andrewfong

Idea blog.

2009-10-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Im not sure how I will animate the theme of hands, however the use of hands create a theme of my site is a strong one.

e.g.
-homepage...A "cluster" of hands reaching out of a smokey grimey enigmatic background (blurred out).
-links...Types of hands (grimey, well trimmed, neutral, made up..etc...) can represent different paths of the site.
-themes...each hand will have its contrast against a homeless themed background.. possibly..

The point is my skills in flash are very poor indeed. Although I may try n do some tutorials.

Open Hands

2009-09-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

2009-09-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks for that last comment. I think the homepage of hands in need is a really good idea. Images like this provides a good directing tool as the mouse cursoe would most probably be drawn to the hands and fingertips. From that the image could scroll to other parts of the body, hands being the main element. Hands reach out in need.

In class assessment

2009-09-22T18:14:00.001-07:00

Last week we did an in class assessment making a site from the range of images and screen shots provided in the "week 8 folder". I found the task simple, other than the fact I forgot how to create a disjointed roll over. My attempt was to wash over the original homepage screen shot with a noir like theme. The masking tool used to cut the flow out and then using an overlay to darken it to a cold blue. This was accompanied by several other elements such as adding sinistic rollovers such as a street light rolling over into a intense red light and an original word crossed out in red to spell the word "dark". I added the phantom image to act as the disjointed rollover as you scrolled over the word dark, however my skills failed to assist me.

Need in focus.

2009-09-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

A child in need? or a child that wants?

2009-09-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

This image of a child reaching out for help steers my thoughts away from what I want. Instead this image makes me think, what does he need? Does she actually need or does he just want?
Reflecting on this image creates a contemplation on what kind of person I am through the profiling of this child in "need".

Draft web art layout

2009-09-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

This is a draft layout I've been thinking about. It's mainly focusing on the content I want in the site. I havn't gone too deep into how I will animate my site.

People do not choose to be homeless.

2009-09-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

This is a powerful image showing how war tears apart families

and destroys homes. I wanted to explore alternatives to the

homeless in cities.
The image is raw and very confronting and brings up strong

feelings of grief, confusion and hate.

Post discussion feedback.

2009-09-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

I discussed my site as a educational/reflective destination. However after discussing it with other people I found it rather uninteractive. Comments were that I should make a more engaging site, possibly a space to post comments, or boxes that could be ticked. The boxes could indicate how much the visitor of the site have (in a material sense) and therefore give a rating or a score to how successful they are. Just like people judge on how little homeless people have.

As a student of architecture, I am quite a visual communicator. I want to use a lot of imagery and interaction (although i don't have a solid idea of how yet). The theme and sense of the site is to be dark, grimy and dirty. I want to develop a character of a homeless person. Either made up or an actual interview. The site visitor could may be drag items from the homeless persons "trolley" and into their "pocket" and see what the homeless person is left with...

2009-09-01T21:28:00.001-07:00

2009-09-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

Subjects that concern my website on identity and the homeless:

What makes people homeless?
What is their story?
How does society define a homeless (other than without a home)?
What kind of identities are formed through the juxtaposition of a homeless person and you?

2009-09-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

My concept of 'homlessness' emphasises on the fact that the comfortable lifestyles of the middle and upper class (may be even the lower class) are juxtaposed against the subject of a homeless person. I think the more fortunate reflect on the idea of someone having nothing, thus them having much more.
This forms an identity in which we find closure.
My subject, Donald Trump. A soaring businessman, and definately a wealthy man. In relation to my concept he could be the pinnacle opposite of the homeless. He sees himself as much more successful than others less fortunate than him, as if there is a clear hierarchy in society. It is a very material world.
My point is, money makes the man (or woman).

2009-08-26T04:36:00.001-07:00

Superbad.com seems quite a primitive site when it comes to animation. I think it relates to a skill level I am capable of.

In relation to the theme of the site, I like the rawness and curiosity the site conveys. Even though there is no reason to navigate there is an urge to continue to follow the links. My site will be focusing on homeless people and their history and as my reasoning for my concept is to do with my curiosity itself I think it relates to the intent of superbad.com.

I would like to take the grungy and raw character of superbad.com and use it to strengthen my homeless people theme. I think it is important to intensify the derelict motif as to get my point across.

