Final Project

When we brainstormed ideas we had come up with three different ideas, a chart rating projects and terminology throughout the semester, a stroyboard, and a tag cloud. After mapping out iterations of the projects we agreed that the tag cloud would best represent and fulfill the project requirements. The tag cloud was the best way we could represent the information we wanted to include in the project.

In order to begin the tag cloud we had to figure out which terms, concepts, and projects we wanted to include. We chose the words based on what we understood as the most beneficial, useful, and informative during the semester. Color and size differentiate the importance and grouping of each word. For example dark green represents maps, maroon represents definitions, blue represents overall concepts, and lime green represents graphs. Each word was designed with a specific purpose behind it. For example, we agreed that Gestalt is one of the most important terms from the semester, therefore its size is the largest in the tag cloud. Additionally, each word is written in all capitals not only to make it visually appealing to the audience, but not to discriminate against any letters.

Once we made each word, we figured out appropriate placement. We used a coat hanger as the base of our construction. Two words were attached to the top of the coat hanger. Since our placement was already resolved it seemed like it would be easy to attach each word according to the plan. We used a hole puncher and string to connect the words, but in theory the plan was easier than in practice. Not every word fits exactly perfectly within each space. Some of the paper is curled because of where each hole meets on each word. While the tag cloud is not constructed to absolute perfection, our message is conveyed in a s successful manor. Covering the coat hanger is a picture of a cloud with the words "tag cloud". Included in the cloud image is a key which describe our color coded system. We are very happy with the outcome of the project, despite the minor speed bumps to get there.

Individual Reflection:

I was happy with how the tag cloud came out, being exactly how i pictured it in my head. However there were some difficulties that i did not anticipate. Tag cloud function on the size of the words in order to illustrate importance. The issue ended up being that larger words based solely on the number of letters started to appear more important than we felt they actually were. So we had to go back and write really small with some of the larger words. Choosing which words were the most important was also a challenging process.

This was the first year that I really took notice of all the black friday deals. So I thought it would be interesting to research the best deals of 2010 and compare them to the normal listed price. Then I wanted to see what stores opened up the earliest, because I have a tendency to go to stores when they open up early for new interesting products. I did not realize it until I did the visual how great the deals were for the new LED flat screens. The issue I ran into was with the store hours column graph. I wanted to list the actual times, but when I put 12:00 am, Old Navy appeared as the largest column instead of the smallest. Excel read it more as 12 pm rather than 12 am.

storyboard

Unable to post pictures horizontally, even after editing them with preview.


used scene to scene for all.

Bar Graph

Working with excel was a challenge to say the least. I know making a graph on excel is a simple task, I found the task of adjusting a stacked column graph to be extremely painful. Is it possible to make a stack column graph so the two variables on top of each-other instead of stacked on top of one another? For instance say a single in Dorm A costs 200 and a double costs 100. I wanted a graph to show a bar half red and half blue but together only reaching 200. What the stacked graph did would do is add the 200 and 100 so the bar totaled to 300. I couldn't find a way around this, so i settled with a multivariable column graph.

Flow Chart

I tried to make both flow charts vertical, and tried to avoid duplicating boxes as much as possible. I also tried to make it simple, but yet give enough information to get the job done. I know its wrong to assume, but when I say "open browser and go to amazon.com" I expect that to not be the challenge. Since the person did not ask how to work their browser but instead how to navigate amazon.com.

Aunt Jemima Pancake Box

The original back of the Aunt Jemima box organizes the basic information in a way that makes the viewer take longer to process, even if its just mare seconds. The reason being that the original box has images of the ingredients aligned next to the steps. So naturally the viewer looks at the images expecting them to explain the steps, but really there is no connection to be found. I tried to fix this by putting the ingredients at the very top. Then below them are pictures of the steps, and directly alligned with the steps are bullet version of the instructions. The instructions on the back of the pancake box are very wordy. The back of the Aunt Jemima box also goes from making pancakes to making waffles and back to making pancakes. To fix this I decided to move the waffle information to the very bottom.

I tried to make this in a linear format using arrows as the main direction key. At the top I listed all the items needed to complete the dinner. Each item also has a corresponding number to help identify the item within the instructions. I used clouds to help identify more specific directions such as waiting to water boils prior to putting pasta in.

The way I tried to symbolize temperature of the stove top was through colors. For one of the dials I had it turned all the way to red, to illustrate a high flame.

I finished with a checkered flag and fireworks to help signify completion.

