Assignment: The Show

This is the photo taken after the presentation.

Here is the explanation of our presentation

In the presentation, what we were presenting was all about Creative multimedia and cave drawing. We found that cave painting being the mother of creative multimedia does make sense.

For the earlier century, people who lived in cave did many drawing on the wall as Cave Drawing. They recorded down their feeling, daily activity, emotion and even their thought. Many of the words, symbols and even shapes that we are using nowadays had been created by them.

Nowadays, we do documentation, communication and even decoration through internet, handwriting, drawing, recording and etc. We are using multimedia ways to present our feeling, thinking, opinion, emotion and daily activity just like how cave drawing been done.

We have multimedia like Facebook, Blogger, Friendster, Photoshop, Illustrator, and etc nowadays.

Besides, we present this entire thing with creativity, this is also exactly just like how they were presenting their thinking on the wall in past.

Cave Drawing is the mother of Creative Multimedia who creates, leads and produces us a very good medium or tool to convert our information in present.

Assignment: The Final Sketch

Here is the final sketch of our assignment. We were to do it in a graphical way. It is interperated that the caveman (as cave painting) water or fetilize (raise and lead) the seed (creative multimedia). This sketch is came out based on the concept as shown before. The cave painting had raised and led the growth of creative multimedia. We used the same way to illustrate the final sketch as what we've done on our previous work.

Assignment: The Sketches

Before we come out with the final idea, we've first came out with some sketches. These sketches are based on cave painting. As shown above, our concept is that cave painting play the role as a mother of creative multimedia. This has led the creation of our ideation. In this case, associated mind map has helped us a lot in developing an idea. We've applied the lesson that we've learned during classes. The whole process of developing idea is very important as it leads us the right way towards the final sketches.

Here are some sketches with some descriptions:

Cave painting is as a mother who lead her children, the creative multimedia.

Cave painting (the cave man) had raised and fertilized the growth of creative multimedia.

In this sketch, we used the transformation of chinese writing. This is how cave painting been transformed by human's creativity and been used in many kind of media.

This sketch combines the writing from past until present time. The idea is always the same which is to communicate, the only difference is that the medium has changed.

People are inspired by the cave painting to come out with some social networks. Social networks are places for people to communicate.

Posting a status on wall of social network, such as Facebook, in present time is like writing on wall in cave during past time.

These sketches describe what cave painting as the mother has done to lead her children, creative multimedia.

These are some examples of multimedia in present time.

People are inspired by the cave painting to come out with some social networks. Social networks are places for people to communicate.

This sketch describes that presenting the cave painting in the modern ways. This is to show that the cave painting is no longer done by rock.

That's all for the sketches and here is the final ideation on the final sketch.

Assignment: The Method, Associated Mind Map

Before we started on our sketches, we choose to use associated mind map to develope the ideas. In this method, we've randomly picked the word of "mother". We will need to insert this word in our concept and come out with some ideas based on the word. Our concept is that cave painting is the mother of creative multimedia. It led each stage of growth of creative multimedia. This is like a mother raise up her children. Thus, it is said that cave painting is the mother of creative multimedia whom raised and led the growth of creative multimedia.

Assignment: The Mind Map

Logical Mind Map: Creative Multimedia

This is a mind map showing our research on the topic of creative multimedia. We have chosen to use crayon and water color as the tools of completing the mind map. We used the theme of factory process as to represent the process of each stage of creative multimedia.

Focus Mind Map: Cave Painting

According to our research, we have chosen to focus on the topic of cave painting as we thought that cave painting is the beginning of the development of creative multimedia. This topic is interesting to explore and to focus on. After we've done the research and came out with the both logical mind map, we were moving on to the next step which is doing a approximately 800 words of essay based on them.

Assignment: The Essay

Here is the report that we've done on the topic of "Creative Multimedia: Cave Painting". This is the topic that we focused throughout the assignment. We've done research and study on the topic before we came out with the report.

Introduction

How do we define creative multimedia? Creative multimedia is a multi function and purpose medium for us to generate new idea or new product. The meaning of creative is a mental process involving the discovery of new ideas or concepts, new associations of the existing ideas or concepts and it is fueled by the process of either conscious or unconscious insight. Besides, multimedia is meant as both of the media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms. There are many productions done through creative multimedia, such as printed media, video production, audio composing, broadcasting, drawing and etc. It is often said that media is actually a tool or a medium for us to convert our thinking, planning or idea to be preventative and also transform any form of content into useful information. Everyone from filmgoers to Internet users and educationists, student, engineers, and businessman will generate theirs work for content. By the way, the content will be required for a variety of daily needs such as information, learning, skills development, entertainment, telecommunications, and edutainment to news. Nowadays, multimedia is playing an important role in our daily life, and the process of our country developing. Thus, the convergence has resulted in not only a greater demand for creative content, but requires it to sustain commercial viability. According to research, we have discovered that there is a process for creative multimedia including brain storming, mind mapping, doing analysis, stylizing, symbolizing and as well as producing.

