20
Dec
2009
Project type: iPhone / iPod app
Role: Producer, user experience designer
Tasks: research competitors, write project proposal, interface sketches, wireframing, and write functional and technical specifications.
Cover art was used to skin the app
Overview
The Powderfinger app is the best way for users to keep up-to-date with one of Australia’s most exciting rock bands. Get up-to-date news, information on tours, wallpapers, photos and music as well as exclusive content.
The app incorporated a unique feature specifically designed for iPhone: the Powderfinger Player. Setlists can be downloaded onto the app and live concerts could be recreated using studio versions of tracks from the user’s iPod library. Continue reading
no comments | tags: development, iphone, production, ui, ux | posted in Portfolio, Professional
22
Nov
2009
Fig 1. Blood splattered title card - first of more splattering to come.
Jeff Lindsey’s inspired Showtime series DEXTER is an absolute favourite of mine.
For those not familiar with Dexter, he fills his day as a forensic analyst with Miami Police Department, focusing on blood-splatter. In his spare-time, Dexter satisfies his blood-thirsty “Dark Passenger” by performing ritualistic killings of victims who themselves are guilty of murder.
Dexter meticulously orchestrates his kills and leaves no forensic evidence – following the “Code” of his father with a strong focus on remaining un-caught.
I admire the writing, production and actor performances – all of which are subtle, deliberate and significant. Continue reading
no comments | tags: game, iphone, review | posted in Games
20
Sep
2009
Project Type: Physical installation + website
Role: User experience designer, technical lead
Tasks: Lead project, write functional and technical specification, research technology.
Total Nowhere Emotion Expansion (online verision)
Overview:
Created for Brisbane Festival 2009, Total Nowhere Emotion Expansion (TNEE) was an offline and online exhibition gallery.
For the duration of the Festival, TNEE was to be made available online via the website and offline in a mobile media art gallery – which was a converted semi-trailer filled with computers and projectors.
The exhibition gallery featured works from 9 artists which scrolled horizontally to showcase each piece. Continue reading
no comments | tags: development, production, ui, ux | posted in Portfolio, Professional
10
Jul
2009
Project type: Adobe Air desktop widget
Role: User experience designer, technical lead
Tasks: Research widget conventions, lead project, and write functional / technical specification.
Recipe planner desktop widget developed using Adobe Air.
Overview
Australian Avocados commissioned Liquid Interactive to develop an ‘Easy Meal Solutions’ Widget as part of their digital strategy and complement the Avocados website.
As a useful ‘recipe planner’ desktop-based widget, the Avocados brand would be front-of-mind for users.
Through the highly interactive user interface, users could:
- Get randomised meal ideas,
- Read inspirational quotes,
- Search the website’s extensive recipe database,
- Set meal reminders,
- Set favourite recipes,
- Create, save, edit and rate their own recipes, and
- Submit recipes to the website.
The target demographic for this application was the householder, so the user experience needed to be clear, direct and straightforward.
Process
Our primary development capability was Adobe Flash – so a widget engine / platform that could compile using Actionscript 3 and Flash assets would be the most effective route for development.
I worked with an experienced Flash / Flex developer to research the feasibilities of various platforms and settled on Adobe Air. Air is a platform that can run on both Windows and Mac making the widget available to the maximum number of users without sacrificing aesthetics or functionality.
The widgets pickup was immediate and was supported with a targeted marketing campaign which not only encouraged the existing user base to download the widget, but also brought new click throughs to the site.
no comments | tags: development, production, ui, ux | posted in Portfolio, Professional
11
Mar
2009
Creators: Steven Cullen and Katy Andrews. My contribution to this project was ux/ui design, production design and scripting.
fig 1. 3D translation and rendering of the gestures 'drawn' on a canvas.
Cartography is a tangible artefact promoting a playfully collaborative environment. Putting participants in the role of an explorer, Cartography invites them to chart out newly discovered lands.
Using simple gestures you can create islands and contribute to a virtual world which grows and evolves as more people engage with it. Participants use a quill inlaid with a magnetic switch which activates the canvas. Drawing on the canvas renders the line.
Two types of line define the island. The outer line encompassing other lines, constitutes a flat island. To chart island topography, participants drew ‘mountain’ lines. Please refer to fig. 2:
fig 2. The drawing surface and gestures.
