Name ... and time

It would be great if we had a name everyone could agree upon. What we do not have is time. We had a quite thorough discussion on the name on Thursday and Friday where everyone had their chance of saying their opinion. We reached consensus, that was the "Magical, Mystical, Mirror - Thing". Lets work with that.

There has been plenty of time to develop a name during this project. It has been requested orally several times and on the blog as early as November 25. I love the engagement, use it to generate content, not steam. We do not have the time to discuss this again.

So our focus in the coming days is not the name, but the installation.

Keep the discussion in the comments, please don't make a new post just to argue about names.

You name it

Yesterday we decided upon the name Magical mystical mirror thing / MMMT. I don't think anyone really fell in love with this name, it was more or less just forced through because we decided this deadline. Or does anyone really like it/love it..?

I think that we're able to come up with a much better name, - especially after our "name excercise" last semester. And we actually don't have to use the name at any poster etc. before next week, so I suggest that each of us try to brainstorm a bit more. If we don't find any better suggestion we'll just go for Magical mystical mirror thing / MMMT.

Ingrid, Marianne and I came up with a suggestion:

yumiro / umiro / jumiro ( in type Faricy)

which refers to:
-you mirrored
-you me (you and me)
-"uro"

We like this name much better because of the relevant refferences it gives + the sound of the word. What do you think?

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[Moved Ingrid's suggestion and sketch on how to combine Yumiro and MMMF here - please keep "the Name Argument '07" on the discussion pages. -Christer]

Ingrid: Short example from one of the sketches. I really think they work well in collaboration with each other. (consensus sounds like such a wonderful utopia.)

Invitation-inspiration

"Individual" invitation-flyer : could easily be done with professing-kaleideoscopes and our dear friends up at allkopi, if not plotted.. 

250 g. paper size A4 would be about 6.25 nok (included taxes.) Any feelings anyone? 

Sketching for web.

If we use video as input, could we get constant live-feed to the page? Possible? Anyone?

The Story

I think that Ingrid Alices entry about the music references in both architecture and design is a very nice wrap around our project. It will give our project the soul that it needs to stay alive. So I think we should make a story around this theme. It will give a more lyrical and poetic feel on the project in my wiew.

I think we also can add something about how cold and impersonal the school feels and that the installation is somewhat reaction and a contrast to this.

Not very well formulated, but it's a start anyway.

thought about the display

I am thinking if the harp can connect with the pattern maybe looks more nature. when you touch the string there are some sign show on the display wall.It maybe control with different part of the harp,like bass or alt.and the kaleidoscope image can changed depend on the diapason of harp.
Ps: It will be easy to use one camera.if we want to get more angle to cut the photo,maybe try mirror reflect to see if it work :-)

Production Week!

To recap the first day of the production week: We have divided the project into more specific groups: 

• Hardware, consisting of Jørn, Ingeborg, Fan Fan, Peder, Øyvind. The group works with the physical representation of the installation, the harp, and the physical/hardware input.
• Software, consisting of Christer, Jegor and Anders. They work with the programming, processing/digital output.
• Content development, Ingrid, Marianne and Martin. Working with concept and content development, e.g. visual design.

These groups are not self-contained, and will have to be overlapping for the project to evolve. 

It is also possible to work on several of the group as the project have different requirements different times.

We will start every morning with a situation rapport from each group, making sure the project evolves in the right direction.

Will those of you not in a group already please sign up!

2: Knut and I also discussed the big difficulties in the project as it is:

• How are the images captured?
  
• What is the content on the home-pages?
• We need to further specify the visualization.

3: The location of the installation has to be set. As it turns out, the hall-way may not be the best place to be, it will be clattered with student projects all the way. There is also a lot of light there, which makes for a problem for the projections. The hall by the metal-workshop may be reconsidered!

 

Camera positioning

Just my humble observation, but I'm thinking that what, where and where from we take the photos/videos dictates (to a great extent) what expression we end up with. I see it as a bit problematic to capture images that provide a good platform for stunning visual results. After experimenting with Gunnars hands and our möck-up harp, I've come to realize that the camera probably has to be integrated into the overall design.

My suggestion is that if a camera is top mounted and shoots downwards with a wide angle and aims to capture the hands and perhaps a bit of the body of the user, we'll have a good starting point. Also I suggest that if we mount the strings radially outwards from the image centre (or a corner) we'll have a starting point that allows for easier making of different patterns.

Reasons to still use the harp as input.

Rhythm is a powerful tool in visual works, well represented in art and  design as well as architecture. (Good architecture/design has often been talked about and referred to as frozen elements of music.) I believe the message needs to be clear in every way, and a musical instrument really helps building this image.

Viewing the entity as a larger whole, "the result of all students at aho as a living thing, reflecting how we feel and act" in a visual/musical, engaging manner, I'm guessing it could not be easier than curiously just reach out and touch the strings. (Who have ever managed to keep their fingers away from a lone string-instrument just standing there?) Further on I'm guessing vertical strings would enable more random use than if one wold have to blow into something. (Just imagine blowing into the same horn or whatever, as vain, filthy, pretentious and so on, ehm.. people.) 

And least but not last: A harp is such a damn pretty thing!

Though it's not up to me... sorry, I'm still strongly for the harp.