DAT Portfolio Blog

This is an online portfolio for Digital Art and Technology at Plymouth University, where I will be blogging my experiences on the course and the work I develop with it.

[ahoytherejode]

DAT 403 - Development

Initially, within the development stage, I focused on character designs and wanted to settle on an animation style. I experimented with various animation styles in sketched storyboards, however felt that the 2D traditional drawn animation style was my personal preference due to the simplistic stylised effect, which would also not detract from the message that was trying to be conveyed. I drew the characters in Illustrator and Photoshop, using my personal graphics tablet, and then imported the character designs across to After Effects to collate the images and begin experimenting with the animation tools available.

This development process allowed for me to acknowledge what strengths and weaknesses I had. I feel as though I am able to effectively utilise my graphics tablet to create the artistic style desired for each of my characters, and I also have a good knowledge of the tools available in both Photoshop and Illustrator due  to previous extensive use. However, I initially struggled to adjust when using After Effects, as it is a programme that I have very little knowledge of.

To improve my skillset, I began following various youtube tutorials to create simple effects within AE, and then attempted to adapt the work to coincide with my own project. Whilst I found these tutorials to be helpful, I felt as though I needed further in-depth tutorials, which are available to me through Lynda.com. As I move forward with my project, I will continue to utilise the resources readily available to me, and push myself to deliver the best possible outcome in the timeframe given.

[ahoytherejode]

DAT 403 - Justification

My animation was created to convey the reality of the ever-growing plastic problem our oceans are now facing, as it is an issue that I feel passionate about. I utilised a simplistic animation style, to ensure that the design does not detract from the message itself, and still attempt to hold a lasting image in the viewers mind. The animation is designed to immerse the viewer within the message and sombre tone, using slow paced movements and a low tempo audio in combination with other elements.

I chose to create the illusion of the camera being static and fixed, instead of panning or dynamic, as I felt that would be the most effective way to portray the ocean currents. I aided this by ensuring that the characters move across the screen to show movement, along with the use of shifting air bubbles.

When deciding which audio clip would be most suitable, I felt as though a dramatic melancholy would be most effective in portraying the depression overcoming the ocean and the life within. I liked the way the creator uses a slow tempo to accentuate sadness and evoke an emotional reaction from the viewer. I believe this helps to set the scene before the animation sequence reveals any of the characters or the direction of the narrative.

To immerse the viewer further, I felt it was important to ensure that the lighting fit the mood of the animation. After conducting some research into what it would look like to a diver under the surface of the water, I felt it would be most appropriate to have a darkened camera angle, with a lighter central focus. This also brings attention to the characters as they move through the spotlight, along with the garbage.

In conclusion, I feel as though my work has brought attention to the issue at hand. I do feel that given more time to develop my skills further when using After Effects, that I would be able to improve on my animation, by potentially adding further scenes; linking humans more directly to the root of the problem, using a scene of a family on a beach having a picnic leaving behind litter, unaware of their impact upon the environment, etc. I would also experiment further with camera angles, and rubber-banding effects, to animate the characters further.

[ahoytherejode]

DAT 403 - Research

After finalising my decision on my animation concept, I began to further research the extent of human pollution in the sea. It became evident that plastic waste was a key component of sea pollution, particularly as by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish, and that plastic waste has been found at the deepest known level of the ocean - the Marianna Trench. The theme of non-biodegradable plastic waste entering, and impacting upon, every corner of the planet beginning to take shape.

After researching my theme, I focused on fleshing out the animation with the inclusion of realistic details. I researched the most common types of litter found within the sea and chose to focus on the ones most used by every day people to link the viewer to the human pollution. Additionally, I balanced the realistic colours and patterns found on sea creatures and the environment with the animation style I chose. I found I drew heavy inspiration from the film ‘Help! I’m A Fish’, which helped me in balancing and blending the realistic elements with the stylistic choices of the animation. 

I aim to incorporate my research further into my development, as I begin to create my animation and character designs. 

[ahoytherejode]

DAT 403 - Idea Generation

Throughout the idea generation stage, it was important to me that my animation would convey a meaningful message that I am passionate about. As animal welfare and caring for the environment are considerable influences and drivers for how I live my life, I decided they would be the theme of my animation. I wanted to my animation to illustrate a real and pressing environmental danger, and so I began to sketch ideas rooted in current environmental issues. 

My first idea was concerning climate change in the form of the warming oceans melting more and more of the Arctic; it was a time lapse of a polar bear hunting along the same route, yet as time progressed, the route forced the polar bear along an increasingly smaller route as the ice melted until the polar bear was left to starve to death on a small iceberg that had floated far from their hunting ground. 

