Da Timci

Website Critique

2011-02-21T06:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.chinese-soul.com/

Cool animated site based around a countour-line drawing style. It's not all that interactive, but in the bottom left corner is a really interesting form of persistant, yet evolving navigation. At any point in the animation you're able to click the button in the bottom right of the screen and it cuts away from the current animation and branches to the menu. It's not too informative, but it most likely took a good chunk of work (and masking!)

http://www.google.com/chromeos/demolab/

Funny website based around google chrome. The whole idea is that they need your help finding new ways to destroy computers and see if a new one can still pull up the workspace. It's some sort of intelligent command-based video feed. Here's an example:

Lab Tech: your idea for the next destruction?
me: explosion
Lab Tech: perf
Lab Tech: one explosion
Lab Tech: coming right up
Lab Tech: ka-boooooom!

Good integration of interactive immersion and video.

Website Critique

2011-02-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/balltalk/

Cool basketball site with an intro screen resembling tickets as options. Interesting to see how websites are evolving, as more and more have 3-D, video, and 2-D design. It's got a cool "choose-your-own" adventure feel, which makes the user interact with the video. I don't care about basketball, but it feels a bit more personal than just watching TV. My only issue with the navigation is that the bottom seems hidden when it's a really big aspect of the site. I'm surprised Nike didn't push harder to place their brand all over the site.

http://www.toyotapriusprojects.com/

Very contemporary website highlighting Toyota's projects. Sort of reminds me of a less-thought out Good infograph. The best part is the video for no. 6, really creative. Largest problem with the site is that it doesn't feel very interactive. It's a bunch of information that I feel like I'm seeing from far away, rather than being within it.

Website Critiques

2011-02-07T05:45:00.000-08:00

http://www.nissan.co.uk/#vehicles/crossovers/juke/experience/presentation

Decent car website, mixing video and buttons. Interesting having the roll-overs play a video feed, but I'm not sure how convincing it is. Each car has it's own page, which is fairly clean. Main problem is the first page is a survey, something I'd rather not look at. Overall, it's nothing innovative and sticks to most conventions safely.

http://www.attraction-lemanga.fr/site/index.php

Cool loading "crystal," but there are almost too many options at the beginning of the site. It's more animation heavy, pretty much a movie rather than a site. It's unclear in what it's intention is, but it is interactive enough to keep the viewer interested. Most likely specific to a very niche target market.

Website Critique 2

2011-01-30T19:08:00.000-08:00

http://www.monet2010.com/

Stunningly beautiful site, my jaw was dropped the moment I got past the typographically rich loading system. The perfect meeting point between gestural painting and sleek modernity. The ability to merge Monet's color pallets to the black and white system couldn't work better. I dig the type choices, and the website is pretty straight forward.

My main complaint is in the "journey," where we are required to perform some gimmicky performances to view paintings. It's not very intuitive, nor is it particularly enjoyable.

http://www.diesel.com/freshandbright/

A novelty site for a Diesel product. Some interesting juxtoposition between video/photo and a cartoon-like style. Art direction works pretty well, but it's annoying that a new tab opens when you click many of the buttons. Some pretty funny concepts, but there's little depth and merely surface thought. No reason to come back, but I suppose they just want you to laugh and pull out the credit card. There are options to send it to your friends, but I don't see the incentive. No "rewards"

Website critiques

2011-01-23T19:06:00.001-08:00

http://www.levislaundry.com.hk/

Interesting website from levi's in Hong Kong. It's music-driven, and focused around a little set. Personally, I think it's a little hard to understand, and even though it's from a different culture it should still be intuitive and easy to navigate. Everything is flickering, and I suppose it's an interesting balance of noise. The website isn't intended to keep people visiting for long, as it's more of a novelty. The integration of video and animation is actually pretty cool. It's a little difficult to understand what the main point of the site is, and what they're really trying to get across.

http://ecodazoo.com/

Wow, this site is amazing. It connects with it's target audience, educates through a very unique medium (using traditional pop-up and illustrations in a 3-D rendered world). Some strong forced connections, as the characters are animals representing the things they are teaching (light conservation is an angler fish, bag recycling is a kangaroo

An amazing perseption of depth, and the fact that you can scroll up, down and around the scene creates a very interactive learning enviornment. Without this sense of interaction, people get bored and don't feel like they're learning- this is the future of education. No longer would kids be day-dreaming in their desks, as they are launched into an interesting world that they could speak about and return to without dread.

