Final Project Proposal (ART 245: Intro to Digital Media)

I plan to submit a project for the iraqimemorial.org. I plan to create a visually compelling montage, complete with both images and words to memorialize citizen deaths in the War. I will use images and historical content, including newspaper clippings and family photos. If possible, I would like to incorporate an audio element of interviews to accompany the visual aspect.

Avatar: Self Portait (ART 245: Intro to Digital Media)

HUD: On Deadline (ART 245: Intro to Digital Media)

This is what the interface would look like if my life were a video game. I chose to capitalize on one of the most important, stressful, time consuming and best parts of my life — being editor of The Nevada Sagebrush.

The goal of the game is to produce all 32 issues of the newspaper by 12:30 a.m. (the Monday deadline for each issue in real life). The map is the office whiteboard, which is covered in page and story plans. The map helps the player (the editor) decode what to do throughout the deadline production.

The staff can help the editor complete the task to win the video game, but only on command. Staff help also has to be paid. The editor must select certain "instructional methods" to use per person in various situations. It is part of the game to figure out which staffer responds to what method. If the gamer chooses correctly, the staffer will complete the task at hand to help progress in the game. If not, the staffer will either complete the task incorrectly or not at all. Although not on the main interface menu pictured, tasks include everything needed to produce the paper from: reporting, writing, taking pictures, editing, multimedia reporting and production, design, Web design, moderating Web comments, answering phone calls and e-mails, etc.

Menus on the left side of the screen also help efficiency of production.
-Rubbing Buddha figurines counts for luck points which helps production move more quickly (an office tradition I started last year).
-Energy is measured in cups of coffee consumed versus hours of sleep.
-Health is measured by food consumed; extra points are awarded for healthy choices, while points are taken away for not eating or eating junk and fast foods.
-Tools can be bought along the way in the game, and are used to complete the various tasks mentioned above. Tools include: notebooks, pens, highlighters, printer ink, paper, video camera, audio recorder, computer, software, etc.
-Money is given to you by the advertising department, and you have little control on how much you get. You can spend it on tools and staff wages.
-Obstacles are any problems or hurdles the gamer (editor) runs into while trying to meet deadline. This includes responding to hundreds of e-mails daily, fixing mistakes, running out of printer ink, going to class, doing homework, etc.

Collaborative Art Project: Filibuster (ART 245: Intro to Digital Media)