16.8.15

OBJECTIVE OF BRIEF
SYNTHESISE
ESSENCE
THUMBNAIL
VISUALISE
PROTOTYPE
RENDER
FEEDBACK
GAIN INSIGHT

It's been a busy week. I got some feedback on Tuesday from Phoebe and realised that I'd been working in the wrong direction for a while - I'd been so busy trying to think of funny, board, complex ideas, that I lost sight of what the brief was actually asking. So, I glued in and analysed a bunch of precedents and visual styles that I liked which I tied together with my extensive flag debate research and used to inform my concepts/angle from then on. Researched rhetoric - gained a better understanding of the theory of it (seems that I like the theory of most things). I wish I'd been unpacking visual precedents this whole time and gaining ideas that way - could have made many more visual concepts and refined them further, learnt about how visual communication works more. Well, I will know for the future to stop and think and analyse what I've done before I go further.

9.8.15

RESEARCH
GAIN INSIGHT
BRAINVOMIT
FEEDBACK

Explored the Australia/NZ rivalry in depth and got completely carried away with that and trying to be funny - flag change as a bit of an afterthought. Too much thinking about eeeeverything, not enough narrowing down to something concise and communicable. Became competent in making line drawings of Prime Ministers and learnt that cheek colour is an identifiable trait. Feedback was that I wasn't communicating one clear idea.

2.8.15

RESEARCH,
BUILD EMPATHY,
POINT OF VIEW,
THUMBNAIL,
TEST,
FEEDBACK,
GAIN INSIGHT

I made a lot of thumbnails and looked at varying viewpoints and angles that I could take. I have decided on using the angle of our current flag being too similar to Australia's. I want to play on this similarity and see how I can make my pro-change stance funny and approachable. I'm playing around with how I can use the flag in different contexts - using the trans-Tasman rivalry to my advantage. I got a bit carried away with all of my other angles and the whole referendum debate so need to focus on fleshing this chosen angle out as much as possible. I found some interesting poster precedents about sustainability that use humour to turn quite a serious and issue into something lighthearted and accessible - pathos? The concepts where I have used parody and personification have gotten the best response so want to explore how I can explore and visually resolve them.

26.7.15

BUILD EMPATHY,
POINT OF VIEW,
BRAINSTORM,
THUMBNAIL,
MOCK-UP

This week we learnt different idea generating tools which was really interesting and helped me come up with a few ideas that I don't think I would have from the word lists and thought-train way that I usually do. I have been trying to make my arguments more relatable to New Zealanders - specifically those over 18 so can be involved in the referendum. Most people don't want to change the flag so have a preconceived negative view/opinion about it which I need to challenge by being either positive, convincing (using ethos - look at how that person is living or how we could live - that looks nice, and using logos - yes, actually I hadn't thought of it like that) or showing their views in a subverted position and making them feel differently about them - using pathos, putting them in someone elses's shoes. I've been making thumbnails and wordlists and need to finish my mock-up posters for tomorrow's presentation.

17.7.15

RESEARCHED BOTH SIDES OF FLAG AND SCHOOLS DEBATES,
UNPACKED BRIEF,
SOURCED IHI/WEHI PRECEDENTS,
THUMBNAIL SEQUENCES

I researched the arguments for and against each topic and have decided on going for the flag change as I think it will be interesting and engaging. I unpacked the brief, found definitions for ihi and wehi, ethos, pathos and logos and other words I was unsure about. I analysed a few ihi/wehi precedents and found that I was attracted to ones that were a bit risque - sex does sell after all. I need to make the debate relateable and personable as the flag debate should incite discussion. I also unpacked a range of visual rhetorical devices to keep in my toolbox until I know what arguments I want to put forward.

I need to keep in mind:

- local cultural contexts: it's supposed to relate to all New Zealanders so has to be inclusive, accessible, and understandable to a wide range of people (ages, backgrounds etc.)
- NZ's bi-cultural framework
- target audience research
- effectiveness of rhetorical device/s
- persuasiveness - does it resonate with the intended audience?
- analysis, synthesis and reflection on design process

Goodnight blogger xoxo