Evaluating Evaluating AestheticsAesthetics

of Interactive Artsof Interactive ArtsDennis M. Kennelly

Aesthetics of Interactive ArtsDr. Mihai NadinNov. 15th, 2008

““Subject?…What’s my Subject?…What’s my subjectsubject?!”?!”

• This was difficult to determine as stated This was difficult to determine as stated before, since this is my before, since this is my firstfirst ATEC class, ATEC class, and I had no outside projects to stimulate and I had no outside projects to stimulate new ideas or to integrate into this class new ideas or to integrate into this class project.project.

• It took a bit of time to imagine this project It took a bit of time to imagine this project from “scratch” so to speak.from “scratch” so to speak.

• Using my background and facing an Using my background and facing an obvious “creative block” I decided that…obvious “creative block” I decided that…

““ I’llI’ll makemake aa websitewebsite !”!”

* A site to help remove a creative * A site to help remove a creative person’s (especially writers) person’s (especially writers) blockage or lack of ideas.blockage or lack of ideas.

* Motivation spurred by * Motivation spurred by emotional stimulation, emotional stimulation, based on themes of based on themes of images, calling up images, calling up personal memories and personal memories and commonly held commonly held archetypes.archetypes.

HowHow toto gogo aboutabout thisthis??• I would collect images from digital I would collect images from digital

camera (SLR) and upload to my Mac. camera (SLR) and upload to my Mac.

• Images would be separated into Images would be separated into groups based on themes of groups based on themes of emotions.emotions.

• Emotions would have counter-Emotions would have counter-feelings as well, for balance and feelings as well, for balance and variety of human expressive range.variety of human expressive range.

… …planningplanning forfor thisthis??• Seek estimate from friend about possible Seek estimate from friend about possible

issues and the required time for the level issues and the required time for the level of programming needed.of programming needed.

• Images would be separated into groups Images would be separated into groups based on themes of emotions.based on themes of emotions.

• Emotions would have counter-feelings as Emotions would have counter-feelings as well, for balance and variety of human well, for balance and variety of human expressive range.expressive range.

I seek to boost the I seek to boost the Brainstorming ProcessBrainstorming Process by presenting a format by presenting a format

to stimulate a “stuck” to stimulate a “stuck” imagination, catalyzing imagination, catalyzing

BREAKTHROUGHSBREAKTHROUGHS

..

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria• Each student would have a printed listing of Each student would have a printed listing of

the images in hand during viewingthe images in hand during viewing

• The image would be sequentially numbered, The image would be sequentially numbered, matching the slide showmatching the slide show

• Images would have a short nickname listed, Images would have a short nickname listed, further identifying the image on the form. further identifying the image on the form.

• On a scale of 1-5 would be used to gauge On a scale of 1-5 would be used to gauge the effectiveness of the images to be used the effectiveness of the images to be used in the websitein the website

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria cont. cont.

Viewers would offer opinions on:

• Color of backgroundColor of background

• Color of the image itself-Color of the image itself-Some visuals may or may not work well in Some visuals may or may not work well in

color, while others seem to suit our color, while others seem to suit our prejudices for expressing emotions in the prejudices for expressing emotions in the starkness of black and white tonal range.starkness of black and white tonal range.

The next slide is an example*The next slide is an example*

ex. ex. Slide #1)Slide #1)

Project example: HappinessHappiness --

* Does it convey the* Does it convey the general feeling?general feeling?

* Does the viewer feel* Does the viewer feel warmly or connect warmly or connect internally with one’sinternally with one’s own memories andown memories and archetypes of balloonsarchetypes of balloons & young girls in bright & young girls in bright dresses, to sense thedresses, to sense the happiness happiness presented?presented?

EvaluationEvaluation CriteriaCriteria cont.cont.

* Does the * Does the background color background color

belong or coordinate belong or coordinate with the emotion with the emotion

represented?represented?

*As the viewer, does *As the viewer, does the entire slide, the entire slide,

including the image, including the image, intuitively “work” ?intuitively “work” ?

* What would you * What would you change? change?

The Final ProductThe Final Product:: Supplying a Supplying a lively lively

stage setting for stage setting for thethe much sought- much sought-after formation of after formation of

creativitycreativity for “blocked” for “blocked” wordsmithswordsmiths

in their scripted in their scripted artistic expressionsartistic expressions

through selectedthrough selectedinspiring imagery.inspiring imagery.