statement on the theme.

With respect to theme, don't let this constrain you. Specifically do not take it too literal, but make a connection to the underlying meaning(s) of the theme - let it inspire you. 

Have a look at 2. Past NMNT Editions to get a flavor for the themes and diversity of works in the previous years.

THE ASSIGNMENT

What is expected?

The goal of the final assignment is simply to create a mediatech / creative science project that you will be proud of and that is memorable. The projects are expected to be more 'meaty' on the conceptual side compared to the Lab 1 and 2 projects.

The audience will be a mix of people, and you can assumethey are interested, but don't assume a media tech background or anything.

Good projects:

• • Tend to have a strong concept, focus and in a natural fashion evoke an experience with an observer. 

  • Tell a story to it without becoming too obvious, artificial or pretentious. Less good projects are all over the place or attempt to be more than they achieve.

  • May ask a clear and intriguing question, and make you think; it doesn't enforce a way of thinking on the participant 

  • They may have a link to some underlying scientific research. Or some may be even research projects themselves - gathering data on the spot.

In terms of the 'how', good projects often achieve this with minimal technical means, it's the concept and experience that counts. See what you can strip away from your project without affecting the experience and concept - keep it simple. Technology should becomealmost invisible or at least not detract visitors from the experience.

Physical is preferable over pure digital; try to avoid 'media tech cliches'. There is no requirement to use whatever form of technology even.

Don't know where to start? If you don't have an idea, don't start with the project ('the solution') but find a topic or question that interests you first - browse what we have discussed and the various new media project repositories for instance for inspiration (but think about creating something different). When you have defined some kind of topic or question of interest, coming up with a specific topic will be easier. Look at last year's projects for examples but don't imitate (see Past NMNT Editions).

I may make a selection of output from earlier assignments (Old New Media, OF in Space) that I will ask to include as well if feasible.

You can work in groups of up to 3 people. Unless you feel strongly about a personal solo project you want to do, teaming up is highly recommended.

What is the setting and who is the audience?

The expo will not be a traditional static exposition, but more like an open Lab, and may cover interactive or scientific approaches to art, or artistic and creative approaches to research and science.  Many of the installations will be interactive, some of these are early studies, others will be more like polished end products, and the students will be around to answer questions about the concepts, ideas and methods behind their work, and even hack some more on the fly. In other words, it will not be a pristine museum environment, but more like feel like a creative workshop or atelier, that has a mix of finished projects as well as prototypes.

We are also considering small 'events' which could small how-to sessions or presentations. If you are interested in running one of these (or devote your project to it) let me know.

We will not be targeting just the usual creative crowd, but also the more general, open minded and curious audience who happen to walk into the expo unplanned. You shouldn't underestimate your audience, but the project should be engaging, fascinating, interesting to the casual visitor.

LOCATION

The expo will be held in Peron E, Utrecht. For more of the site see also the website of the bar, de Ping Pong Club. There is also plenty of room outside, should you so desire. The space is large so I welcome you to make use of it! Also there are site specific elements that could be exploited, most notably the two rail road tracks.

Short movie of the hall:

https://surfdrive.surf.nl/files/index.php/s/YPhMUnJJYqefiFg

See also the home page.

Nmnt 2019 Open Lab Expo - Location Pictures from Peter Van Der Putten

 DEADLINES & HOW YOU CAN HELP [to be updated to 2019 specifics] 

• • Free up site space - asap

    • Note we only have max 100MB available on Google Sites. Please help up freeing some space by making sure images and other attachments do not take up too much space. If you select 'manage site' (settings top right) and then attachments you can see what attachments (pictures etc) take up a lot of space, and whether these are owned by you. There are images of a couple of MBs; you need to resize these to say 100-200KB max and then replace where ever you were using the larger image with the resized one and then delete the attachment.

• Register for the course on USIS if you havent done so - ASAP

  • Finalize Lab 2 descriptions in Portfolios - no later than Friday May 31

• Team composition

  • • Please list your team composition below - no later than Friday May 31

  • Project teaser on home page - ASAP but no later than Friday June 14

  • Put a (working) title, group members and up to 3 sentences as a teaser on the front page (OPEN LAB EXPO), if possible with some kind of visual

  • The main goal for the above is to draw people to the expo - these are teasers for expo visitors so you dont need give your entire project away. For example something in the form of a what if question can work well. So focus on the concept, not on what the work consists of or how it is realized.

    • See Past NMNT Editions as an example, check 2017/18 for the proper formatting. As you can see some of this was then updated after the expo.

  • If your project is still in flux, still put something on there and you can keep it more cryptic

  • Texts for project cards and posters - Tuesday June 25

    • I will use the texts above to produce project cards to placed next to the works, so revise by this deadline if there are any changes, and if you have any visual, please add to make the expo web site more attractive.

  • Final project description under Portfolio - Monday July 15.

