Studio Brief 2 - Initial Ideas 2

To follow on from the playing card designs, it was possible to begin adding other interactions in the app. For example the card game would be found under one tab where as other information on politicians and ways to vote will be on others.

 Here, the design shows how the suggestion game works. Through a series of multiple choice questions the app will begin to pick out the cards that the viewer finds most important, putting them to one side, for the end result.

 After the cards are gathered, the app then find the party with the most cards chosen and suggests a political party for the viewer to vote for. Another thing to consider would be to include a second suggested party that has the second most amount of cards chosen. By summarising the chosen cards at the end of the game the viewer can then understand what their own political views are, if they did not already know.

On the second tab for the app, the politicians that are representative of the party can be found. The design for these cards was to use the higher suits in a deck of playing cards. This order can be found in poker and other card games. 

The cards will allow the viewer to click on their profile and find out more about the politicians, including their attributes and commitments to their parties.

Another option that has been added is the star icon, which when clicked on, will allow the viewer to save a page of their favourite politicians. This will make it easier to find them again when returning to the app in future.

Clicking on the profile of the politician will extend the page to a scrollable interaction. This page will then display a quote from the politician that is most recognised, their personal belief in the party, news headlines relating to the MP and links to recent news stories which they may be included in.

The last section of the app will show the ways in which to vote. This will include voting face-to-face at a polling station, postal vote or by proxy vote. By including this section of the app the viewer may feel more inclined to vote after they find out which party is most suited to their views. This will then reinforce the core point of the interactive app, to make younger people cast their vote in an election.

Studio Brief 2 - Initial Ideas

The first design idea was to use different suits of playing cards to define the different policies of the political parties running in the election. The colours used in the designs are reflective of the colours used by the parties. This includes blue for the Conservative Party, green for the Green Party, yellow for the Liberal Democrats and red for the Labour Party.

The idea behind the playing cards was to make them available in a multiple choice set of questions, relating to the election. By picking one policy, that the audience believe is the most important, the suggestions can then be narrowed down as a result. 

The second approach to the design element was to make the cards more illustrative and easier to understand. This idea came about when thinking of the audience, who are likely to be young people that are unfamiliar with politics. Therefore the illustrations on the cards can give them a brief explanation of what the policies are about or what they may affect.

As many of the manifestos that were explored spoke of a better future for Britain, it was necessary to look for a typeface that may communicate a sense of forwardness. The use of Futura gave these card designs a more modern feel and importance in their approach.

Study Task 01: Triangulation exercise - Research Question

Potential questions

• Technology influence on modern society?
• What would the world be like without the internet?
• When did technology become essential to society?
• Will there be a change in technology?
• Is technology in modern society addictive?
• Particular technology source?
• Social media influence?
• Certain app?
• What would society be like if it hadn't been introduced to technology of the 21st century?
• Are there technology detox programmes for people addicted to their phones and computers?

Specific design disciplines
In terms of how the research question may be put into a graphic design context, there are several potential ways that this could be done. As the focus of the research is on ways to change social interaction and the uses of technology, it may be wise to choose a platform that is a solution to the problem. For example, the research will look into how social media is addictive and the way that this problem could be resolved would be to provide a physical alternative for an audience, in the form of a magazine. This way it would encourage the potential audience to try an alternative form of entertainment.

The graphic design discipline is likely to be a physical print or an alternative interaction for the audience.

Harvard referenced books

• The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies (Erik Brynjolfsson, Andrew McAfee, Jeff Cummings, 2013)
• What technology wants (Kevin Kelly, 2014)
• A Short History of Technology: From the Earliest Times to A.D. 1900 (T. K. Derry, 2003)
• The Machine in America: A Social History of Technology (Carroll W Pursell, 2007)

Responses found online

Technology influence on modern society?

The influence of modern technology on society: Good or bad?

http://www.lexiophiles.com/english/the-influence-of-modern-technology-on-society-good-or-bad

Summary:
There is an idea that today's society has now advanced technology to the point at which it no longer works as a tool to help with everyday life. Instead the move towards entertainment and virtual interaction, through social media and chat rooms, is changing the way we interact face-to-face. The article explains ways in which traditional forms of socialising are changing as a result of the wide range of technology platforms become available to us. One specific example of this would be how many families no longer sit down to eat meals together, as they are more focused on their devices and technological forms of entertainment.

The influence of modern technology on society

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/social-policy/the-influence-of-modern-technology.php

'The critical role that technology plays in the development of society, stimulating not only the economy but society’s socio-cultural values, rather than being merely a tool of society'.

The Impact of Technology on Modern Society – by Andreea Militaru / Deiu.

https://americanstudiescta.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/the-impact-of-technology-on-modern-society-by-andreea-militaru-deiu/
What is the Impact of Technology on Our Society?
Think of the days when there were no computers and no modern means of transport. Human life was highly restricted due to the unavailability of technological applications. Daily life involved a lot of physical activity. The life of the common man of those times was not as luxurious as that of the modern times, but he was more active. Daily exercise was integrated in the routine physical activities. It was contrary to the lifestyle of today, which carries no time slot for rigorous exercise and carries laze and inactivity.

