Introduction to Creative Technologies Portfolio
Portfolio Element 1. Tutorial 1, Custom Flyer
This element demonstrates the ability to visualise and create a flyer or visual picture using a image manipulation program. Understanding and gaining the knowledge from this enables me to produce a visual copy of an idea that I have thought of in my head, this can be used to portray to peers or other people my concepts in a format that they can understand (so I do not have to explain and rather show what I'm thinking). This also allows myself to practice my creative and styling thinking, I create the image as I go and manipulate it where I see fit in order to achieve a viable piece of work. Moreover I can experiment with the features to develop more creative tools and techniques to visualise a creative design concept
Screenshots of progressing through the tutorial, gaining skills on styling and developing visual effects using 'GIMP'
This section involves me improvising using the tools that were available in order to obtain a similar result of the tutorial. I wasn't able to access the resources needed to replicate the tutorial process, this demonstrates my ability to creatively find another pathway to achieve a similar goal
More improvisation. Enjoyed experimenting with the tools available and finding out what effects or manipulation features I can employ using the tools that the program provides
I am quite happy with how the flyer turned out despite the lack of resources to complete it exactly how the tutorial does. If i was to redo this flyer, I would ensure that the picture of the female model is not blurred due to the size of the image, I had to resize it smaller which resulted in the blurred pixels of the image. Moreover I believe I should've invested more time refining the manipulations I had done, such as ensuring the opactiy reduction on the neon lights image was more accurate and presented better so it wouldn't appear like the lights disappear immediately
Portfolio Element 2. Tutorial 5, Skills in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
This element demonstrates my ability to source websites and articles that display information regarding AI development and research. This is useful when I must source and reference materials needed that I wish to provide for my work (such as using an idea or concept someone else has come up with and then altering it and changing it with my own ideas to create a new product, this means I must reference the original owner in my work to report that they are where I got my inspiration from). Using this technique, I can feel comfortable researching information and ideas and sourcing them respectably and suitably to satisfy the needs of the given task. References for the information are provided at the end of the document
Portfolio Element 3. Tutorial 2, Custom Website
This tutorial involved creating a made up website to suit a particular audience. The steps were straightforward and could be easily used as a reference to create a completely difference website design. It shows how smart and simple websites are created and what is visually appealing to attract an audience. This tutorial uses some of the tools and features used in the custom flyer tutorial, however this one builds upon them by going in depth and using them in different ways, it also introduces new tools to use to manipulate images in a new and creative way
Tutorial used: Davies Media Design 2018
Images used: Pixabay (2018), Pixabay (2015)
After completing the tutorial, I wanted to make my own website to gain insight into what is required to create a compelling and eye-catching website to market a product. I made it in relation to the prototype that is being created for the assessment for creative technologies. I imagined what would be considered as smart, flashy and simple to allow and audience to view the product and want to obtain it. In doing this, it gives me understanding of how a product is marketed is just as important as what the product actually is. Two products could be equally creative and be a huge advancement into the future but if one is marketed poorly and in a messy way it won't receive as much customers as one that is straight to the point and appealing.
Images used: Chaifetz (2014), Pngimg (n,d) / shopping cart png, Imgkid (2018), and Percevalties (2018)
Portfolio Element 4. Teaching a peer on GIMP
I decided to include a section of me teaching one of my peer's how to use the image manipulation program called 'GIMP'. I chose to do thise because it enables me to reflect upon my own learning by seeing if I can apply and have mastered the skills I have gained using the tutorials given. I explained to my peer where all the major tools that will be used to create the invitation would be, what they do and how we can use them to manipulate an image. At first they did struggle to recall where the tools were and what they did, but eventually they could smoothly navigate their way and use the tools swiftly. I taught them about layers, transforming images using; rotation, scaling, hue saturation, etc, layer masks, duplicating layers, rearranging layer order (including how this makes one layer overlap the other), changing layer names and color coding them (to ensure that if I user is using a lot of layers and images they don't make a mess and get lost in what every layer they made is), cropping, selecting, smudging, adding text and changing text type and color etc.
Doing this exercise also assists me in understanding how AIs learn and work differently to humans. AIs usually have no prior knowledge to an area they're being taught in because they may be a blank canvas, whereas humans have some tiny knowledge on how colors and tools may work in a program such as 'GIMP' they just need to be explained how.
