My FMP Project Proposal
Depending on what my client requests, I will either be creating an interactive timeline or an interactive map of the Avalon Marshes. The map would show the entire Avalon Marshes area, including the names of different areas. There would be markers on different points in the map. When the user hovered their mouse over each marker, a video clip, sound clip, or photograph would appear. The interactive timeline would work in a similar manner. The timeline would show various dates. When the user hovered their mouse over one of these dates, a short description of the event that happened then would fade into view, as well as a video, sound clip, or photograph.
This product needs to be produced because my client is looking to draw in a new target audience to learn more about the Avalon Marshes. They were hoping I could reinterpret some factsheets they sent me about the marshes in an interactive format to draw in a younger audience. This would mean removing a lot of the text and creating an exciting visual outcome in order to inspire fascination in people who didn’t originally have an interest in the marshes.
S.W.O.T Analysis
Strengths:
-Instead of creating my own brief, the Avalon Marshes team has given me a brief, which means I need to spend less time planning what I am going to create, and more time creating it.
-An interactive map/timeline is a fairly unique concept that should hopefully attract some attention to the marshes
-I get to work in a team, which means more creative input.
Weaknesses:
-Having a brief already laid out for the project means that there is less creative freedom. For example, as the client chose the target audience, I must make the product to certain specifications, without going outside of the box.
-Working in a team means I have to find time during project development to hold meetings and ensure people aren’t going off track. This reduces actual development time.
-I must remain in email contact with the client to ensure that they approve of the way I am producing the product. However, as the client does not work the same days that I do, I sometimes have to wait a while for further instructions, which slows down production.
Opportunities:
-For an interactive timeline, there is plenty of design inspiration available on Google images, found simply by typing in ‘timeline’. I could take some of the best elements of the creative timelines I have seen, and add interactive functionality to them.
-There are various programmes I could use to create an interactive map or timeline, varying from Adobe Illustrator to Flash. I could also use JavaScript to give the product interactive functionality so I have a lot of opportunities to be creative with the way I go about developing this.
-We get to present our product at two festivals, which could help the project get some more recognition.
Threats:
-There is the danger that, because we weren’t given a very specific brief by the Avalon Marshes team that our product may not end up the way they want it, due to a lack of communication on the specifics.
-If we fail to hone the client’s brief into several specific points- if we fail to interpret it into something operational- then we will end up not actually producing anything, as we will not have been able to turn the set of ideas we have been given into something real.
-Some of my team members have been unable. I had already planned to give them a particular job, but when it turned out they were unable to do it, I had to revise my production schedule, which slowed down production. Relying too heavily on team members may mean that we do not have the product finished by the deadline.
PEST and SMART Analysis
Specific: Although we weren’t given a very specific brief, we have decided what our two potential interactive products will be and how we can go about creating them.
Measurable: We have several set deadlines and a specific number of weeks to go through the production process and finalise the product.
Achievable: I have held meetings with my team to ensure that we are making good progress on the project, and have asked for advice from both the Avalon Marshes team and my teachers about whether creating an interactive map is feasible. If it turns out not to be, then I will be able to create an interactive timeline instead, as this should be much more easily achievable.
Realistic: At first I wanted to create something much more ambitious- an Avalon Marshes app. However, I received feedback from the Avalon Marshes about this idea possibly taking a long time and not being finished by the deadline. We all agreed that my current idea for a final product is a much more realistic.
Time-based: There are set deadlines for the project.
Political: My interactive map/timeline will not have a distinctive political impact, although it may contain information about supporting the environment, which is a complicated political issue at the moment.
Environmental: My interactive timeline/ interactive map should be supportive of the environment, as they will educate people on environmental issues that have impacted the Avalon Marshes in the past, as well as how to look after ecosystems in the marshes.
Social: My products will target particular social groups- children in education and their parents.
Technical: I will need to use technology to create my final product (iMac software such as Adobe Flash) and will be a technological product- you can interact with it using a mouse and keyboard.