My only issue is that there's no sense of reward, and there's a large opportunity to educate further, rather than simply reinforcing ideas we hear daily. As such, it's a little less memorable. Cool art direction none-the less.

Semester troubles

2010-12-13T06:55:00.001-08:00

For the last blog, I've been requested to post a summary of main issues I've encountered over the semester.

First, I think it's extremely important that everyone gets a place-holder voice as soon as the project is started. You don't need to do anything fancy, just record yourself in the way your actor will present the text and you'll avoid A TON of revisions a few weeks into the project.

When it comes to drawings, pen is much, much more forgiving than pencil. I wasted an entire week of work and drawing because of the grainy aspects of pencil. Made me want to rip my hair out!

Your storyboard shouldn't be 5x as long as the rest of the class, as the animation is much easier said than done.

File management is extremely important, and I regret not taking account for this earlier because you end up with exponentially more files than any other process of design I've worked with.

Transitions are the stitching of animation, without them your work will fall apart at the seam and be very unappealing. This is mostly important because many students felt it was alright to leave transitions until they actually animated and found themselves SOL.

Accept evolution, the finished result is usually unlike anything you started with.

Staring at a computer screen for so long gave me pretty bad headaches (especially when masking frame by frame)...not sure what you can do about that, but it makes it hard to work on other homework.

Unlike most, I never had too many issues rendering.

Video Critique 14

2010-12-13T06:54:00.000-08:00

http://vimeo.com/16153664

Cool after effects project of simple forms and vectors. Lots of stroke effects, and apparently a usage of “shine and form?” Not sure what the is, but the pacing suffers from the fact that it’s merely a study. It leaves me wondering why he didn’t try to piece together a concept instead of just making things look cool. There’s a consistent usage of natural things in a vector setting (leaves, fish, birds, strokes), but it doesn’t really say anything.

Hierarchy and scale works well, he’s obviously got a keen eye for composition. Music isn’t too exciting, but it works alright with the pacing of the piece. Some transitions leave my mouth a little dry and I find myself bored after a couple of views.

In summary, it’s pretty, but not much more.

Video Critique 13

2010-12-13T06:51:00.001-08:00

http://lookslikegooddesign.com/animation-we-are-seventeen/

Cool combination of Vector and 3-d graphics. A surreal piece, but the 3-D and 2-d comes together in a beautiful harmony. The colors are great, and though I have no idea what the concept is, it’s lovely. The music moves along with it stellarly, and I find it almost essential to the pacing and feel. Hierarchy is great, the classical type moves along very waell with the music. I also love how it’s arranged in chapters, yet the transitions don’t seem wasteful, yet classy.

A great project that showcases both execution and creativity, with many elements coming together to form a truly abstract video. My largest complaint is that some things are pushed to be a little too shiny- as if they got overly excited with the lights, everything looks glossy. The textures are beautiful however. Great juxtapositions between timeless and contemporary styles. I also enjoy the inclusion of real footage (the arm).

Video Critique 12

2010-12-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

http://lookslikegooddesign.com/meet-buck-teamcerf/

Funny animation, though it's definetly created with some 3-D rendering software. Must have taken a really long time to render! Character and set illustration is very painterly, but with a contemporary digital and vector feel. Some nice texture going on as well, and I'm curious to learn how they set up lights. Music creates an excellent sense of pacing. Type color and hierarchy works fine in credits, and is seamlessly integrated as signage throughout the animation.

Conceptually it was a little lacking for me, specifically the end. There was one forced connection in the tunnel, but that's about as creative as it got. More of an execution project than concept.

Shatter Tutorial

2010-12-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

Sprite Study Tutorial

2010-12-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.vimeo.com/14861124

Really cool kit for a study of sprites. It's a pretty open tutorial so you can play with it as much as you want to.