The content of superbad.com is seemingly unrelated, other than the theme of urban digital “street art”. My site will focus on a more direct theme (homeless) and contain images and interactive media that portray this certain character.

collaborative class work...before.

2009-08-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

collaborative work in class.

2009-08-25T23:33:00.000-07:00

2009-08-25T07:51:00.001-07:00

“superbad.com” is quite a different form of web art/design than most. Web sites ,when artistically influenced usually have a purpose to direct the visitor to a desired located as well as being an art form. An example of this would be “tokyoplastic.com”. This site is quite interactive using a lot of flash animation and comical sounds. It has a unique theme to it as it builds the site a character of a technological future and ominous cartoon monsters. The site is dedicated to promoting “Tokyo Plastic” as a label that creates figurines, shirts and other novelties.

The superbad site is much less pristine than Tokyo plastic, and many other complex promotional sites. Superbad.com is raw and has an attitude to it. It is much more personal with stories about “a half man half monster that ate green gorillas”. Although the site has links that travel in loops and has no other purpose other than to cure boredom, it has a much more personal touch than a site like tokyoplastic.com.

2009-08-25T06:17:00.000-07:00

To distinguish between art and design is a delicate task. Art is a soulful expression produced through a medium, whereas design is more directional and for a purpose. This may seem like a simple dividing line between to two, however to a true designer transcend his or her personal ingenuity when. Such care and emotion is involved with the designing process with the end result being a pristine product. To create an artwork, much thought or purpose and process is put into the piece. There are certain ways to create a particular style of artwork, such as metal sculptures working with welding. Appropriate materials must be selected, calculations must be made to fit the members together and following this the technical process of joining. The creation of some artworks can gradually become a technical task.

The line between art and design continues to fade the further we diagnose the definition. Design as art or art as design. However in some cases the creation is weighted more to one side than the other. The site “superbad.com” leans more towards art. As you enter the site, there is no direction, no indicative persuasive element to lead the visitor onward. The site relies on the curiosity of the visitor to scroll the cursor over the screen and find a link. The second link is text about “back posture” and talks in first person creating a personal tone. This page projects a mischievous humour obliviously describing how to maintain a good posture, following this is a tiny link that you would only see from reading the above text, ‘superbad’. The site progresses aimlessly to other links displaying computer generated art constantly moving forward. The main element is curiosity and entertainment throughout the site.
The purpose and character of the site leads me to believe that it is more an artwork than a design, considering it has no linear programming and is fuelled by the uprise of curiosity and interaction.

An interesting site, a mischievous Identity.

2009-08-18T23:21:00.000-07:00

superbad.com

the creation of the homeless.

2009-08-18T04:21:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd look into some facts about homeless people and finding the root of their existence (not to claim they are an existence other than human).
Factors include:

relationship breakdown
lack of working skills
health problems/disabilities
lack of affordable housing
poverty

My research stresses that people would never choose to be homeless. However, they could become comfortable with their way of living. Not caring about the way they look, paying bills, having all the time in the world. Usually you would find people choosing to continue to be homeless to have assistance with some sort of charity and eventually falling into that lifestyle.

homeless in sydney.

2009-08-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

I decided to be more specific with the theme of my study of identity. Homeless in sydney. I think it is easier to understand why these people are homeless if they became so in the same city. They may as well have come out the wrong side of a major change in the city, a major change I may of experienced or atleast someone I know may have experienced.

In the image, the man has had his belongings stolen. He needs change to make phone calls to find possible work. This is the strong nature of identity. The stories posted on that brown corrugated cardboard. Why was this mans possessions stolen? It is about his identity.

Identity: Homeless.

2009-08-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

I would like to explore the identity of a homeless person. What was their history? What made them who they are?

The individuals state of living may of been a consequence of bad personal choices (alcohol and/or drug abuse, bad choices with investments, etc.) or the doing of an external force? An external force could be considered war, in which the victim (an "innocent" civilian) is either forced out of their homes or their homes being destroyed.

Not only is my interest in the subjects previous life, it is in the life they live currently as a homeless person. It is enticing to sift through such a character and learn their values, thoughts, goals and their everyday lifestyle.

Week 2: Web Art & Design

2009-08-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

This is post number 1 (first blog post ever). In Sydney Uni's Wilkinson Building, mac lab, room 269. We are going to brush over the topic of identity and then jump into dreamweaver. I dont know how to use dreamweaver.