The Final Poster

And on that bombshell, the poster was finished.

It wasnt without a struggle though. After redoing my poster twice only to realise i had started it as a HTML5 instead of Actionscript, i was able to finish the poster to a satisfactory standard.

Given my range of skills, i felt i did the best i could given the various obstacles i faced during the process, mainly as i didn't realise that it was HTML5 so most of the things i learned, i couldn't apply to it correctly. I would have liked to have made it more detailed which would include embedded videos and more sounds but after attempting and failing, i felt i best leave it in a good, functional state considering the technical difficulty i had for the past couple of weeks. It's safe to say, i didn't want to risk it. 

Making my poster on Photoshop first was extremely helpful. I was able to save each piece individually and apply it to Animate when it was needed without much fuss. Because of my previous research, i was able to accurately depict a 70's theme with more of a modern style but i would have loved more time to play around with various colours and styles before settling on one. 

To summarise, i am happy with the poster but would have like the time to add more detail and make it more appealing to underground customers. I started off strong but the technical issue set me back to a point where i didn't have the time to experiment with different colour, sounds and video. 

Poster Images and References

Final Design

Fourth and final designs:

During some more research and development, I came across an image that inspired me and gave me an idea based on the designs I had already drawn.  A graphic triangular poster that consisted of various bold colours and textures.  This helped inspire me to adapt previous triangular designs into the one above. It would be a collage of old media images with a transparent colour overlay. But this is where I had to come up with a theme. After discussion with Dionysia, I decided to stick with Project Cybersyn, which would be a part of the exhibit, and base my poster around it.

For a colour scheme, I wanted to stick with the conventional 70’s colour scheme, which is when project cybersyn was created. Using this, I looked for 70’s images to get a basic sense of the colour scheme. It involved warm colours like orange, yellow and brown with contrasting shades of blue and green to accent it. Patterns and text were bold making It easy to read.

This is where I developed my design for the poster itself on photoshop.

Using the warm colour scheme to create my textured triangles with images from cybersyn and the contrasting blue colour to help the title of Lost Media stand out. The images would be clickable to display information about that part of the exhibit and links to further information. It would also include a science museum logo button in the bottom right hand corner. The buttons will enlarge once hovered over and become dark when clicked on with a clicking noise to accompany it. I also want to have intermittent background noise such as retro digital computer sounds and possibly a telex machine printing. 

Design Development

Third Designs:

I wanted to take on a more graphic and modern approach rather than literal interpretations of media. Rather than creating something people recognise, I wanted it to be more stylish and easy to read. This is based around a triangular shape with an image of some technology in the middle and separate images around it that would be selectable to get more information. I thought more about the functionality of the poster rather than the colour scheme which I would work on later. It could be difficult to get the main message across though and i feel it could distract from the theme of the exhibit.

With this kind of idea in mind, I went on to develop a few previous ideas and start to get some more ideas and details down. I felt that although I may not use all the designs, I could take ideas from a few of them to use in my final piece. 

The first on this page was a mix of the literal designs with a more conventional poster approach. This would give me things to animate onto the screen and environmental noises to include, whilst keeping the functionality of a poster. The images and noises would help to keep attention and interest.

The second was an adaptation of the previously drawn design with the graphic triangle with a plain background and bold object colours to help the images stand out. The shapes on the outside of the diamond shape would be clickable to reveal more about the exhibit and text would be animated with a fade in. I planned it to be very three dimensional and modern. I did think that maybe the context of the exhibit could be lost in this idea.

I decided to go back and develop my initial ideas first as I was struggling to stick with an idea or theme. I felt like I need to generate more material to use and inspire me.  This design would be a functional retro TV screen and the dial would move to bring up information about a part of the exhibit on screen. This would include retro noises from television static to the clicking of the dial. I also thought about adding a camera on top, so the user could put themselves inside the TV with some VHS overlay to have fun and make it memorable. This could be fun but it may be a bit to difficult given my current skill set. 

