MP1: Week 2 Log (2)

I have now completed my outline for the informal presentation next week and have been reviewing it to become familiar for the presentation. I am currently finalizing my drawings to send them to my mentor.

MP1: Week 2 Log

I have completed my goals for week two by creating and posting both my idea matrix and my outline for the informal presentation. As I continue to progress, I will be updating/adding to my outline.

Idea Matrix

To the left is my idea matrix highlighting how of my alternate solutions stand up to each of my specifications/testing procedures.

Informal Presentation Outline (rough)

I. Good afternoon, my name is MB
a. This afternoon, I will discuss my progress on my senior project
b. Graphic design of the school play

II. Problem Statement:
a. Advertising and design is much needed.

III. Design Brief:
a. Create design scheme for 2008 school musical.

IV. Specifications:
a. must be brightly colored
b. must relate to the theme and style of the play
c. must be visible in various sizes for the posters and tickets
d. must be attractive and draw attention

V. Limitations:
a. outside resources for printing samples of the final designs
b. cannot be identical to the original Broadway play's designs
c. cannot require a lot of money to be spent on production

VI. Testing Procedures:
a. Along the way, I will receive advice to choose best design
b. Three design boards containing different themes
c. Cast and crew will vote on designs- will show feedback
d. Turned into advertising media- will prove effectiveness
e. The choices made by cast/crew & turnout of audience will show efficacy

VII. Brainstorming:
a. Peter Pan – fairies, pirate ships silhouetted on the horizon, children flying over London, magical looking writing (*this was the original idea for the play in the beginning of the summer)
b. Little Shop of Horrors – man-eating plant attacking a person, Seymour holding Audrey, shop front with the play’s title written in the window, a row of flowers with a man eating plant on the end, creepy styled writing

VIII. What I’ve Done so far
a. Published all summer work on my Weblog
b. Created a calendar
c. Finished & posted my idea matrix
d. Completed my outline
e. Been in contact with my mentor
f. Posted my Tuesday and Friday updates

MP1: Week 1 Log (2)

As of now, I am beginning to work on my outline for my first, informal presentation on October 3rd. Also, I am working on my idea matrix.

MP1: Week 1 Log

Up until this week I have:

• obtained my mentor's contact information
• set up my weblog
• created my calendar
• posted my summer work and essay
• posted my calendar
• begun to fill out an idea matrix for alternate solutions

MP1 Calendar

MP1 Calendar
Week 1 (September 16-22):
-Create calendar
-Set up Blogger account
-Put all summer work and background information on weblog
-Post on blog, Tuesday & Friday

Week 2 (September 23-29):
-Fill out an idea matrix for all solutions
-Organize blog and outline for informal presentation
-Post on blog, Tuesday & Friday

Week 3 (September 30-October 6):
-Get advice from mentor about the alternate solutions
-Finalize outline for presentation
-Presentation on October 3rd
-Post on blog, Tuesday & Friday

Week 4 (October 7-13):
-Create alternate color schemes for alternate solution #2
-Choose three drawings to perfect for model
-Post on blog, Tuesday & Friday

Week 5 (October 14-20):
-Compose selection-rejection report using evidence from the idea matrix
-Finalize three alternate solutions for the model
-Post on blog, Tuesday & Friday

Week 6 (October 21-28):
-Put three designs onto the design board for the MP presentation
-Print out mentor contacts
-Post on blog, Tuesday & Friday

Week 7 (October 29-November 7):
-Presentations Nov 1-5
-Post on blog, Tuesday & Friday

Research

"Colour Schemes". Mezzoblue. August 14, 2007
http://www.mezzoblue.com/archives/2004/05/14/colour_schem/.
Technical method for color selection: pick 2 dominant colors, put together with some complementary colors. (can be a boring color group)
Matching: using a photo/object to select a few colors. (people sometimes choose the wrong colors)
Intuition: going with your gut and picking colors off the top of your head that you think would look nice together. Can either turn out very good or very bad.
Choose one color (any color) and create an entire drawing out of just different shades of that color, then add another color or two for emphasis on certain aspects.

"Graphic Design". Wikipedia. August 14, 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design.
Graphic design is a way to use text and drawings to show information
Advertising and graphic design are very similar-they both are a way to present information about something.
Graphic design is present literally EVERYWHERE
Computers are now used to create GD
“Anywhere there is a need to communicate visually, there is potential enhancement of communications through graphic design.”
GD is not just for advertising and making things look pretty – road signs are an example of this type of art. They must be crafted to be readable and bright. Taking these aspects into account when creating the signs is an example of GD
GD aids companies in creating an image that symbolizes their product. (Tony the Tiger, the Nike logo, etc.)
Education uses GD in textbooks and such to help students understand the information better.
Entertainment – scenery, comic books, book covers, book texts, film credits, programs, all of this enhances the theme
Web design uses GD through html work to create an attractive and accessible website for the internet browser
Don’t limit yourself to what fonts/colors/designs are easily found

"Little Shop of Horrors". The Guide to Musical Theatre. August 12, 2007.
http://www.nodanw.com/shows_l/little_shop_of_horrors.htm.
Synopsis
Aliens took the form of plants
Seymour brings one back to the plant shop where he works
His assistant, Audrey, has a creepy boyfriend
Audrey II says that he will give Seymour anything he wants if he feeds him
Audrey II eats Audrey’s boyfriend after he ODs on laughing gas
He then consumes Mushnik, Audrey, and Seymour.
They take over the world.
Main Cast: Seymour, Audrey, Orin, Mr. Mushnik, Audrey II
Scenes: The Shop, Skid Row (the street), In front of houses