Body

Cave paintings are paintings on walls and ceilings of cave. This term is used since prehistoric period. Some theories hold that cave paintings may have been a way of communicating with others during old time. The evidence found suggests that cave painting were not merely decoration of living areas. Besides, there are some theories ascribe them a religious or ceremonial purpose in old days.

This method was practiced since 30,000 years ago. In many of the caves, the ceilings are so low that the archaeologists would have to crawl on their hands and knees to get to the paintings. During those time in upper Paleolithic period, which is also known as stone age (40000 to 10000 BC), most of the findings show that painted works were mostly found on rocks or on floor, walls and even the ceilings of caves. This has led the transformation of cave paintings in the Neolithic period which is also known as New Stone Age. People living in this period practiced the prolific and sophisticated style from the Lascaux and Altamira. These places are significant location where people found most of the cave paintings.

In the history flow of cave paintings, many places were discovered with the paintings showing how people in old period survived. First of all, Altamira in Spain is significant with its first cave painting discovered in the year of 1870. They were painted by the Magdalenian between 16000-9000 BC and those painting are mostly about animals such as bison. Secondly, the Lascaux in France had its cave painting created around 15000 BC. They were composed of many kinds of animals. Some of the animals have been painted over suggesting that different groups of people might have lived in this same cave. Next, the cave of Swimmers in Egypt was found by the Hungarian explorer. This cave contains rock painting images of people swimming. Kakadu National Park in Australia has a large collection of cave paintings. Besides, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in India was located in Madhya Pradesh since Mesolithic period and Medieval period. This shelter exhibit the earliest traces of human life in India. They used green and yellow to depict the lived of people who lived in the cave.

Why did people choose to paint in their cave? Findings showed that this is one of the ways to communicate with each other. Besides, cave painting decorated their living area in the caves. Cave paintings help archeologists to find out the documentation of people’s hunting expedition and their survival skill in those days.

There are certain ways according to research. Some of them crave on stone using sharp tools. Besides, they paint natural objects on walls of the caves. For this they used bones to spray the color on.

Conclusion

How do we relate creative multimedia with cave painting? We believe that cave painting is a kind of creative multimedia. How did people in those days ever thought of painting on cave walls? Were they too bored of doing nothing? We believe that it is the innovative beginning of creativity. During their period, they have created different signs and symbols describing different incident that happened around them. This is a kind of communication in creative way. This is part of our studies of creative multimedia.

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_painting

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0110374/CavePainting.html

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/documents/1137_01.pdf

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab20

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative

Lesson 6: Exploration on analogy metaphor

As what research I've done, here is the definition or description about analogy metaphor.

A metaphor is an analogy between two objects or ideas, conveyed by the use of a word instead of another. Moreover, metaphor also denotes rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via association, comparison and resemblance.

A metaphor is more forceful (active) than an analogy because metaphor asserts two things are the same, whereas analogy implies a difference.

I believe that in design field, metaphor has played a very important role. It can be an inspiration for our design. As a student of majoring in interface design, we always involve metaphor in designing products or interface for our assignment. Undeniable, metaphor make our design more interesting and not too boring. As a designer, we need to be innovative. Thus, choosing metaphor helps a lot. A metaphor doesn't need to be related to our design. In this case, our design will be more innovative and creative in such way.

For the most of my assignment, there is always the same treatment including progress of transforming metaphor into the new design. In this whole process, we need to be creative and innovative enough to transform metaphor into design no matter they are related or not. Our design need to be signature enough so that users still be able to identify the metaphor chosen.

With the understanding of metaphor, lecturer has given us some exercises during lecture period. It was the random association exercises. In this exercise, we were given a situation which is to make a person stop smoking in 6 months time and the random words given was traffic light.

characteristic of a traffic light: metal, dirty and sign.

Association 1: METAL

concept - make it tough to smoke

rationale - The element of metal might be added into the making of the cigarettes. This is to make smokers feel uncomfortable when holding the cigarettes because of the weight. When the smokers feel heavy, they will feel lazy to hold the cigarettes for long period as well. Besides, as the smokers light up the cigarettes, it will be heathen up as well. Hence, with this feature, smokers will feel hot when smoking or holding the cigarettes.

Association 2: DIRTY

concept - to create a "yucky" effect to the cigarette

rationale - To create this "yucky" effect to the cigarettes, the color on the cigarettes bud will faded out when it touches the lips, Hence, the lips of the smokers will be dirty as the color falls on their lips. Even the mouth will be dirty too. Color used would be dark color.