It opens up the thought that both the teacher and the student encounter learning experiences, that not every way of teaching is to be used on every student. Something like this should be taught slowly and in a simple manner so the student can absorb all the information. It is a collaboration between the two parties to achieve a common goal of success.
In doing this, we have achieved an effective and simply designed invitation using 'GIMP' which can be used as a template or use as it is.
Doing this exercise also assists me in understanding how AIs learn and work differently to humans. AIs usually have no prior knowledge to an area they're being taught in because they may be a blank canvas, whereas humans have some tiny knowledge on how colors and tools may work in a program such as 'GIMP' they just need to be explained how.
It opens up the thought that both the teacher and the student encounter learning experiences, that not every way of teaching is to be used on every student. Something like this should be taught slowly and in a simple manner so the student can absorb all the information. It is a collaboration between the two parties to achieve a common goal of success.
In doing this, we have achieved an effective and simply designed invitation using 'GIMP' which can be used as a template or use as it is.
Images used: Fire flame (2018), Jack o' Lantern wallpaper (2018) and Fireball (n.d)
References in alphabetical order:
Altman, G 2018, Laser light show, Pixabay, photograph, retrieved 11 August 2018, <https://pixabay.com/en/laser-light-light-show-737441/>.
Chaifetz, A 2014, Salvage grocery stores: the next big thing in food isn’t even new, photograph, retrieved 22 September 2018, <http://modernfarmer.com/2014/12/salvage-grocery-stores-next-big-thing-food-isnt-even-new/>.
Cowling, P 2017, Why tech giants are investing millions in AI that can play video games, The Conversation, retrieved 9 August 2018, <https://theconversation.com/why-tech-giants-are-investing-millions-in-ai-that-can-play-video-games-84151>.
Davies Media Design 2018, How to design a website in gimp, Davies Media Design, retrieved 22 September 2018, <https://www.daviesmediadesign.com/project/design-website-gimp-2018/>.
Deadwinter, 2018, Young woman, photograph, retrieved 11 August 2018, <https://pixabay.com/en/woman-young-sexy-nice-fashion-3063788/>.
GIMP tutorial- how to create a professional flyer 2018, YouTube, Davies Media Design, 1 February, retrieved 11 August 2018, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNynXb3I8KI>.
Greene, T 2018, The US army is developing AI that can recognize faces in the dark and through walls, The Next Web, retrieved 10 August 2018, <https://thenextweb.com/artificial-intelligence/2018/04/18/the-us-army-is-developing-ai-that-can-recognize-faces-in-the-dark-and-through-walls/>.
Hauntophile 2018, Jack o’ lantern wallpaper, picture, retrieved 22 September 2018, <https://www.deviantart.com/hauntophile/art/Jack-o-Lantern-Wallpaper-157962223>.
Houser, K 2017, An AI robot learned how to pick up objects after training only in the virtual world, Futurism, retrieved 9 August 2018, <https://futurism.com/an-ai-robot-learned-how-to-pick-up-objects-after-training-only-in-the-virtual-world/>.
Imgkid 2018, Black and white snapchat logo, picture, retrieved 22 September 2018, <https://imgkid.com/black-and-white-snapchat-logo.shtml>.
Javelosa, J 2016, Can an artificial intelligence create art? Google’s making an AI to find out, Futurism, retrieved 10 August 2018, <https://futurism.com/can-an-artificial-intelligence-create-art-googles-making-an-ai-to-find-out/>.
Life of heroes rp n.d, Fireball, picture, retrieved 22 September 2018, <http://lifeofheroesrp.wikia.com/wiki/Fireball>.
Pixabay 2015, ipad, photograph, retrieved 22 September 2018, <https://pixabay.com/en/ipad-tablet-technology-touch-820272/>.
Pixabay 2018, ipad wth coffee and camera on a table, photograph, retrieved 22 September 2018, <https://pixabay.com/en/wood-wooden-table-desktop-aerial-3182655/>.
Twenty Billion Neurons 2017, Hello, world: building an AI that understands he world through video, A Medium Corporation retrieved 10 August 2018, <https://medium.com/twentybn/watch-and-learn-building-an-ai-that-understands-the-world-through-video-9e2796400176>.
Upload Me Today 2018, Fire flame, photo, retrieved 22 September 2018, <https://purepng.com/photo/858/effects-fire-flame>.
