Branded: Yggdrasil Brewery

To Death with a Smile

Seedling: Moar frames

http://www.winsomewords.org/

Degree Project: Is this my type?

My degree project will consist in a series of experiments and studies, with the hope to define my voice as a designer. I will mainly focus on the application of typography and illustration. This will be done through a wide exploration of materials and relationships between illustrative and typographic elements. As a part of the process I also want to explore existing trends and give them my own interpretation by utilizing the in setting where they are not expected to be used on. Part of my typographic illustration will be handlettering but not in its conventional level, but rather in exercises that combine type and illustration in order to create visual hybrids. This experiments will not be arbitrary, they will still have a structure that satisfies design as a mean to communicate the message. Thus, the exercises will have themes, challenges and objectives. Another aspect will be important spontaneity, accidentality and intuitively based process. Then the process is the fundamental base of experimentation.  As a last objective I want to make things the I can feel proud of and that give me joy, through its process and up to the end result. Success will be measured by the things that I learned by the end of the project and the quality of the work as potential portfolio pieces.

Note to self_1: comment on satisfying curiosity and personal satisfaction as a designer. Personal goals that break from the implied expectations from society and the industry (and their concept of what is satisfying and what isn't)

Seedling: App interface progress.

At this point were trying to flesh out the functions while tightening the design for the UI. Through this process we are also able to create a system for the layout and organization of the pages and the design elements within them.

This was my iteration for the UI

Yet we decided to go with Sara's iteration

This is the final direction we picked for the design style. This screen shows mid process of the customizing fountain experience via web. The user is changing the lights using presets. The water direction has already chosen so it locks into one color once the user starts adding lights. We also want the gradient background to be responsive according to what stage they are at in the process. So right now it's pink and blue because they just did water and now they are in lights. (colors according to tabs) But once they enter the message the gradient would be blue to orange.

persona | Julie Stone



young mom / local business woman
32 yrs old with an 8 yr old son- Billy Stone
middle class family who enjoy family activities & events
they love Kansas City
love the idea of giving back to the city that they love




script | working process


DESKTOP
Toss-a-Coin is an initiative platform that utilizes Kansas City's fountains as a city pride's landmark and a hub to allow the community to contribute in the form of donations to an specific cause. Here, Julie Stone is planning a fountain show for her son’s birthday.
Julie is at work and sees a link to “Toss A Coin”
She Starts by selecting how much you want to donate. After this Julie can start customizing her show. Well, that is because it is an interactive experience. We aren't just going to take your money without letting you have some fun and joy!
Julie donates $50
In the menu (interface) you have many tools to customize the show. But first you have to choose the amount that you want to donate, and don't worry not amount is too small for you to be able to enjoy the experience.
duration- 30 min if you want it to last longer, donate more
chooses where money goes - example Breast Cancer or something
You can also create a big show for someone you love or for an specific celebration. Then you can set the time and date that you want the show to happen and then you are set. Enjoy your magnificent masterpiece with the entire fam!
then she goes through the entire process for her little kid’s birthday
She can start with the water and its direction. She can also pick from a variety presets for water direction or her own direction by individually clicking on each fountain spot.
little kid is a boy- colors blue and green
Next thing to choose are the lights. Just like the water, there are presets to use or Julie can individually change each light’s color. This simple layout helps any user create the show they want without any hassle.
message- happy birthday Billy Stone! Big 8!
Next she’ll write her message
time- tuesday (october 20) @ 5:00 pm
and the time and date for the show.
She then previews her show and saves it to her “tosses”
a mock preview of Julie’s show will be played so that she knows that she will enjoy her show.
and has to get back to work (aka can’t share it yet)



MOBILE
voice says all functions of mobile but then we only show what Julie does
She then later in the day checks her phone to “invite” family and friends to the show.
message added: Shh! This is a surprise for Billy. But please come to the show at 5pm and join us for dinner afterwards at the Plaza. Sends to Husband, Sister and kids, Mom, Dad, and bff Jane and kids.
Toss a Coin also features a mobile use. From her phone julie can check the fountain calendar and schedule, view other people’s videos and photos, invite friends to her event, share her video, or add a donation. Julie first sends her friends an invite to her show.
She browses a few more shows (just scrolling) and saves them to “favorites” for ideas for future tosses.
Goes to calendar to see what else is happening on that day (October 20)
Julie then goes to her calendar to see other events on October 20th.