Association 3: SIGN

concept - create a weird and scary sign.

rationale - in this case, i will use the picture / image or sign of a bank note as the cover of the cigarette. This is to awake smokers that they are actually burning money on unhealthy item.

Lesson 5: Juxtaposition

According to the note has been given by lecturer...

Juxtaposition is clearly defined as placing two variable, side by side and their contrast or similarity are shown through comparison. Many creative processes rely on juxtaposition. By juxtaposing two objects or words next to each other, human brain will automatically associate or transfer their meaning. Usually 'turning' something familiar to something less familiar or vice-versa.

Juxtaposition is the arrangement of two or more ideas, characters, actions, settings, phrases, or words side-by side or in similar narrative moments for the purpose of comparison, contrast, rhetorical effect, suspense or character development.

In developing an idea, juxtaposition is believed to be one of the best solution for designers or thinker to solve problem when they are facing difficulties.

During lecture class, we were given some exercises to apply juxtaposition on our design. It was interesting. Things go this way. we were given 2 rows of words which consist 10 words for each row. Then, we were to pick 3 groups of 2 numbers randomly. Then, we were to combine one word from each row to juxtapose them and form a new words. In this task, we need to illustrate a creature telling and describing the new formed juxtaposed words. I found it is interesting where we could come out with many ideas playing with this juxtaposition. It is about picking items r words by random and to form or come out with new things and ideas. This is useful when we come to an end and lack of ideas. It isn't common or familiar, it's creative and innovative.

In this task, I've picked number 25, 99 and 53 which came out in my brain randomly. This number combines words of lighting and root, leaf and rain, fire and wind. Next, we were asked to form a sentence using the words. This is how I formed:

lighting, root - The lighting had just shocked on the root of a plant in my garden.

leaf, rain - The leaf is dancing when the rain drops on it.

fire, wind - The fire goes stronger when wind blows.

Those sentences don't need to be fact, but it must be logical. Emm... interesting~ Juxtaposition is often applied on creative stuff and progress. For instance, progress of making a movie. Making movie can be fantasy, it can be fake. Thus, juxtaposition is an innovative way to develop new ideas. For instance, movie like Avatar. The scenes in the movies are all fake. They don't exist in real world. Some how, they are logical. Some of the audience even believe that some of the scenes are actually exist in real world.

Juxtaposition is actually fun.

Though in certain ways, it doesn't make sense. However, creativity is about having fun, it doesn't matter whether it makes sense or not.

After forming sentences, we were asked to illustrate a picture that tells or describes each sentence.

Next, we create a new word by combining two words. Here are the images I've illustrated that describe or explain the new-formed words.

Later on, we moved to another section which is "How Mergers Go Wrong". Sometimes, we are brainwashed to think the typical way to merge two items together. Well, as a creator or a designer, this is not the attitude that required. We need to think differently than other people. Thus, in order to think that way, in order to create something new that is unfamiliar, here comes the juxtaposition which involve random images association. This is to merge two different items together as a development of ideas. In this task, we were given many animals images. We were required to merge two of the animals and create a new creature that is impossible. It has to be, two different animal that is impossible to survive together. For instance, fish and chicken. As known, fish lives in water whereas chicken lives on ground. If we merge them together how are they suppose to survive together? To place it in water or to place it on ground? Interesting, isn't it?

I'd chosen to merge...

fish and rabbit, one can survive in water only whereas another one lives on ground.

eagle and giraffe, one flying in sky whereas another one living on ground.

Hope I got it right.

Next, we were asked to make sentences describing love using chili. Here goes my sentence:

Love is like a chili, it spices up my life.

You will never know how spicy it would be until you've tasted it.

Then, the other one is describing the opposite gender using mortar and pastel:

Men are like mortal and pastel as they mess things up.

No offence.

Lesson 4: Associated Mind Map

First of all, let me share a video in YouTube with you guys~

A video about Mind Mapping with Tony Buzan

This link is a video on explaining mind map from Tony Buzan, he has mastered the techniques of mind mapping.

What is a mind map? What is it for?

A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea.

It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making and writing.

The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the concepts, and are classified into groupings, branches, or areas, with the goal of representing semantic or other connections between portions of information.

Mind maps may also aid recall of existing memories.

By representing ideas in a radial, graphical, non-linear manner, mind maps encourage a brainstorming approach to planning and organizational tasks. The branches of a mind map represent hierarchical tree structure.

The mind map can be contrasted with the similar idea of concept mapping. The former is based on radial hierarchies and tree structures denoting relationships with a central governing concept.

Characteristics of a mind map:

Mind maps are, by definition, a graphical method of taking notes. The visual basis of them helps one to distinguish words or ideas, often with colors and symbols. They generally take a hierarchical or tree branch format, with ideas branching into their subsections. Mind maps allow for greater creativity when recording ideas and information, as well as allowing the note-taker to associate words with visual representations. Mind maps and concept maps are different in that mind maps focus on only one word or idea, whereas concept maps connect multiple words or ideas.

