Monday, October 30, 2006

8:23 PM    No comments

refined concept

The concept of the project is to explore the HK unique style and to promote HK culture all over the world which is applied in interactive design. Flying from the old kai tak airport to Chek Lap Kok Airport was a memory for people who had been in HK. This magnificent arrival is impressed by the new and old culture interweaving with each other. Wandering with the crowd, a forest of towering neon shows in front of our eyes. Not just as you seen in the postcard, the skyscrapers were spread out modernly. At Hung Hom station, everyone seems busy and clutches a red, white and blue nylon bag bearing gifts and foodstuffs for friends and relatives in his/her native province. It is an attribute to show the human communication. However, cultures converge historically, but people who live in Hong Kong didn't leave behind what they had created. Thus, there are still some great local styles to lead your eyes into their live.

In Chinese, we have various cultures in different areas , but HK is a special area which includes eastern and western culture.This project is a skilful combination of minimalist layout simplicity and respect for the mixed-up background of this modern city. The design concept revolves around the red-white-blue platsic bag, an element that cannot be ingored in tradtional Hong Kong style. It not only means cheap , attractive, durable and multifunctional but also means human communication. So I base on this concept to make users learn culture of the city and provide various options for users to tell them where to eat, what to play, what to buy, where to go and why this kind of unique culture has bee created and used in their normal live. This project will help people to know more about HK. It is not only a tour guide but also lets people learn a variety of the HK local culture.

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visual presentation of the portfolio

7:52 PM    No comments

In my final project, the design style is more and more simplified and emphasizing in development. All I want to create is an environment which makes users easy to use and clear to know how those functions work. This project comprises three parts:

Modern:

Because my project is about HK and will include various HK cultures, I choose to make it modern. I uses 3D map to extend the visual space and includes additions to complement the buttons of interactive animation. I will try to make several layers to create the visual effect. However, the sizable interface also includes a joint style of the old and the new, but it won't miss the modern rhythm that the image is provided by HK.

Simple:

This project is not merely for knowledge and information but is a tour guild. Every detail has to describe very clearly. To keep it simple I think that is the best way for users to follow the directions. I won't make the layout which has sub menu to click. I will provide a search function on the top and use simple symbol and color to represent the buttons. Using tricky shapes creates the balance of the layouts. I use red, white blue as my main background which is based on the idea where I come from. A simple layout composed of these three colors which arrange by vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines to create a perspective of the scene.

Clean:

Because this project includes many different media in it, every function must be clear to recognize that they are clickable. So I want my background to look very clean, the users won't lose their focal point. That's why I choose pure white as my background color and every layout uses those three colors to decorate it. Combined with 3D map, images and videos, I would like to convince users to move into the digital age. Because my background is very simple; I will try to make the images and videos brighter and more colorful.

1. animation- 3 pieces( Maya 7.0)

The purpose of creating this kind of 3D model is that it is playful. Not only are functions of M A Y A numerous, but M A Y A is also challenging to create some contexts and exaggerated characters. Most 3D models focus lies in having fun and my design is no exception. Moreover, because many animated movies use fish as their main characters, I also used a few energetic fish and an exaggerated character similar to the character in the Mask.

2. digital image- 5 pieces ( Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2)

(1) Ambivalence

People often experience conflicts: To go or not to go, to do or not to do, to speak or not to speak. Conflict arises when one ponders about something. The head of a kid represents innocence. The other two colors indicate forces pulling in different directions. These forces combat each other. The winner is determined when the conflicts of one side are greater than that of the other side.

(2) Let's Drink some Music

Music is not only for entertainment but has become a part of life. Music is like water. You need it all the time. If radio is like a cup and the headphones are on one's head, then music, like water, is present everywhere.

(3) We are featureless.

We do not have any unique characteristics. Walking down the road, one often sees other people dressing the same, having the same hairstyle, carrying the same type of cell phone. In fact, no one has characteristics that belong to him or herself. These characteristics are not your own creation or style but rather it is blind conformity, which leads us to become copies. An umbrella is used to cover a person who lacks confidence.

