Saturday, May 8, 2010

According to Dino Dini

According to video game developer Dino Dini in a talk given at the 2005 game design and technology workshop held in Liverpool JM university, design underpins every form of creation from objects such as chairs to the way we plan and execute our lives. For this reason it is useful to seek out some common structure that can be applied to any kind of design, whether this be for video games, consumer products or one's own personal life.

For such an important concept, the question "what is design?" appears to yield answers with limited usefulness. Therefore the design process can be defined as "the management of constraints"; I think there are 2 kinds of constraints, negotiable and the non-negotiable. The first step in the design process is the identification, classification and selection of constraints. The process of design then proceeds from here by manipulating design variables so as to satisfy the non-negotiable constraints and optimising those which are negotiable.

Ink and water drawing


Drawing done with techincal pencil, watercolour, indian ink and lots and lots... and lots of water.
The cartridge paper used was vellum and therefore didnt have enough acid, hence the splotches and scrumpled up look. rather depressing.

Questions concerning design

I think there are 3 main concerns when it comes to evolving a design theory in conceptual stages. It comes down to questioning the fundamental assumptions behind designing something innovative, therefore allowing the opportunity to creativly explore not only evolving theories but culture, new concepts and historical ideas that all contribute to the field of contemporary design.
This should be applied to design objects and environments, both real and virtual, within a critical and theoretical framework.

1)Paradigms and their cultural contexts;
*How do paradigms relate to the place of design in the articulation of culture?
*In what ways can design express itself as a negotiation between people and their surrondings?
*How can we creatively respond to the ethical implications and possibilities of design in relation to its situation within particular environments.

2)Structure of communicative space;
*What is the "eventfulness" of design?
*To what degree is the meaning of a design dependent upon the context that it is situated within?
*To what degree is the meaning of a design dependant on the occasion it comes into being?
*How can we rigorously explore the poetic and the technological in design as a unity?

3)Representation and design processes;
*What are some of the present conflicts/tensions between symbolic and instrumental representation, and how do we deal with these in our creative processes?
*How can we best unfold and cultivate the relationship between our representations and our more poetic meanings?
*What are the varying possibilities, conditions, and limits of mathematical, virtual and simulated representations?
*What is the role of the body, scale and ergonomics in our design processes and in the representation of our design ideas?
*How can we best apply our creative problem-solving skills with equal rigour to abstract and concrete processes?

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Fairy


Completed on A3 cartridge paper with technical pencil, technical pen, sharpie black markers and watercolours.

c.LIP



Creating a person with a piece of black card, a single paper clip and a title as a gesture.

Photosynthesis


Visual diary sub-site

Have created a sub-site that i will put up copies of my visual diaries.
Will update this as often as possible , link below.

http://republicofcolour-visualdiary.blogspot.com/

Happy birthday mickey mouse

EDIT;picture has been taken down cause it dosent say what i want it to, back up soon.
November 18th, 1928.. im preparing a few months in advance so i dont forget.

Struggling with a problem

dig,

and dig,

and dig,

and dig,

and all that results is a hole...

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

People are a problem

gunheadbrains

Hate for photography

Yes the title says that, and i realise that i use photos to show my ideas. I feel like i lose a part of my soul with each photo i chuck up. A photo is the death of a moment, its that moment as it was then. By taking a photo you are simply showing a clip of the atmosphere, which is no longer around. Its reminscient of a joke that fails to be funny when repeated. In my defence i am trying to use photography as an applied solution rather than novelty, like everyone with a digital camera.


I also think you have too much control over the manipulation of a photo, wait .. what am i saying. Lets turn this post into how to become a professional photographer. Firstly buy a digital camera, you are now halfway to becoming a professional, alongside everyone who owns a camera or cellphone. Make sure you have light in your photo, othwerise photoshop helps. I will also put up a few photos, dont feel discouraged i am very artsy and professional because i have a digital camera.






Mindless bitching aside, Current display processed images create too many exaggerated opportunities to create less clinical reproductions of reality, further enabling the introduction of midly artistic elements such as vintage or contrast to be available to more of the public. The availability of this technology has resulted in vivid abuse and over-use resulting in a tsunami of soulless sub - par images in such a commercial manner. The internet seems to be flooded with photo technology porn.

Perception of a story


Anorexia nervousa

Alright so "Anorexia nervousa" is a morbid phobia of getting overweight, the intresting thing here is that this eating disorder occurs in high achievers and perfectionists, it also gives them a sense of control that they might lack in other areas of their lives.

Jalepeno cocktail

Trying to develop an emotional attachment with tequila and something fire-y.
Will edit when im happy enough with how i think it should be constructed.
So far heres what i have, it needs to be doctored.

