2D ANIMATION

Live Drawing

In this task the students were required to make a live drawing of each other. First they all took turns and posed whiles their fellow students drew their poses. This exercise was timed. After, the students were required to draw using some specific number of lines to sketch portraits of themselves by facing each other. They had to use these lines to show important features such as the lips and hair of the person they drew. After,they were giving the chance to sketch with no specific number of lines the portraits of themselves under a short and specific time frame.

Movement Drawing

In this task students were required to sketch the movement made by a particular character before them. This was a timed task, so speed had to be applied to the sketches. This implies that the student had to pay more attention to the movements made by the character rather than the character itself.

Fast Character Sketching

In this task we were made to sketch our selves using only a few lines. This task was not for the student to make an accurate sketch, but instead to use only a few lines to bring out important or relevant information about the particular character put before them.

Advantages

This task has so many advantages, these are listed below.

i. Because the sketches are timed it helps the student learn how to draw faster.
ii. The number of lines giving especially the fewer they are teaches students how to draw taking into consideration what really matters and what doesn't.
iii. The student learns how to draw different poses without hesitation
iv This helps in getting a student ready for character sketches for 2D animation

Difficulties

Since it was my first time doing something of this sort, it came to me as a big challenge, especially since I am not too good with live drawing.
As compared to my class mates I was slow and my sketches weren't too good in the initial stages.
Gradually I improved as more exercises were undertaken.

Conclusion

This task is a very good task which teaches a lot of principles an animator needs to make an animation. I personally have learnt a lot and I desire to improve in this aspect of drawing, since it is going to go a long way in helping me make good animations.



Perspective Drawing

In this task students were made to draw a perspective of a particular area they were viewing. They were made to sketch from a particular point of view a particular scene.

Advantages

i. The students were able to understand that a lot of images in animation are drawn from a perspective.
ii. For students like me who were doing this for the first time learnt some basic principles which are necessary when making an animation.
iii. This opened our horizon to new ways of drawing an also viewing objects.

Difficulties

Again this was my first time undergoing such a task. In the beginning I was floppy and completely lost on how to go about this. But with the guidance of my tutor I was able to find my way around it and overcame my challenge.

Conclusion

This task is another task which would help in becoming a good animator. It also helps a student draw things from different points of views not only one point of view which is normally done. Students also understand basic principles such as the closer the object the bigger it looks and the further away it is the smaller it looks. This task was also fun and also opened the eyes of students to new ways of drawing.

2D CHARACTER ANIMATION

               THE TWELVE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND DIGITAL TOOLS

                                           FOR ANIMATION

Before the basic principles and tools are addressed, it is necessary and very important to first understand what animation is and where it originates from.

ANIMATION

This is an illusion generated from a series and swift sequence of immovable images, which are dissimilar in shapes and sizes. These illusions created by moving pictures are based on the phi phenomenon.

Animation is done in different formats, these include animated GIF, Flash animation and digital videos. Also there are a few traditional ways of making animations some of these include, flip books and moving pictures.

It is important to note that animation has existed since the days of the cave man till now. Today some reputable animation productions include Dream Works animation and Walt Disney pictures. People who make animations are referred to as animators.

TWELVE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ANIMATION

There some basic principles to take into consideration when one is making an animation. 

Arcs

The natural movement of human beings and animals are in a circular form. In the process of making an animation these arcs are added to the animated character to give it a more natural movement which make them seem almost as real as actual human beings or animals. This principle is actually used in almost every animation with only a few exceptions which such as mechanical animations.

Slow-out & Slow-in

Normally when making an animation there is a large amount of drawings at the beginning pose of the story or animation, just a few for the middle pose and the same large amount of drawings at the last pose for conclusion. The speed of the  character strongly depends on the number of drawings of poses, the fewer they are the faster the animation becomes and the more they are the animation becomes slower. This principle make the animation seem more realistic. However , it is necessary to note that sometimes this principle is ignored to express shock, element of surprise and gag appeal.

Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose Animation

Straight ahead begins with the first drawing and connects from one drawing to another till the conclusion part of the scene.  Images from this principle are original and impulsive hence they are usually applied to fast wild action scenes. This principle however has a flow, which it is able to cause change in size, volume and proportions of the character.

