CD 204     Multimedia Applications in Design
Instructor: Instr. Andy DECK
Office: 508
Office hours: Wed. 10:30-12:30
e-Mail: andrew.deck@ieu.edu.tr
Phone: 488-8461
Class Hours: Thu. 14:30-16:30
Class room: A 10
Objectives:
An intermediate level course addressing multimedia in design. The course will cover production processes and critical issues relating to both interactive media and motion graphics, including video. Software covered in this class will include a variety of Adobe applications such as Flash and After Effects.
Course Outline:
Week Topic
1 Introduction - vocabulary, basic concepts. ImageReady basics. Animated GIF files. Tweening.
2 Flash basics. File formats.
3 Tweening and morphing in Flash.
4 Importing Illustrator graphics into Flash. Layers. Labels. Triggering movies.
6 Sprites and animation.
5 Buttons, sub-movies. Actionscript.
7 Audio software. Audio editing.
8 Text techniques with After Effects, LiveType.
9 Video techniques with After Effects.
10 Importing video into Flash.
11 Video composition with iMovie
12 Editing effectively with video
Evaluation Percent
Quiz 1 5
Assignments 1-4 40
Quiz 2 10
Midterm project 20
Final project 25
Multipliers and 100-point score equivalents of Letter Grades are shown below:
Score Semester Grade Mult.
90-100 AA 4.0
85-89 BA 3.5
80-84 BB 3.0
75-79 CB 2.5
70-74 CC 2.0
65-69 DC 1.5
60-64 DD 1.0
50-59 FD 0.5
49 and below FF 0.0
Attendance:
Attendance is required at all times. Students are expected to come to class fully prepared to discuss readings and course assignments. Some percentage of your final grade will be based on your attendance and class participation.
Assignments:
Abstract animation project (#1)
Use ImageReady to produce a short animation. Using shapes, lines and colors in motion, create a 15-30 frame animation that expresses qualities of spring time (bahar). It is a kind of abstract motion-painting. Try to avoid awkward "jumps" when the animation cycles back to frame one. The file format for the final animation will be an animated GIF file, but you should submit a CD-ROM with both the GIF file and a PSD file containing your working document. Dimensions for this should be 760x100 or 320x240
Character animation project (#2)
Design two very simple avatars (characters) that will represent you in an animated cartoon. You may conceive of them as your alter egos -- Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. The avatars need not resemble you (or any other human) visually. But you should be able to explain why these avatars represent aspects of you. Place them against a backdrop, like a stage, and make a 100-200 frame animation in which they move around. Suggestions: play with scale, point of view ("camera") and looping. The file format for this document will be SWF, but you should also put the Flash working document, an FLA file, on your CD-ROM. The dimensions for this will be 800x600 or 640x480.
Slide presentation project (#3)
Use Flash to create an interface for a slide presentation about your creative process. What is your creative process? How do you work? Prepare a visual and verbal presentation of your creative process. Are there aspects of your creative process that are unique? It is okay to include ideas and imagery from other non-digital interfaces. Translate (scan?) the source material into the computer and then manipulate it in software programs they are familiar with (Photoshop and Illustrator, for example), or rework the image within Flash itself. This is an imaginative exercise: your design can be humorous or practical. It may differ only subtly from known interfaces or its style may be unrecognizable. Come to class prepared to present your interface for critique. This means describing your work for the class. You may wish to bring a written description.
Non-Linear Text project (Mid-term)
Part I: Create an architectural "flow chart" for your text (you will be given several to choose from). This will break the linear aspect of the time-based storyboard into a spatial arrangement.

Part II: Create a visual diagram using the text content and images. This can be drawn, made with software, or you can use found images and photographs.

Part III: From Parts I and II create an interactive, motion graphic interpretation of the text using Flash. This should be a non-linear arrangement that emphasizes important aspects of the text.

Suspense project (#4)
For this project you will be making a 60-90 second video that builds suspense.
  • Use sound, video editing, and other techniques such as foreshadowing to engage the viewer's imagination
  • Research may include works by film makers such as Alfred Hitchcock
  • You must begin work with a storyboard, which you will present to the class
  • Next you will make a "rough-cut" of the finished work that shows how the timing will work
  • Finally, you will present the final work for critique
Final project - Public Service Announcement
  • For this project you may use iMovie, After Effects, Final Cut, Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, LiveType, etc.
  • The video must serve a practical purpose (public awareness, for example)
  • It must be approximately 20-30 seconds in duration
  • It must combine text, image, and audio to persuade the viewer
  • Finally, come to class prepared to present your video. You will introduce it and then respond to questions afterwards. As preparation, write at least 5 things about your work that you like. Compare it to other, less successful examples.