Acquiring Competencies
Solving design problems includes the ability to create effective and successful solutions at an expert level. Having the competency to elevate a project using advanced technical skills is important when creating new and improved design solutions. As a designer, the basics of design applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are learned early-on, and are continued to be learned throughout athe designer's career. Just as design methods evolve, the applications to perform those methods evolve as well, enabling designers to become more efficient and creative. New applications and premier features in applications already known have been learned either through self-teachings, workshops, or online tutorials. Learning new design techniques and methods is a must when working within ever-changing technologies.
When establishing solutions to design problems, designers will sometimes revert to using “common” design applications during the design process instead of taking the opportunity to learn a new one. The opportunity to learn new applications, programs, and processes while completing various projects and creating expert-level design solutions was presented in the Media Design program. New competencies were developed through learning to use Apple Keynote and Adobe After Effects as means in creating successful resolutions to design projects. SurveyMonkey was used as a tool to gather information about the effectiveness of solutions created, providing pertinent feedback from the intended target audiences.
Apple Keynote
Adobe After Effects
Apple Keynote was used for the first time to create a brand identity pitch presentation for Rainy Day Toys. PowerPoint has always been used for visual presentations because it's more commonly known. As a Mac user, Apple Keynote is more compatible and easier to navigate. It has a clean, interface and puts important tools in the forefront. Apple Keynote is just as effective as PowerPoint in developing professional-level presentations.
The Rainy Day Toys brand identity pitch was created in Apple Keynote as a slideshow then exported as a narrated presentation video.
Developing motion graphics and videos is a desired skill to learn in elevating media design capabilities. Through the use of lynda.com and YouTube tutorials, creative solutions were produced using Adobe After Effects that either improved a existing project or provided a unique solution for a new one. The techniques learned helped meet required project critiques and show the advancing skill levels acquired during the design process.
The Rockin' for Sea Turtles logo was animated using Adobe After Effects. The conversion from a static image to an animation elevated the logo, enabling it to hold the viewers attention and increase awareness of the concert event.
Creating the promotional video for the Rockin' for Sea Turtles concert involved combining images, video clips, music, and text to inform viewers of the plight of sea turtles and persuade them to attend the benefit concert. The project objective was to create a cohesive video that successfully communicated a message and appealed to the target audience. This was achieved though the use of techniques in After Effects such as transitions and overlays.
Adobe After Effects was used to create a particle effect for the Rockin' for Sea Turtles logo.
Final animated logo design for the Rockin' for Sea Turtles concert event
Rockin' for Sea Turtles Animated Logo
Rainy Day Toys Brand Identity Pitch
The Rainy Day Toys brand identity pitch is composed of narrative content and visuals. Apple Keynote was used as a platform to build a presentation that would successfully persuade the client that the ideas presented are effective and would successfully market their brand to the target audience.
Rockin' for Sea Turtles Promotional Video
SurveyMonkey
The free online survey tool SurveyMonkey was used to develop a questionnaire to test the effectiveness of the design solutions created throughout the Media Design program. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions about projects of brand identity, logo design, website development, video production and re-branding. The responses helped gain insight into what solutions were successful in appealing to the target audiences while meeting project objectives, and what solutions could be further developed. The questionnaire is below.
The Rockin' for Sea Turtles promotional video was compiled in Adobe After Effects and exported as a 30 second video.