The internet is a useful tool for modern society, however it has also brought about problems as it lacks regulation. This includes the rise of hacking, phishing and spamming. The internet is becoming a place for crime to spread, anonymously in most cases. There is also the issue of internet bullying and trolling, which can effect people mentally rather than financially.

COP - Thursday 9th NOV

The structure of a essay

By starting the essay it can show which elements need to be included and ways to structure.

INTRO 
introduction to the topic
background info
limit the scope of discussion
specific points/ questions
present the plan of coverage including your line of argument.
narrow down the essay to a specific point

Example - Branding
what is branding?
lifestyle/identities
specific strategies
examples
conclusion summarising all the above discussion.

triangulate the context, finding different views of the argument.

Studio Brief 2 - Political parties

App for political choices
make sure the options are shown objectively to the viewer. Don't show the party, just show the policies of the parties to the audience. This way the audience can choose what they believe in rather than excluding policies due to the association they may have with the parties.

Conservatives
https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/manifesto2017/Manifesto2017.pdf
Conservative manifesto – ‘Forward together our plan for a stronger Britain and a prosperous future’.

5 Challenges facing Britain

1.     The need for a stronger economy – Invest in infrastructure and people, ensuring the economy’s growth.

2.     Brexit and a changing world – To deliver a smooth and orderly departure from the EU and forge partnerships across Europe.

3.     Enduring Social Divisions – To make sure everyone has the opportunity to make the most of their talents and hard work, where ever they are from.

4.     An Ageing Society – Security and care for the elderly as well as maintaining fair treatment for younger generations.

5.     Fast-changing Technology – harness the power of fast-changing technology and ensuring security, privacy and protection for children and younger people.

Governing from the mainstream – Governing from the interests of the British public and ordinary, working families. ‘We will restore the public finances and maintain economic stability. We will reduce and control immigration. We will resolute in defending the country from terrorism and other security threats. The government will not be driven for the benefit of the privileged but by the interests of ordinary, working families.

‘True Conservatism means a commitment to country and community; a belief not just in society but in the good that government can do; a respect for the local and national institutions that bind us together; an insight that change is inevitable and change can be good, but that change should be shaped, through strong leadership and clear principles, for the common good.’

Policies before election

Pump an extra £4bn into schools by 2022

Net migration cut to below 100,000

Increase the amount levied on firms employing non-EU migrant workers

Increase on NHS spending by £8bn per year by 2022/23

scrapping the triple-lock on state pensions by 2020. To be replaced with "double-lock" rising with income earnings or with inflation.

Labour Party

Manifesto - For the many not the few

1. Creating an economy that works for all
2. Negotiating Brexit
3. Towards a national education service
4. A fair deal at work
5. Social security
6. Secure homes for all
7. Health care for all
8. Safer communities
9. Leading richer lives
10. extending democracy
11. A more equal society
12. A global Britain

Key Policies 

• Scrap university tuition fees
• Income tax rate at 45p for £80,000 +
• More free childcare
• Get rid of zero hour contracts
• Income tax rate to be raised to 45% for salaries at £80,000 + and 50% for salaries over £123,000
• Renationalise British railway services and England's nine water companies.
• Negotiating Brexit - prioritise jobs and living standards, build a close new relationship with the EU, protect worker's rights and environmental standards, provide certainty to EU nationals and give a meaningful role to Parliament throughout negotiations. 
• I􏰐n trade negotiations our priorities favour growth, 􏰑jobs and prosperity. 􏰂We make no apologies for putting these aims before bogus immigration targets.
  
  
  
  Simplified policies to use
  
  
  

  
  

  Environment

  Conservatives - UK should have the lowest energy costs in Europe, both for households and businesses.

  Lib dems - Ensure that four million properties receive insulation retrofits by 2022, prioritising fuel-poor households.

  Labour - Ensure that 60% of the UK's energy comes from zero-carbon or renewable sources by 2030.

  Green Party - Replace fracking, coal power stations, subsidies to fossil fuels and nuclear with renewable energy.

  
  

  Renationalization

  Conservatives - Focus on creating extra capacity on the railways to ease overcrowding, bring new lines and stations, and improve existing routes - including for freight.

  Lib dems - Investment in road and rail infrastructure, continued commitment to HS2, Crossrail 2 and rail electrification.

  Labour - Nationalisation of England's nine water companies.

  Green Party – Renationalise energy, water, railways, buses, the Royal Mail and care work.

  
  

  Workers’ rights

  Conservatives - Increase the National Living Wage to 60% of median earnings by 2020.

