PROJECT#1: Animated Type

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this project the student will be able to do the following: • Demonstrate animation principles applied to type;
• Explain the ways the meaning of a story can change with animation;
• Apply traditional design principles in a digital space/time-based environment;
• Create a new animated story;
• Deconstruct a story (finding key letters & words);
• Compose a digital story (reconnecting key phrases) constructing meaning;
• Tell a new story using kinetic type.

DESIGN PROCESS & CRITERIA:
1) Finding the type
a. Photograph images (letter pictures). The images must look like the first letter of the thing they represent. For example: The letter W looks like a wave. The letter S looks like a snake.
b. Save all images.

2) Tracing the images (using Flash) into the letterform
a. Using Flash, import the image into the Library, create a graphic symbol and trace bitmap the image.
b. Save the fla.

3) Creating a morph animation from the original image into the bitmap, and then into the letter
a. Using the original image, the traced bitmap, and the letterform, produce an animation illustrating the transformations from image, to traced bitmap, to letterform.
b. Save the animation as an .fla, and .mov.

4) The animated poem
a. Choose/compose a poem.
b. Translate the poem into an animated sketch.
c. Create a design rational explaining each animation in relation to the poem.
d. Complete the digital poem using Flash, applying design and animation principles.
e. Save as .fla and .mov.

5) Share the animated poem
a. Share the work through an in–class presentation (original images, traces, letterform animations, animated poem, design rationale).
b. Post to YouTube, blog, web site.
c. Describe the ways your design fulfills its purpose of communicating your ideas and the messages embedded within the poem.

Important Notes
1) Do not include music.
2) Do not include photographs
3) Do not include interactivity
4) INCLUDE TEXT/TYPE ONLY.