World Changing Web Concepts

•February 24, 2008 • 4 Comments

My first website idea is dedicated strictly to rock music and anyone who loves it. Rock music seems to be turning into an endangered genre. This site will have every Rock label on it, and every band under those labels will be properly represented. The site will have many different areas: Labels, Bands, Lyrics, Videos, Tutorials, Guitar Tabs, Gear, and Members.

The Labels tab will bring the viewer to the list of the different record labels, where they can click on and find out what new bands are signed, what bands are already signed, new compilation records, and sponsored tours.

The Bands tab will have an alphabetical list of all known and new artists that will bring the viewer to their individual page that has song lists, lyrics, Guitar Tabs to play along with, Music Videos and personal Interviews with the band. The songs will be linked to iTunes so that the songs can be purchased and support the band.

The Lyrics page will let viewers select from an alphabetical list or search for bands, and then their song lists will be grouped in order of the album release date they will select what song they want to sing along with, with the lyrics.

The Videos tab lets viewers select from an alphabetical list or search for bands, and bring you to a page that has all of that band’s music videos and exclusive interviews. This page will be linked with YouTube.com so that people can upload these videos to their personal profiles on this page, or on their Myspace or Facebook page(s).

The Tutorials page will again let people select from an alphabetical list of bands (or just search for them) and watch certain Tutorial videos from the artists. They will range from a band member talking about certain successful guitar, drum, and vocal tips that make their signature sound, to what their favorite cover songs are. This page can also be accessed from the Band’s individual page.

The Guitar Tabs page will have an alphabetical list and search area to pick the desired band. This will lead to a page with a list of the band’s songs. Each song will have a Bass, Lead, or Rhythm guitar option to choose from. Tabs or tablature is a form of musical notation, which tells players where to place their fingers on the strings and on which fret rather than which pitches or notes to play.

The Gear page will let the viewer see what types of clothes their favorite band is wearing, what brand and style of instruments they play, instrument accessories, and what their favorite game systems and games they play. It will have the option to purchase all of these items because it will be linked with amazon.com.

The Members area can cover many different things. People can become members to just communicate with their favorite bands on the message board system, and receive exclusive emails to inform then of upcoming releases from their favorite artists. The Members area is also there for up and coming bands to post information about their band and can upload images and demo songs for the record labels to listen to.

I haven’t thought of a name yet but want it to represent anything and everything that is Rock! I was thinking about corundum (kə-rŭn’dəm), which is an extremely hard mineral (second hardest next to a diamond), aluminum oxide, Al2O3, sometimes containing iron, magnesia, or silica, that occurs in gem varieties such as ruby and sapphire and in a common black, brown, or blue form used chiefly in abrasives.

 

The second web concept is like a myspace for designers. Each person can personalize or design their own page. They can set up their own blog, write brief bios to keep everyone up to date, post personalized pictures, and upload their own work. The artwork is the main thing for this site. These pieces will go into a folder where anyone can post constructive critiques on the work. While viewing the work the designer’s name will remain hidden (unless they are being viewed on that designer’s personal page) until after the critique is posted. This is so the design work can be critiqued and not the person who’s doing it. I feel that some people will only like certain designs if the work is done by a certain designer. By doing this, everyone is put at the same level and can focus on the work.

The site will also have Contests and/or assignments for those who visit the site. Each contest will have a specific theme, and each winner will have his or her brief bio posted on the contests page. The artist selected will be listed as the designer of the week. The winnings can range from magazine subscriptions, to cash prizes.

It will also have an area where designers can find jobs listed in their area, or desired location. By having this, they can basically give the employer the link to their personal page. Serving as a Resume with examples of their own work. Designers don’t have to do all the searching though, Companies can also send out personal invitations if a certain artist stands out to them. This would only be allowed if the designer wants to receive the invitations.

There will also be a Designers Helping Designers section where tips and tutorials can be posted for all of the designer programs. This is where someone can go and find an answer to problems they might be having. IF their question is not answered, they can post the question on the page, so that other designers can reply and help each other out.

Basically this site is a sanctuary for designers to go and get their work recognized. The name for the site could be GAS (Gathering Artist’s Sanctuary).

Becoming a Digital Designer by Steven Heller

•January 18, 2008 • Leave a Comment

When trying to decide what chapter to read in Steven Heller’s Becoming a Digital Designer, I first looked at the table of contents and tried to pick a section that many people wouldn’t write about in a Graphic Design class. When I came to Chapter 8: Game Design, it peaked my interest because I like videogames and have dabbled at Maya 8, a 3D modeling program. Because many Gamers and Game Designers don’t normally have a background in Graphic Design, I thought it would be a great section to write on.

I found that in order to be successful in the videogame industry, you basically face the same dilemmas that Graphic Designers face. You have to make it fun, able to win or achieve a certain goal, and survive. Relating this to Graphic Design, by making things fun, you are making your design something that people will enjoy and want to pick up and find out more about whatever you designed. To achieve a certain goal is a way to get your point across to the viewer and make sure that they walk away with the information that you wanted them to have. Surviving goes without saying. Paul Rand is a great example of designing things that have survived for many years, from the “ABC” logo to the “Westinghouse” logo, they have survived for over thirty years and seem to be going nowhere.

In the Interview with Rodney Alan Greenbalt, creator of Rodneyfun.com in New York City, Rodney talked about the many different things he’s involved with. He retired from being a character designer in 2003, after developing Parappa the Rappa for Playstation and PSP. Now he is going back to the basics by doing some painting on canvas and some ceramics work. He still occasionally does some computer animations, but likes to keep his options open.

I think it is great when artists go back to their roots after being in the professional world for so long. It shows who the true artists are. Going back and reacquainting one with the many different fields of art will definitely keep any artist on top of their game…design that is.

 

How does game design really differ from any other type of design?

 

Will / are there any mergers with Graphic Designers and Game Designers?

 

Is it safe to say that Graphic Design and Game Design face the same dilemmas when it comes to pleasing a certain audience?