  Lib dems - Votes for 16-year-olds.

  Labour - Raise minimum wage to "at least £10 per hour by 2020".

  Green Party - Phase in a four-day working week.

  
  

  Education

  Conservatives - Pump an extra £4bn into schools by 2022.

  Lib dems - Invest nearly £7bn extra in education.

  Labour - Reintroduce maintenance grants for university students and abolish university tuition fees.

  Green Party - Reject the Prevent strategy and pursue community-led collaborative approaches to tackling all forms of extremism.

  
  

  NHS

  Conservatives - Real terms increases in NHS spending reaching £8bn extra per year by 2022/23.

  Lib dems - 1p in the pound on income tax to raise £6bn for NHS and social care services.

  Labour - NHS will receive more than £30bn in extra funding over the next parliament.

  Green Party - Reverse privatisation of the NHS to ensure all health and dental services are publicly provided and funded, and free at the point of access.

  
  

  Social security and pensions

  Conservatives -

  Lib dems - £100bn package of additional infrastructure investment.

  Labour - A commitment to "protect the pensions of UK citizens living overseas in the EU or further afield".

  Green Party - Redress pension injustice to enable older people to continue to be active members of society.

  
  

  Housing

  Conservatives - Meet 2015 commitment to deliver a million homes by the end of 2020 and half a million more by the end of 2022.

  Lib dems - Build 300,000 homes a year by 2022, including half a million affordable and energy-efficient homes.

  Labour - Build over one million more homes, with at least half for social rent.

  Green Party - Help first-time buyers by aiming for house price stability - axing buy-to-let tax breaks.

  transport

  Conservatives - Review rail ticketing to remove "complexity and perverse" pricing, with a passenger ombudsman introduced.

  Lib dems - Invest capital in major transport improvements and infrastructure.

  Labour - Extend high speed rail link HS2 to Scotland.

  Green Party - Return the railways to public ownership.

  
  

  Foreign policy

  Conservatives - Spend at least 2% of GDP on defense and increase the budget by at least 0.5% above inflation in every year of the new parliament.

  Lib dems - Spend 2% of GDP on defense.

  Labour - Support the renewal of the Trident submarine system.

  Green Party - Cancel Trident replacement, saving at least £110bn over the next 30 years.

  
  

  Migration

  Conservatives - Immigration cut to under 100,000.

  Lib dems - Offer safe and legal routes to the UK for refugees - offering sanctuary to 50,000 Syrian refugees over five years.

  Labour - Labour will not "scapegoat migrants" and will not set a cap on immigration, describing targets as "bogus".

  Green Party - A humane immigration and asylum system that recognises and takes responsibility for Britain's ongoing role in causing the flow of migrants worldwide.

  
  

  Brexit

  Conservatives - Exit the European single market and customs union but seek a "deep and special partnership" including comprehensive free trade and customs agreement.

  Lib dems - Press for the UK to unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU nationals in the UK.

  Labour – Accept the EU referendum result and “build a close new relationship with the EU” prioritizing jobs and workers’ rights.

  
  

  Green Party - A referendum on the final Brexit deal with the option to reject the deal and remain in the EU.

Study Task: Parody and Pastiche summary

Jameson says in Postmodernism, 'pastiche is to be sharply distinguished from the more readily received idea of parody', meaning there is a difference between the two, which he then goes on to explain.

Jameson defines pastiche on page 17 when he says: "Pastiche is, like parody, the imitation of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic style, the wearing of a linguistic mask, speech in a dead language."

Hutcheon's defines parody when she says: "The paradox of postmodernist parody is that it is not essential depthless, trivial kitsch, as Eagleton and Jameson both believe, but rather that it can and does lead to a vision of interconnectedness. "Illuminating itself, the artwork simultaneously casts light on the workings of aesthetic conceptualisation and on art's sociological situation."

Hutcheon criticises Jameson when she says: "It is true, however, that it does not offer what Jameson desires - "genuine historicity," that is, in his terms, "our social, historical and existential present and the past as 'referent'" as "ultimate objects," But its deliberate refusal to do so is not a naive one: what postmodernism does is to contest the very possibility of there ever being "ultimate objects."

Studio Brief 2 - Type considerations

As the first idea was to create an interface app that works like a card game, the obvious option was to look for a typeface that would work on playing cards. To find this, looking at the different styles of type used in playing cards and trading cards was necessary. By using a style found in popular card games, the audience could become aware of the connection between the politics and the idea of it being played as a game. Making the app as a game also helps to engage the target audience who are likely to have an interest in games.

By designing the interface as an app, the audience can be targeted through the platforms that they are most likely to use. An app is a more convenient way for those who may be curious of politics, but are not familiar, to access the information when it best suits them. This way the app also provides confidentiality to the audience engaging with it, meaning they can decide on a political position without having to express it to others.

playing cards typeface

Card Characters
Classic style, serif typeface.