The second idea is related to the ‘Trash Isles’ in the ocean, which are island-sized build ups of human rubbish and pollution floating across the ocean. It is based on a statistic reported widely in the news stating that by 2050 there would be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Building from this, my sketch was of various sea life swimming in the ocean with increasing amounts of rubbish being deposited in the ocean; continuing until animation fades to black to indicate that the amount of rubbish has overtaken the sea life and destroyed their natural habitat. 

My third idea was relating to the unsustainable harvesting of palm oil from distant rainforests to go into our food. The sketch for this would have been a split screen animation, in which one half would show consumers in a supermarket picking up increasing and unnecessary amounts of food, whilst the other half would show a family of orangutans confused as more and more trees are disappearing around them, until their environment is destroyed and they die as a result.

From briefly exploring these options, I have decided to research more into each idea, and base my final decision on which message I feel I could convey effectively within the time constraints of my deadline.

[ahoytherejode]

DAT404 - Web Technologies #4

In the final week of this module, we have focused on the completion of our Portfolio Websites, using valued workshop time to make final alterations in preparation for the impending deadline.

Throughout this module, I feel as though I have gained a broad knowledge of HTML and CSS, including BootStrap Framework, and that I have developed a deeper understanding of the structures that form working webpages. I do however maintain that I need to continue my learning with JavaScript, in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the language.  

I feel confident in my ability, and I hope that my final portfolio is a reflection of the skills that I have both gained and honed within this module, and that I am able to utilise many of the components learnt through completion of each exercise, and further learning outside of lectures. 

[ahoytherejode]

DAT404 - Web Technologies #3

In the third week of this module, we have explored into greater depth the use of Bootstrap and Media Queries to create flexible media, and experimented with some CSS animations.

Following the BootStrap and MediaQuery example walk-through presented to us last week, we continued to stylise the website utilising BootStrap, and we also began to introduce the use of eternal CSS links from FontAwesome and JQuery. Once we felt confident with the example, we were encouraged to begin exploring the different BootStrap style sheets available to use within our own portfolio’s, altering as much as possible to create a unique user interface that best compliments our work. 

In the final structured-learning lecture of the module, we were able to further expand our knowledge on CSS animations within the webpage. We conducted a few examples of text and buttons being triggered and therefore being animated, before experimenting with more complex CSS to prompt a user to select certain links, and/ or divert their attention to an important area of the webpage.

These exercises have enabled me to gain a variety of skills and experience, that will be easily transferable to include within my portfolio, boosting user interaction and potentially further engagement.

[ahoytherejode]

DAT404 - Web Technologies #2

In the second week of this module, we have experimented with ES6 and the DOM, as well as beginning to look at responsive web design.

To begin the week, we were given the task of completing two JavaScript exercises that formed part of a larger ‘#JavaScript30 Challenge’, which consisted of creating a key controlled drum kit, and a CSS animated clock. Initially wary of the task, I found it incredibly useful to follow the tutorials, whilst challenging myself to be proactive in figuring out the next steps to take. These exercises mostly demonstrated the use of key events and IF statements, which I felt were a lot less difficult than originally anticipated. These challenges utilised ES6 and The DOM, displaying how the nodes within a webpage can be easily manipulated to create the desired outcome.

Moving on from this, we then began to briefly investigate the use of Bootstrap and MediaQueries, to enable our webpages to be responsive to the device they have been accessed from. We were able to complete an example walk-through which took the Plymouth University Campus Buildings webpage created last week, and added a BootStrap Style Sheet to allow it become responsive whilst also stylising some of the elements, of which we altered to adhere to our needs.

We will be continuing the exploration of Bootstrap and MediaQueries throughout next week, and I aim to incorporate some Bootstrap elements into my Portfolio Website.

[ahoytherejode]

DAT404 - Web Technologies #1

In the first week of this module, we have tackled basic CSS and HTML web page building, along with some experimental JavaScript exercises.

Upon being introduced to the module and the objectives that needed to be achieved, we began by partaking in a walk-through exercise to build a webpage for Plymouth University’s Campus Buildings using a stylesheet alongside HTML, ensuring that it contained functioning links to other pages within the website. As I already had a brief knowledge of HTML and CSS from a previous module, I found it beneficial when engaging in class exercises, as I was able to recognise much of the terminology. I was also able to utilise this knowledge when performing simple functions, identifying class attributes and preparing the index page layout.

Throughout this week, I have successfully completed each task, which has enabled me to identify what strengths and weaknesses I may have moving forward in this module. I have also gained a clear understanding of the module assignment, of which I plan to experiment with some initial design ideas, and begin to develop my programming knowledge by completing further exercises.