Gant chart 10

This gant chart shows that i have completed the professional skill module. as it shows i have successfully completed all the task baring one which was the sketching and rendering section. this is because i feel i havent succeded fully in this part. i feel i have neglected this section in the learning agreement and in concequence i feel i have not improved as much as i have like. but i will hopefully carry these skills on and ultimately become a better designer because of it.

Spash Page Aniamtion

This post is a video of animation i did for my possible website. it just a simple animation welcoming the visitor. i feel that animation will ultimatly be improtant when i make my site as it sets the tone to the whole website.

I have enjoyed learning flash and hope to continue the tutorials and learn more about using buttons and ultimatly creating a fully functioning website.

Gant chart 9

This chart shows that the module is coming to the end.



Ball rooling animation

after completeing the animation section on the Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training tutorial i decided to give one of my own animations ago. this is a really simple attemped.

Parallax Scrolling Animation

As show on a earlier post in the blog (Working With motion tweens ) the animation show a girl riding a bike across the screen. There are other affect that can be used when animating like Parallax Scrolling, this is were the back ground move and foreground stays the same.

as you can see this has a different affect to the Working With motion tweens animation. as added extra i decided to add alpha and brightness affects to give the animation something extra. This is one of the problem with flash though, that when people learn flash they try and over complicate things and loose sight to whats important. so its key to know when to stop when using flash.

Flash animation alpha and brightness

The image below shows a screen shot of a animation that as certain affects added to it. this Image show the sun raising in the background, but by adding a alpha change to the motion tween the sun fades in and out as it raises and falls.

The next images show the same animation but this time it show that as the sun raises the buildings in the background get lighter as the sun raises and darker as the sun falls.

Gant chart 8

This chart shows that i have finished the buisness plan, but at the same time shows that i really need to concentrate if i was to get everything done.

Hand render xbox pad

I really enjoyed doing this render and i felt more connected than just using a mouse and computer. i wouldnt have been able to create this without watching the IDSKETCHING: Primitive Combinations 1 and DSKETCHING.COM:Primitives II tutorials.
 

IDSKETCHING.COM:Primitives II

IDSKETCHING.COM:Primitives II from Industrial Design Sketching on Vimeo.

this is a continuation from the IDSKETCHING: Primitive Combinations 1 video.

IDSKETCHING: Primitive Combinations 1

IDSKETCHING: Primitive Combinations 1 from Industrial Design Sketching on Vimeo.

This in a tutorial on highling and shadows using markers which i have to put into practice when rendering by hand.

Marker tips

IDSKETCHING.COM: Surface Finish from Industrial Design Sketching on Vimeo.

I decided to look at this video as i was thinking about trying the hand render a image using marks and ink and what ome tip.

Gant chart 7

gant chart update

Xbox pad end render attempt

using the same techniques as hair drayer render attempt 2 i attempted the xbxo pad again.

i didnt mind the render but i needed to keep working on my line weights.

hair drayer render attempt 2

After doing the Photoshop / sketchbook pro Quickness Tips tutorial i attempted to render the hari dryer again and had suprising outsome.

Photoshop / sketchbook pro Quickness Tips

IDSKETCHING.COM: Quickness Tips from Industrial Design Sketching on Vimeo.

This is another tutorial on idsketching.com. This video give some handy tip when skeching and rending using both sketch book for sketching and photoshop for rendering.

This is my sketch that did on sketchbook using the video as a guild underlay.

And this is the final outcome. the most useful tip i learn was that to use gradiants when highling some objects.

hair drayer render attempt 1

I was challnged by Tom and Adam (product designers) to render this hair dryer image using photoshop but by only using the mouse.

i decided to take up the challange and this is the outcome.

i found that it was more difficult to render on photoshop using the mouse than the graphic tablet. but was quite happy with the out come for a first attempt.

Gant chart 6

As you can see by this chart update i have made massive strides with adobe flash. the only problem with this is that learning flash is very time consuming.

