#digigbda101

[caitlincourt-blog]

Assignment #3 - Final Group Video (My part is the first 5 seconds when the water drop is falling from the side view)

[sarahstock-gbda-blog]

December 7th, 2015

Sarah Stock

20616856

Assignment 3

Assignment 3: Project Statement

           For this assignment, our group was given the poem “The Merger” by Dorothy Livesay and the action word “meander”. When we read the poem, we could all agree that there was a strong sense of conflict between two sides that eventually found peace. We used the duality between order and chaos to demonstrate this conflict. We decided to start the animation by showing a growing grid to represent order. Not too long into the animation, the order begins fighting against the chaos. This was demonstrated by the flashes of colour and the appearance of the ball of lightning in the center of the animation. The colours and the lightning are all representations of chaos. Finally, at the end of the animation both sides have found harmony. This is shown by the gray lightning floating softly around the white background. The black and white colour scheme represents order while the lightning once again represents the chaos. However, this time they are peacefully coexisting, rather than fighting. It is also here where we decided to represent “meander”. The lightning disappears and then comes back in certain spots to allow the viewer to meander with us. It forces them to draw the line of movement in their minds.

           In this composition, we used a few different compositional elements. During the first part of the animation with the grid, we decided to use the Z structure and even scattering. The Z structure is used to allow the viewer to follow the action in an easy and natural way. Even scattering allowed us to put emphasis on the bright areas that form the Z structure. Both of these compositional elements were used to help the grid feel orderly and logical. During the part with the lightning, we used the compositional element of diagonals to make the viewer feel uneasy. The diagonals cause tension within the viewer. This relationship between the two parts of the animation further emphasizes our theme of duality.

           The colours that we used in the piece were meant to represent our theme. For the order, we used contrasting colours of black and white to provide a sense of stability and balance. During the sequence where the two sides are fighting, we decided to inject a few colours that would be normally seen during a computer disturbance or glitch. Therefore, not only do the grid and the lightning fight, so do the colours schemes, as they are so vastly different. For the final sequence, we wanted to show harmony between the two sides and therefore we took what we felt were the strongest elements of both sides, the colour scheme for the order and the lightning for the chaos, and united them. We did this in a way that the viewer could still distinctly see that both elements were present, however they have found peace and are no longer fighting for control.

[kathrynsaigleprojects-blog]

Assignment 3- Moving the still Partners: Daniel George Ruginets Erin Bernardo Justin Au Yeung This is my very last project for this class and a a summary of all the other things we’ve learned about in this course; colour theory, composition, animation, motion graphics in public places and how to present a concert idea in an abstract way. This was to be done using inspiration from the word “Sway” and the poem “Irony”. 
I began with a literary analysis of the poem, taking a look at the line length, rhythm, word choices and motifs. I found that the poem had steady equal line lengths of 10 syllables each. It also felt with motifs such as life and death, making reference to skeletons and knuckles, dried cracked earth and white bleached sand with the juxtaposition of the “wet reviving sea”. I then focused on encouraging a composition that was complex, yet simple and seemingly indifferent to it’s content. To reflect the poem’s constant syllables to it’s words. I drew inspiration from the conclusion one arrives at when studying philosophy and our place in the Universe. You will arrive at a very lively stillness. A sort of peace seen from a third party perspective, the oxymoron of existence. 
It then became very important for our group in terms of composition. we wanted to make sure to include both structured and free formed structure in our final product. As the piece progresses both the grid and visual elements deteriorate from the skeleton city, to drowning in the ocean, to drifting in an undefined space or from solid, liquid to gas respectively.  
From our readings in motion Graphics in Public spaces we caught to include the viewer into the composition by using a number of techniques such as the curious and unusual motion created by the swinging layers. As well as the use of colour and finally composition. In the beginning of the piece we chose to split up the buildings with the use of a road cutting diagonally through the piece. This gave the audience an entry point to the rest of the work. We wanted to attempt to create an atmosphere in the GBDA lobby through the colours and shapes that were used.
We wanted to again stay with the theme of the undefined, defining what is all around us. Through the use of layering colours and  transparencies  together to make our shapes instead of stroke. In addition, blues, black and whites were chosen through colour theory to create a cool, clam feeling as warmer colours would confuse the meaning.  
All of these elements together were meant to create a balance yet undefined piece that reflected both the dual sidedness of the concept of Irony of the known and unknown in everyday life and the constant sway between the two. 

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // final

My group had produce an animation that combines the word grow as well as Edgar Allen Poe’s Alone. Although the concepts are very different, we managed to create a piece that fluidly unified the two. By utilizing different compositional concepts including size, space, colour and shapes as well as models such as the balancing centre, triangles and inverted triangles, we were able to develop a piece that not only exhibited how one grows in loneliness but also emphasizes isolation. 

The use of compositional factors and visual elements helped enhance the eeriness and isolation of the animation as well as emphasized the peculiar and darkness of the word grow and Edgar Allen Poe’s poem. The different sizes help highlight certain shapes and enhance the solitary mood of the piece. It also helps develop hierarchy in the piece. In addition, the use of space creates a feeling of isolation as the negative space allows the viewer to focus on the positive space. The monochromatic colours also add to the eerie and lonely mood as it highlighted shapes and darkness. Since the colours were all grayscale, the lonely and eerie mood was enhanced. We chose to use charcoal instead of black to produce a ghostly feel to the animation. Moreover, we used simple two-dimensional shapes rather than three-dimensional to highlight the simplicity and create an spooky mood. The shapes merge and transform into one another in an abstract and fluid manner. These compositional factors also help establish hierarchy within the animation. The contrast between the white and black not only enhance the eerie mood but also captivates the audience and brings attention to the main shapes of the animation. Moreover, the minimal amount of shapes within the frame allow the viewer to focus on the dominating movement. Since there is only one visual cycle featured, it enhances the word and the poem by creating a feeling of isolation. 

Different compositional models were used throughout the animation to strengthen the plot and mood. The animation started with a white circle placed on the balancing centre, which builds stability and structure as well as added strength and cohesion. It also added an eerie effect and enhanced the lonely mood of the piece. The inverted triangle compositional model is also featured during the spotlight animation, which produces a feeling of unease. It helps direct the viewer to the main focus of the animation and isolate the shapes. Upright triangles are also present in the mountains. They help create a story arch by forming a rise and fall within the frame. In addition, the triangles have a cyclical structure and keep the viewer’s eye contained in the frame and unifies the composition. The mountains also appear in threes, which create a cyclical movement and the appearance of balance. 

Overall, the compositional factors, visual elements and compositional models are used throughout the animation to create an eerie design and enhance the feeling of growing isolation. Through unique and abstract movements, these characteristics work together to portray both the word grow and Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, Alone, in a unified and fluid manner.

[kendraelizabethfortinblog-blog]

December 7 2015

Assignment Three Project Statement 

[kendraelizabethfortinblog-blog]

December 7 2015

Everything I touch

with tenderness, alas,

pricks like a bramble

-Kobayaski Issa

Verb: Activate

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // shapes ( eclipse + first iteration of melting )

[sarahstock-gbda-blog]

A concept for the final assignment’s animation. This was for the organized grid part of the animation, however in the end we decided to go in another direction.