The phsyical set-up of the installation was themed as though looking out a window. The rendered island (as illustrated in fig. 1.) was rear-projected onto the screen behind the window. The charting canvas was also rear-projected into the ‘blotter’ on the table when the quill was lifted. Please refer to fig. 3.
fig 3. Physical set-up of the installation.
no comments | tags: game, graphic design, programming, ux | posted in Portfolio, While at University
4
Mar
2009
fig 1. "Virtual" component of installation. Displayed within the "book".
“SCOOT is a LBG for families to play together… but essentially it is aimed at the kids. The game is called SCOOT and we have designed it for public places and museums… as a way to introduce everyday places as both a muse for storytelling and a stage for adventure… as well as to demonstrate to kids that basic mobile phone services can be used creatively.”
Created as part of Scoot Melbourne, this ‘node’ was to be 2-5 minutes worth of interaction time and to leverage historical facts and figures. I acted as ux/ui designer, graphic designer and programmer.
Continue reading
1 comment | tags: development, graphic design, programming, ui, ux | posted in Portfolio, While at University
11
Feb
2009
Everyone suitably dressed in black for the evening.
44 guests attended and loved it.
Similar to a ‘Fun House‘ at a Fair, this concept was borne from a love of the intensely detailed aesthetic of (Showtime’s) Dexter and (HBO’s) Six Feet Under.
Stemming from the style prescribed by the aforementioned, Katy contributed all: thematic concept, set-pieces, refreshments, set dressing, and print design.
Each invitee received a toe-tag which listed the details of the party. This was accompanied by a letter of condolence and instructions on how to prepare the body for intake.
Upon arrival, guests entered through crime scene tape into a room cocooned in plastic. Following check in, toe-tags were affixed (for easy identification by fellow cadavers) and disposable gloves issued – so as to not contaminate the scene.
All food and drink was coloured red (like blood) and topped off with a bleeding cake.
Each invitation was merged through Microsoft Word and painstakingly (but lovingly) printed, cut, perforated, threaded, sealed and delivered.
Letter, toe-tag and envelope. * Names have been altered to protect the innocent.
2 comments | tags: graphic design, ux | posted in Portfolio
7
Feb
2009
Start of the Night
250-300 guests attended the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) end of year exhibition.
Co-curator with Jen Sevnick (smArtnoise.net).
The exhibition was one night in duration encompassing 14 installations; all of which implemented alternative input devices. Special consideration was taken when positioning the installations as this would affect performance and audience perception (e.g. using video as input required a solid, unwavering background).
Certain eye-catching pieces were situated towards the rear of the space to draw the audience through the body of the exhibition.
Installations not functioning correctly were removed from the exhibition to maintain a sense of completeness. This was difficult but necessary.
Team co-ordination and communication played a large part – most importantly, ensuring tasks were completed properly and in good time. A number of Gantt charts and Google documents (bump-in/run sheets) were shared online to ensure timetable awareness.
Potential risks were identified and managed – from small power board failures to grid failure to audience accidents.
no comments | tags: production, ux | posted in Portfolio
2
Feb
2009
Cyrene (Travel Management System) provides a single and integrated interface performing common travel agency management tasks. Built on the PHPOBLIB framework Cyrene will be deployed as a web application.
Utilising dynamic scripting languages such as AJAX, information is rapidly updated and displayed. Cyrene integrates Microsoft’s Live Search Maps API to dynamically display information e.g. flight paths, the status of those paths, etc.
Katy contributed to Flash scripting, user experience design and graphic design.
Implementation of an Adobe Flash interactive flip book displays a day-per-page detailing flight and accommodation arrangements coupled with sight-seeing/activity suggestions – much like a travel diary.
fig 1. Accomplice: Bash Isai (Lead Programmer) over at bashkim.com
Continue reading
no comments | tags: graphic design, programming, ux | posted in Portfolio
2
Feb
2009
A clean professional web site for a city conveyancing agency City and Suburban. Site was to provide information such as contact details and make bookings via an external system.
fig 1. Home page of City and Suburban.
no comments | tags: css, graphic design, html, ui, ux, website | posted in Portfolio, While at University