Depending on what my client requests, I will either be creating an interactive timeline or an interactive map of the Avalon Marshes. The map would show the entire Avalon Marshes area, including the names of different areas. There would be markers on different points in the map. When the user hovered their mouse over each marker, a video clip, sound clip, or photograph would appear. The interactive timeline would work in a similar manner. The timeline would show various dates. When the user hovered their mouse over one of these dates, a short description of the event that happened then would fade into view, as well as a video, sound clip, or photograph.
This product needs to be produced because my client is looking to draw in a new target audience to learn more about the Avalon Marshes. They were hoping I could reinterpret some factsheets they sent me about the marshes in an interactive format to draw in a younger audience. This would mean removing a lot of the text and creating an exciting visual outcome in order to inspire fascination in people who didn’t originally have an interest in the marshes.
S.W.O.T Analysis
Strengths:
-Instead of creating my own brief, the Avalon Marshes team has given me a brief, which means I need to spend less time planning what I am going to create, and more time creating it.
-An interactive map/timeline is a fairly unique concept that should hopefully attract some attention to the marshes
-I get to work in a team, which means more creative input.
Weaknesses:
-Having a brief already laid out for the project means that there is less creative freedom. For example, as the client chose the target audience, I must make the product to certain specifications, without going outside of the box.
-Working in a team means I have to find time during project development to hold meetings and ensure people aren’t going off track. This reduces actual development time.
-I must remain in email contact with the client to ensure that they approve of the way I am producing the product. However, as the client does not work the same days that I do, I sometimes have to wait a while for further instructions, which slows down production.
Opportunities:
-For an interactive timeline, there is plenty of design inspiration available on Google images, found simply by typing in ‘timeline’. I could take some of the best elements of the creative timelines I have seen, and add interactive functionality to them.
-There are various programmes I could use to create an interactive map or timeline, varying from Adobe Illustrator to Flash. I could also use JavaScript to give the product interactive functionality so I have a lot of opportunities to be creative with the way I go about developing this.
-We get to present our product at two festivals, which could help the project get some more recognition.
Threats:
-There is the danger that, because we weren’t given a very specific brief by the Avalon Marshes team that our product may not end up the way they want it, due to a lack of communication on the specifics.
-If we fail to hone the client’s brief into several specific points- if we fail to interpret it into something operational- then we will end up not actually producing anything, as we will not have been able to turn the set of ideas we have been given into something real.
-Some of my team members have been unable. I had already planned to give them a particular job, but when it turned out they were unable to do it, I had to revise my production schedule, which slowed down production. Relying too heavily on team members may mean that we do not have the product finished by the deadline.
PEST and SMART Analysis
Specific: Although we weren’t given a very specific brief, we have decided what our two potential interactive products will be and how we can go about creating them.
Measurable: We have several set deadlines and a specific number of weeks to go through the production process and finalise the product.
Achievable: I have held meetings with my team to ensure that we are making good progress on the project, and have asked for advice from both the Avalon Marshes team and my teachers about whether creating an interactive map is feasible. If it turns out not to be, then I will be able to create an interactive timeline instead, as this should be much more easily achievable.
Realistic: At first I wanted to create something much more ambitious- an Avalon Marshes app. However, I received feedback from the Avalon Marshes about this idea possibly taking a long time and not being finished by the deadline. We all agreed that my current idea for a final product is a much more realistic.
Time-based: There are set deadlines for the project.
Political: My interactive map/timeline will not have a distinctive political impact, although it may contain information about supporting the environment, which is a complicated political issue at the moment.
Environmental: My interactive timeline/ interactive map should be supportive of the environment, as they will educate people on environmental issues that have impacted the Avalon Marshes in the past, as well as how to look after ecosystems in the marshes.
Social: My products will target particular social groups- children in education and their parents.
Technical: I will need to use technology to create my final product (iMac software such as Adobe Flash) and will be a technological product- you can interact with it using a mouse and keyboard.