Wiggle Tutorial

2010-12-12T21:23:00.000-08:00

Learned this for my signs, obviously this is a bit more extreme

2010-11-29T06:08:00.000-08:00

Counter Tutorial

2010-11-22T04:11:00.000-08:00

Counter Tutorial

2010-11-17T06:05:00.000-08:00

Critique 10/8

2010-11-08T06:04:00.000-08:00

http://lookslikegooddesign.com/animation-johannes-timpernagel/

The animation in critique today has a very geometric, tranced out aesthetic. The pacing is fast, and matches the music well. Some of the secondary elements are a little rushed, but since they are only on the screen for split seconds at a time, it works fairly well. The colors are cohesive, and lends itself to the feel of burning out. This could very well be the result of not enough sleep and too much coffee.

I'm curious as to the storyboarding process, since it's extremely sporadic. Did they just make a bunch of geometrical designs and flash them at random? If you aren't a large fan of the music, it could be considered a little long since there isn't much of a concept behind it. Since I'm unaware of the culture behind this aesthetic, it's hard to criticize the style.

Transitions are choppy, but that's intentional (seems easier!). There is little evolution throughout the video, and this is kind of bothersome to me. Not much of an idea driven project, so much as an act of execution.

Video review

2010-11-01T02:11:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/4248858

This video is fairly impressive due to the fact it was created in 2 days. I'm assuming he didn't sleep much, and rendered it on a nice computer! It's a decent blend between type and live video, though it doesn't really deliver the message very emotionally.

I wonder why they chose the actor, or if it's just the person that created the whole project. He doesn't bear much significance, but then again, who would be a stronger candidate?

The type is scattered, and while I think the slab serifs work, archer is kind of an odd choice (funny, since everyone acts as if it works on everything!). You can't read it half the time, and though that's probably the point, there are certain words that evoke different emotions than they're supposed to. Corruption looks funny, not scary.

His answers to his questions are more questions (that don't have concrete answers either). The pacing works, but since the writing falls short it really doesn't have the impact it could.

Though it looks fairly decent for being made in 2 days, the writing, type choices/alignments have obviously not gone through a process

Critique 10/10/10

2010-10-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/3514904

The animation in critique is a reinterpretation of the little red riding hood. It carries a strong infographic vibe, as the tale is modernized. The style is fairly consistent, and the music creates a pretty consistent pacing.

It’s extremely creative, and really pushes the story to the fringes of information. Hierarchy is fairly strong throughout the infographics, but I would pick stronger type options. Though the music creates pacing, it drags on for a little long, and makes the movie feel longer than it should.

My favorite portion is the middle, as things are changing the most and the creativity is happening at a faster pace. The styles are somewhat conflicting, as there will be really smooth animations, and then characters that look as if they’ve been drawn in MS paint. Some transitions weren’t thought out well, because most things fade out as new things fade in. Color worked fairly well, and it’s an enjoyable watch.

Scene1

2010-10-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Hand-drawn animation

2010-09-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V36LpPkwJ7I

In an effort to understand the mechanics of hand drawn animation, I’ve chosen the linked video for critique.

Stylistically, it pays great attention to detail (such as perspective, value, and shape). Pacing works well in the manner that it’s a fluent story. Voice acting is pretty good, certain characters could have more fitting roles. He ties computer graphics well with his hand-drawn style (such as the bottles, Capri-sun, computer screens). Some of the animation doesn’t transition smoothly, but it doesn’t hinder the concept or the execution. It only really bothers me when there are overseen details that correlate to function, such as stationary tires on a moving car. If you scroll through the animation while it’s paused, you see certain shapes overlapping when they aren’t supposed to. As stated earlier, this isn’t that bothersome since it’s got a hand-drawn feel. Certain mistakes actually serve to add to the aesthetic.

Whilst in movement, this isn’t a concern, so I take it for a grain of salt. Certain design elements, such as repetition/proximity, are employed well when creating concepts such as speed or mundane tones. Value is handled well since it’s done in greyscale.

The animator does a great job attaching emotion to the main charactor, generally done in the facial features. I’m assuming things like pupils, opacity faded clouds and camera-zooms were done in after-effects, or a program similar.

Critique 9/24

2010-09-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

http://lookslikegooddesign.com/telephoneme-motion-mk12/

The video in critique is a long, well composed video. Stylisticly, it's amazing how well the 3-D rendering, audio and 2-D design relate. The introduction starts fast and grabs the attention of the viewer by using something common (the count-down) but introducing new elements for your focus. Sound modulation works well as the video is distorted itself. They added shadows really help pop the images as well.