So, have a clear thought on mind map?

Let see some example...

Item linked might not be related to the center key word, that's the idea of associated mind map.

Lesson 3: Method of Creative Thinking

Creative thinking, as I define, is a specific thought processes which improve the ability of creative. Being in an optimal state of mind for generating new ideas. Besides, it is to think deliberately in ways that improve the likelihood of new thoughts occurring and to maximize the ability of the brain to think of new ideas. The ability to think of original, diverse and elaborate ideas. Creative thinking is a series of mental actions which produce changes and developments of thought. This is the process of exploring multiple avenues of actions or thoughts.

In an activity like problem solving, both kinds of thinking are important to us. First, we must analyze the problem; then we must generate possible solutions; next we must choose and implement the best solution; and finally, we must evaluate the effectiveness of the solution. As you can see, this process reveals an alternation between the two kinds of thinking, critical and creative. In practice, both kinds of thinking operate together much of the time and are not really independent of each other.

What is CREATIVITY?

Creativity is an ABILITY.

Creativity is an ATTITUDE.

Creativity is a PROCESS.

According to my research on http://www.virtualsalt.com/crebook1.htm, it is written that several methods have been identified for producing creative results. Here listed the five classic one:

• Evolution >

This is the method of incremental improvement.

New ideas stem from other ideas.

New solution from previous ones.

The new ones are slightly improved over the old ones. Many of the very sophisticated things we enjoy today developed through a long period of constant incrementation. Making something a little better here, a little better there gradually makes it something a lot better--even entirely different from the original.

• Synthesis >

With this method, two or more existing ideas are combined into a third, new idea. Combining the ideas of a magazine and an audio tape gives the idea of a magazine you can listen to, one useful for blind people or freeway commuters.

• Revolution >

Sometimes the best new idea is a completely different one, an marked change from the previous ones.

• Reapplication >

Look at something old in a new way. Go beyond labels. Unfixate, remove prejudices, expectations and assumptions and discover how something can be reapplied. The key is to see beyond the previous or stated applications for some idea, solution, or thing and to see what other application is possible.

• Changing Direction

Many creative breakthroughs occur when attention is shifted from one angle of a problem to another. This is sometimes called creative insight.

Lesson 2: Novelty, Creativity, Innovation and Invention

first of all, lets define the term...

Novelty: is the quality of bing new, it also refers to something novel which is striking, original or unusual. it can refers to a mere innovation.

here are some interesting novelty design product:

Creativity: as mentioned before!!

here are some interesting creative design product:

Innovation: is a new way of doing something or 'new stuff that is made useful'. it may refer to incremental and emergent or radical and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes or organizations. em........

Invention: is a new composition, device, or process. an invention may be derived from a pre-existing model or idea. it could be independently conceived in which case it may be a radical breakthrough. invention often extend the boundaries of human knowledge or experience. it is a highly creative process.

as a future designer, we need to apply all this element in our design as to make our work different from others.

in class, the lecturer had taken a metal rode and asked us what can we do with that. it could be a weapon, a measuring tool and so on.... em.... it was interesting especially the way he took the metal rode. (frankly, he looked like a gangster, lol) then, he asked who around us are creative. some said a beggar, some said his mother, and some even said a prostitute, what a creative answer.

in my words, i thought that being creative is to think differently from others. an inventor is creative as they invent things. we often think hard to be creative. we often think that being creative isn't easy. we often think too much of being creative. so... is being creative hard? i believe that we do create something new everyday. but we don't force ourselves to do everything in different or creative way as it is rather tiring. ha~ creativity isn't a gift, isn't a talent either. it is a thinking that combine things or information that we've gone through in our entire life. we observe everyday as to gather informations. thus, this makes us to think, to ponder, then our creativity been activated and motivated. people often think that it is hard to be creative, yet everyone is creative enough to be a designer or even an inventor as human being thinks. that is how the whole process works. observe, think, create..... (in my own words la)

Lesson 1: Defining Creativity

how do we define CREATIVITY?

creativity is...

> a mental and social process involving the discovery of new ideas or concepts

> new associations of the creative mind between existing idea or concepts

in class, we were taught about the differences between a thinker and an intelligent person. so, here's something that worth to ponder about. which element is related to the topic, creativity?

in my words, a thinker is creative. as they think, they create new things in their mind. to create new stuff is the point for them to think, isn't it? what about an intelligent person? they are intelligent as in they collect informations in their mind and process them when needed. this doesn't mean they think and create something new. they use informations that are already exist and seldom they create something creative.

anyway, its interesting to differentiate between a thinker and an intelligent person....

the thinker

so, Albert Einstein is a thinker or an intelligent person?

anyway, he is creative in this picture~