For the first time in this class, I had some prior knowledge of the software we were using. But I still learned a lot more like how to use transitions and effects. I also learned how to add music from a different software into premier pro which is valuable knowledge for different projects I may do in the future. I like the use of transitions and effects, so learning that there were so many different ones was also valuable and I appreciate learning that.

What Was Easy?

The easiest part of this project was moving my video files to premier pro, and editing my clips. I have prior knowledge of arranging clips and cutting them, so I found this part of the project perfect and easy to move through.

What Was Challenging?

The most challenging part was figuring out an effect on a clip that would work well. I found that most of the effects were overbearing, and just too much, so I tried to edit a bunch of setting to change it, and just couldn’t totally figure it out. I did get some help from a classmate tho, and I did find one that I could use, and be happy with.

How Could Your Submission Be Improved?

I feel really happy with the product I made, and wouldn’t change very many things about it. A few things I would change in the future were the number of transitions I used. I was kind of experimenting when I was using them, and after the fact realized it may be too many. Just makes the transitions look sloppy because they weren’t consistent. Also, the music isn’t great for my emotion, so could potentially change the emotion I would use.

How could the professor improve the assignment for the next class?

I feel the assignment slides were perfect and explained well. I didn’t find many issues with how to arrange them or complete the instructions. Think it worked well.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?

Video editing/Moviemaking can be used in the future when making portfolios or other projects, and each and everything I learned can be used. Biggest thing I can use is the animated titles that I made. I feel like this is a practical usage, and can be found in many fields.

How did a specific reading or video found outside of class inspire or help you?

I watched a youtube video on the best tips for premier pro. This video went over in simple words the nest ways to utilize the software, which directly influenced my final project.

Pictures

Like the other projects, this was once again a majority learning experience for me. When the Professor started talking about the project, I was rolling my eyes nervously at how I would ever make my own video game. Thankfully it was more straightforward than I thought. The biggest thing I learned in this project was to have confidence in my abilities in this class. I didn’t face many struggles in making the game and I have more confidence after completing the entire project. I also learned what a zip file is. This will be useful as I continue my schooling, if projects are too big to submit, I now know what to do.

What Was Easy?

The easiest part of this project was creating the scenery for my game. Involved in the scenery there was multiple packs, and edits needed, but I felt like I did them with ease. Once I found where the exact material I needed was, all I had to do was adjust the size, and click where I wanted the material to be.

What Was Challenging?

The most challenging parts by far was the end process of making the game. For a while I couldn’t figure out how to increase the speed of my AI, and how to exactly export the game. Eventually I found a toggle to increase the speed of my character which helped a lot to make the game playable. For exporting, I had to go over the slides a few times, as I kept receiving error messages, but all in all in ended up working.

How Could Your Submission Be Improved?

I feel really happy with the product I made, and wouldn’t change very many things about it. One thing I noticed that could use some more time on it have my path goes around my map. I feel like my path is more random, than actually having a purposeful route, which may make it feel worse when going around the map.

How could the professor improve the assignment for the next class?

I feel like the assignment was given pretty well, but I do believe there was a lot of difficulties in downloading, and sending off the game. These were fixed later on, but this caused some un-neeeded confusion for the assignment.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?

This project used a lot of design, so I feel like I could use my new found knowledge of design in future pieces of work. Art is not my strong suit, but I feel this project helped improve my artistic creativity.

How did a specific reading or video found outside of class  inspire or help you?

The first thing that came to my mind after the presentation on what we would have to do was Minecraft. So I watched some Minecraft videos to see what layouts they did for the environment, and tried to model mine after that. I feel like that inspiration helped me move forward.

Pictures

https://www.figma.com/file/L1YOK9CUbPpgU1hiIcZPc6/dma201-project2-OwenFaris?node-id=0%3A1

https://www.figma.com/proto/L1YOK9CUbPpgU1hiIcZPc6/dma201-project2-OwenFaris?node-id=2%3A6&scaling=min-zoom&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node-id=2%3A3&show-proto-sidebar=1

Pre Website Sketch

What did you learn?