Pose to pose on the other hand is a more planned out method. It consists of definite drawing made in intervals from the beginning till the end of the scene. This method has control over size, volume and proportions. When applying this method it is advisable to make use of an assistant, to help the animator plan and also draw some the characters. All the same most scenes apply a bit of both methods.

Squash and stretch

What this method does is, it adds weight to the animated character. It is best used in making dialogues and facial expressions. It is a method which is used very much and therefor making it necessary to be mastered.

Anticipation

This is an action which every real life action posses, it the action or movement of the character undertakes a major action, starting to run jump or the changing of expression. 

Staging

This concerns itself a lot with the pose of the character or it's actions. This is very important as it relates to the audience and makes them understand or easily identify the personality of the character. The effective use of a camera also helps in making the animation sequence. It is best to use one action at a time, also the background used must be minimal so it doesn't compete with the character in the story for the audiences attention.

Follow through and overlapping action

Follow through is when a character's main body stops whiles the other parts such as arms, hair and legs catch up with the main body of the character. Where as overlapping is when a character changes direction with either the clothes or the hair of the character keeps moving forward. To ensure a very good and effective overlapping, it is necessary to pay a lot of attention to timing.

Secondary action

This enhances the main  actions of a character by adding more dimensions to the character this enhance and supplements the actions of the character. The actions of the secondary actions must all act in unison.

Timing

This is usually done in two's or one's. Two's are usually used in making camera moves such as trucks and quick dialogue animations. Two's are often used in a lot of animation. Again it is necessary to note that the fewer the images the faster the movement of the character more images slow down the movement of the character. One way as an animator to improve your timing skills is to use the try and error method also studying actors performances and their body movements on stage also help improve timing skills.

Exaggeration

This is mistakenly perceived to be the distortion or extremely broad and violent action. It is not so all the time instead it is also like a caricature of facial features, expressions, poses, attitudes and actions. Movements from live action films can be adopted but these movements are rigid but in feature animation, the character's movements are broad to make them seem more natural.

Solid drawing 

This is the application of basic principles of drawing and the illusion of the third dimension into animation. Cartoons are drawn classically and transformed into color and adding a three dimension or for dimension illusion. Three dimensional illusion is a movement in space whiles four dimensional illusions is a movement in time.

Appeal

Like an actors charisma, an animation has appeal. No matter the role or purpose of the animation, it is necessary for it to have appeal. Early cartoons did not have this but as time passed things improved and advanced. In every story telling the features must be appealing to the eye and and the mind.

Digital tools

In the world today, a lot of animators have moved from analog tools such us drawing book to the use of more advanced digital tools such as flash. These advanced tools aid in the production of good and high quality animation. Also digital tools can exist in hardware form not only software some examples are electronic sketch pads and laptop computers.

Conclusion

In total one can say it is necessary to have these principles in mind to assist you in becoming the animator of everyone's choice. Also it is important that you are exposed to the digital tools to also help you build on your skills.

Reference

http://goanimate.com/video-maker-tips/4-popular-animation-software-tools/
http://www.inmagine.com/searchterms/digital%20tools-2.htm
http://minyos.its.rmit.edu.au/aim/a_notes/anim_principles.html

20th CENTURY DESIGN

In this task I am required to make six images of which three are post modern and the other three any other art movement.

fig 1 postmodern boy under water

fig 2 postmodern anger management

fig 3 postmodern letter A

fig 4 conceptual adios

fig 5 surrealist sacrifice

fig 6 surrealist man

Reference                                                                                                                                                   

Figure 1. Budu-Manuel, M(2014) Boy underwater                                                                                  In possession of: The author                                                                                                                       Legenda University College                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Figure 2. Budu-Manuel, M(2013) Anger management                                                                             In possession of: The author                                                                                                                     Legenda University College                                                                                                                     

  

Figure 3. Budu-Manuel, M(2014) The letter A                                                                                       In possession of: The author                                                                                                                    Legenda University College                                                                                                                    

 Figure 4. Budu-Manuel, M(2013) Adios                                                                                                 In possession of: The author                                                                                                                     Legenda University College                                                                                                                       

Figure 5. Budu-Manuel, M(2013) Sacrifice                                                                                            In possession of: The author                                                                                                                       Legenda University College                                                                                                                                       

  Figure 6. Budu-Manuel, M(2013) Man                                                                                                     In possession of: The author                                                                                                                     Legenda University College                                                                                                                  

20th CENTURY DESIGN

Introduction

Often times things around us, are classified under set and specific functions and purposes. For instance a glass is used for drinking. What we all normally do not realize is that, things do not seem to be what they are all the time. A glass is used for drinking, yes but what if the actual purpose of the glass was not for drinking but instead perhaps, listening or watching. In other words, things around us could have different purposes or meanings depending on your point of view, concept.

