Following on from what we did in Screen Culture last session, Digital Theory & Aesthetics takes a more focused look at some of the theory involved with creative practice in the digital arts.
Being one of those ‘course outline walkthrough’ classes, we did little more than that, with the exception of watching a couple of examples of technology-based artworks…
This is the big one. Digital Studio is the first semester lead-up to the final semester subject, Professional Portfolio, which together form our major project, not just for the year – but for the entire course.
Whilst much of the creation of the final work will happen during Professional Portfolio, it’s likely that Digital Studio will prove to be the most important class. It’s where we will develop our ideas, do research and create developmental designs. This was a point driven home in the lecture – the idea should drive the medium, not the other way around.
I think this is only true to a point. Of course, having a great idea, or at least excellent content is more important than using the latest and greatest technology, but as was also impressed upon us during class – this project is going to be a big chunk of our portfolio and how we will sell ourselves to prospective clients or employers. There’s no reason for me to spend 6 months with my head in Maya if I never want to see that program again. I need to present myself via the medium I want to work with in the future.
Whatever the project, we’ll be learning some important ‘real world’ skills during this class, and creating production schedules, mapping production costs and getting an idea of what our time is worth when working on a creative project – a source of confusion and frustration for anyone starting out in the creative industry.
No one seems interested in the fine print. Until it bites them in the arse. Image Gizmodo.
Class
This is a subject I have been looking forward to, and especially useful for our final undergrad year. Professional Practice looks at some of the drier – but nonetheless extremely important – realities when working in creative industries.
Stepping out of the lecture theatre, I overheard the whining toward a theory-based subject that by this stage is getting familiar… and tiresome. I guess it’s my (limited) experience doing freelance design that has made me so keen to learn about contracts, copyright, intellectual property and how to present yourself well. Learning through experience might be important, but at times it’s pretty painful.
It wasn’t just paperwork that held my attention though. Our lecturer made the point that as Australians, we shy away from calling ourselves artists in the creative industry. I can relate to that. This sparked thoughts about what title I should give myself when people ask that dreaded question: “So, what do you do?”.
It’s finally happened: I’ve taken the first steps into the world of microcontrollers, by buying an Arduino Starter Kit. It’s fair to say I’m stupidly excited. As much fun as it is wielding around Wii remotes and playing with PS3 cameras, you get a sense with Arduino that projects have far greater (if any) boundaries.
There is some reason behind me nerding out with yet another toy though: there are plans in the works to create an interactive installation at the next Finders Keepers markets. More on that once we sign off on the project, but I’m excited enough about it now to post a picture of an LED on my blog.
In the meantime, I’m working my way through the excellent Making Things Talk, by Tom Igoe. For anyone interested in these types of projects, but totally not sure where to begin, I definitely recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book.
I certainly haven’t saved the best of 2009 for last. Screen Culture didn’t deliver me marks as high as my other subjects, but I’m not really sure why.
I’m not a fan of complaining about lecturers/tutors through a one-way forum like my blog, but the lack of feedback (even when requested, all semester) from this teacher was pretty diabolical. Therefore, I can’t really tell you where I went wrong – or even right for that matter.
I chose Immersion as my paper topic, for obvious reasons. Using this Media Art Net article, as well as Rokeby’s Very Nervous System and Kreuger’s VideoPlace as kicking-off points, here’s the result. Let’s move right along…
As I’m returning to uni for 2010 tomorrow, I thought it might be best to finish off the last couple of entries from 2009. Wow, this is embarrassingly late.
I’m probably not able to recall an accurate description of my process at this stage, so I should probably let the work tell the story…
Along with applications for designers and artists, we’re now accepting expressions of interest from musicians of all shapes and sizes – but only until April 2nd, 2010. If you’re interested, get in touch with a short paragraph about yourself and your music, and a link to some of your tunes online. Contact details are here.
The frighteningly misogynistic Don Draper from AMC’s Mad Men.
Personally, I’m in the Bill Hicks camp when it comes to advertising. You don’t have to dig too far through this blog to find some of my middle-class, white, uneducated rantings on the subject. But because of my vocation (and the previous list of adjectives), it’s likely I’ll find myself entrapped in at least a small part of this world at some point in my career. Why? Because it (mostly) pays and I’m comfortable with selling out.
And paying is the big question leading into my final year of undergrad. Just what is it that I am going to do to pay the bills? ‘Designer’ or ‘digital artist’ is such a horribly non-specific job title. For the most part it seems that ’software operator’ is far more apt and doesn’t attempt to cynically hide the soul-destroying nature of the designer/client relationship. Whilst I have done a small amount of graphic work in the past, I have no real interest in pursuing this for the rest of my days, and need to find some kind of an angle to sell my favoured geek-based work.
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I certainly haven’t saved the best of 2009 for last. 
