Final Evaluation of key learnings

Throughout the first seven sessions of this module, I have developed my understanding into creating digital media texts, from how aspects of visual design work to persuade and engage an audience to transmedia and interactive texts. 

I believe the mapping of personal connections with digital practice and technology was important as a starting point as this encouraged me to reflect on my own experiences with technology, and how many platforms it is possible to connect with people, and within in virtual spaces. It helped my understanding of theories relating to evolution of media texts and digital technology and moreover how storytelling has evolved and branched out to digital media platforms. From traditional storytelling of narratives told via film and text, to today’s more interactive storytelling where audiences are less passive and can engage further with the text. I have also developed my understanding of the study of different types of story structures such as hypertexts and fully immersive gaming. Although I have not yet progressed as far as creating a whole hypertext or fully immersive game, I have developed skills of storytelling and interactive storytelling and the structures to deigning a critical story path.

The study of semiotics in relation to moving image and within visual design and the art of design is also an important area to be considered when creating digital media texts. I believe the study of this as well as learning from the work of Roland Barthes and Ferdinand de Saussure which explain why things are deigned the way they are has helped my understanding of texts which are created to appeal to an audience, if that purpose is to simply engage and entertain an audience or to persuade.

  Techniques I would like to explore further within the second assignment Media Rich Project.

After looking at a range of techniques to creating media texts, I would like to explore the area of animation and motion design further for the second assignment being the Media Rich project. Animation and motion design is a fascinating means to engage an audience. It is used across multiple platforms such as TV, within advertising and visual effects to games consoles and websites. I feel that if done well, the use of animation and motion design will be an effective way to keep the audience engaged and to help tell a visual story.

The use of Interactive texts within non-linear storytelling is another media form which I would like to explore further. Interactive texts are another great way to interact with an audience and encourage them to be less passive viewers.  The idea of allowing audiences to participate in interactive entertainments is something which fascinates me, and I would to create a piece of entertainment an audience can gain more from that simply sitting back and consuming it; the idea of choice and control. The outcome of the interactive work can be up to the audience, for example within an interactive game, the audience can make decisions along the way and therefore have an impact upon the story. This is an element I would like to further research and gain understanding into the works of creating an Interactive text.