Just like the last project everything I did to make this website was a learning experience for me. I have never created a website before, and this caused challenges I could overcome thorough past labs, and trial and error. I learned how to use the Figma website to the best of my ability, which helped make the end result it did. I also learned how to embed links to social media accounts onto images. This is a very useful tool that I will use in the future. Most importantly I learned the importance of sketches. I never used to do sketches before, but it helped take away thinking moments when making, as I could just do what I did in my sketch.

What was easy?

Putting my images into the website was definitely an easy part of the project. All it took was saving images from my phone and sending them towards my email. It was a hassle free step, and worked smoothly.

What was challenging?

The most challenging part of the project was matching the colors on my header and footer. I wanted them to be the same color for symmetry purposes, and I couldn’t seem to match up the right shade. To resolve I asked a classmate, and he showed me that you can enter the number of the color, and it would be a perfect match.

How could your submission be improved?

One improvement I could do is better fluidity of colors between pages. I am not great artistically, and I can see how the colors don’t work great together. Potentially some more time spent on blending and color choice would have improved the end result.

How could the professor improve the assignment?

I missed most of the instruction for this project from being out sick, but overall the step by step instructions were very helpful. There isn’t much I could have needed to improve the assignment. Potential more possible examples, as the examples given looked like all resumes, and not websites using Figma. But other than that wasn’t many parts where I felt lost.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?

I am very interested in website design, and the whole process of it. I can definitely use my ability of sketches, as well as just plain experience as a tool when creating future websites. I am also looking into taking the website designing class offered here, and this project can help boost my first few weeks.

How did a specific reading or video found outside of class inspire or help you?

I used this website to look at colors and transitions possible for a great website. Obviously this is professionally done, and my website is no where near this, but I tried to use vibrant colors to make the website look more appealing.

Picture of all tabs

What Did You Learn?

Coming in with little to no experience, almost every piece of work in the final card is something I learned. From removing backgrounds, blending images, finding new fonts, bending texts, and even printing in color at Canisius. This project taught me a wide array of skills I can use in this class, and even outside of this class in the future.

What Was Easy?

I feel like the easy part of this project was navigating all the fonts Adobe offered to put in my card. There’s so many great options, that really let me bring my card to life. But even with this I did have to change fonts as my WIP was very busy with fonts against the background. (shown below)

What Was Challenging?

The most challenging, and definitely most time consuming part was removing the background images from the pictures I wanted to use. You have to use such a fine hand with it, and a slight error forces you to restart. Although it was challenging, I feel like I did a strong job in removing the backgrounds, and letting the image fit in.

How Could Your Submission Be Improved?

One way I could have improved my submission would be to fine tune the fonts, and make them look more apart of the background image they’re on. Especially on the opening page, the Merry Christmas on the stocking looks like it is not apart of the stocking itself (as shown below). I feel like I would need a bit more time learning the software to be able to do that well.

How Could The Professor Improve The Assignment?

I feel like we could walk through individual questions instead of doing critiques as long. I felt like we took a majority of the class time to talk about everyone’s work, and it wasn’t taken that seriously. I feel like 1 on 1 time with you may have been more beneficial.

How Might You Apply Your Knowledge In Future Assignments Or Work Scenarios?

As an IMC major, my lead professor often talks about the importance of being able to make things look good and professional. A lot of the major players in the marketing world jump to social media, where you have to make a good looking piece to put on display so people take your product seriously. This experience may help me one day in building one of these product displays.

How Did A Specific Reading Or Video Found Outside Of Class Inspire Or Help You?

I read the article attached as a beginner, the title applied to me. The two main points I took from it were to spell check, and make sure fonts work. I applied those from my WIP to my final drafts, as fonts and spelling were two problems I faced.

Final Card Images

Front

Back

Inside

Overall the project went well, and I am very happy with my results!