Ingredients;
Jalapenos
Fresh lime
Sugar syrup ( 50 bricks )
Tequila, iv been using patron but thats kind of expensive. Just dont go cheap
Vanilla liquor

Build like so;
-De/seed some jalapenos, i would preferable start with 2 more medium inflamation.
-Add half a lime cut into 4 "cubes"
-30 mls of sugar syrup
-Begin to muddle here
-30 mls tequila
-15 mls of vanilla liquor
-serve in a cevina with crushed ice.

To grow famous you need



My childhood dreams were ruined the day i heard that if you can draw a perfect circle then you're a good artist.

Joker with crayons


Done with some old box of crayons i found on white A4 cartridge paper.

Love for maths

A basic understanding of algebra is required.
*9x - 7i > 3 (3x - 7u)
*9x - 7i > 9x - 21u
*(-9x___-9x)
*-7i > -21u
*(-7 __-7)
* i < 3 u

Problem of explication

Everyone consciously or not appreciates the problem of explaining things, especially where creative work and any form of art is concerned, auctually or where anything that involves a certin mystery or question.

Perhaps it would be more beneficial explaining to an animal or a child. Things always seem more simplistic and embedded in what can only be called magic. It conveys a sense of the secrecy of the world and of existance that appeals to the imagination.

Memorial qualifications

This chain of thoughts is more of a continuation of a previous post dealing with questioning the fundamental assumptions with funerals. Link is just below for those who missed it or care.

http://republicofcolour.blogspot.com/2010/05/thoughts-on-death.html

Was looking over Vietnam veteran's memorials and inadvertently produced a new orthodoxy, which i feel could potentially raise a fair amount of debate or even consideration. When a new language of commemoration is produced with regards to a war memorial ( or for that fact any memorial in general ), the challenge realisticly lies in invisioning a language that can speak through abstraction without depoliticizing the situation or the site. I feel that the communicative power that a tribute must have is the issue, and more importantly not just for those who have established an emotional attachment by experiencing a trauma or loss first - hand. It needs to be orchestrated for generations to come, for whom the event will be remote.

Consider this, when the veterans of Vietnam are no longer around or the families of its victims, will the memorial maintain its power? What can a memorial do for the other generations.

Heartbreak


Bipolar

: ( :

Want to travel the world




Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The centre within structure

It is beyond comphrension to concieve of an unorganized structure, subconsciously or not we always orientate ourselves around a point of refrence, or a centre. The responsibility of a centre is to organize and balance a structure, by orienting the coherence of the systems and elements within its total form. The suggestion of a structure devoid of any centre is simply unthinkable. It physically, metaphorically or even emotionally cannot work.

By following this system of thinking however we end up with a catch - 22. By agreeing with this statement we situate that the centre is at the centre of the totality (which is a fact), however since the centre does not belong to the structure, as it is not part of the structure, the totality therefore has its centre somewhere else.

Its an intresting thought that the centre is not the centre.

Words from Adolf Loos











Puddles

d
r
i
p
,
ppupudpuddpuddlpuddleuddleddledlelee

Digitial eye painting

Chucking up the final rendered image, typed up a tutorial. just follow the link
http://republicofcolour.blogspot.com/search/label/Tutorial

Love never ends

love,

Traditional media is one up today

Its for artists who cannot draw.

Viewpoints

Coding the most broadly acceptable average of views in democracies, governments are able to impose consensus from a single viewpoint. I would hope that with design all viewpoints are considered.

Fanta

How much more differently can a typical object be measured if given an alternative title?
Please excuse my lack of photoshopping or cleaning up the object.

Kingdom hearts drawing


Sketch completed on plain A4 cartridge paper. technical pen followed with a marker afterwards.

Thoughts on death

Went to a funeral last week, kind of had me wandering.
Who are funerals for?
the dead, or the living?

Edit; This thought has been continued upon in "Memorial qualifications". Link below.
http://republicofcolour.blogspot.com/2010/05/this-chain-of-thoughts-is-more-of.html

Sacrificial love

I
you
I you
love
i You
You
i

Dealing with the hierarchy of a failed relationship, emphasis on word placement and a poor attempt at situating emotion with caps lock.

Keep it green


Frustration over ipod's

Life was much, much easier when apple and blackberry were just fruits.

Double take on relationship a break up


Music #1

The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought

Dinosaur in photoshop


Half finished it and began to loose faith in it, long story. Auctually it isnt a long story, i ment to do it when i returned from the weekend but when i came back to it, i forgot everything.
Estimated time - 3 hours
Amount of soul lost constructing - an embarassingly large amount..