(4) T – M A S K

Masks represent different emotions, but people wear different masks to conceal their emotions. Based on this idea, I create three Chinese opera masks. Many people wear masks to greet others. To guess what lies behind a mask is difficult, but to remove the mask is still more difficult.

(5)birthday card

That is a birthday that I specially design for my friends.

3. sound- 2 pieces ( Logic express)

(1) Sonic Landscape

(2) Sound track

4. functionally working interactive projects- 2 pieces (Flash 8)

(1) 15 seconds flash animation- who's gonna pick you up

(2) Interactive site.

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Monday, October 16, 2006

take notes about the interview of my final project

5:05 PM    No comments

what was good about your presentation
1. it is easy and simple to understand what my concept is.
2. I explained the content step by step, route by route.
3. to ask her some questions is related with my topic, so the listener may get involved into my concept easily.
o what was not so good about your presentation
1. I didn't very clear to tell users how to navigate my website.
2. too many things include in this site and what I want to say make listeners feel confused.
3. the navigation is hard to understand what it would be, because I said that there are many signals to let you know that are clickable, but the listener can't understand.
o what was unclear about your presentation, and what questions did your audience ask
1. I think it is about the content that I want to show to the users, because some users didn't know how to use interactive function and can't imagine what it looks like. I think I didn't explain enough.
2. navigation is the main part of the website, but 3D map is good for visual effect not good for usability.

1. how to let users know the meaning of the red-white-blue plastic bag represented for?
2. does that symbol (the red-white-blue plastic bag) really have a great meaning for HK?
3. How to sort out the HK culture from Chinese culture?
4. can I get the different hk information in this site? ( she hopes that is different from the book)
5. if I didn't have the flash software, can I use the interactive function?
6. how can I know the buttons are clickable?
7. if I want to know the latest issues, what can I do?
8. do you set the target audience only for the visitors or also include in people who live in HK?
9. will you provide a search function for users ?
10. will you collect all the data by yourself and how would you evaluate them?

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Saturday, October 14, 2006

an abstract for final project

7:37 PM    No comments

the concept
It is my MFA final project in Academy Of Art University .Though its origins may be obscure, the cheap, durable and multifunctional red, white and blue nylon bag has served many an émigré returning from Hong Kong to China over the years, bearing gifts and foodstuffs for friends and relatives in their native province. Even today, many still use the bags to store or transport things.
the red-white-and-blue combination lies somewhere between the beautiful and the grotesque. But, like what I say, it is full of creativity and usefulness. It is part of life and living in Hong Kong and symbolizes its hardy and hardworking people.
So I use these three colors to divide my concepts into three parts.
紅Red is represented for food.( Cha chaan teng, Dim Sun)白White is represented for films and music.
藍Blue is represented for home living style.\nAll of the above are the living style in hk and use the MTR to connect them together.\n \nPurpose\nPeople who live in Hong Kong had grown up under strong influence of both eastern and western culture. Mix is always the characteristic in HK culture. We don\'t care too much whether it is from the east or the west, as sometimes we ourselves are neither of it. Actually, modern things change HK a lot, but there are still some traditional stuff that keep in HK eveywhere. MTR in HK is the main transportation. Let it lead you to explore the hk style more in-depth and create an atmosphere of living in HK.\n\n \ntarget audience\nAge range: 18-35\nCategory: my main focus will be on people who like to travel around and to be curious about Hong Knog culture.\nGender: gender is not a concern for " live in HK" as there isn\'t any reason to limit the gender of our target audience.\n\nEducational level: I decided to set the minimum level of college/university, because they may more care about the culture of world and be interested in the \n",1]
);
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Blue is represented for home living style.
All of the above are the living style in hk and use the MTR to connect them together.

