Week 3 Progress

Most of week three's class progress was covered in the interim critique post. Although continuing on from that I have started to come up with some new concepts/posters that represent some of my original and new ideas/points for why to change the flag. I have started to really explore the different modes of visual communication, looking at how homage and parody can be used to a strong effect.

I have made a meeting with Matt for this Friday to discuss these new concepts before the next class.

I have continued to research VCD precedents and started to better understand how to visually communicate through both medium cues and the copy.

Interim Critique

Today we had an interim critique of our developed concepts. I had chosen 4 concepts to present, with them being based around:

-  (1) The flag's use of the union jack and it's implications to NZ
-  (2) New Zealand's unrecognisable identity to the world
- (3) The similarity between other commonwealth flags
- (4) The disconnection between war and the significance of the flag

Feedback from the rest of the class was both positive and negative. The first concept was commended for it's metaphor/reference to the idea of the UK being the puppet master to NZ, and this being incorporated with the union jack. Some development is needed for concept 2, whether this is through cropping or, reduction of the content. Concept 3 possibly needs development in it's composition and content. Concept 4 was decided it can be cropped in to only include the most important visual information required. Visual cues can be added and adjusted throughout all four concepts.

This critique was very helpful in terms of gaining crowd feedback, and also in seeing other's work and seeing how I can reevaluate mine.

Week 2 Progress

I have started to transition from working in thumbnail, small drawings to fully rendered able to be visualised concepts. By focusing currently on four main ideas, these being the attachment to the union jack/commonwealth, design of the current flag, identity of New Zealanders to the world and the relation of war to the flag, I have produced four concepts for critique in week 3. I hope to then move these through to the next stages of development and finalisation, by ensuring that it includes a strong form of rhetoric, and is overall visually appealing while arguing my chosen viewpoint. This will be done through crtit and discussion with both teachers and students.

Research word cloud (workbook update)

Word cloud made from all of my research compiled. I'll be able to use this to get an idea for what key words are regularly coming up in order to then mind map off that.

In Class Debate

Through our in class debate, in which I was on the side that the flag shouldn't be changed, I was able to decide which side to be on, and also allowed me to gain some insight research wise. I have decided to go with being pro flag change, largely to it having good points, it already being in the process of possible change, and that the VCD precedents I have looked at have also been pro their issue, eg pro peace, or pro law change. I feel that being pro an issue provides room to play on the negatives of the issue, and present a case for moving forward.

Mind Map (workbook update)

Mind map investigating possible direction for my posters to take for the overall argument of pro flag change. Am trying to dig deep and find something different.

Examples of Ihi Wehi within poster design