Last Few Weeks

There are only a few weeks left until this project is finally over. There are a few developments, a few set backs and just general work needing to be done. 

Here is some more stuff. I've been jumping back and forth for the final designs in thermo/acrylic paint. The categories i've narrowed the ideas into include: photo, abstract, metaphor, icon and pattern. 

As the pigments of the thermo-dyes are powdered I went to the local art shop North Shore Art Supplies and bought a $30 bottle of clear medium to mix it. Hope it works well. As i still dont have the dye, and probably wont until the 13th, ive been working on how to display and make the prototype. The local $2shop is having a 40% off sale (YAY), so im going to run up to grab some large frames. On sunday im in the city helping a friend with prop design, so ill run up to Recycled Garbage too and find something great to print/paint on. Im having difficulty deciding what to print on as it needs to be heat proof and also be able to be touched repeatedly without getting ruined. So some solutions include:

- printed paper/board/card with a plastic overlay

- printed paper/board/card with a glass overlay (frame)

- printed plastic/glass

The heating element has been a bit of a head-scratcher. I was torn between using arduino to control it, but ended up ripping up an electric heating sheet. Which was not fun. Also - RE-USE!

This Sunbeam Electric Blanket was made in New Zealand with 100% Polyester. Its 250volts~1amp~100watts. The PVC plastic used in the wiring & control components is a polyvinyl chloride plastic which is used in everything from pipes, shower curtains, plastic outdoor furniture and childrens' toys. It can be recycled and re-used however it takes a crapload of time and effort to reduce it down and have it degrade. I did have to test is, as i didnt know if it still worked. It does. And heats up so damn quick.

The next couple things I need to do (start, end, middle):

- Designs & individual names

- Name the series

- Visual Identity

- Final product (life cycle analysis - materials & processes)

- Postcard type material to reflect important info for presentation

- Render vids/pics

- Timelapse vid (borrowing a friends' camera and expertise...bribe with candy)

- Possible shopping website 

- Presentation visuals(pdf) & general speeching things

Mentor/Client/Brief

Week 1 down. Week 2 to start.

This weekened i've been busy finishing little things like my resume and portfolio (still have to finish off the cover!) It's just one of those tedious little things that needs to be done and drives you insane. 

Last week I found out that people had already obtained clients and mentors (besides the two tutor we get to interact with twice a week in class). Crap. 

I've scrapped the idea of trying to obtain a client. I think the direction my project is taking is too hypothetical for an energy/water company. I've narrowed down the project to obtain a mentor in the design field. I believe that will be a more suited relationship. 
So what kind of designer?
- Visual Effects
- Motion Graphics
- Information Design
- App design
- Technology Design
- Animation/film

So tomorrow morning I will be trying to make contact with designers in Sydney to get myself a mentor! Of course this will happen once I've trekked it to Kensington to grab myself a "reader" for my other class (and yes i've checked, no readers at central co-op).

The brief is something I started on thursday. My theory class in the morning was cut short due to it being first week and we had nothing much to discuss. So a bunch of us made our way to the library (yeah, scary) because they have changed the cofa student room - and it feels like a dentist's waiting room. Bye bye cofa couches!

The draft is due week two, final in week four. Happily, on the class server Trent knocked up a folder with all the previous years' briefs. So everyone feels just a little less lost - well that and the incredibly intricate lecture we had on monday. So at the moment I have completed about half of the return/reverse brief in dot points and general notes. Not entirely sure whether its due on the server or by hand or to both tutors or what. 

Have a squiz at the outline:

Assessment Task 1
Title: Research and Proposed Conceptual Framework
Duration: 15mins
Presentation Mode: Informal studio pin-up and submission of return brief
Due:
Draft return brief submission - Thursday Week 2
Studio Pin Up and final return brief submission - Week 4
Weighting: 20%

Then it goes into what is being marked....

So I guess I better get on with it. They're only getting dot points at this stage.