Similarly, I developed the old computer idea as well. This could have a lot of potential to be interactive and attention grabbing whilst also giving the user information. The keyboard would only consist of a few buttons but ideally a functional keyboard would have been good to use. The screen would occasionally display messages that seem to come from and AI within the computer. This to get the attention of passers-by. I would again have retro computer sounds and beeps to accompany the interactive parts of the poster. Again, this could be a bit advantageous given my skill set. 

ASIMO

Growing up, the world was fascinated with the future. Space exploration and new advances in technology would fuel the development of media platforms and things like science fiction would boom. Dr Who showed us the dark side to robots and Terminator showed us the really dark side to robots. But these ideas needed some technical background, and this is where AI (artificial intelligence) stepped in. Arnold Schwarzenegger was ultimately sent back in time by a super computer called Skynet, the mastermind behind humanity’s destruction.

Today, computers are accessible to the masses and those with the right knowledge can program some sort of A.I in our homes. Honda went and took our sci-fi dreams and made it reality by creating ASIMO, which stands for ‘Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility’.

 (HONDA MOTOR CO., Unknown)

ASIMO can walk and climb stairs independently and “addition to ASIMO's ability to walk like we do, it can also understand preprogrammed gestures and spoken commands, recognize voices and faces and interface with IC Communication cards.” (Strickland, 2007). This robot wasn’t designed to fight or complete one trivial task, it was designed to complete a whole variety of tasks, including potentially dangerous ones, to aid the user. Since the first ASIMO was developed in 2000, many changes were made with added functionality. ASIMOs speed and sensors received huge upgrades allowing it to move faster between steps and improve its recognition of voices and faces.

With the continuous advancement of technology and even recent breakthroughs in VR, ASIMO will continue to be improved. A robotic housemate may be closer than we thought.

Bibliography

HONDA MOTOR CO., L., Unknown. How ASIMO Works. [Online]
Available at: http://science.howstuffworks.com/asimo.htm
[Accessed 16 11 2016].

Robarts, S., 2014. Honda's new ASIMO robot is all grown up. [Online]
Available at: http://newatlas.com/new-honda-asimo-robot/32977/
[Accessed 16 11 2016].

Strickland, L. A. O. &. J., 2007. How ASIMO Works. [Online]
Available at: http://science.howstuffworks.com/asimo.htm
[Accessed 16 11 2016].

  

The Printing Press

Henry VIII, king of England in the early 1500’s. During his reign, he became famous for obtaining a few wives during his time as king. His first divorce however, was not the easiest. The pope refused the kings divorce and sparked a feud. This would start what’s now known as the English reformation.

A recent invention by a German goldsmith named Johannes Gutenberg would begin to be put into great use to easily spread messages to the masses. The circulation of the bible was increased due to the speed it could be produced and Henry was sure to want to use the press to his advantage. “Henry VII used the printing press for self-promotion several times before the 1530’s, commissioning Richard Pynson, royal printer before Thomas Berthelet, to publish besides the statues and proclamations tracts that would generate support for the government’s policies and actions” (Warner, 1998).

So, what was the printing press?

 (Unknown, 2014)

“He didn't invent printing. He didn't even invent movable type. He often ran into legal trouble and, when he died in 1468, he did so with little money or glory.” (Whipps, 2008). Johannes Gutenburgs printing press allowed word to be spread to the masses in a quick, and efficient manner. Based on the Chinese wooden block printing technique, he began to develop a movable type to print multiple and different words on to paper. During a time when text had to be handwritten, it was a surprising and most welcome invention during the English Reformation.

Metal letters were arranged in a type tray with a coating of oil-based ink, and a sheet of paper placed on top. This with screw presses would allow the print to be made onto paper repeatedly, allowing for large scale production of texts.