Fine-Tuning Motion tweens

As you can see by the Working With motion tweens post the video is very ridgit in the way it moves. so my fine-tuning the motion tween we can give the animation a more flowing feel. (this was another tutorial on the Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training)

The out come to the fine-tuning

as you can see the girl follow the path more and rotates a little as she moves.

Working With motion tweens

Thhis post is a step by step images of my attemps and outcome of working with motion tweens on adobe flash using the Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training as a guild.

 

And the following is the outcome to this pratice.

Research Outcomes

These are links to my create interaction and lefejacket research, these two pages are the outcomes of my research methords and the analysis on the imformation that i have gatherd.

Streeful Nature

http://scottmeehan.blogspot.com/

Life Jacket

http://scottmeehan-lifejacket.blogspot.com/

Gant chart 5

This is a the furthur update if the gant chart. as you can soo by this image the profestional skill hasnt moved from the last chart update as the creative interaction module was due fro hand in and i decided to fully focus on that, although in doing this i did gain some valuable experance in gathering different scources of research.

Xbox pad 1st render attempt

The is a outcome of my first attempt to render the xbox pad sketch using a graphic tablet and photoshop. I was felt as a first attempt its not too bad but need to look into adding highlight to make the image more realistic. 

Frame by Fame animation

This viodeo is the outcome on a tutorial frame by frame animation on the Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training.

Carl Liu Sketch Tutorial

http://hiccer.pixnet.net/blog/post/9974106

This is a link to a blog which contains a section of Carl Liu's book. This particular post in one of his sketch and render tutorial which is a step by step and cover all the nessacry techniques to creat a good sketch page.

Time Charts

This link is to a useful page on the orginisation technique of Time Charts I i did look into doing a time chart but felt that i couldnt keep to a weekly planner as my timetable is always cahnging. but i could possibility use this in the future. 



Scan and Clean

Scan and Clean from jm745 on Vimeo

This is a video on how to clean your scanned in sketches, this is very useful as part of my learning agree ment i wanted to improve my digital sketching and rendering using photoshop and sketchbook pro.

Gant Chart 4

Progress report via gant chart

Types Of Research Methods

http://www.typesofresearchmethods.com/

This is a link to a artical about research methord avaliable, i found this page useful as it gave me idea where to look for my creative interact and the professional module.

Types of Research

This is a quick look over at the types of research are available.

—Types of Research

  Primary research

◦This collects data that does not already exist.

◦Survey, questionnaire, interview, observation. Secondary research

◦This looks at existing data.

◦It may be a summary, collation or synthesis of information.

Qualitative research

◦Looks at what humans behaviour and the reasons behind it.

◦What people do and why.

  Quantitative

◦Quantitative research systematic empirical investigation quantitative properties.

◦How many people do these things and how often.

Line Weights

IDSKETCHING.COM : Line Weights from Industrial Design Sketching on Vimeo.

A quick tutorial on line weights using a graphic tablet, i have been able to purchase a tablet but have never really used it and i didnt understand how much presure to apply to give stronger or weaker line. This tutorial helped me improve that skill.

This is my quick attemp andwas quite impressed with the outcome.

Gant Chart 3

Gant chart update.

Perspective

Perspective from jm745 on Vimeo.

This is a very quick tutorial on two point perspective drawing. Drawing in perspective is one of the main techniques in the product design tutorial and it give the sketch A sense on 3D and ultimately gives the drawing life.

this is my quick practice attempt

Sketching a box

box from jm745 on Vimeo.

Another tutorial on idsketching.com which i found usefull, althought its is very basic it can be applied to more complex shapes.

Xbox pad sketch



This is a quick sketch of me holding a joybad, I used a photograph as a underlay and then lightedly traced it then used that as a underly to try and tidy up the sketch. The use of underlay is a great technique in which product designers use quite often. 

Inspiring design Books

I have used many design when trying to improve my skills and some of which I was fortunate to be able to purchase. All the book below have their own way of helping with sketching development such as; tutorials, inspiration, information and more.