Purpose
People who live in Hong Kong had grown up under strong influence of both eastern and western culture. Mix is always the characteristic in HK culture. We don't care too much whether it is from the east or the west, as sometimes we ourselves are neither of it. Actually, modern things change HK a lot, but there are still some traditional stuff that keep in HK eveywhere. MTR in HK is the main transportation. Let it lead you to explore the hk style more in-depth and create an atmosphere of living in HK.

target audience
Age range: 18-35
Category: my main focus will be on people who like to travel around and to be curious about Hong Knog culture.
Gender: gender is not a concern for " live in HK" as there isn't any reason to limit the gender of our target audience.
Educational level: I decided to set the minimum level of college/university, because they may more care about the culture of world and be interested in the
Asia living style.\nNationalty: all nationality.\nColor bit: 32-bit color.\nConnection: broadband\nBrowser: Mozilla Firefox(Pc/Mac), Internet explore(pc), Safari (Mac)\nIncome :up to$800\nLeisure hour: 5 hours to surf internet and check email.\n \nForm\nInteractive website\nFunction\nI will create a 3D map to represent the whole Hong Kong\n area using subway to take visitors to everywhere they want. Just click on the route and will show the direction. The color helps you to recognize what topic you chose. You can clearly see the information because when you roll over, the buttons will show you a series of animation to tell you what is that for and of course, you can click on it. When you get into the white part, lots of movie will be combined as motion graphic with subtitle to introduce the meaning of content. Finally, the blue part is for home living. Using pictures and illustration to create some typical styles for users to see and you can arrange the layout if you would like to.\n",1]
);
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Asia living style.
Nationalty: all nationality.
Color bit: 32-bit color.
Connection: broadband
Browser: Mozilla Firefox(Pc/Mac), Internet explore(pc), Safari (Mac)
Income :up to$800
Leisure hour: 5 hours to surf internet and check email.

Form
Interactive website
Function
I will create a 3D map to represent the whole Hong Kong area using subway to take visitors to everywhere they want. Just click on the route and will show the direction. The color helps you to recognize what topic you chose. You can clearly see the information because when you roll over, the buttons will show you a series of animation to tell you what is that for and of course, you can click on it. When you get into the white part, lots of movie will be combined as motion graphic with subtitle to introduce the meaning of content. Finally, the blue part is for home living. Using pictures and illustration to create some typical styles for users to see and you can arrange the layout if you would like to.
\n \nStyle\nBecause mix is the main characteristic in Hong Kong\n style, I decide to use both modern and traditional ways to present it. The website is created not only by pictures but also uses 3D to help me create an environment from different aspects. I will use red, white and blue these three colors to become my basic tone of design. What I want to do is to show the spirit of \nHong Kong style deeply and let visitors know when they see these three colors, their first impression is \nHong Kong.\n \nMix is always the characteristic in HK culture. We don\'t care too much whether it is from the east or the west. It means crossover. There is not only modern building but also tradtional Hong Kong stylish stuff that you can dig into. This project is a skilful combination of minimalist layout simplicity and respect for the mixed-up background of this modern city. The design concept revolves around the red-white-blue platsic bags, an element that cannot be ingored in tradtional Hong Kong style. Thankfully, the work to the strusture includes subtle and portable 3D map that stands a chance of getting involved what is made in Hong Kong and what belongs to Hong Kong. \n\n \n",1]
);
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Style
Because mix is the main characteristic in Hong Kong style, I decide to use both modern and traditional ways to present it. The website is created not only by pictures but also uses 3D to help me create an environment from different aspects. I will use red, white and blue these three colors to become my basic tone of design. What I want to do is to show the spirit of Hong Kong style deeply and let visitors know when they see these three colors, their first impression is Hong Kong.

Mix is always the characteristic in HK culture. We don't care too much whether it is from the east or the west. It means crossover. There is not only modern building but also tradtional Hong Kong stylish stuff that you can dig into. This project is a skilful combination of minimalist layout simplicity and respect for the mixed-up background of this modern city. The design concept revolves around the red-white-blue platsic bags, an element that cannot be ingored in tradtional Hong Kong style. Thankfully, the work to the strusture includes subtle and portable 3D map that stands a chance of getting involved what is made in Hong Kong and what belongs to Hong Kong.

Read More