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Multimedia Design

Erkki Rämö

Usage of Multimedia programmes

• educational programmes

• cultural and artistic pieces

• entertainment programmes and games

• documentation

• edutainment

• marketing and business

• communication

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Multimedia Production Team

• Producer/team manager – The producer is responsible for organizing funding, contract

negotiations and budgeting. This person calls the team and makes the production schedules. The producer leads the project and is held responsible for the result.

• Art Director – Art Director leads the artistic side or the production and works as

a designer. This person sees to the style of multimedia.

Multimedia Production Team

• Script writer / designer – The scriptwriter designs the contents of the multimedia. That

person needs to think how the chosen topics will be shown by the means of multimedia. The scriptwriter defines the structure and chooses the sources of information.

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Multimedia Production team

• Sound designer / recorder

– The task of sound designer is to design the audio, the manipulation of audio and recording. Sound designer works with musicians and is also responsible for the audio track of video production.

• Camera man / editor

– Camera man is filming and manipulating the footage by the standards or multimedia.

Multimedia Production Team

• The Graphic designer

– The Graphics designer designs and constructs different graphical elements

• The designer of user interface – User interface designer is responsible for user interface planning, ideas

behind it and realisation of production

• The Animator

– The animator produces drawn- and computer based animations

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Multimedia Production Team

• 3D-graphics person – models 3D-objects, animations and pictures

• Editor of media material

– converts file formats and color settings and shades to suit multimedia and network production

Multimedia Production Team

• Photo editor

– Photo editor will prepare and modify all photographic material

• Image editor/photographer

– works with the scriptwriter and art director and gets and delivers the photographical material

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Multimedia Production Team

• Composer – builds up the product using different media objects,

also does some script programming

Multimedia Production Team

• Programmer/software designer – The programmer's task is to program the

multimedia product, to manage the database applications and to do the technical implementation.

• Sales person/ Contact person

– The sales person takes care for the customer relation and is accountable for informing them

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The contents of the offer

• object of the offer

• what is included to the offer

• what isn't included to the offer

• schedule

• responsibilities

• the price of the offer

• terms of paying

• how long is the offer valid

Designing documents

• synopsis

• content script

• production script

• construction plan

• cost estimate

• schedule

• user interface plan

• contracts

• production plan

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Synopsis

• Why is the multimedia product done?

• What is the goal of the product?

• How is the product used and what is it’s purpose?

• To whom is the project done?

• What is inside the product?

• What is the construction of the product?

• What is the product like? What does it look like and how does it sound?

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Synopsis

If needed the following issues are mentioned:

• preliminary schedule

• cost estimate

• technical definitions

• the distribution to end users

As attachments:

• a plan of user interface

• construction plan

Treatment

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The goals of the content script

• perceiving the ready application

• communication within the production team

• communication with the customer

• basis of the production

Contents of the content script

• construction

• media choices

• functionality

• visual properties

• contents of narration

• audiovisual material

• information contents

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On the base of the contents script these will be planned:

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• user interface

• visual overlook

• sounds

• the usage of videos and animations

• the use of photographs

• communication properties

• technical definitions

• programmes that will be used

An example of a content script Screen 7: The introduction of Volvo’s new model

1. Graphics

A photograph of Volvo's new model: S70. A table of technical properities.

2. Title

Volvo is what you can trust on.

3. Text

Volvo is a car that combines safety and space. The new Volvo’s equipment are ABS-brakes, airbags, air conditioning and a high level cd-player. By buying a new Volvo you will belong to the new world of motoring.

4. Sound

Narration: ”Volvo S70 protects the driver and passangers very effectively in most car crash situations. New Volvo S70 got five stars in both Euro-NCAP's crash test and sideway crash test.”

5. Video

Video icon will open a video to the screen. The video will be about the functions of ABS-brakes and airbags.

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Production plan is a clarification of:

• the production processes of media material

• schedules

• production team and responsibilities

• following the product and documentation

• the technical user environment

• testing of the application

• the distribution and marketing of the ready application

Production script

• Has instructions for the work to everyone working in the project.