Sketching : Drawing techniques for Product designers

Koos Eissen and Roseline Steur

I consider this book to be the bible of product design sketching. It covers all areas in which a a product designer need to create initial sketch's to realist render.

 

Innovative Product Design Practice

Carl Liu

This is a book by Carl Liu a well-known Chinese industrial designer and currently works as a partner/design director of Idea Dao Design Shanghai. This is another great book with both inspiring design and excellent tutorials on both hand and digital sketching.

Analog Dreams

Micheal Ditullo

This is a sketch book from Micheal Ditullo. This book does not have any tutorials but is packed with inspirational sketches and ideas. Another plus side to this book it that it is filled with little tips and ideas in which could help your design process.

Gant Chart 2

As you can see by this image I have been mainly concetrating on the creative interaction module but have been able to loook into some to the research to progress my desired sills.

Core 77

http://www.core77.com/

Since 1995 Core77.com has served a devoted global audience of industrial designers ranging from students through seasoned professionals. Core77 publishes articles, discussion forums, an extensive event calendar, hosts portfolios, job listings, a database of design firms, schools, vendors and services. Core77 provides a gathering point for designers and enthusiasts alike by producing design competitions, lecture series, parties, and exhibits.

Core 77 is great networking website that i have use before on a numerous occations, I find the site to be very useful on all things product design.

Product Designers Flash Websites

The two links below are two leading product design companies that use flash to present their websites.

http://www.seymourpowell.com/

http://www.4dproducts.co.uk/

Tokyo Flash

http://www.tokyoflash.com/blog/2011/01/cool-sliding-concept-wrist-watch-design/

This is a link to a product designers website uses flash. I like the way the designers has used a flash animation to show how the product works. I could possibility use this technique in the future.

Effective Filing

http://www.timethoughts.com/timemanagement/effective-filing.htm

This looks at how effectiveness simple filing is. even the use of a cheap ring binder file and dividers act as effective sources of organisation.

Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training - explored

http://www.lynda.com/tutorial/59964

This is a link to the Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training page. This page shows a table of contents of the chapters and what they cover. although the tutorial covers everything you need to know about flash I am not going to use all the videos as i feel they are not necessary with my professional development.

Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training Introduction

Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training

This link is to a video from lynda.com on Flash Professional CS5. This video is just the introduction to what the series of videos will cover.

Adobe TV

http://tv.adobe.com/

Adobe TV is Adobe's online TV network, offering free training, inspiration, and information about the latest Adobe products & services. i found this site to be extremely helpful as it gave me the opportunity to download some templates with I could later use to complete some tutorials on Lynda.com

Gant Chart 1

This post shows the start of a gantt chart that i have made on Microsoft project to try improve my time management. As you can see I have add the creative interaction module to the gantt chart as it runs along with this module.

I decide to split the professional skill section up into different categories which each represent a important part of the module. these categories are; research, organisation, sketching / rendering, adobe flash, business plan and report. I will be updating these through the module on how far I think I have progressed.

Another section to the gantt chart is a two week break which covers the Christmas holiday.

Time Thoughts

http://timethoughts.com/

Time Thoughts are another Career resources website that share time management tips, techniques and strategies to get organized, increase your productivity, make better use of your time and achieve your goals.

Mind Tools

http://www.mindtools.com/

MindTools are a web-based company that aim to help people improve there career skills. MindTools teaches you the leadership, team management, problem-solving, personal productivity and team-working skills.

Page Hierarchy

http://www.idsketching.com/toolbox/quick-tip-page-hierarchy/

This page looks at sketch page orginisation and how sketch pages normally tell visual stories. The best way to tell a story is by organizing sketches in groups so that they are ranked by size, color, contrast, or position according to their importance. 

Levels of sketching

http://www.idsketching.com/toolbox/toolbox-levels-of-sketching/

This link highlight the different levels of sketching that that there are 5 main levels of sketching:

1. Personal Communication Sketches aka The Doodle
2. Thinking Sketch
3. Technical Sketch
4. Presentation Sketch
5. Emotive

The pages looks furthers into each of these levels giving examples and explaining what each one means.

