Project 5: ActionScript Intro

At long last, user-driven interactivity!

Click here to download the .fla, .as, and .swf files for the above project. (2mb download)
Click here to download an even simpler project that demonstrates how to call an instance to the stage.

Here is the link to the code that makes the above little .swf work (this is what's in the .as file).


By Tuesday, February 22, you should be able to get things to happen on a blank stage using an external document class that responds to user input. Here are the handy videos:

The super basics. Hello World with an external document class.




How to create symbol instances on stage using ActionScript.


Adding event listeners and handlers to allow for user input to control stage content. Also. . . sound!

Project 4: Animated Buttons

1. Create a library of 20 buttons.
2. Post them to your blog as an embedded swf. Here's the code:

<object height="320" width="350"> <param value="yourfilename.swf" name="movie">
<embed src="http://yourfileurl.com/yourfilename.swf" height="320" width="350"></embed></object>

3. Due Thursday, February 3.




Here are the demo videos:



REFLECTIVE ESSAY
What is a button? What does it do? How does the design of a button affect its use? What are some design elements used to design buttons? Think of "great buttons in history." What are some of your personal favorites? Don't just think digital/computer buttons; the real world is fair game too!

Uh Oh! Miles won't be in class today!!

But you should still go in and work... and there's good news in it for you! The due date for project 3 is now changed to THURSDAY, JANUARY 27. I'll see you all back in action on Tuesday.

Project 3: Animated Dingbats

1. Create a library of 15 animated dingbats.
2. Due Tuesday, January 25.
3. Post your progress as you go! Here is the code to embed a .swf file in blogger

<object height="320" width="350"> <param value="yourfilename.swf" name="movie">
<embed src="http://yourfileurl.com/yourfilename.swf" height="320" width="350"></embed></object>

In order for the above code to work, you will need to upload your .swf files to a location capable of serving a link to the .swf. You can do this with your SOU account using CyberDuck. See the FAQ folder on the projects drive (or download it here!) for detailed steps on how to do this.

Here are the demo videos to take you through the process of creating animated symbols:



REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Write about three satisfying "interactive" experiences you've had in life. Think about sight, smell, sound, taste, atmosphere, color, texture, drama, sensation, emotion, physicality, sensuousness and all that good stuff. The experiences you describe can come from real life, a video game, a toy, a place, anything. Consider how the experience came together in your mind and why it endures for you. How might you use this experience in your design of interactive media? How much of the experience was conscious, how much subconscious? How do your experiences differ? Do some senses operate at a more animal, instinctive level?

GRADING

Project 2: Dingbat Collages

After I Studied Nature, Miles Inada, 2002

Create 5 collages using instances of your dingbat symbols. Export the collages as jpgs and post them to your blog. You may go back and edit or add to your symbol library as you wish.

Objectives
1. To create cool looking collages. Surprise yourself. Play with abstraction and bold composition. Push scale, overlap and eye direction.
2. To understand instances, symbols, and the library.
3. To develop a modular approach to design common to games and computer applications.

Due Date:
Tuesday, January 18 before class.

 Behold the power of modular design! Screen shot from Nintendo's Donkey Kong.

REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Write two to three clearly written paragraphs on the following.
Describe your collage process. Did the drag and drop simplicity of pulling unlimited copies of an image from your library change your process? Did it change the identity of an image in your mind? Did it distance you from your work? Did you accept the default document size or did you alter the format? Ol' Miles was hoping that this process would free you up from thinking too literally about your work and lead you to do some radical visual experimentation. Were his hopes in vain?

Pop Quiz:
1. How do you zoom in and out, pan, and frame the stage and work area?
2. How do you create a group? How do you ungroup something?
3. What is the infernal object drawing mode? How do you escape its clutches?
4. How do you create a blank symbol?
5. How do you take an existing drawing and make it into a symbol?
6. How do you take an existing drawing with multiple layers and make it into a symbol?
7. How do you move symbols between files?
8. How do you edit a symbol?
9. What happens when you break an instance apart?
10. Explain nested symbols and groups.
11. What are the shortcuts for Brush, Eraser, Lasso, Select, Group, Select All, Deselect

GRADING

Project 1: Dingbats

 

Halloween Dingbats by Samuel Casal

PROJECT 1: DINGBATS
1. Choose a theme of some sort and post a minimum of 10 related images on your blog. The theme can be very loose and fun. For example: "abstract pattern designs," "monsters," "random stuff that I've drawn for no good reason," "famous biscuits of the middle ages," "angry old people," "doodles," "pseudopods," "goat referendum," "body parts and organs," etc. If you get stuck, just use the Miles Inada method and start downloading cool imagery and come up with a theme later! Ha ha! In any event, use the theme to help you, not hinder you. Don't be afraid to let your theme evolve/change as you create your dingbats! These are images to help inspire your work, you do not have to copy them or be true to them in any way whatsoever. Post your images to your blog by Thursday, January 6.

2. Create a Flash Library of 30 "dingbat" symbols related to your theme! I am using the term "dingbats" very loosely here. You can use layers and colors galore.

3. Use your library to create an organized layout of your symbols and export it as .png. Post to your blog by Tuesday, January 11 before the beginning of class.

BLOG
You are required to keep a blog for this course and post all of your lab projects there. If you're new to bloggin', I recommend blogger.com as it's free and easy to use. If you find a service that works better for you, however, by all means, go for it. Yes, you may use a blog you have started before this class, just make sure you label your posts clearly so I don't get cranky. Once you have your blog set up, post your name and your blog's URL as a comment to this post. Do this now, as in today, January 4. Check the comments section of this post for an example of how to do this.

PHOTO
Take a photo of your self and post it in the "about me" section of your blog by Tuesday, January 11.

READING
Each week, you'll have a reading or two and will write a reflective essay related to your project. You'll post your writing assignment to your blog along with your studio work. Your written reflection is 25% of your project grade and must be posted before class on Tuesday, January 11.
Here are your readings/watchings for the first week:
Reflective Essay Writing Tips For College Students
Milton Glaser: Drawing is Thinking

REFLECTIVE ESSAY:
Reflect on the process of creating your dingbats. In two or three clear, precise paragraphs, try to answer at least three of the following questions: Did you come up with a theme before or after you started drawing? Did you consult your references while you drew or did they feel extraneous? Did you start with a plan and stick to it, or were there some unexpected discoveries along the way? What approaches did you take to creating your dingbats and why? What did you think about drawing in Flash--were there particular aspects of the program that came in handy during this project? Did you work back and revise your images as you did more of them? Did the Glaser video help your process or inspire you? Did you work with characters or themes you've worked with before or did you go in a new direction?

DEMO VIDEOS:
How does I draws in Flash you says? Miles shows you how!


GRADING
Here's the rubric I'll be using to assess the project. 5 categories, maximum of 5 points per category. Click the image for a larger view or click here for the .docx file.

 Arms & Ether character dingbats by Miles.