This brings us to the question, what is concept? Concept is an abstract thought which is conceived in the mind. It can also mean giving an unexpected or unusual function, purpose or meaning different from its original functions, purpose and meaning.

This term, concept is one which is being applied in art today, hence the existence of conceptual art or conceptualism. This art form was as a result of a movement amongst many others, which sprung out in the twentieth century. Most works of this art form are often described as installations. Examples of prominent artists who employed this art form are Marcel Duchamp and Joseph Kosuth. Though this art form seemed interesting to some people, others think otherwise.

However I employed this method of art in some of my modules this semester after studying about what this art form entails. Relating this technique to my other modules, I was able to make a few conceptual objects of my own. One of them is, a lamp made of pegs. The idea or concept behind this lamp is what we are going to discuss and I am going to explain to you the various processes that I employed in the making of the lamp.

The lamp

Forms was one of my module tasks for this semester for design studio conceptualization. For  this task, I was required to find object and basically give it a different form or look. Initially it was a bit of a struggle for me but in the long run I was able to find some pegs and also an idea of the new form to give it.

Why pegs?

Pegs are often used to hold clothes after washing. They are normally wooden, metal or plastic. I chose to use plastic and very bright colored pegs. I realized that pegs are items people do not really find other uses for, so I made it my intention to find other purposes for it.

The concept

The concept behind the use of the pegs is that due to its light weight nature and bright colors, it in a way, for me had a connection to light. Due to this fact I decided to make a lamp out of it.

The items

I first got myself quite a number of bright pegs all of the same kind. I also purchased a styrofoam bowl, a small glass, some candles and masking tape. I also found some rope and spray paint.

Process

First I cut out the middle part of the styrofoam bowl and used another one as the base. I joined the two together using masking tape. This was to make the middle part firm.

After I stuck the pegs round the cut out middle part of the styrofoam bowl and then stuck more pegs on the others to give it a spherical look almost like an egg cracked open from the top.

Then I put my candle in the glass and placed it in the middle inside of the pegs. This was going to serve as the light source of the peg lamp.

Next , I sprayed the base of the lamp with the spray paint. I also tied a rope around the pegs to hold them firmly in place.

The last thing I did was to light up the candle to see how my work looked like and yes it was amazing.

Other concepts

After making the lamp, I seemed to see it from different angles. I realized that it could be used in an Indian house for the burning of incense. I also noticed I could put my stuff such pencils, pens, erasers amongst others in the lamp if I should take the candle out.

This made me excited since I was able to see different angles of the master piece I had made and the different purposes and functions I could give it aside its intended purpose.

Before I could come out with my final work, I went through various kinds of processes. First I had to check and research on what exactly I wanted to do. I also experimented using other items, to see if I was going to achieve the same results. I had to plan and make sketches of the final form of my work.

Experience

This experience was not an easy one. It involved a whole lot of thinking and experimenting. It was time consuming and demanded a lot of money. Aside these it took a lot of imagination and creativity to in its processes. However this task was fun. Though a little difficult it encouraged a lot of critical thinking. I was able to also research and find the uses of pegs aside its aesthetic uses.

Why practice conceptual art?

Conceptual art helps an individual build on his thinking skills. This is to say it makes a lot of room for the use of critical thinking. It also helps an individual broaden his or her creative scope and provides us with the ability to look at the world from a whole new different point of view. This art also make us understand the fact that each and every person has a different point of view about a particular matter depending on the situation.

Conclusion

Conceptual art is not just an art movement. It is not as repulsive as others may seem to put it. It is rather a platform for creativity. It more of intellectual and in many instances an improved sense of logic reasoning. However it should be noted that though an artist can take a glass of water and call it air, the observer might have a different concept and might just prefer to call it a car.