Oxygen-Productions

http://www.oxygen-productions.com/projects

Oxygen Productions are a web-based company that combine centric design and technology to deliver award-winning web solutions. There solutions architects and interactive designers have been creating  web presentations, Internet applications, marketing campaigns and web sites for clients. I found this site very inspiring as they give some examples of their work and how they use flash to created striking presentations and websites.

Sketch Basics

http://www.idsketching.com/thesketchlab/sketch-basics/

Another link to the website idsketching, This page looks at the basics of sketching and how sketching is a visual language and that using different line thicknesses or weights brings important details to the "fore font".

Materials Guide

www.idsketching.com/thesketchlab/materials-guide

This link is to a material guide on idsketching. This page talks about the tools and materials that spence Nugent uses when sketching and rendering. Not only do i find this page informing but it also gives links to where he obtained his equipment which I find very useful as i have struggled in the past to find where to buy markers and pencils.

Sketching Websites



http://www.idsketching.com/ - idsketching is a free website created by Spencer Nugent, (designer for A*S*T*R*O) it is dedicated to sharing design sketching techniques and video tutorials from professional industrial designers. I will probably be using this website  alot as I find the content to be extremely useful when trying to improve my skills.

http://www.sketch-a-day.com/ - was created by Spencer Nugent, unlike idsketching this site was originally to be a personal project for self improvement as he felt his skills were slipping. After a while through he decided to make the project public to try inspire anyone interested in drawing to "Sketch, draw, scribble, or doodle whatever it is you feel like" to improve there own personal skills.

http://www.lineweights.com/ - Lineweight’s is a collaborative space dedicated to learning, creating and sharing through visual representation. The space was created to serve as motivation, inspiration and exploration through the means of sketching. “Sketching” is usually known as  a rapidly executed freehand drawing.

Lynda.com

Lynda.com is a online training library. They offer software and technique training courses for a number of disciplines: 3D, video, business, photography, web design, graphic design, and more. All the tutorials in which Lynda.com offer are produced by experienced tutors withing there respected fields.

www.lynda.com

"I decided to use Lynda.com to learn the essentials for Adobe Flash CS5 to help me reach my overall goal in creating a personal website.


Althought I recommend Lynda.com to anyone who wants to learn a new software or techniques it does have a drawback which is it does not fully available for free."

Learning Agreement

Area of Interest

Outline the skills and knowledge you wish to develop, and which will inform your project work during this module and the course of your MA.

·          Sketching/Rendering

·          Adobe Flash skills

·          Gathering Appropriate and relevant research

·          Time and Organisation management

Research Questions

Identify 2 or 3 key questions that will shape your approach to the acquisition of new skills and knowledge.

·          What defines a good sketch page?

·          Which features within Adobe Flash will be most beneficial?

·          What processes are there to organise time?

·          What types of research are available?

Method of Approach

How do you intend to explore processes and techniques that are of importance to you? Why have you decided on this particular approach? What skills are most relevant to develop? Consider the enterprise opportunities within your project work.

·          Tutorials within sketching

o    Books

§   Sketching, Drawing Techniques for Product Designers

§   Design Sketching

§   Innovative Product Design Practice

§   Beautiful Thing

§   Analog Dreams

o    Internet

§   IDsketching.com

§   Dailysketches.com

§   Linewieghts.com

§   Michaelditullo.com

·          Tutorials within Adobe Flash

o    tv.adobe.com

o    Lynda.com

o    Youtube.com

·          Tutorials and techniques on organisation and time management

o    MindTools.com

o    TimeThoughts.com

Outcome

What do you envisage to be the eventual outcome of your project? What form will your work take? Please itemise deliverables including research and development, report and project output.

·          Competition Brief

o    Life Jacket Brief - To encourage and solicit innovative ideas and new technology to design a life jacket that the majority of average boaters might wear.

·          Sketch

o    Competition development

o    Random sketch work

·          Website

o    The use of adobe flash to a create a working animation and possibly website containing portfolio and contact destails

·          Report

·          Action/Business Plan