Lawn Care Graphic

The Lawn Care Graphic was the hardest graphic for me to visualize in my head. When I started the graphic I knew that I wanted it to be as simple as possible, but I had no idea how to achieve simplicity. I did not want to have to draw a million pests, or million rain clouds, so I decided that a matrix would be able to achieve this the best. However I came across a problem where I had to many elements for a simple matrix. So I made a box in the center of the matrix to signify pests, I then used a key in the top right to help illustrate the connection. I knew all along that I would have to figure out how to illustrate healthy grass, so I googled universal symbols for health, and the blue winged serpent symbol was the most widely used. Using symbols I was able to achieve that healthy grass was supposed to be left alone.

collage

I only received a couple of comments but from the comments I received I found that the viewers and I had found similar patterns.

Patterns I found:

- All my images/ words were cut, there were no full pages.

-I randomly placed the words, however the "find yourself text makes sense on top of the picture of multiple faces.

-Sense of depth with the envelope, Almost appears as if the red & white paper is stuck in the envelope.

-Rather random, I just grabbed any images that sparked interest and placed them. If their is any connection between the images than it had to of been a subconscious decision.

Viewers take:

-That I used a lot of overlapping. I found this comment interesting because i thought overlapping was a necessity for collages. However I was wrong.

-I left a decent amount of white space. I sort of realized this when I was making the collage. My first goal was to make a background and put all the text and images on top of it. However due to time constraints that was not possible. This comment also made me think about the possibility that I wanted all the text and images to not be obscured. I did not make a clump or mass of overlapping images.

-U - shaped: I personally never stood back and looked at the shape all the images combined made. However I found it interesting when one person commented on the collage making a U shape.

I found the entire process interesting, because you really did not have time to think. You just did. Reflecting back on my collage I wonder about the decisions I made and why I made them at the time. For instance, why did I put a dog on that man's head?

Concept Map

Concept Map: During class my group chose the topic woodstock, so I decided for my map that I would narrow down that topic to the Greatful Dead and see what similarities I saw between the two. I am not a big fan of "Grateful" Dead, as one can notice by the fact that Im just realizing now I Misspelled their name on the map. I thought it would be interesting to do a concept map for the band to see how much knowledge I had on the subject. After completion my friend who's a dead fan agreed with most of my opinions.

When I first started I had difficulty thinking of connecting words. The problem I had was that I attempted to think of connecter words prior to having the words that actually needed the connecting. So what I ended up doing was thinking of all the words that came to mind when I thought of Grateful Dead, than worry about connecting them. The process became much easier once I was left with line and empty spaces, the transition words came quickly.

Mind Map

When I set out to make this mind map I was still a bit confused on how exactly to approach it. I decided to take it in steps and the project unfold itself. I was worried I would not be able to think of a topic however thankfully I noticed how one of my friends was absorbed by his phone for a good 20 minutes texting. I began to think about texting and its purpose in our society, I wanted to weigh the pros and cons and figure out my true feelings about texting. It did not take long before my true feelings revealed themselves, almost all the words stemming off my central topic were negative. The first issue I ran into was writing down words that popped into my mind even though they had no apparent relevance. For instance some of the words towards the end were; google, Sigourney Weaver, France, and Donuts. All of which had nothing to do with "texting" or solving my original problem. It was not until later after I decided chose to narrow my mind map to "texting Alienation" that I was able to actually see the benefit of a mind map.

It was during the 2nd mind map that I had my first AHA! moment, I realized that every word I came up with was a logical result of Texting Alienation. I would of never been able to connect these words originally to my central topic without actually doing the mind map. It was actually kind of cool to realize that I always connected these words to texting and without the mind map would of never realized my true feelings. Unlike the first mind map the second one was amazingly more difficult to doodle for. I found myself unable to think of doodle for the majority of words. I also found that I had a greater abundance of words with my first map, the 2nd map however smaller contained words that actually made perfect sense to me.

I learned that texting is convenient to society and skips over what some would say are the unnecessary parts of communication. However I think that texting when in front of others can have its consequences. I often find myself texting when with friends and completely miss their entire conversation. Or they will ask me a question I will have no idea what they asked. I was at dinner the other night with my family and everyone was texting at the table, When i realized this i put my phone down and called everyone out for it. Seems like cell phones are making life more convenient but at the cost of losing one's appreciation for their surroundings. I also find that texting has its own culture. If you don't respond to a text in a certain amount of time people begin to wonder why. I remember I was texting this girl i was interested in and one of my friends was telling me how it would actually make me look better if I intentionally waited longer to respond. Even though I already new what I wanted to say I intentionally waited, making it appear I was more busy than I actually was. I also have found that text have to be between a certain length unless your telling a lengthy story. One of the major positives about texting however is the ability to find out quick answers from a more knowledgeable person, or if you forgot something from the past and a friend can remind you. You almost need a real good reason or immediate reason to call someone today, texting is just less intrusive.

p.s sorry for the doodle of the non responsive person... someone somehow convinced me it would be a good doodle.