Moving from 3-D to photo, we're put into 2-D design again. The transperency and colors work great, serving their purpose to overwhelm the viewer. The linework really moves the viewer's eye along with the camera as well. The typography is simple, but matches the retro vibe of the entire composition. My concern is that they pick peculiar words at times. The way sound modulates the typography is really interesting though.

Towards the two minute mark, the video begins to fall apart conceptually. This may have been done on purpose, but I feel it's too much for too long. They begin overlapping 3-d on top of photography, while simultaneously bringing on the colors that were originally attention grabbing. This works simliarly to yelling at someone for their attention, then screaming the entire conversation.

Overall, the video is strong, but goes on too long. There are so many elements your mind gets exhausted attempting to break it down, so the pacing is racing the entire video. Hierarchy is respected and broken with knowledge.

Excercise 1

2010-09-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

Labarynth Chase Critique

2010-09-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

http://lookslikegooddesign.com/animation-marcel-ziul/

This video is one depicting a chase, though my biggest fault is that it doesn't provide any real curiosity as the the intent of the storyboard. Why is the chase happening, why is there no real start or end, only a snippet of the middle? Conceptually, it is lacking and appears to be more of a project along the lines of reaching a certain stylistic aesthetic.

A very nice, drawn style, marrying that of old graphic novels with a contemporary feel. Stylisticly, the whole composition works well.

Hierarchy proves strong, working well on the Z axis through many overlaps. Typographically, it's simple, but there is little fault concerning scale of the communicated portions.

The construction of the typography is nice, paced well and consistently with it's flickering.

Pacing is fairly well, but as it is a chase I feel like there could be more energy. Most importantly, the cars don't look completely fluid in their turns or movement. This is an aspect of detail that would really bring the entire piece to a new level, as the cars attempt to strike realism otherwise.

"Labarynth Chase" is a bit obvious of a title, too see and say. Craft is handled pretty well, it's clean and functions well, certain mechanical/physical details aside.

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."

2009-07-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

20th birthday was possibly the best of my life
Bonnaroo was an awesome experience
I love every one of my friends, and I wish everyone was blessed enough to meet them
Lord of the Rings rules.
Yes, I am a complete bum and i feel very guilty about it.

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo." is a grammatically correct sentence used as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated constructs.
12" x 15"

inspired by Jordan Buckley, insanity, and good tattoos.

Out of all my lines and hours, my least favorite is the super bold ugly Hancock

A

2009-05-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

Thirteen ways of looking at nonsense

2009-04-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Above my clouded thoughts, the sun attempts to smile.
A dancing breeze serves to quench,
(see Egyptians; Nile)
as I sit along this wooden bench
-waiting for love to find me.

See, I'm a big man now, growing taller by the day,
and I can't fall victim to lonesome's say.
I shoo the birds, chirping away,
can't they see I'm waiting today?

A girl, fine and pretty, sits down beside me,
praising the sunfilled day.
Shoo I say, and she too chirps away
Can't she see I'm waiting for love today?
shoo, I cry, shoo, go away!

Above my weathered thoughts, the moon attempts to hope
a rain of daggers serve to drench,
(see Juliet; elope)
as I sit along this rotten bench
-waiting for love to find me.

See, I'm an old man now, breaths shorter every day,
and I've fallen victim to my own dismay,
I shoo the leaves, withering away,
can't they see I'm waiting today?

A woman, fine and pretty, sits down beside me,
praising the beauty of storms today,
Shoo I say, and she too withers away
Can't she see I'm waiting for love today?
Shoo, I weep, shoo, go away!

(King is an hour glass of blood. xxtreme.)

Title is in regard of thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird by Wallace Stevens, of which I highly suggest if you're bored and have some pennies of thought to spare.

Life has been hectic in the past few weeks to say the least, and I'm currently trying to balance life, school, and some hobbies. I could write a thousand meaningful words right now, and still not make a point. That's what I'm trying to fix.

You know when you listen to a song, a movie, or just anybody and it strikes you as oddly personal? Those times somebody next to you is talking to their friend but it feels as if they were talking to you? I was driving to school about two weeks ago, listening to the radio, and a guy was talking about how his dad had asked him "so what did you do for yourself today?" when he was focused more on work than living.

