Ha! I think every one was surprised at how different the final version is.


The last two weeks were strange in that how much work I was able to create and how everything seems to have finally come together.

I hope everyone else can see how the final takes elements from all the other versions.

I really like this version and am actually content to use it for real.


The idea of the buttons being details of larger images comes directly from looking at the work of Julian Opie. He has the confidence to use the same method of image manipulation again and again.

I want to be able to take this method of work forward and create some other pictures.

For the first time in a long while, I'm excited about making pictures (other than taking photos).

I'm going to scrap all the work I have done so far and start again.

Jon (as ever) has been great in keeping me motivated, he suggested I stop trying to rehash an idea/layout that wasn't working.

The most useful thing he has ever said was along the lines of "think what type of designer you are but don't get hung up on the term 'Graphics' explore the idea of photo-illustration"

This was one of those rare epiphany moments - when something clicks and you go "Ohhhhhhh why didn't I see that earlier"


Shooting new images just for the website was a simple yet brilliant idea, rather than just reusing and shoe-horning the existing work I have shot.

I see now that having the website as a gallery is a bust - it should be just an advert, a glimpse of what I can do - rather than over state and overwhelm, having a bit of self discipline and careful editing is better than trying to do to much.

Version 8

Over the last few weeks, I've lost my way with this project (yet again). It pisses me off that this process of design is so fucking hard sometimes.

I can often see exactly what the references other students have been using as there visual prompts and how they tweak and subtly redefine all this visual information.


The only progress I have made has been to draw all the work done so far into a more coherent piece.

The images in V.7 looked different but now I have tried to redraw them all in a similar style to create a more uniform feel.

I do really like how it looks - only that it looks like a pig and is still really clumsy.

Snapshot

Version 7


I really like version 7, it was fun to construct and is like a cartoon.

I like how the whole screen does something and it is a bit chaotic and crazy.

The music is called snapshot and is by The Art of Noise.


The only problem now is that I think I have taken the whole web animation theme a little too far.


I suppose if the object of this exercise was to make some simple web animation, this would be great.


However I have to concede that most people don't really like the music and find it to off putting, which is fair comment really.

Ho hum back to the drawing board.

I worry that I’ve spent too much time learning how to animate and add the hyperlinks / rollovers and not enough on actual design.

So the images:

Cameras - hopefully self explanetary.

The Mutoscope and Television.
Both rely on a frame rate or change of scan rate / image refresh rate to show movement.

Rodin's 'The Thinker'
represents me and the stupid amount of time I spend thinking and often overthinking about things.

The Thinker is thought of as the universal embodiment of every poet, every creator, who draws new life from the imagination.

The ? which flashes upon rollover is symbolic of this but it is also a nod on my part to the animation of Terry Gilliam and the cartoons of Monty Python.

The Sun and Moon don't represent anything - they are there purely for decoration, which is a small affectation or accent - which I'm trying to emulate the detailing that Victorian craftsmen gave to the products they produced.

The Dial phone and the Startac mobile
Two design classics - both of which are now outdated and almost antiquated.

The Compass Rose
A visual device to represent the "Where I am" as opposed to simply stating my address.

The Pound sign is very crude but I couldn't think of anything else to represent the link to the print order site "photobox".

Persistence of Vision - I think this is very apt for me and describes how dogged I am in working through a problem, although even I can see that V.6 is neither refined or inspiring.

So how did I choose the images or more importantly, why did I choose the images ?

The logo colours are primary Red, Green and Blue. The name refers to the visual phenomenon of the eye by which an afterimage is thought to persist for approximately one twenty-fifth of a second on the retina.

I also think it is apt because it can be interpreted as a play on words, in that it describes my approach to creating and image. I'm a bit loath to brand myself - hence me choosing to "trade" under another name.

I’ve always liked Victoriana and the spirit of invention of that age. Brunel, Babbage and Stevenson conjure up all sorts of images, I’m also a big fan of the Steampunk genre of fiction. I think this is what is leading me towards a sort of analogue solution – in terms of the images I’m trying to reference now. I’m not sure if this is apparent but I’m trying to establish some kind of credulity or tradition by using the images I have selected.

I quite liked how version 5 looks – although the colours and balls remind me of a clowns outfit. But version 6 is a lot stronger, well it is to me at least, the layout is somewhat crude but I’m learning what is possible with rollovers and making web gifs.

I did spend another couple of hours at the Apple store, working through various ideas with one of the trainers and he liked what I was doing and even suggested that once it was complete, I should email the iweb website team to show what I had been able to construct.