Evaluation of my project

Final design-

My final design became an interactive event. As well as the packaging I initially set out to do, I created a Flash website that would become the packaged content, and also a poster which would advertise/give directions for the event.

My final design for the packaging is a code-wheel cipher, which, when deciphered would give out the password used for accessing a page on my Flash website. The website gives information about my whole project, and includes imagery and descriptions of how I progressed to my final design. The password protected page for the website holds information about a secret, code related, 'thing'. -I will not reveal what is on that page here, as this blog also forms part of my website.


Materials-

For my final design, I settled on using a combination of sticky-back plastic on paper, and acetate sheets. Overall I think this worked out really well. The sticky-back plastic worked well to reinforce the paper, making it somewhat water-resistant. I used the acetate sheets to add the code to my packaging; I printed a Q-R code onto the sheets would give the overall package some depth, and then added the lettering to the design using Adobe Illustrator. This lettering would form the code.


Website design-

Designing my website was quite tricky for me, as it was the first time I had ever made a website in Adobe Flash, and the second time I had ever used the program to create something. I feel I picked the program out quite quickly though, as well as learning a fair amount of Actionscript, which I used for coding things like my password protected page, and the buttons.

The password protected page, or rather the informaion it holds, forms the contents of my packaging. I feel this worked rather well, as I was packaging the concept of code.

I intergrated the concept of code throughout my website as well. For example, I chose to make the buttons  unreadable untill you hovered the mouse over them. This comes from looking at how code isn't easily read, and can infact be impossible in cases, unless done by a computer. Here you are using the computer to read the buttons.


Rejected ideas/website-

I went through many ideas for my website, very few of them actually made it to my final design. This was due to some ideas just not working well enough visually - in my opinion, and some were scrapped due to problems with Actionscript.

I initially wanted to have a pre-loader on my website. This would have been a screen where code 'rained' from the mouse cursor, and filled the page up to reveal the website. I scrapped this because I had confiction problems with the Actionscript used to code this.

Another idea was to have the website initially load in a kind of mosaic transition. The mosaic would load to look like a Q-R code instead of just randomly placed mosaic tiles like the mosaic transitions do. This idea was scrapped due to the transition looking somewhat 'tacky'. I think mosaic, and many other transitions take away from the appearance of websites, and this did the same.


Overall project-

I feel the overall project went really well. I'm happy with the materials used for the packaging, as they hold the form well, are robust enough to withstand use, and looks good visually. And the website turned out to be -almost- exactly as I wanted it. It wasn't perfect as I didn't know a lot about Actionscript, and didn't have enough time in my project to study it.

Materials

Alright, so I've got the idea for my packaging. I know the shape I want, I know what I want in it. But what do I want to make it from?

• Vacuum forming <- can I make a 3-dimentional shape from this? Don't think so but I'll find out for sure anyway. It will need to not have protruding pieces.
• Acrylic sheets + rod <- sheets are costly, could go for this but I'll look into cheaper alternatives first.
• Acetate sheets <- cheap, but are they effective? Need to test this out and see if it works.
• Paper/card <- can't withstand rain if I have this outside. Also can be damaged easily.
• Wood <- I like this idea best, but I'm not sure if this will be the most practical. Will I be able to get the shape I want?

Overall I want to do it with wood, have to find out more about it. Also will probably use an acrylic rod for the stick/pole/rod thing it will be on. I'll order one, if I can. -even if it is just to test it out. Otherwise I could use a wooded rod for this aswell, it would blend in more than an acrylic one, if I make the rest from wood.

Critique

Had another group critique. We were in groups of two this time, reviewing eachothers sketchbooks. My sketchbook was found to be hard to follow, so I shall have to work into it more to make it easier.

What shall I put on my website exactly?

Okay, so back to the idea of packaing my website.

Anyone who wants to 'break into' my packaing will have some sort of interest in codes, otherwise they probably wouldn't bother. So, my website would be better to offer something that fits the intrests of the people visiting. Wouldn't be any good if I promoted a website in a childs comic, and that website was about something like insurance deals, would it?

Let's see, what's code related....

• Exhibition on codes <- would this be practical? An Exhibition would probably want a decent amount of people, would enough crack the code and visit?
• Documentry about codes (TV program) <- like this idea
• Coupon for something <- not sure about this, what would the coupon be for? Hmm...

I'll probably go for the TV documentry idea. I'll either have the link to my website in my package, or have the link + a password for a page on my website where I'll hide the information for the documentry.

If I go for the passworded page idea, I'll have to learn more Actionscript. Suppose that button effect I did will have to go as I can't seem to get any other Actionscript to work with it. Right now, it's the button effect, or a password page feature + pages that work.... Gonna have to be the latter.

Getting feedback

I've been getting feedback from my peers for my website. I showed them how it had gone so far, and asked them if they think I should change/add anything, or if it's fine as it is. They suggested that the font was maybe a bit too dark to read on the buttons. They thought the overall design was good, and the effects I had acheived were great, but thought the mosaic transition I was creating for the pre-loader might look a bit tacky, and that I could try it in another colour than white to make it work better.

I'll take these comments into account, I'll redo the buttons because if they are too dark to read, then they will need fixing. I'm not sure about the transition effect for the pre-loader myself, I might just take it out, I don't think the website even needs the pre-loader right now.

What to put in my packaging?

So I've been thinking about what I should be packaging. I know I'll be packaing the concept of code, but what can that concept be? It's quite a wide topic, so that leaves a lot open.

I think I'll change my website a bit, and perhaps package that. One concept of code is to hold information, and that's exactly what it will be doing.

I want a little more to it though, so I need to decide why anyone would visit my website. What information will I display here? Why would they bother coming here?

Also had a quick crit with some of my peers today. I showed them the test piece I had made, and suggested that I may turn it into a code-wheel. One of them said it would make a nice box alone, and that maybe I could make it out of transparent acetate.

I'm going to try making it out of acetate, and see how it goes. It might be hard to hide the glue though, if it will even hold.