Nowadays, you only need to pop to Argos to pick up a printer that will produce your work in seconds. It’s faster, much higher quality and has a whole range of modern, digital features. The laser jet printer being one of the most technically advance and it works by making “a laser beam scan back and forth across a drum inside the printer, building up a pattern of static electricity. The static electricity attracts onto the page a kind of powdered ink called toner” (Unknown, 2016). The only laborious task would be writing whatever you required printing. No need to set up the characters you require. Just make sure your ink cartridge is filled.

  (Unknown, 2012)

Bibliography

Unknown, 2012. Canon ME unveils three new PIXMA printers. [Online]
Available at: http://www.itp.net/591369-canon-me-unveils-three-new-pixma-printers
[Accessed 16 11 2016].

Unknown, 2014. THIS WEEK IN TECH HISTORY: THE GUTENBERG BIBLE AND PRINTING PRESS. [Online]
Available at: https://vrworld.com/2014/08/17/week-history-gutenbergs-bible/
[Accessed 08 11 2016].

Unknown, 2016. Laser printers. [Online]
Available at: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/laserprinters.html
[Accessed 16 11 2016].

Warner, J. C., 1998. Introduction: Representing Henry VIII. In: Henry VIII's Divorce: Literature and the Politics of the Printing Press. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, p. 7.

Whipps, H., 2008. How Gutenberg Changed the World. [Online]
Available at: http://www.livescience.com/2569-gutenberg-changed-world.html
[Accessed 08 11 2016].

A Bit of Poster History

Everyone loves a poster. Most places sell them nowadays. From your favourite football team to your recent movie releases and even that fit one from the boyband you like. It can be a simple yet heavily edited photograph to a complex digital design. But you don’t see hand painted posters out on the street anymore. Sure, some artists still paint their posters like Drew Struzan but in the everchanging technological environment, the processes used to create said posters are changed too.

French painter, Jules Cheret had a wonderful career in the late 1800’s painting beautiful posters and artwork for books, live performances and events. “By the end of his career, Chéret had designed over one thousand posters for music halls, theatres, performers, and products including beverages, medicines, and lamp oil.” (Britannica, N.D). The design was stylistic of the era and portrayed the mood of the Moulin Rouge. It features a bold style of text in a colour that leaps from the background, and enticing figures of women. The somewhat abstract style of the windmill in the background and characters around it shows us the way posters were evolving into works of art, rather than just serving to tell us information.

 (Cheret, 1889)

Much time passed and many styles were developed over the years. Suddenly, the world was hit with another war on an unimaginable scale. Along with it, came an artist called Jean Carlu. His flair for art and graphic design in early years, caught the attention of American advertisers during the second world war as “He designed advertising art for several American companies” (Logemann, 2012). He used contrasting colours to attract attention and used a basic colour palette. The image was recognisable and clear on a white background, helping it to be visible. This fully took hold of the idea that posters were more than just information for the masses. It could be iconic and realised as a work of art. It was influenced by the themes of the time where women were being encouraged to take part at home whilst many men served away.

 (Carlu, 1942)

Fast forward to present day, and many of these styles are still adapted and modernized. Artist still paint but digitally, and many artistic practices are still used to this day. I had already previously mentioned Drew Struzan who famously painted posters for the Star Wars franchise, Harry Potter and Indiana Jones to name a few.

(Struzan, 2001)

We also made way for the use of computers to make posters. Digitally composed with photographs and other digital process, we get a lot of variety.

(Unknown, 2016)

This recent addition includes a lot of old methods used in new ways. We see the bold use of colour and muted characters to emphasize the title. This with the use of negative space or a while background, helps set the image apart from others and makes I easy to read. We can tell the characters were photographs and the rest was digitally compiled and edited to create this poster. Together, it creates a striking and bold image.

Many poster artists in the past paved the way for the posters of today. Keeping the old practices with a new twist helps opens many doors into what can be created. The artist’s tools are far greater than before and its open to more people. To inspire and advertise to the masses in the present day and in the future.

Bibliography

Britannica, T. E. o. E., N.D. Jules Chéret. [Online]
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jules-Cheret
[Accessed 08 11 2016].

