the clip: stop motion final

My final product! My stop motion follows a girl who is being constantly influenced by advertisements to buy new things. I wanted to achieve a style that sort of mocked the advertising industry with over exaggerated emotions and actions. It is a small look at the wider picture of how society is influenced by design constantly. Enjoy.

Credit:

After being told by our tutor that we could use music and sound from artists without permission as it was not for profits, I thought that the instrumental of the track used fit perfectly with my idea and communicated the idea of consumerism well. I cropped the clip to fit my stop motion well.

Music: 

Arulpragasam, M. M., Headon, T., Jones, M., Pentz, W., Simonon, P., & Strummer, J. (2008). Paper Planes [Recorded by M.I.A]. On Kala [CD]. United Kingdom: XL Recordings.

Pictures (in order of appearance):

     Dion Archibald. (2005). Sydney city - pen drawing. Retrieved from http://www.dionarchibald.com/sydney/drawings/sydney-city.htm

      Tip Top Tens. (2012).  Top 10 simulation games for the PC. Retrieved from http://www.tiptoptens.com/2011/09/22/top-10-best-simulation-games-for-the-pc/

     Rackner, V. (2012). Get off the sugar roller coaster [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://ahealthy2012.com/sugar-get-off-the-roller-coaster/

     Extreme all Extreme. (2012). Bonus Day: GNC billboards [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://finaltemp108.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/bonus-day-gnc-your-solution.html

     Fitness Showcase.  (2012).  True fitness. Retrieved from http://fitness-store.dmsgroup.co/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=2

     Binside TV. (2009). Binside TV new years eve [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://binside.typepad.com/binside_tv/2009/01/happy-new-year.html

the clip: development

fun times cropping all of the photos..

the clip: stop motion test

First look at putting my pictures together.

I'm not entirely happy with the result as I think it is a bit jumpy. I might need to go back and take more photos, but that will be a missssssion to get the same lighting etc.

the clip: design standpoint

I have an immense fascination on how society is impacted by the world around us. A large part of what we are effected by is from what we see - essentially, by design. As a designer, I want to gain an in-depth understanding of how design can influence a person physically and mentally, and how it has shaped and will shape our world. This idea cohesively joins with my keen interest in marketing and advertising which I hope to utilise my design skills in. 

I see advertising and design as a way of mind control - a certain object projects different emotions and ideas. This concept was thoroughly explored in Russian Constructivism where designers took a strong political standpoint which was communicated through their design (Reid, 2007). 

Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge,  El Lissitzky, 1919

The image to the right, by El Lissitzsky in 1919, strongly portrays political and military ideas, key components of the national identity of Russia. This is conveyed through the use of color and geographic shapes - the red wedge is literally penetrating the white giving a sense of power to the piece. In this, design is used to boost viewers national pride and omit strength in the nation. (Hartley, 2003)

I believe advertising today intellectually uses design to connect certain images with their products. Through advertising, we are fed ideas that a certain product will change our image or increase our happiness, sometimes not even knowing it. I think that this use of design has serious implications on our society leading to higher consumerism, materialism and lower self esteem. However, this is essentially why I want to study design - I want to be able to know exactly how I can market something to promote a specific image to a specific audience - manipulating and image to excrete certain thoughts and emotions. It is in this that I believe is the true essence of great design.

Reference List:

Hartley, J. (2003) A Short History of Cultural Studies. SAGE Publications Ltd, London.

Reid, S. E. (2007). Imagine no possessions: The Socialist Objects of Russian Constrictivism. Journal of design history, 20, 75. doi: 10.1093/jdh/epl043.

locovisual: old saint paul's

Old Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington, New Zealand.

interior. (New Zealand Historic Places Trust, 2008)

Old Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington, proudly showcases key elements of Gothic revival design. The overall design creates a strong moral code, perfectly depicting the true essence of the style. 

Old Saint Paul's was built in 1866 and was designed by Frederick Thatcher. As Gothic revival increased in popularity in the 19th Century, the style was "identified with a stable and uncorrupted society" (Gere & Whiteway, 1994). The church is made out of native woods such as Totara, Rimu, Matai and Kauri. Wood was used in Gothic revival to produce a stable and durable structure which then reflects these qualities upon society. According to Kenneth Clark, this theme of grandness was carried by the pointed roofs and high arches which create a connection to the heavens (1974, p. 94). 

stained glass windows depict biblical stories.
(123RF, 2011)

The Gothic revival style is carried throughout the building in a variety of ways. Adorned with quatrefoils and trefoils, key elements of the design symbolising unity, the church exhibits how simple ornamentation was used in an honest way. John Ruskin, critic of Gothic revival, interpreted the style to be honest and well built and this is communicated in the direct and functional structure of the church which is true to its colonies materials and still intricately crafted  (2003). David Kernohan describes the churches design as "magnificent, like the upturned hill  of a galleon" (McLean, 2002, p. 76).

Furthermore, Old Saint Paul's is decorated with symbols which celebrate Wellington's history. Stained glass windows depict biblical scenes and comemorate former parishioners while dedications to soldiers of the 20th Century wars are splayed inside the interior walls (Moore, 1970). These tributes to those who have influenced Wellington in this exemplary display of the beautiful style, makes Old Saint Paul's an important part of Wellington and New Zealand architecture. 

Reference List:

   123RF. (2011) Stained Glass Window - Old St. Paul's, Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved from  http://www.123rf.com/photo_3599761_stained-glass-window--old-st-paul-s-wellington-new-zealand.html

   Clark, Kenneth. (1974). The Gothic revival : an essay on the history of taste (4^th ed). London, England: John Murray.

   Gere, C., & Whiteway. (1994).  M. Nineteenth Century Design From Pugin to Mackintosh. New York, United States of America: Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated.

   John Ruskin. (2003) "The Nature of Gothic," excerpted in Gorman, C. The Industrial Design Reader (pp.18-20). New York, United States of America: Allworth Press.

   McLean, Gavin. (2002) 100 Historic Places in New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers Ltd.

   Moore, Dallas. (1970)  Old St. Paul's: the first hundred years. Wellington,  New Zealand: A R. Shearer, Government Printer. 

   New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga. (2008) Old St. Paul's - history. Retrieved from http://www.historicplaces.org.nz/en/placesToVisit/lowerNorthIsland/oldStPauls/history.aspx