"Shading". Wikipedia. August 12, 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shading.
Cross hatching is used to shade an area with criss-crossing, perpendicular lines.
Patterns of darks and lights creates the illusion of depth
Shading is done during the coloring/rendering step
It makes the drawing look more realistic by adding an angle of light
Ambient light- no shading, lights the entire object
Directional light- comes from one single direction
Point light- comes from one point and moves out all over
Spotlight- single point into a cone
Area light- single plane and goes in all directions
Volume light- encloses space which lights the objects in the space
Distance falloff creates realism with out adding more lighting
None, linear, quadratic, factor of n

"The Little Shop of Horrors". Televisioncity. August 12, 2007.
http://www.geocities.com/televisioncity/studio/8849/Moviemusicals/Mushniks/LittleShop.htm.
Movie director- frank oz, producer- david Geffen, book/lyrics- howard Ashman, music- alan menken, movie score- miles Goodman, line producer- William Gilmore, music producer- bob gaudio
Originally a hit Broadway play, “Little Shop” was transformed into an equally successful film
Changes:
“Ya Never Know” is replaced by dialogue, “Some Fun Now”, radio program.
“Mushnik & Son” was cut because the father/son deal is never present
“Now (It’s Just the Gas)” was cut and Steve Martin takes its place
“Closed for Renovation” was taken out because it didn’t move the film along

"The Media Business: Advertising". The New York Times Online. August 13, 2007
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70E1FFC3F550C718EDDAD0894DD404482.
TV and movies have always used brand name products as a way of advertising called “product placement”
Recently, Broadway shows have taken to this type of advertising
It helps them get the message out about their show
However, some worry that this will make theater become less art and more business.
Despite these worries, this advertising is here to stay. At least for a long time.

Summer Work

Problem Statement:
For any performance situation in the real world, advertising and design is much needed for posters, tickets, clothing, and programs. Our school play needs this design as well to properly advertise the production.

Design Brief:
Create a design scheme for the advertising of the 2008 School Musical.

Specifications:

• must attract an audience to the play
• ticket design
• poster design
• program design
• flier design
• t-shirt design

Limitations:

• outside resources for printing samples of the final designs
• cannot be identical to the original Broadway play's designs
• cannot require a lot of money to be spent on production

Testing Procedures:

• Along the way, I will receive advice from friends, teachers, family, and mentors to help me create the best designs that I can.
• Once I have chosen the three best designs and perfected them, I will create three design boards containing the design in the form of a Tshirt logo, a playbill, a ticket, and a flier.
• Each of these design boards will be handed over to the cast and crew of the play, who will choose which design they like the best for which part of the play.
• The designs will then be transferred onto the final documents and hopefully the designs will aid in getting an audience for the play.
• I will know how my final project is by the choices made by the cast/crew and by the overall turnout for the performances.

Brainstorming:

• Peter Pan – fairies, pirate ships silhouetted on the horizon, children flying over London, magical looking writing (*this was the original idea for the play in the beginning of the summer)
• Little Shop of Horrors – man-eating plant attacking a person, Seymour holding Audrey, shop front with the play’s title written in the window, a row of flowers with a man eating plant on the end, creepy styled writing

Research Essay

My senior project is to create the graphic designs for the advertising for the 2008 Spring Musical here at MAST. In order to have a successful showing of the play, we must have plenty of advertising prior to the show. This advertising will be in the form of fliers, posters, and T-Shirts worn by the cast and crew. But simply having these items doesn’t necessarily mean that the crowd will be large on opening night-the designs must be attention grabbing and interesting to the audience.

No one will want to attend a production of any kind if the advertising is unattractive. These designs are like a preview to the show itself. If they are plain, hastily drawn, and simple, then no one would be drawn to the performance. These designs must be bright, attractive, and intriguing. When passersby notice the fliers and posters hanging up around campus, the brightly colored illustrations should draw them in and make them want to learn more about the show.

In order to achieve this goal, I had to learn about techniques involved in graphic design and drawing. I learned many new methods in color selection and advertising through my research. One way to create a color theme is to choose two colors and add some complementary colors. Another way to do this is using a color palette, such as a photograph, to find your main colors. Of course, the simplest way to select colors is to just go with your own feeling. All of these methods have their ups and downs, but if done correctly, one can definitely pull it off (Colure Schemes).

Graphic design not only involves advertising, but any design using text and illustrations to present information. All advertising is graphic design, but not all graphic design is advertising. This form of art is what helped to create advertising slogans and logos which are easily recognized by many people, such as “Tony the Tiger” of Frosted Flakes and the famous Nike logo (Graphic Design). Graphic design is used in education for text books, entertainment for scenery, books, etc, websites, and even road signs! It is about expanding beyond the normal extents of design and going above and beyond with a new added touch of personal flair (Graphic Design).

As of now, the musical for this school year will be The Little Shop of Horrors. This musical is very unique, as it features a man eating alien plant as the main character. Aliens plan to take over the earth and decide to infiltrate the planet with man eating plants. One is brought back to a local flower shop, where it wreaks havoc on the people working in the shop, killing all of them, along with a snobbish dentist (Little Shop...). I’ve decided to focus on the logo of the shop on all of the designs. I also want to create a contrast between the regular, cute flowers of the store, and the vicious man-eating Audrey II.

After learning about the graphic design process, I think I know what I must accomplish this school year in Systems II. I need to focus on choosing designs and colors which will create enough of a contrast with each other to be bold, while still matching enough to be attractive to passersby. I also have learned the details of the play, of which I was previously unfamiliar with. Now I feel that I am prepared to create graphic designs to the best of my abilities in order to attract a large audience for this year’s school musical.