KIOSK

Finally Julie and her family can come to the fountain just before the show to enjoy the fountain with her family.From your phone you can keep track of any events happening at the fountain as well as setting up calendar notifications.
They go to the fountain and just tell Billy it’s to show him the new kiosk functions at the Plaza.
(Julie gives him quarters to play)
Julie gives Billy some quarters so Billy can play with the fountain and kiosk on his own.
So he plays with it, changing the direction of the water with some of his friends that are at the other kiosks. All of a sudden the screen stops and says “Fountain is reserved for Billy Stone’s Birthday. Enjoy the show!”
Billy then gets to see his show and loves it.
Then the show begins and Billy is really excited jumping up and down.
A picture is taken and video is recorded for the occasion, then these sent to Julie’s phone. A copy of these is also sent to her e-mail for storage on her desktop.



After the show is over, Toss A Coin’s interface will record the video and send you the final show so you enjoy it again and again! So the next time you want to have a fun personal experience and give back to the city or an organization you care about, just remember to Toss a Coin!

Death + Smile: Process Keynote 1

Vegetable Detail Frames + Learn More

Trying to utilize relevant information for the farmer/grower  learning experience. Also trying to apply imagery to make it visually more engaging. Tell me your thoughts (ashton)

death with a smile: progress

The drawing needs to be finished and another kind of rendering is also in process. I am very satisfied with what it is starting to look like.  (^_^)p

Toss-a-Coing: Progress

This was exploration for the interface design. In the end we decided to reduce the amount of options that we want to give to the users. Yet the screen seems to work better in a dark background given that is a screen outdoors. This makes it easier to see under the sunlight.

Seedling Prototyping

Right now we are trying to flesh out the functions and the tool that the app provides. Then we started approaching the aesthetics and structures and this is what we have so far.

KCPlex: Script

Howdy!
I want to introduce you Toss-a-coin!
If you don't know what it is then I will explain it to you.
Toss-a-Coin is a initiative and a platform that utilizes Kansas City's fountains as a city pride's landmark and a hub to allow the community to contribute in the form of donations to an specific cause, and initially to the preservation of the cities fountains.

But wait! There is more...
Remember we called Toss-a-coin a platform. Well, that is because it is an interactive experience. We aren't just going to take your money without letting you have some fun and joy!
This platform will let you interact with our fountains when you approach them. For example you can create  a fountain show with a message as a gift for your significant other! So why don't you toss-a-coin in the fountain and have a grand ol' good time!?

Let me walk you through step by step:
( walkthrough for each platform is different)

 for the console.

In the menu (interface) you have many tools to customize the show. But first you have to choose the amount that you want to donate, and don't worry not amount is too small for you to be able to enjoy the experience. Then, it is time to get to it! and there are some fun things that you can do with the fountain. For example: you can change the color of the water coming out the spouts in the fountain.... you can also change its movement... lastly you can write a message for everyone and your loved ones to see.

for desktop

Same as above but adding: You can also create a big show for someone you love or for an specific celebration (go royals!?). Then you can set the time and date that you want the show to happen and then you are set. Enjoy your magnificent masterpiece buddy!

for mobile

Revise customization and add: From your phone you can keep track of any events happening at the fountain as well as setting up calendar notifications.

Another way that you can donate towards a good cause is by donating during special events. These events will have a goal to which a collective effort is needed. Everyone that donates can have a part in the way the fountain show behaves in the end result. The end result being a magnificent show and celebration of the collective achievement.

Toss-a-coin stimulates the communities interaction with the city's fountains. This also grants individuals a new way to donate and contribute to the development of the city and causes for good.
This also gives Kansas City a city of fountains a unique way to utilize fountains in a purposeful and fun way which integrates the community with their city.

