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. 

Branded: Reliquary-final?

Branded: Reliquary

At this point I think I have a solid brand, right now I am trying to explore the possibility of a photographic composite for a magazine add. To try and expand on the brand's versatility. 

Here is the experimentation so far. 

KC proud: in depth platforms

We're beginning to organize the event and start to imagine how things will be designed at the event. We want to incorporate the functionality of our logo in the space as well.

This shows using the "made in kc" logo as navigation on lamp posts and tents. This is where we imagine printmakers and other artists selling goods would be. There would also be tents and lampposts utilizing the other sections as well, such as food. 

we also thought volunteers running the event could have a t-shirt so that people attending will know who to ask for help or info. exploring different applications here as well. 

Other than just the branding style, we've also added "search" to be a major component in our mobile and web. We realized that our previous design was limiting and time consuming. We were only thinking about the user discovering things through using the device instead of also considering the user that comes to the app or web knowing what they want to find. So we're having the search bar be very dominate and the first thing you see, so you can just simply search what KC has to offer. But we're still keeping our 4 major sections (community, food, made in KC, and places/events) so a user could browse as well.

We've decided to add a splash page onto the website, so we image that the logo would be changing. The following images show exploration of color and application.

Once you enter the main site, we were thinking it could be image heavy and then type would reveal on hover. (notice the logo changes with the hover) Here we are also showing how the search would work once in the main site.

This shows the user entering the "places + events" section. (notice the logo changes again, functioning / corresponding with the section)

We also added the "add to calendar" option once they are in an event that they want to attend.