Reference

1. Figure 1. Budu-Manuel, M.(2014) Pegs

In possession of : The author

Legenda University College

2. Figure 2. Budu-Manuel, M.(2014) Final product

In possession of : The author

Legenda University College

Peter Osborne, Conceptual Art: Themes and movements, Phaidon, London, 2002. p. 28

fig 1

fig 2

20th CENTURY DESIGN

Postmodernism

This is an art movement which emerged in the 20th century after the World War II. It sets out to display the cultural and societal metamorphosis during this period.

Modernism

Postmodernism simply could mean after modernism, hence it is necessary to understand what modernism is. Modernism is also an art form which show cases the ability of human beings to change and enhance their environment with time. This art form took place after the World War I, when cities and industries begun to emerge.

Postmodern art is one that in itself  has no actual meaning. It is more of  "pop" art . It deals with the remodeling of existing arts be it paintings, architecture,sculpture making , fashion, etc. This remodeling is done by the use of colors and shapes which leaves the end result basically as an icon with no definite interpretation of its purpose.

21st Century

Our world today is one which dwells in this postmodern art form. We live in a more advance era which keeps on developing. Most of everything around as is postmodern, from the design of a sports car, to architectural design, to fashion, advertisement, movies and even technology. As its name proposes, postmodernism is our world today and even after.

The dancing house by architect Frank Gehry

retrieved from http://www.inmagine.com/inmsearch.php?word=postmodern%20art&g_lang=&g_translate=&match=and&exclude=&exppl=&vpoint=&similarmode=&imgtype=&searchRF=1&searchRM=1&nonudity=&category=all&collection=all&orientation=all&imgperpage=60&sid=&ethc=&sortby=0&morecd=&viewimagespro=&clarify=&clareng=off&magnify=1&STO=1&v=&e=&people_count=&people_gender=&people_age=&searchoption=&creation_date=&searchCD=&alamy_only=

Octagonal electric teakettle of hammered silver with cane wicker handle 

designed by Peter Behrens retrieved from http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/286993/industrial-design/259568/Postmodern-design-and-its-aftermath

Reflection

This art form is one of creativity and fun. It concerns itself with less details and meanings unlike other art forms. It is a way of portraying the steady development of today's society and also it helps in the envisioning of how the future might be.

ACADEMIC SKILLS

Group work

This refers to the coming together of two or more people whose purpose is to work together to achieve a common goal as one unit.
This semester, Jeffery and I were put in a group for our 20th Century design class. Initially both of us might have been a little shy, but we had a little bit of closure during some classes and found out we did have a common interest. We went on further to exchange numbers.
We also discussed thoroughly the subject at hand. Sharing ideas and finding possible ways of achieving our set target. We put these ideas together and started work immediately , so we could meet up with our deadline.
We both decided to make sketches on how we want our work to be .
The main problem was our meeting dates. Due to some personal problems and situations my team mate could not be present for every meeting so instead of setting meeting dates and time we conducted most discussions on phone and discussed it further when we met in class.
During this period notes were taken and important points were taken into consideration.
At the end of the day we achieved all set goals.
Though I may not have had too much problems with my team mate , the next time I get the chance to be in another group, I would make sure that at least we try to meet not only in class but outside class because that would definitely give us more time to discuss and also get to know each other's strengths and weaknesses more, and probably get more acquainted with each other.

ACADEMIC SKILLS

Reflective writing

Academic skills is a module which deals with the teaching of different processes used in the field of education to help a student not only in other modules but also serves as a tool in the professional world.
Though there were a few tasks I am familiar with, I have gradually acquired more knowledge on other topics and also I have had the chance to add more to what I already know.The first task was not much of a challenge to me since I had to basically write an understanding and more personal opinion concerning my course. 
The second one was a little bit of a hustle, I had to read two book in a short time and make my own copy of what I read almost like a summary using the principle of context. This was not like the everyday summary exercise, but no pain no gain, I had to make a conscious effort into seeing this task through. This task was a new to me and a little bit of a challenge, since I had to make my understanding of the requirements clear and precise.
Referencing, my next task was not much of a challenge though personally it could be cumbersome due to the different ways of referencing different document depending on their source. I learnt about the Harvard Referencing style, a generally accepted referencing technique. I would admit I was a little impressed with myself when I finally passed this task.
The last two tasks for me were familiar one presentation skills and group working. These tasks were tasks let me say I felt very confident about regarding the fact that they were not the first time I had practiced them.
Presentation skills though was not knew to me, I had the chance to get more acquainted with the use of power point presentation. It was an exciting addition to my already existing expertise in this subject.
Group working as said before was also not a new thing to me. I was  able to learn a lot about my partner during this period, it created a platform for closure between us.
With me as the student  and Miss Tiffany as my tutor, I would say I have learnt a lot and I would enjoy having her as my tutor again, though the fact still stands that initially her name sent a chill down my spine because of her very strong and strict sense of character but you know even Napoleon had a soft spot. 
In a nut shell I can not deny the fact that I am glad I am done with this module in as much as I can not deny the truth that during my study of this module I have acquired  a lot of knowledge which would help me in my future field of expertise, for instance I can now make a good referencing to support my work and also use power point to present or propose ideas in a more modern and systematic manner.

