Heres some notes I took whilst listening to Seth’s Document Design Manifesto:

• Many media platforms were conceived through a design approach and Seth argues that documentary can be thought of in the same way.
• Interactive documentary can also look to design for solutions to keep up with the constant technological advancements.
• In this studio we’re experiencing interactive documentary… and then aligning theory to this. Not the traditional way, but Seth’s idea.

What is a doc designer required to understand? (Manifesto)

There are 4 categories

• Interactive media
  • code
  • users
  • tools
  • cross platforms
  • ephemeral
  • When work becomes interactive media, its completely different work that just uploading a doco to the Internet. I doc requires it topic to be presented in different way on TV and cinema.
  • Linear is exactly the same every time you look at it. Every scene is glued to each other. (Maker of Korsakow) (critiques)

• Affordances
  • How we interact with objects we use.
  • Granularity, remix, index and spatial montage.
  • Granularity: sketching granules, like we did on phone. Figure out how to have meaning in a small granule, and still have it be self-sufficient / independent alone. Has to be able to join but also be single. Degree of granularity (number of granules) affects complexity (granularity). Number of relations is higher and will make a more complex piece of work.
  • Remix: work is no longer static and fixed; the remix allows the user to remix the content (to create varying combinations from content).
  • Index: key wording, assigning metadata to the content. “Formal tagging”. Classify video for access and retrieval
  • Spatial montage: provides opportunity to collage shots together in space and time.
  • Design temporally and also SPATIALLY, e.g. the interfaces
  • Multi window (like when you use internet)

• Web of relations
  • Describes how associations are formed between the multi linear shots.
  • Non-narrative films: use classification and effect creating a linear web of relations.
  • Bordwell and Thompson explain docos as either: linear narrative (cause and effect), linear non-narrative, multi linear narrative, multi linear non-narrative (structure not necessarily guided by cause and effect) (one were using this this semester).
  • No set duration to final work, can shoot 20 hours, and can use all 20.

• Design methodologies
  • Designer’s processes.
  • Artifacts are propositions that are ideas. Not common for idea to come through the artefact (in design: can make the work then theorise from the makings… can do in hours. Or can do a thesis without making a work).
  • Design thinking can be applied to anything, whether tangible or intangible.
  • Dealing with complex problem, design is a good way to work through the complexity. We are learning to change our practice in a way, that we understand that a problem is occurring and working to solve this problem. Seth is teaching us problem-solving skills. It is integral to our practice as media practitioners.

• Making us flexible as media practioners (that Korsakow might not exist in 2 years time… but you take what you know to the next new media practice)
• Need basic knowledge of basic html
• Phones: understanding the affordances… learning the constraints and also the benefits (it’s connected to the network etc.)
• Must think about user, and design so it is usable. Aesthetics are important but must be easy to use.
• We are co-authoring the work with the user, for someone else to realise the work. WE WANT OUR USERS TO FEEL CONNECTED, FOR THEM TO SEE PATTERNS AND MAAKE CONNECTIONS.