So Toss-a-coin and make KC better!

Death with a Smile: Progress

Dead object, living art: is the premise

KCplex is now Toss-a-Coin

This frames are meant to flesh out the interface in accordance with the functionalities of the app and the in-situ interface. 

Cultivate: Growin' Data

A vegetable plant has the same basic needs as we do: light, food, water, and warmth. The amount of each of these given to a plant will determine the success of your harvest.

How much sunlight is needed for growing vegetables?

Light is one of the most important elements in growing veggies and is probably the one that we have least control over. When growing vegetables consider the amount of light your area will be getting. Most vegetables need an average of 6 hours of sunlight. Do not be too concerned if your garden plot is in a shady area as leaf and root vegetables ( lettuce, peas, carrots,kale, swiss chard ) will tolerate some shade. Vegetables that produce fruit ( tomatoes, peppers,eggplant, squash ) are the ones that need full sun - but these can easily be grown in containers on a sunny patio. Container gardening is a wonderful way to grow your vegetables.

How does the plant get food?

The soil provides a place for plant roots to grow and to draw up nutrients. Plants need the following to grow - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micro nutrients. These nutrients are usually present naturally in soil however amending your soil regularly with compost and other organic matter will give you better results. Learn more about your soil here. Vegetables can be grown in poor soil but you may be discouraged by how they grow. When growing vegetables give them nutritious food and they will produce abundantly for you.

How much water does a plant need?

Vegetable plants need 1 - 2 inches of water each week especially from mid June to mid August. Too little water will not let plant roots grow deep and strong enough to gather nutrients for good growth. Too much water will saturate the soil, not allowing the plant air and space needed to grow. For best results it is important to know how much water your plants are getting. Observe your vegetables, get to know your soil conditions, keep an eye on the weather and learn which plants need more water than others. Is this sounding too complicated? Here is an easy way to measure how much water your garden is getting.

Watering Measuring Tip Place a small can in 4 different areas of your garden, turn on the overhead sprinkler for 1 hour and then measure the amount of water in your cans.



How often do you water?

Irrigate your vegetable garden twice a week, giving 1/2 the water requirement with each watering. It will depend on your climate but all of us will need to water our gardens at some point in the season. Container gardening has different rules for watering.

What is the best way to water?

Some plants ( lettuce, spinach, salad greens, swiss chard ) like to be sprayed to stay cool. Other plants are adversely affected by overhead watering ( tomatoes, squash, carrots ) because the water can cause fungus and disease on the leaves. Still other plants have such large leaves that overhead watering does not allow enough water to get to the roots broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower).

Overhead sprinkling is probably still the most popular way of watering however drip, trickle or seeping hoses are becoming more common place now as well. I recommend using both as each are best for certain plants. If you have a small garden and hand water, it is easy to do both; spray the leafy vegetables and water around the base of the root vegetables.

When is the best time to water?

Before 11am or after 4pm. Let plants dry off before dark so they are less likely to get fungus or disease.

When growing vegetables why do they need warmth? The air and soil temperature is most important for seed germination. Some seeds do best in cool soil ( lettuce, peas, radishes ) others need warm soil (tomatoes, squash, corn) to grow. All plants need some warmth to grow, some more than others. We do have some control over this basic need as we can supply plants with extra heat using heating pads, cold frames, plastic or cloth covers.

Here is a list for vegetables to grow with their characteristics, needs and practices.

List of Vegetables

More Resources:

THIS! http://www.urbangardensweb.com/

http://www.urbanfarm.org/
http://metrofarm.com/urban-farming/

http://www.urbanfarming.org/videos.html?ma_id=4

Braded: MUMEDI-LA MUERTE CON UNA SONRISA-moodboards

VA: Cultivating progress

Moodboards and rapid wireframing

These are closely connected since they can all be applied as parts of the project. We are going to begin with the packaging aspect and see how far we can go.

Initial Logo ideations

We picked some names and started to play with some logo ideations

Landing on a more solid choice:

These are the ones that we are going to ask our audience for feedback.