CRITICAL THINKING

Packaging

This is a way of transporting, storing and protecting products or goods. This process goes through various levels of analysis before the final work is acquired.

Development                                                                                                                          

Packaging is a technique which dates back as far as early man. During this period, leaves and vines were used to make containers to carry water and food. Since the only thing they did at that time was hunting and gathering.

As they started to develop village settlements, packaging saw some  development to as well. At this point woven sacks were made out of leaves and also wood was employed as a means of packaging.

From villages, cities emerged and hence the development of packaging became more advanced. Blow glass and wooden barrels were employed.

After the fall of Rome , Europe saw no major inventions in the packaging field. During this time the Chinese had invented paper as well as paper packaging. This was a great advancement in packaging,

As rural urban migration begun, the need for packaging to develop was necessary. Packaging was made more durable, efficient and more dependable in its methods. 

In the eighteenth century, tinning was introduced in Europe, in England to be specific by Andrew Yarranton. This development was a big blow to the packaging industry.

In the twentieth century packaging saw a brutal development as more sophisticated methods were employed. For instance in the 1960's polyethylene was discovered and was the preferred packaging. Other packaging methods such as bottling and cartons were used.

Also producers found it necessary to print out their logos and labels on their packaging since they identified that people preferred to buy a particular brand of a product.

 Steps

Primary packaging

This refers to the immediate packaging in which the product is placed directly.

Secondary packaging                                                                                                            

                               

This is the packaging that contains the primary package.

Tertiary packaging                                                                                                               

This step concerns itself with storage means such as warehouses.

• Functions                                                                                                                                  
• Packaging is done for the following functions                                                                  
• To protect  product from any external threat

To identify products

• To contain product
• To make transporting products easy
• To store products
• To inform consumers about what they a purchasing

• Durability 

• Packaging must be able to withstand  different conditions so it can be kept for a period of time without the consumer worrying about the product getting damaged.

Sustainability                                                                                                            

• This takes the environment to mind , hence the material used, the design and life cycle of the packaging are analysed.

Recycling                                                                                                                                 

This is when waste packages can be used to create new products to avoid cases of wastage.                                                                                                                      

• Handling

• This refers to the methods employed in the conveying of products.

• Group packaging                                                                                                                    
• This refers to packaging of products in crates and cartons.

•    Individual packaging                                                                                            
•    This refers to single packaging like putting products in bottles or tins.                                      

Symbols used in packaging                                                                                                    

Fragile                                                                                                                                    

Flammable                                                                                                                              

 Breakable

 Toxic

Radioactive                                                                                                                        

 These symbols help consumers to identify how products in a particular kind of packaging must be handled.             

Problematic packaging                                                                                                           

This refers to packaging that are either one way or the other viable to cause harm to                consumers or are not easy to be conveyed.    

Glass packaging                                                                                                                                     

This form of packaging has existed since 3000 B.C. It is created by melting silica ,sodium carbonate ,limestone and alumina. After the mixture is molded to give the glass its desired form. Despite the fact that it a good form of packaging for some particular products like food, it has its disadvantages making it problematic.                                                                      

Firstly though thin glass is used lately glass packaging when done in group is very heavy for transportation. This increases transportation cost.                                                                    

Also its brittle nature makes it viable to breakages during its handling processes and transportation. This can cause harm to the consumer.

Lastly glass is not easily degradable and not too environmentally friendly.

                                                   

Reference                                                                                                                             

   http://www.europen-packaging.eu/sustainability/what-is-packaging.html                              http://www.uspackagingandwrapping.com/blog/theHistory.of,Packaging.html