The accident

1) man
motorbike ________bird



2) --------------------------man

_____bmotitorrbikdee


3)

______b ot __m i ror t ki b e___ e d______ amn

The Gettier problem


Words are a playground # 1

Every line is a

(poorly disguised)

lie

Sketches of Heath Ledger and Daniel Craig


Boredom through repitition.

Spent many an hour walking all around the wellington hospital a few months ago and always dreaded the commutes, as it was nothing but boring although it does raise the question, what is boredom? for myself i found the answer lay in plain sight, the corridors and rooms which were simply barren of any mist like discoveries which just caused me to lose intrest, endless repetitions followed by the knowledge that there was little to look foward too. Then it poses the question, what makes anything exciting or better yet , what is exciting? While the degree is always going to be variable i found that salvation lay in the childrens ward which aside from containing the entire wealth of the hospitals colour ( to be honest , it as if that place has had the walls sucked dry of the colour spectrum and just left bleached ) it also had a hanging monkey cut-out above the door, which to me looked like a golden wire of hope.

I have come to the conclusion that we are excited by anthing that influences us, or more simply involves and engages us. The thing about the hospital is that there is was nothing to connect with, the endless repetition of those staircases and expanding hallways is permanently a foreign place that does not excite the audience, it simply bores us. Therefore boredom is an unpleasurable experience through a lack of impulse.

I will say on a side note, the atrium is ok.

Hexagon 8 -ball


Maths is fun


Experiences at a sake bar




Thoughts about critiqing design

Went to sleep with a dream last night , and woke up with a purpose. Ended up having yet another frustrating night on Photoshop yesterday, it just dosent want to be my friend, which is fine because im not a fan of it either, or come to think about it digital art. Yes i am hypocritical so let me explain, it becomes more of a last resort. There is no antiquity to them, its like the difference of going to the movies and going to the theatre. The pictures will always play the movie the same way, its always going to be the same, routined , predictible and if all else fails you can always get your hands on a copy of it to keep to watch whenever and especially these days where ever. The theatre on the other hand is all about the spirit of now, getting lost in the moment and there is a certin timelessness ( if that is indeed a word ) to it, also you will never see the same theatre performance again, more importanly you could never recreate the irreplacable atmosphere. This makes it very temporary, against movies which would easily outlive any apocalypse we enter in our brief existance. Once the show is over it merely makes you think

"This day will never come again , so let me keep this moment"

..and perhaps thats what makes me so sad about today's society, with the internet you can become a celebrity overnight and lose it in seconds. More so with design, and even art to a degree has become so.. cheap and commercialized. I went to an exhibit the other week, i wont say what one as it does not matter, was all digital images and to the so - called artists credit i was impressed with how beautiful the images appeared to be. I overheard someone attempt to critique the students work ( yes it was a student's exhibition ) and realised how very easy it is for designers to not confront criticism by inferring that the critic was interpreting its aims and purpose wrongly.

I for one want to be able to orchestrate my own thoughts about work without being told that my criticism is born from "not getting it" where as at the same time the creator ( god forbid ) auctually fails to make a point with their work. I was always under the impression that art is not what you see, but what you make others see, and aparently i am wrong. I will however say this to the design student whom if they ever descended down upon us mere mortals who do not comphrend the finer points of "art". Every point of a view is useful, even those that are wrong.. if you can judge why a wrong view was accepted.

And you know what , all the work was based around gestures and comments towards politicial policy, wierd scientific theories and even a very ambitious ill-informed view on the design world itself. Maybe Political journalists and scientists should be in a better position to critique the work, however as this was experienced in a gallery ( which is a huge understatement ) they will never get to see it.

What i am trying to highlight with my poorly constructed bitch here is that design, or even technology for that matter is not a straight line, there are several other ways that all eventually end up at the same end. By accepting "one" path simply blinds you to alternatives. You know what , for people that care i will pose a question. If art , design , animation, technology or even architecture is to speak, what language does it use?

"Eye" photoshop tutorial

Spent a few hours last night , playing around with Photoshop, which is very hypocritical as i am not digital designs biggest fan. But who am i to bitch about it all, i suppose the most crucial step towards solving a problem is to be able to recoginise yourself as part of the problem. One thing about my work that i try to always have at the back of my mind is that it is important to reject and not imploy my own "style", i want people to situate my ideas as a system of thought rather than something beautified tagged with my name. So heres my "system of thinking" about how to construct an eye on Photoshop. This post is dedicated to a friend whom i will name "Sleepy dust" who seems to question the things i do, you know who you are.


