Exploring Convergence and the Web Documentary

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Design

Candace Lee Egan

Exploring Convergence and the Web Documentary

MCJ 131

Interactive Media

Design

Film/Video - Web Documentary Characteristics

Characteristics shared with documentary film/videoSubjectPerspectiveVoiceSpeechDesign

Source: Melahat Hosseini and Ron Wakkary – Based on Bill Nichol’s theory of documentary film.

http://www.archimuse.com/mw2004/papers/hosseini/hosseini.html

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Film/Video - Web Documentary Characteristics

SubjectReflects historical worldAuthentic relationship with real

world

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Film/Video - Web Documentary Characteristics

PerspectiveProvides information, knowledge,

insight and awarenessOrganized to support a viewpoint

PerspectiveClaimArgument

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Film/Video - Web Documentary Characteristics

Voice Reflects social, ethical, political position

of authors (i.e. opinion) Occurs through

What content is featured How it’s treated

– Range and depth coveredHow it’s arranged in the siteTreatment of subject in mediaVisual design of site

– Logo/banner– Layout– Colors– Font styles

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Film/Video - Web Documentary Characteristics

SpeechCommunicated through text

Stories and reportsCommentary

– Diaries– Essays

Interviews

Video and audio clips

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Film/Video - Web Documentary Characteristics

DesignReflects the purpose, attitude, and

aesthetic of the subjectLook and feel

– Graphics/images– Layout

Information architecture– Information categories & hierarchy

• Navigation menus

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Web Documentary Characteristics

HypermediatedCreates a virtual information space

Clusters of informationLinks between content facilitates

multiple exploration paths

Audience interacts with contentChooses which links to explore when

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Web Documentary Characteristics

Media is secondary Illustrates textLinked from text

Captures moment in timeNot updated

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Tower Reflections: A Web Documentary

Documentary about Fresno’s Tower DistrictCommunity

Tower TheatreCulture, food, lifestyleArchitecture

http://www.csufresno.edu/tower/

Web Documentaries Blog http://webdocumentaries.blogspot.com

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Class Project

Primary student teamsTemplate teamContent teams

TheatreLife ArchitectureWalking Tour

Secondary teamsPromotionsUsability

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Lessons Learned

Look and feel must be done early More guidance

Each student needs to create a pagePromotions team was good idea

Added online promotions midstream

Usability team didn’t work well Ok for card sort No time for later testing

File Folder structure needs to be consistent for all teams

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Next Time

Subject that focuses on people Oral history or profiles Enable each student to do one profile

InterviewWritingWeb page creation

More written material Multimedia essay

Earlier deadlines Feedback sessions Revision and testing time

Give students starting file structure with templates Correct folder names and path

Images and Templates

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Design

Presentation Materials

Presentation outlineAssignment directions

http://www.csufresno.edu/tower/convergence/