The Design Process

Multimedia can be seen all around us and it is used in everyday life ranging from game you’ve just been playing to that photograph on your wall. Within this essay I intend to examine three different design processes which I will then discuss and argue the design methodologies and the process undertaken in each specific area. In design there are four specific steps to creating the final product, these are……… These four steps will be used not only in pratice but demonstrated further in the three fields, one shot movie, interactive narrative and stop animation. I also aim to demonstrate practical and theoretical understanding of each individual design.


The first design process was to produce a one shot movie. The movie was to last between 2-5 minutes and restricted by a few rules to be produced as part of a group, such as remaining on the tripod at all times. A traditional one shot movie consists of one take so everything must go prefect the whole way through. The first process was discovering. Which involved mind mapping ideas and discussing thoughts between the group. We researched professional one shot movies to gain inspiration to develop our own ideas. By doing this we were able to decide our target audience and what aspects we would need to include to be able to make it successful.
After we had decided on one idea, we were then able to move on to the second process, Developing. This stage involved developing our ideas further and the planning. In our work, we decided that the best genre to use for our script would be horror. The specific genre of horror would not only keep the viewer on edge but interested throughout the narrative. When the storyline had been developed and completed we had to find an appropriate location to film it. The plot would involve a protagonist in the form of an unusual suspect with conflict to thicken the plot. Our group was fortunate and took the opportunity to film our one shot movie in the ‘Galleries of Justice’. It was suitable for us as the storyline was focused in a court room. Being able to shoot in a real court room made our movie look more realistic allowing the audience to immediately realise what the story was about. After the actual shooting of the movie, we were able to move onto the next stage; Defining. Refining the movie and capturing the best takes lead on to editing it to allow smoother running. In doing so this would increase the picture and sound quality to ensure maximum potential for the viewer. We added sound effects, for example, footsteps. In addition to this we added an opening title and ending credits. Finally the fourth process to the creating was Delivering. To do this we simply posted the finished video on YouTube. This completed the processes of making a one shot movie. I believe the movie will have a different impact on different viewers, as each person has different opinions and interpretations. The movie will give the audience entertainment, whilst at the same time giving them the opportunity to experience sentencing through the eyes of a criminal, which isn’t portrayed very often. It is know that everybody has there own way or method of doing tasks. In design there are a Varity of different ways to tackle the hurdles of design. These four methodologies don’t just depend on the style of the designer but also can be down to the brief. For this particular task I used the prototyping by firstly as a team creating a first version and developing on this idea. It proved a very successful method for this project. As it gave me an indication of what needed to be done and helped develop skills in using the equipment in filming the first prototype.


Interactive narrative was the module which I set forward to create an illustrative story. I began by researching into this particular sector, looking at past and present pieces of work, inspiring ideas of my own. This involved looking at a range of artist and designers. I developed my ideas and thoughts, by drawing mind maps and writing plots and conflicts for narrative ideas. When I had finished initial development, I created a structure map of the initial plot, which was to have numerous boxes on a table for the participant to interactive with deciding the route and fate of the story.
I extended this further adding depth and character to the narrative making a unique adventure with the viewer having the power to control the outcome. The interactive narrative would be created using Flash CS3.The acceptance test was a key goal for my project to pass whilst being functional and working. With my ideas and plans being individual and different, I decide the most appropriate form of design would be illustration rather than photography. Illustration proved more of a asset to the project giving me more freedom to work with. I designed my character for the narrative making an imaginative creature to play the roles in each unique path of the story.

Once I had drawn the illustrations and used a template with the code, I got numerous people to test the usability of my interactive narrative and to guarantee it was fit for purpose. This proved very useful and I gained some great feedback and noticed specific things to change to make it work better and run smoothly. I fixed the problems and checked it again to ensure the final design worked perfectly. I considered awareness whilst looking at the audience interaction with the genre archetype. The interactive narrative produced using flash worked well. After the target audience tried out the narrative and give critical criticism and feedback, I had strong foundations on which to refine and develop it to warrant the final design was at its peek.
Interactive narrative was finished using flash and was completed in a unique and original form. I personally believed it would be stronger and give more freedom to the plot if it was created using illustrations rather than photography. This proved a challenge to get all the images to match, but after a while I managed to invented Mlob; a character to fulfil the audiences demands and keeps the attention of the viewer. It had the affect to keep participants interested and at the same time involved. It worked well in many aspects, it succeeded in being interactive, it was new and different with a range of biro style drawings which were detailed whilst having a bold effect.



The project was to create a stop animation. As I had made animations in the past, I was at an advantage as I had some knowledge and ideas already. I began research by watching multiple animations, both old and new, which inspired ideas and triggered my thoughts, and then I created a mind map and sketched out some initial ideas. This research was then further improved with practicing a trial run with a camera, which enabled me to perfect the techniques I intended to use. Also by doing this I was able to see what worked best and what didn’t, and if it fitted the genre and expectations of its audience. One idea I had, which I then went onto use for my final animation, involved two toy figures that came to life. Once the photographs had been taken, I was able to refine them, and then try out numerous techniques and filters. In this I explored and enquired through the development and editing of my photography, with the basis of innovative and novel ideas. When this task was completed, I tested it to ensure that it would pass the acceptance test and fitted the correct genre. After gathering feedback and useful constructive criticism off candidates I went onto do further developments to finalise the stop animation. The design of my animation received good feedback and managed to pass the acceptance test. The gathering of feedback concluded the completion of my stop animation. With the toy figures coming to life and becoming characters, it made the stop animation interesting to its audience.

Design Practice one I followed a four step process which I used for all three areas. There was little room for error or fault. As I found through prativce and using the method there wasn’t any weak part of the process. If you did the sufficient amount and put in the effort needed it would ensure success. If there where faults or weakness in the piece of work I believe these to be substantially low due to the complex method taken in the process. It is arguable with all three areas there may be weak parts too a product but is that because there is parts of it which are so strong and powerful they are weak in comparison. Or is this due to the nature of the piece and the particular view/personality of the person. What one person likes about a style or design another person could hate. In the module I had the option to approach the course in multiple ways. I discovered the many different approaches to a design brief that could be taken. I believe that out of the four methodologies, that Market Research is the most appropriate process for this type of project, whilst at the same time being a personal favourite. I found this from the strengths of it and the beneficial aspects to my own personal work pattern. The four methodologies are open source, prototyping, market research and reverse engineering. All had there own benefits in different ways fitting a certain way of working. It could be argued that Prototyping and Market Research are the best ways to approach this project; however in my own personal opinion I believe that Market Research is more appropriate. This was the methodology I undertook for the stop animation, as after reading the brief , I believed it to not only be the best path to take, but the most appropriate for this area as it would be practically impossible as well as unsuccessful to do reverse engineering. Open source would prove too time consuming for the short deadline. In the production I gave new meaning through a sequential interaction with the genre archetype.
To conclude I found the four step process had a positive impact on my working pattern. The particular work I did in the three fields I believe to have been a success and produced to high standard by using a inimitable design and structure to make them original whilst using multimedia techniques to compose functionality. Throughout the course I establish the most efficient and appropriate methodology market research.