Carlu, J., 1942. Production. [Art] (U.S. Government).

Cheret, J., 1889. Bal du Moulin Rouge. [Art] (Unknown).

Logemann, J., 2012. Jean Carlu (1900-1997). [Online]
Available at: http://www.transatlanticperspectives.org/entry.php?rec=8
[Accessed 08 11 2016].

Struzan, D., 2001. Harry Potter. [Art] (Unknown).

Initial Designs

First design:

I just quickly drafted a basic poster layout just to give me some direction. I felt this was a bit bland and didn’t allow much for creativity. It didn’t have the power to stop and attract the attention of passers-by.

Second deigns:

This time I wanted to incorporate the Lost Media theme in a fun and enticing way.

The first drawing would be of an old computer on a table. Lots of dust and dimly but directly lit from above. Noises would include digital beeps and keyboard button presses. The four buttons would bring up information about each thing within the exhibit and selecting it again would take it back to the main screen with info about the location. The computer could bring up or say phrases to encourage people to interact with it and get them to stop. Movement would also catch the eye. It could be a bit obvious though and doesn't allow for much creativity.

The second drawing is of a retro television. Again, the initial image would be the name of the exhibit and location, and buttons on the side would bring up info about individual things within it. There could be fuzzy white noise sounds when changing a channel and when lines appear onscreen like an old VHS tape. I added the idea of the camera that would display someone within the TV frame to make it more fun and memorable. Again, it wouldn't take much design and would look a bit basic. 

This time, I wanted to develop some ideas with a typical poster design in mind. Taking the idea of ‘Lost’ media, I thought of a lost poster layout. It would look work and battered and the corner could be lifted and would gently move.  I thought about adding some background noise of people walking past (footsteps, chatter).  The corner would be what is clicked and lifted to reveal the different displays at the exhibit and touching a specific one would enlarge it for people to read. As this was just a random idea, i didn't think to keep adding detail and put it to the side.

Interactive Posters: Research

Interactive, by definition, means "of or relating to a two-way system of electronic communications, as by means of television or computer". But in what ways can it be applied to a poster? Finding examples has been somewhat difficult.

In this example, its not between digital devices, but a way for someone to interact with something to gain data. It requires the actions of a human user to complete the circuit of information being portrayed. Given the fun of the design, its also a way to help the idea stick with the user. 

This poster required the use of touch screen to make it interactive. The user spins the globe on the poster. Again, this added bit of fun helps the user remember the advertisement, must like companies use a jingle to help memories the brand. 

As i stated, finding examples was difficult. It seems the medium isn't in much use, or I'm terrible with google. In a previous post, i used an example that required a camera that put the user within the poster for an interactive experience. 

Posters and Advertising

For our first assignment, we are asked to design an interactive poster. I know. What the heck is an interactive poster? Well it seems as cool as it sounds.

We are used to the digital world now. Ordering food without having to talk to people and sending messages and pictures in an instant. It’s exciting and every changing with the technology. From buttons to touchscreen and fat televisions to skinny ones the cat can knock over. We are the generation that want more in an instant. Waiting is no longer an option.

With that, advertising has changed. It’s not so easy to catch our eye when we are rushing through a crowd of people in the tube station or just jumping in a car to go to the supermarket. New methods are having to be introduced to keep our attention and actually consider what we are looking at. Posters are becoming a way to entertain us and stick in our memory. Hopefully not for the wrong reasons…Let’s get some examples!

I worked in a cinema for over 3 years, so it’s fair to say I’ve witnessed my fair share of great posters, and not so great. Not that I’m a professional, but I’ve gauged from customer reaction and personal experience. So, one of my personal recent favourites:

 (Unknown, 2015)

This little gem from Marvel’s Ant Man. If you can’t see it, then get a little closer. There in the middle, you see Ant-Man. And it’s got you exactly what it wanted you to do; get up close and take it in. It’s simple, it’s funny and people loved it. It doesn't follow a trend and as said by Jesús Prudencio, "I like minimalist design and simple lines. I try to convey what I want with a few elements that make an impact and have a lasting message."