• Information of technical realization, visual properties, functionality and construction.

• Definition of the techniques used in the application and file formats.

• Instructions how to prepare media material and compose a technically functional product.

• Defining for example the size of video screen, file format with compressing methods, and source material, so that the video composer is capable to produce the needed video file.

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Production script

Project:

Screen ID Page no

Files:

Images/graphics

Sounds

Videos

Text material

Description of the scene and events

Actions

Structure and navigation

Animation secuences and files

Additional information

Screen description for the production script

Production script: Technical definitions

• user interface requirements

• equipment requirements

• program requirements

• screen resolution

• compression of video files

• formats of sound files

• file formats of photographs and the color depths in those

• data communication requirements

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Production script: Productional definitions

• back-up of the material

• the material’s location in workgroup network

• the versions of programmes used to work

Production contract

• Contracting parties

• Persons in charge

• Object of the contract

• Copyrights

• Terms of delivery

• Guarantee and

updates

• Schedule

• Price

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Terms of delivery

• Specification of the product

• Delivery and accepting it

• Delays

• Rights

• Responsibilities

Schedule as a table

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Division of the workload and costs

Design Composing and testing

Production of media material

An example of costs evaluation

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An example of costs evaluation

An example of costs evaluation

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The structure of multimedia

• Linear structure

• Fishbone structure

• Treelike structure

• Network structure

• Matrix structure

• Pyramid structure (also called as labyrinth structure)

Linear structure

The linear structure does not utilize hypertext principles. The user follows the material in predefined order.

Applies for learning material and advertisements.

Makes sure, that the uset visits all parts.

Short cuts

End Start

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Fishbone structure

Start

End

Example Page 1 Extra info

Start

Extra info

Extra info

Extra info

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Example

Example

Example

Tree structure

Short cut

Company 1

History History History

Company 2 Company 3

Functions

Future Future Future

Functions Functions Fusion

Development

Present status

Corporation

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Network structure

• In network-like construction every individual element has more options to continue • The user can navigate the application completely as he/she wishes • The user might get lost or not be able to find the information needed. • When having the network construction the application should have an index or a search field • Internet as a whole could be the best example of network structure.

Matrix structure The information can be ordered in different ways. The user selects his/her approach to the presentation. Matrix model is similar to a database, where a suitable combination of information can be selected.

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Pyramid/labyrinth structure

The user selects his/her own way to navigate from start to end. Typical applications are games and simulations. User selections define, how he/she can proceed. Mastering the labyrinth motivates the user and maintains interest.

Pyramid/labyrinth structure

Use on a fusion point decreases the nymber of options in a labyrinth structure.

Start

End

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Production phase

• Mapping of the material

• The production of media material

• Composing

• Testing

• Distribution

User interface

• Functionality is important, but some attention should be paid to visual design.

• The look of the site and symbols express the possible functions in the product.

• Clear, esthetical look makes it easier to use the application.

• In computer applications some symbols have a known purpose.

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User interface

• For example an arrow pointing left means browsing backwards and an arrow pointing right means navigating forward.

• In programmes used for

displaying videos there are some other international symbols.

• Texts used in navigation and

buttons should be clear and suit the style of the application.

User interface

• By using colors it is possible to tell things and create a certain mood.

• Active functions can be emphasized or the users attention can be controlled by using different colors.

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User interface

• When designing graphical user interface both visual and programming talents are needed.

• Functionality of the user interface should be tested many times to make even the smallest details work.

Usability

• Usability measures the quality of the user interface, when it is evaluated from users’ point of view.

• Usability testing includes testing personnel performing tasks with the application

• www.useit.com : articles and examples of usability

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Planning of user interface

• What are the situations when the application is used?

• How old are the persons who are supposed to use the application?

• How long can it take to make the users study the usage of the application?

• What kind of navigation is given to the user?

Visual Design

• Visual design is a part of the planning of the user interface.

• When the customer is a corporation or an organisation the base of design is it’s logo and color scheme.

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Example

http://www.hartwalljaffa.fi

Visual Design

• Many corporations have their graphical instructions in which the color scheme, typography and layout are defined.

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Example