That same day, a girl in my English class came to class in her torn canvas shoes. I asked her where she had been last class, and she said it had been too nice of a day to sit inside. So what did she do? Stood outside and blew bubbles.

Yesterday was a perfect day so I skipped school to climb trees. The fact I found the best climbing tree I've seen in a long time coupled with the muddy grin of Spartacus made every second of not sitting on a computer worth it.

Ever since, I have asked myself the same question before I've gone to bed. It's not a selfish question, you need that sort of mental comfort to spread joy into everybody else's life. This is my new mission, going to bed with at least one clear moment of a blissfully personal moment. Whether you do this by helping a stranger, skipping a class to blow bubbles, or climbing trees, it doesn't matter. Life's short, take every second by the horns and gallop to the end, possibly attempting to not structure expressions as lame as that one. What I'm trying to ask is, what have you done for yourself today?

A princess young, and a queen old. My 80 dollar digital camera can't really illustrate color too well, but I suppose it's the gist of it. I could list a bunch of excuses as to how it came out and why its slightly unfinished, but that wouldn't get me further than a three legged horse on a zip line.

You're correct, that made no sense.

A homework assignment that was difficult, but fun nonetheless. We had to do all uppercase, and Fraktur is a germanic display font. So instead of the letters looking like the raktur they were all on "ye olde acid"

What's the difference between the walkers and the sleepers?

2009-03-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today I sat amongst a crowd of 300, and I realized I didn't actually have anybody to sit next to. I thought it was kind of funny in an ironic sort of way. So in turn, I went home and read, cherishing the fact everyone of those 300 people lived in their own ridiculous head just as I.

Here is what I have been working on the past few weeks, as I get closer and closer to selling out my art

First typography assignment- create a monogram using a set font (Arrighi) and your initials.

2nd assignment- figure/ground.

3rd assignment- Made words out of random marks and stamps

Here is a sketch for Christy's dad who wanted a tattoo, it's not a final product by any means, just the beginning of an idea.

SO! That is all that is going on in my life, I'm working my ass off on this next type assignment and I'm excited with the results. Also drawing something original and unprescribed!

Everybody have a great spring break, and if you don't have a break look at the clouds for a moment and find their secrets.

I send this message with the swiftest of my platipi

2009-03-12T11:55:00.001-07:00

Copied and Pasted from my facebook note, this is for those of you that still haven't convert to facebookies.

Dear reader, this is my wall. (skip to the bottom if you are antsy for my request)

It is bare, it is empty, and it is very sad. The only thing that this wall stands for day and night are two beautiful canvases of appreciation and acknowledgment.

This painting was stolen from the Dallas Museum of Art. As you can see, Christy Camp is a fine example of the impressionist era. Painting the essence of each being, with thick paint strokes and exemplary understanding of color habits.

Here stands two pandas, proud, a painting by Alexis Carey. I recieved this 3 or 4 years ago, after many a travel and many an acquaintance. There was already a nail in the wall when I moved in, and thus it stands proudly at the top of the room.

My wall stands tall as a luscious tree, and these fruit are forever ripe, never to fall. Alas, here comes my task to you. I wish to improve my skills at watercolors, and the only way to do so is through practice. Here is my first painting -

It was a project I had in November, and of course I started the watercolors the night before it was due (the outline was done earlier). Bad idea, i painted for like 10 hours and I had no idea what I was doing. Anyway, here is what I ask of all of you!

Purchase a small canvas and some cheap acrylic or oil paints, and let the creative horn of the narwhal within your head bloom forth! Paint a mountain, paint a pufferfish popsicle, paint whatever! Just have a good time! There are no limits, glue the head of a reindeer onto it if you feel it necessary! All I ask is you put in a little effort and have some fun.

Next time you find yourself sitting in front of the tv, turn it off and paint! In exchange for your small painting, I will paint you something too! 40 years from now I will have your painting on a wall, and your spirit will reside in my home no matter where in the world you are, never to be forgotten. I need to fill this wall, and you need to help me!

Think of them as large, creative pokemon cards. We can trade and you will rarely be disappointed. This is exclusive to nobody, so tell all your friends and have a painting party!

The only rule- no stick figures.

P.S. I had to make like 309284 notes because of a tag limit, if anyone has any suggestions on a better way to massively send this I'd love you. Sorry if I tagged you 543u times or not at all because I thought I already had.