Assignment Brief – Project 1: Digital Concept
You are to propose, research and communicate a digital media concept to help people in the real world. The output of which is to take the form of an R&D File and Crowdfunding Pitch. You will work as individuals on this project but there will be group activities to help you practice communicating and refining your concepts.
Approach
By completing the required task set at the end of Semester A, you already have a small body of initial research into potential areas where a digital product might make a difference in the real world.
There will be group discussions in the first workshop where you each present all 9 of your responses. After feedback from the group and further consideration, you will select a theme to focus on.
The theme you select is intended to provide you with a starting point from which to further investigate issues or concepts that arise from initial research. This will provide a framework in which to bring further theoretical research into your creative practice. It is important to realise that the theme is only a starting point on which to base your projects’ research and development, and that the final pitch should be an original and creative piece of work whose origins are informed by this theme.
Once your research is substantial enough for solid ideas to have arisen you should then consider which tools, techniques and output platform(s) would be best suited to realise your goal for this brief – to communicate the issue and how your response will either solve or help toward “fixing” it.
You will also need to identify, consider and engage the target audience to ensure what you are proposing is appropriate and meets the needs identified during your initial research.
Process
You will be required to complete a Project Proposal during your workshop in Week 2 (19), solidifying
your ideas, but still retaining room for further development. This is not formally assessed but it will help you develop a consistent approach and keep you focused. It will also act as something you can reflect on when evaluating the success of your project and will feature in your R&D File – more soon on this.
Further research and development will then be recorded in a Project Blog that you must set up and establish straight away.
The content of your blog will help form an R&D File (in PDF format between 10 – 12 pages @ A4) which is to be submitted via Blackboard at the beginning of Week 7 (24) . This R&D File is to also include a Personal Reflection (500 words) and a Critical Evaluation (500 words) . Details of how to approach writing these will be discussed during forthcoming learning activities.
You will be expected to come up with a brand name and sense of visual style appropriate to the target audience and the concept/subject itself . This will be reflected in the design of your R&D File which should be visually engaging.
To communicate your project to the public and wider media industry, you are are also to create a Crowdfunding Pitch . This is going to take the form of an Adobe Spark Page and is also to be submitted via Blackboard at the beginning of Week 7 (24) . It will include an overview of the problem, the potential solution and details of your proposed output (product, service, campaign, etc.).
A core component of your Crowdfunding Pitch is going to be a Concept Visualisation based on your response. This is to reinforce the communication of your project concept and help “sell” it. It can either depict the problem (based on your research), the solution (your concept output) or both.
Examples of how a concept can be visualised include:
- ● Animatic/portion of animation/trailer (film, animated, Adobe Spark Video, etc.)
- ● Functioning or interactive prototype(s)
- ● Visual mockups (designs, contextual explanation/promotion, etc.)
- ● Blueprints/plans/illustrations of installation/space or physical object(s)
The Concept Visualisation will be embedded/added to your Crowdfunding Pitch. Its content/duration, as appropriate, should be agreed with your workshop tutor in all cases by the end of Week 3 (20).
Grading Criteria
Your response to this brief will be assessed against the following criteria:
- ● Originality of Concept & Potential for Impact
- ● Quality & Development of Research
- ● Quality & Creativity of Concept Visualisation
- ● Presentation, Accuracy and Communication
- ● Ability to Reflect and Critically Evaluate
What to Submit
1. A link to your Crowdfunding Pitch (Spark Page) which features your Concept Visualisation(s) 2. R&D FIle (PDF) including: cover, Project Proposal, 500 word Personal Reflection and 500 wordCritical Evaluation