Original image, scanned onto the comp- just using brushes, crop tools and filters to try "normalize" the look, this can usually take a fair amount of hours, but just keep plowing away. If you are using an image that is no so sketchy, or a photo skip these inital introduction steps.



Step . 1 Step . 2 Step . 3

Step . 1 - Here is the picture of an eye i spent considerable amount of hours drawing. it is simply an h + 6h pencil on a piece of A3 white cartridge paper. This was originally a face but as my scanner is only A4 i have decided to just work magic on a part of it. You can alternativly use a photo i suppose, if so just make sure that you completely desaturate it first, it will matter later on.

Step . 2 - Create a new layer and set it to "colour", if you want to be adventerous use multiply. Colour the eye in with any colour of Aqua-ish desired, i have splashed mine in the corner if you want to use it.( R=0 , G=94, B=93). It is also important to note that what brush you use does not matter at this time, i used the standard drop shadow brush, just make sure your opacity and flow are sitting on 100.

Step . 3 - Use the colour provided by the splash here and just fill in around the iris of the eye, it will make a difference later on. ( R = 157, G=194, B=212). It may pay off here to change your brush to 0% hardness, once again only a suggestion.


Step . 4 Step . 5

Step . 4 + 5 - These steps only apply if you have drawn in your eye. otherwise completely ignore and simply move on. This is easily the hardest step for me , because not only am i more pathetic than a 5 year old child at using photoshop but im not very patient. Here is alot of trial and error in using a mixture of bright/contrast , spongestick and blur filters to try and conceal that pencil, and grainy rough look into something alot more smooth and elegant. i have also abused the dodge tool.. yes i am a whore when it comes to that tool.


Step . 6

Step . 6 - Using the colour provided to the left of step . 6 ( R=255, G= 243, B=209) colour absolutely everything around the eye. Again the colour here is optional, but i wouldnt stray far away from that bone/cream colour. you really want something on the pallete that almost melts with the colours you are using in the iris. A light orange/peach would work well for Hazel coloured eyes.

Step . 7 Step . 8 Step . 9

Step . 7 - This step can be missed but i mean if im using photoshop, i have obviously thrown in the town and might as will digitize ( if this is a word) the image as much as humanly possible. Image adjust with "brightness and contrast" - play around as much as you would like. Here i used B=6 , C=17

Step . 8 - Here enters the famed "burn" tool, so chuck that on and set the exposure to about 25%. I have almost forgotten, a vital point. "AT THE START OF THIS STEP MERGE YOUR VISIABLE LAYERS TOGETHOR" Cant stress how important this is, otherwise your burn will just start to make your image murky green. (which in my opinion is the worst colour.. unless your talking about candy colours in which case it is black, noone likes the black jellybean). Run the tool along the creases of the lid, both top + bottom and then also pay special attention to the lashes. i spent a good 3 or 4 strokes per lash. i would recommend zooming in and taking your time with a very thin brush here, it will also pay to use something more sketchy, such as a calligraphy brush.

Step . 9 - Once again still using the burn tool, change your bursh to something very small, micro in and run it along the edges of the eye. becareful to make it the same magnitude as the lashes. If either the lashes or the Iris outline is more powerful , the whole illusion can become ruined.



Step . 10

Step . 10 - Now switch back to my love child, the "dodge" tool. Start your exposure around 20% (unless your fairly confident or want something cartoony, then go for the 50% off the bat) and begin to use it ever so carefully around the inside of the pupil. Try not to venture past the 70% mark on the eye as that just tends to make the whole eye shine, and looks rather poor. Once your happy playing around with that, change exposure to 100% and then put either one or two small spots on , that are brighter than the rest.


Enjoy your Photoshoped image

Monday, May 3, 2010

Introduction - about me.

I cant believe i am auctually making a blog, but i feel like i need to re-think how i orchestrate my ideas and this could potentially offer some new system of thinking. I am going to choreograph from a design point of view rather than my own personal life which i find does not deserve the pathetic credibility that is attained from what can only be called internet stardom.

I suppose as i need to situate some kind of relationship to whoever reads this, i had better say abit about myself. To anyone who knows me or cares, my name can be simply Theomarche, the jack-o-lantern that scared himself or even the friendly cactus. Therefore in short my name does not matter, this is dedicated to design. There is nothing i love more than the eccentric, outrageous and just downright bizarre. The great thing about the design and technological industry is that it is and always has been an opportunity to test how far i can push my imagination.. and myself.

More importantly it offers the chance to see how much people are willing to accept as audience members. Maybe you will laugh, maybe you will cry or maybe you will simply hate me for these silly ideas but please react with your gut and i'll feel like i've achieved what i set out to do.