    • First version before expo start (one per project); can be refined with actual expo videos and photos etc post event

  • Promotion

    • Facebook Event - for Facebook users

      • There is a Facebook event page here(TO BE DONE); please join the fb event, actively share the event, and most important, invite people to the event

      • Also leading up to the event, share teaser materials in theEvent discussion stream; anything that will encourage people to come or give them some idea  what will be shown; let's get some discussion going

    • Are part of your project already functional or otherwise prototyped so that it could be shown to someone? Just in case I get some press contacts and want to give them a preview idea of what could be expected. If so let me know

    • Ofcourse you can also share the homepage of this website on other social sources, mailing lists etc.

    • I will see whether we can get some further exposure in terms of articles in Mare etc - I may ask for volunteers

  • Build up

    • The expo location is open for build up earlier in the week (for instance Wed-Thu-Fri, exact dates and times to be confirmed on this page), or if you need to build up even earlier in the week. This is highly recommended for larger works or works that require calibration. Please email if you want to make use of this option.

  • During the expo

    • Non functioning installations may be removed from the expo at the teacher's discretion.

    • Please ensure there is always 1 student hosting the installation in a professional manner. It is nice if a work speaks by itself, but after experiencing the work there would also be the possibility for visitors to interact with you to understand more about the context. 

  • Breaking down the expo

    • In our experience, breaking down the expo is fast. We will need to clear the space on Sunday evening as on Monday another expo will be built up.Aim to take everything with you, if desired we can store a couple of items in some corner of the space for a couple of days

  • Location logistics

    • THERE IS NO WIRELESS AND NO INTERNET so you need to set up your own mobile wifi or local wireless networks etc

  • We cant make structural changes (nails etc) but other than that pretty much all is allowed.

    • Electricity:  There will be a small number of electricity access points (say 4, 1 every 25m) you are responsible your self to distribute power from there.  So also bring your own extension cables / power cords,  any light if you need it etc. 

    • Make sure to bring some food etc. - there will be a bar (fri-sat) and restaurant (sat only?)

GROUPS

(first name last name pls)

Anne Nelissen & Susanne Spek

Andrei Nesterov, Hanna Öberg & Edith Järv

Kuhu Sinha, Shanique Roberts & Yannick Nales

Jeannette Ma

Jurre van Rijswijck, Esmée Stouten, Tom Kouwenhoven

Nicole de Groot, Joost Mollen & Max Peeperkorn

Jordy van Miltenburg, Jeroen Offerijns & Mees Gelein

Maarten de Bruijn, Mauro Richiutti & Joanna Mania

Louis van den Brink

Sylvia Vermeulen

Aram Pooryousefi, Matthias van der Wall, Imara Bolinger

Claudia Agustini, Arianna Freni, Francesca Savoldelli

Marianne Bossema, Martijn Wester, Lilian Toonstra

Lesley van Hoek & Marissa Memelink

Simo Feng

PROMO

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1036760616530488/. Pls invite folks the event. Also nice if you can post teasers etc in the event.

Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/mscmediatechnology/, to follow and share, for example the drone video.

Closer to the event we may ask for volunteering teams to tell something about their project to press etc.

RESOURCES

Note: there is no wireless network and no internet available at the location! If you need a wireless network or internet you need to arrange that yourself through a local wireless network and/or mobile hot spot.

Already planningto use certain materials? Listit here so that others know.

Note that we just introduced a lending system as well that you can check (for the materials in Maarten's/Marcello's offices). At this point 3/4 of the equipment is listed or less so if you want to see what we have, talk to the staff.

WHAT GOES WHERE

There is a very large amount of space this year but if you favor a specific spot edit the map (or list it here) - it is your own responsibility to resolve any double claims for the same spot. Please color in your spot in the map as well. See the measurements on the left hand side so that we can still fit everyone. Leave enough space for everyone - note the numbers on the left - space between the 'numbers' is 4.25m.

Spot reservation: 

Maarten, Mauro, Joanna (location: space in the beginning of the right tunnel)

Andrei, Hanna, Edith - left wall space between 12 - 17 (where the white stripes are on the floor, next to one of the tracks)

Susanne, Anne - Left wall in between number 4 and 8

Mees, Jeroen, Jordy - Red area - location on the wooden platform 3x3 partytent - small spots along the middle 

Aram,Matthias,Imara - Center between 24/25 spanning the whole width of the space (door to wall). 

Jurre van Rijswijck, Esmée Stouten, Tom Kouwenhoven - We don't want our spot anymore, we do hereby claim the path that holds the rails which come out of door A & B 1. (See picture) - 

Claudia Agustini, Arianna Freni, Francesca Savoldelli --> space near railway from 23 to 25 in front of “the wide team” (towards the centre)

Marianne, Martijn, Lilian

Sylvia: B-wall; section between 20 and 21.

Louis, the other purple shaded block

Lesley van Hoek & Marissa Memelink - new location: between tracks, in between Jordy, Mees & Jeroen - Louis.

Romy Koch, Gabe Webb - 3m x 6m area against the wall, between sections 3 and 4

Kuhu, Shanique, Yannick - (Blue) B-wall section between 18 en 19.  

Make good use of the space if possible - site specific works (especially with the parallel railway tracks)

Talk area for the opening talks + slide projection (Peter) - between 4 and 6 middle and right lane

Tom, Esmee, Jurre