Week Three Creativity & Concept

The tasks that we took part in today, were similar to the tasks that we had to take part in last week. Last week we discussed "Divergent Thinking and Convergent Thinking", once we understood the difference between the two. We then used Edward De Bono's concept extraction, we were asked to come up with ideas how to change the seminar room. We were allowed to change the colour, add items, take away items etc. Once everyone in the class came up with ideas, we then got into groups of two's and three's and decided whether the things we came up with where 'Ideas or Concepts'. Once we had decided which items were concepts and ideas, we then placed the on the walls around the room concepts were on the top and ideas were on the bottom. Some of the concepts already had ideas underneath them and some didn't. Once all our original concepts and ideas were up, we then came up with ideas that would go with the concept that didn't have an ideas in the first place and the same for the ideas that didn't have a concept to start with.


Today we had a number of tasks to carry out, to start the day we were placed into groups 1-10. I was placed into group number 8 with two other members, we had about seven tasks throughout the morning. All seven tasks were similar, in the first and second task we were given paper and two images, the two images we received in the first task was an image of a roll of sellotape and an image of a person with a paint brush and tin. Once we had written all the things that came to mind when seeing these images, we were then asked to come up with a product that could be used in the screen school. The image we came up with was a spray which sprayed out LCD film, when you sprayed it onto a surface a computer screen would appear you could use your mobile phone as the keyboard. 


The two images that we received for the second task were; a spoon and money notes/coins, we had to do the same as the first task. The idea we came up with after looking at the images was a cash machine to get out as much money as you wanted at anytime and once you had got your money out you would get a free ice cream each time.


On the third task it changed slightly instead of two images we were given a piece of paper with a gird full of word, across the top of the gird and down the left hand side where numbers we had to pick two numbers we chose 1 and 6. In the box of 1 and 6 were a number of words and like before we had to come up with an idea of a product using the words in the gird. The idea that we came up with from the words was; a seasonal room that changes seasons opposite from the one it is at present. When it's summer the room would have fake snow and all winter things. When its winter the room would have a sun in and would be decorated like a desert. When it's autumn the room would be decorated like spring and would smell of freshly cut grass. Finally when it's would spring the room would be like autumn soft with leafs on the floor. The fourth task was the same as the third its just we swapped grids with another group, with the words on this grid we came up with an ideas of a chair like the one that is used on 'Friends'. We decided to call the chair a "Chood" the chair had grabber, coffee table, brief case attached to the sides and also it had a small wardrobe in the back, also it had little cameras to take pictures of whats behind the chair to make the chair blend into the surroundings. The chair is also a mood chair which changed colour with your mood, it also reclines.

The fifth and six tasks were similar we were given "Dream Boxes" which have a number of images inside. In the first dream box we had a look at the images and from the images we had to come up with an object/product to use in the screen school. The idea we came up with was a 4D virtual experience within a room at the screen school the room would have screens all around, the room would take you to time or place you want to go to, the experience would make you feel like you were there it would make people learn more effectively. In the second dream box we looked at the images and came up with a floating eye that you could watch everything that happens around you, we found it hard to come up with ideas from the images we were given in this box.

The final task we were asked to pick our best idea that we came up with, we chose the 4D experience idea because it could be done. We were then asked to explain the plus to this idea - more people would enjoy learning this way, a minus to this idea would be its expensive to create and an interesting point of this idea which would be to see how many people would like to learn this way all the time. Once we had explained the PMI of the idea the whole class was then asked to vote on their favourite idea apart from their own, our idea came third from the top ! 

Week Three Production Practice

In the second week of production practice we were asked to come up with an idea for a storyboard we had to create. As a group we came up with an idea of speed date.

Our storyboard was called Speed Dating, the name and idea was simple but effective, within the storyboard we decided to use various camera shots and angles. The main idea was that a man was going to meet his girlfriend but on his way, he sees her with another man he then become jealous of the other man. He automatically thinks she is either cheating on him or has left him. The man then decides to go speed dating. After seeing a couple of women who don't take his fancy, he decides to leave as he leaves he sees his girlfriend working there. His girlfriend reveals that she met up with the man she was seen with for the job at the speed dating event. They make up and are together again.

I enjoyed working with the group I am in, I think we all worked really well as a team.

Once we had handed in our storyboard we were then set our second task which is to create a short film called "People on the move", as a group we have decided we are going to have a production meeting one day this week. This will be when we talk about ideas we have for the film.

Week Two - Contemporary Media Issues

Our second lesson of Contemporary Media Issues was all about using Prezi. Prezi is a software designed for users to present their work, points and ideas. I think Prezi attracts viewers attention more than boring 'PowerPoint'.


The previous week we had been asked to bring in an object that has some personal value to us. I decided I would bring my digital camera, which I received as a present from a Christmas or so ago. I chose my digital camera as it holds alot of memories of close family and friends, their memories that could be kept forever. When sad just looking at some of the images on the camera makes me smile! Thinking about the activity we were doing in the image.

Within the class we were put into groups of about 5 people, we were then given sheets of paper to write about how the objects were important to us and what links all our objects together. Other members within my group brought; a jacket, a camcorder, a receipt from a holiday and also an iPod. As a groups we noticed that there was a link between the camera, camcorder and iPod as they are all technology. We then realised that all the objects had links to relationships; friends/family. We created a timeline to show how long each of us has had the objects for and also to link the objects together using relationships. With the information we had gathered about each other, we were told to create a presentation to show this information to the rest of the class, we would create this presentation using Prezi.

When starting to create the presentation, we realised that none of us in the group had never used Prezi before. Once we had the basics explained to use to became easy enough to use. As a group we decided we would find images of; the camera, camcorder, iPod and coat on the Internet using 'Google'. We decided that the receipt would have to be scanned onto the computer, once we had all the images we placed them onto the presentation. The images from the Internet had to be edited using photoshop, once they had been edited they were then placed onto the presentation. Next to the images we placed our points about the objects. To connect all the objects together on Prezi, we added paths to each object. Once we had finished creating our presentation we then presented it to the rest of the class.

Through the whole class there where a number of groups who also presented their presentation, each was different, some groups used 'YouTube' clips to explain their object more. Some groups used music in the background to make their presentation to stand out to the rest of the class.