And now, for one that’s not terrible, but could have done with a little more attention when designing.

 (Unknown, 2013)

If you don’t spot it, I don’t blame you. But look a bit closer…Either he is a really bad shot or the editing was a bit off. His guns are pointed at the doorframe, yet his head is inside the doorframe. And she seems like her body is outside of the door with her arms in? I don’t know. It’s all a bit much to take in, but when a colleague pointed this out, I couldn’t unsee it. But apparently, it was finally noticed and rectified later. A bit too late if you ask me as we had this on display for a couple of weeks.

 (Unknown, 2013)

This was more like it. More colour and the perspective and proportions fixed. But it still looked very busy and I think the message was lost. I agreed with Allan Peters when he said "Pick one idea and execute it with the fewest elements possible without losing the integrity of your idea." (Peters, 2015).

But that’s just movies, what has changed in advertising? I’m glad you asked. I managed to find a few rather enticing examples.

 (Colle+McVoy, 2010)

This clever interactive poster lets you spin the globe using touch screen technology. It grabs your attention and gains the interest of the inner child within us that wants to play. Why stand at a bus stop doing nothing when you can play?

 (Constable, 2012)

A similar concept to the one before, but using a camera to put the viewer within the advertisement. Again, it’s fun and stimulating.

Posters aren’t just something we look at now. We can be part of it. Drawing us in when we are waiting at the tube or bus station, when we scroll through web pages and Facebook. We can click or tap and be sent exactly where we want to, whatever takes up little time and means you can get straight back to Pokémon Go.

Bibliography

Colle+McVoy, 2010. Caribou Coffee - Globe. [Online]
Available at: https://adsoftheworld.com/media/outdoor/caribou_coffee_globe
[Accessed 26 10 2016].

Constable, L., 2012. Transportation, Travel & Tourism. [Online]
Available at: http://www.aef.com/exhibits/awards/obie_awards/2013/12
[Accessed 26 10 2016].

Peters, A., 2015. 10 Poster Design Tips. [Online]
Available at: http://www.howdesign.com/design-creativity/ten-poster-design-tips/
[Accessed 18 11 2016].

Prudencio, J., 2014. How to design a poster: 10 pro tips [Interview] (10 February 2014).

Unknown, 2013. Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters. [Online]
Available at: http://www.scifi-movies.com/english/poster-0004076-0-hansel-and-gretel-witch-hunters-2013.htm
[Accessed 26 10 2016].

Unknown, 2013. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D. [Online]
Available at: https://miriamruthross.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/hansel-and-gretel-witch-hunters-3d/
[Accessed 26 10 2016].

Unknown, 2015. These new ‘Ant-Man’ posters are brilliant. [Online]
Available at: http://uk.businessinsider.com/new-ant-man-posters-2015-6?r=US&IR=T
[Accessed 26 10 2016].

Project Cybersyn; What happens when we add Beer to Chile?

Chile, September 11th 1973. President Salvador Allende is overthrown after a military coup. General Augusto Pinochet takes power and becomes ruler of Chile. It was time to undo what Allende’s government had set up. What was found during this takeover, was in an office building in Santiago. A hexagonal room filled with chairs, all facing each other.

(Unknown, 2014)

This was Project Cybersyn. Created during a time when the Chilean economy needed stability and structure. It was designed to be a control room to manage multiple business efficiently. The technology was from a business consultant called Stafford Beer and he was brought into Chile in 1971, by Fernando Flores recommendation. It involved a series of 500 telex machines and two mainframe computers. Things like “Factory output, raw material shipments and transport, high levels of absenteeism and other core economic data”(Unknown, 2013) would pass through this room and be sent all over the country, daily.

