Week 5

Week 5 was spent with the continuation of model alterations, 5/8 of the models are now completed and have been placed within the interface scene -





Slight changes were also made to the logo with the ends of the "Style" letters being squared off to add even more contrast to the work "Design" -

In week 6, the models will be finished and work will begin on the symbols and transitions for a test scene.

Week 4

In week 4 experimentation with the interface continued. After dropping the back mirror, changing the perspective and adding the central curve, the following images were created so show possible color schemes -



It was decided that the orange curve with the grey background would allow the best contrast on the models, further experimentation with curve being wider and at different angles lead to this image -



Here, the interface has been split into 3 at the top to make it more graphically sound, through careful manipulation of the curve, the corners still meet at the bottom. The mirror frames have been changed to white.

Development of the logo also took place in Week 4. Replacement of the "D" in design lead to the following concept -



The head in the mirror image has replaced the D, this helps relate the logo to the product.



From there, the frame was flipped round to look more like a natural "D" shape, but the logo still appeared too wirey, and at a small scale, the head appeared as an indistinguishable blob.



Discussion with Cameron lead to the dropped of the head and the thickening of the font and image. The word "style" is now thicker than "design", and a gradient has been added across the logo to add an illusion of depth which is supported by the perspective of the mirror "D" shape.

In week 5 I hope to finalize all changes left to do on the logo and the interface, and work on the completion of the geometry alterations on the models. I should be starting to create storyboards for scene transitions too, and work towards a prototype that could be given to the college for testing.

Week 3

In week three I worked on developing the mirror styled interface and produced the following test images -


The image above was created in photoshop and references the shape of the apple iPhone in the mirrors. By adding an orange gradient instead of grey, the interface now looks much more dynamic.


The mirrors in this image were created in 3d studio max. By doing this i can easily manipulate the perspective of the interface. A 40 frame test animation was also created which demonstrated the smooth 90 degree rotation of the heads.

It has been decided that the back reflection is likely to be dropped and experimentation with a surface that curves from the ground into the sky between the mirrors should be carried out, this will allow a more solid visual hierarchy, and leave the interface looking less busy. It has also been suggested that the logo requires work, development should occur either this week or next.

In the end result of the interface testing phase, I hope to achieve a reflection effect in the ground as well as in the mirrors so that the surface appears shiny, which will add to the overall contemporary feel to the work.

Work on the content symbols has still to be carried out.

Week 2

This week has been spent finalizing the bullet point links to the models so that a prototype can be made and tested. After discussing with Cameron the idea of replacing the text with symbols, I am going to source a copy of an icon creating application and begin sketching symbol idea's in week 3.
Also this week, I have been sketching and developing an interface concept involving reflections of the head models. A interface set up with the layout of a typical bedroom dresser would allow multiple views of the head model to be seen at once. This effect could be achieved by rendering 4 versions of the head at once in 3ds max, and have them all linked to the master model so that the rotation movement matches. This style of layout would also lend itself to a "drawer" style navigation system, where links would appear from below the platform that the model is sitting on. I will mock this interface in week 3 hopefully.

Semester 2, Week 1, Interim Show

This week I have created the final content list for the shape section. After much deliberation, I have decided to drop all other sections so that the remainder of the semester can be spent focusing on design solutions to delivering the content, and further development of the interface. In the final solution, it is likely I will create basic branding concepts for the remaining sections, to demonstrate the thought that went into what should be included.

Due to the focus on the shape section, it is likely that I will reconsider the floating navigation system, as the use of just text is no longer appropriate. Perhaps mini versions of the face shapes should be considered.

By referencing the content list I have been able to create prototypes of the face shape models that will be used in the final solution. Created in Daz 3d using the Victoria 3 model, and then with the addition of eye textures, they were rendered as clay models in 3d studio max and can be seen below -



Week 1 was also spent developing images and text for the interim show, which will be displayed in the Grays School of Art entrance area, this will be the first chance for the public and the external examiner to learn about the project. The final design which will be printed in A2 can be seen below -


In week 2 I will be working on graphic solutions to conveying content and developing the interface to work with the shape models.

Christmas/New Year Period 3

Leading up to the first week back to official classes, I have been working on the swirling aesthetics and testing the 3d navigation system. I have also been experimenting with transparencies and working on the use of gradients to create the illusion of space, this has lead to the following iterations of the interface -



Currently, the version which I am most happy with includes the change of the title font and the exclusion of the orange outlines -



I have began working on creating drafts of the content for the "shapes" section. Knowing what I am likely to include will help with the development of idea's regarding user interaction with the interface.

Christmas/New Year Period 2

Using the theory booklets obtained from the college, combined with my own research on the subject, I have been able to finalize the content list for the project. The topics to be covered fall under the following headings -

Choice
Maintenance
Shape
Colour
Form
Lifestyle

In semester two I will begin by finalizing the interface design which will then lead onto the developement and production of the content.

Also required is the mocking of the text based content so that it can be proof read by the college.

I should be looking to source photography to support the text content if 3d is not being used.

Still to do - the developement of the swirling animated aesthetics, testing of the 3d naviation system and its related transitions, the developement of an introductory animation relating the new content list, and the testing and developement of the flash components within the interface, e.g. scrolling image boxes and text boxed, aswell as 3d element control.