The room featured chairs with simplistic built in buttons and a lack of everything else. It was designed to make the people in the control room communicate with each other without interference. The intention was to have higher level male bureaucrats in these chairs, hence the button design, as not many men had typing experience like most women.

Salvador Allende’s ruling of Chile was short lived after the CIA supported a bombing of the presidential palace by a military junta. After his final address, “Long live Chile, long live the people, long live the workers,” (Allende, 1973) he took his own life. Project Cybersyn would remain an unused furnished room.

References

Allende, S., 1973. Last Words to the Nation. Chile: s.n.

Medina, E., Unknown. The Cybersyn Revolution. [Online]
Available at: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/04/allende-chile-beer-medina-cybersyn/
[Accessed 25 10 2016].

Unknown, 2013. Allende’s socialist internet. [Online]
Available at: http://www.redpepper.org.uk/allendes-socialist-internet/
[Accessed 18 11 2016].

Unknown, 2014. PROJECT CYBERSYN: Chile & the Socialist Internet. [Online]
Available at: http://www.cybersalon.org/project-cybersyn-chile-the-socialist-internet/
[Accessed 25 10 2016].

Unknown, 2016. Project Cybersyn. [Online]
Available at: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/project-cybersyn/
[Accessed 25 10 2016].

A bit about Alan Turing

A lot of us now know about Alan Turing thanks to a movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch called ‘The Imitation Game’. For any history buffs, he was the genius behind breaking the enigma code, used by the Germans during WWII.

After earning a Mathematics degree from a scholarship at King’s College in Cambridge, and two years at Princeton, he went on to be hired by the British governments code breaking department and in 1939, took on a role at Bletchley Park that would forever cement his name in the history books. It’s here that Alan Turing, along with Gordon Welchman saved countless allied lives by developing ‘the Bombe’, which was “derived from Bomba, a similar machine developed by the Poles shortly before the outbreak of WWII” (Unknown, Unknown). The machine was developed to decipher German communications through an ‘Enigma machine’ during WWII. The Enigma was revolutionary in transcribing coded information as it “allowed an operator to type in a message, then scramble it by using three to five notched wheels, or rotors, which displayed different letters of the alphabet. The receiver needed to know the exact settings of these rotors in order to reconstitute the coded text.” (Lycett, Unknown). What the ‘Bombe’ did was based on the idea of “traffic analysis could be used to predict the text of some parts of the enciphered messages” (Sale, Unknown). Based on the assumption of some letters, settings could be input into the ‘Bombe’ and it could test whether there were any possible Enigma settings, faster then what a group of workers could do. What's now considered as the first computer, shortened the war significantly thus saving countless lives and started a new technological era.

Alan Turing’s personal life was far from troubles, and although he greatly contributed to shortening the war, he was arrested in 1952 for homosexuality which was illegal in Britain at the time. His life tragically ended short in 1954 after he was found dead from cyanide poisoning and an inquest ruled that it was suicide. After a pardoning in 2013, a law was passed “if the Home Office agrees that the offence is no longer an offence under current law, they will automatically be pardoned.” (Unknown, 2016)

(Clements, Unknown)

Here, you can see the machine in action at Bletchley Park in 2012.

References

Clements, K., Unknown. How Alan Turing Cracked The Enigma Code. [Online]
Available at: http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/how-alan-turing-cracked-the-enigma-code
[Accessed 25 10 2016].

Lycett, A., Unknown. More information about: Enigma. [Online]
Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/enigma
[Accessed 25 10 2016].

Sale, T., Unknown. Virtual Wartime Bletchley Park. [Online]
Available at: https://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/virtualbp/tbombe/tbombe.htm
[Accessed 25 10 2016].

Unknown, 2016. 'Alan Turing law': Thousands of gay men to be pardoned. [Online]
Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37711518
[Accessed 25 10 2016].

Unknown, Unknown. Bombe. [Online]
Available at: http://www.cryptomuseum.com/crypto/bombe/
[Accessed 25 10 2016].