Planning and Designing the Multimedia Application

Planning and Designing the Planning and Designing the Multimedia ApplicationMultimedia Application

ObjectivesObjectives

Explain how the planning process and documents are important to the Explain how the planning process and documents are important to the design phasedesign phase

Describe the design strategyDescribe the design strategy Identify the factors that should be considered in developing a design Identify the factors that should be considered in developing a design

strategy for a multimedia applicationstrategy for a multimedia application List some of the questions that should be answered in defining the List some of the questions that should be answered in defining the

purpose of the multimedia applicationpurpose of the multimedia application List some of the questions that should be answered when defining the List some of the questions that should be answered when defining the

potential audience of the multimedia applicationpotential audience of the multimedia application

More ObjectivesMore Objectives

Describe some of the hardware limitations that must be considered Describe some of the hardware limitations that must be considered when designing a multimedia applicationwhen designing a multimedia application

List and describe the design factors that apply to text, graphics, List and describe the design factors that apply to text, graphics, animation, sound and videoanimation, sound and video

List and describe the design principles that should be incorporated into List and describe the design principles that should be incorporated into Web-based multimedia applicationsWeb-based multimedia applications

Describe the process and importance of testing and delivering a Describe the process and importance of testing and delivering a multimedia applicationmultimedia application

Explain how copyright laws apply to the elements used in an Explain how copyright laws apply to the elements used in an multimedia applicationmultimedia application

Planning and DesigningPlanning and Designing

the planning phase is the most important the planning phase is the most important phase in designing and developing any phase in designing and developing any multimedia applicationmultimedia application

storyboards, flowcharts, and scripts serve as storyboards, flowcharts, and scripts serve as the foundation for the design of the projectthe foundation for the design of the project

The Design Strategy (1)The Design Strategy (1)

PurposePurpose• How will users be using this application?How will users be using this application?• Why will users be using this application?Why will users be using this application?• What will users gain from this application?What will users gain from this application?• What medium and platform will users use to What medium and platform will users use to

access this application?access this application?• What types of features will be most useful to What types of features will be most useful to

the users of this application?the users of this application?


AudienceAudience• Who is the audience?Who is the audience?• What is the age range of the audience?What is the age range of the audience?• What gender is the audience?What gender is the audience?• How computer literate is the audience?How computer literate is the audience?• What particular interests, beliefs, and values What particular interests, beliefs, and values

does the audience have in common?does the audience have in common?


Method of DistributionMethod of Distribution• User PlatformUser Platform

– hybrid CDhybrid CD

• ProcessorProcessor• BandwidthBandwidth• MemoryMemory• StorageStorage

Designing the Media Elements (2)Designing the Media Elements (2)

TextText• useful and viableuseful and viable• less is usually better; small bits of informationless is usually better; small bits of information• six-by-six rulesix-by-six rule

– six points per screensix points per screen

– six words per pointsix words per point

TextText• readablereadable

– avoid all-capsavoid all-caps

– only use a couple of typefacesonly use a couple of typefaces

– use sans serif fonts for callouts, pull quotes, titles and use sans serif fonts for callouts, pull quotes, titles and headingheading

– use serif fonts for large bodies of textuse serif fonts for large bodies of text

– ensure that type contrasts with backgroundensure that type contrasts with background

– use variable, but readable sizesuse variable, but readable sizes

– wrap text around one side or underneath imageswrap text around one side or underneath images


Designing the Media Elements (2)Designing the Media Elements (2) GraphicsGraphics

• speak to nonverbal, intuitive side of the brainspeak to nonverbal, intuitive side of the brain

• complement text and other multimedia elementscomplement text and other multimedia elements

• consider how images work togetherconsider how images work together

• select high quality and compatible imagesselect high quality and compatible images

• crop images crop images

• clean up scanned imagesclean up scanned images

• use a variety of image sizes use a variety of image sizes


GraphicsGraphics• use interesting bordersuse interesting borders• create interesting special effects create interesting special effects • create backgrounds that reinforce the create backgrounds that reinforce the

appearance of the other graphic elementsappearance of the other graphic elements• design for the lowest common denominator of design for the lowest common denominator of

216 colors216 colors• use white space around graphics use white space around graphics


GraphicsGraphics• consider incorporating some analog or consider incorporating some analog or

traditional pieces within your multimedia traditional pieces within your multimedia applicationapplication

• don't use big, slow graphics on web-based don't use big, slow graphics on web-based multimedia applications. Delay is multimedia applications. Delay is unacceptable!unacceptable!


AnimationAnimation• make sure the animation adds to the project make sure the animation adds to the project • animations should impact, not detract from the animations should impact, not detract from the

ideas presented. ideas presented. • make sure the animation is appropriate to the make sure the animation is appropriate to the

mood and content of the applicationmood and content of the application• determine how much animation to use, what determine how much animation to use, what

objects should be animated, and how long the objects should be animated, and how long the animation should runanimation should run


AnimationAnimation• imagine where the animation will playimagine where the animation will play• realize that moving objects draw attention; make realize that moving objects draw attention; make

sure you animate what you want your users to sure you animate what you want your users to tune into tune into

• don’t use too many animated objects per screendon’t use too many animated objects per screen• realize that animation that does the same thing realize that animation that does the same thing

over and over and over can be annoying; keep over and over and over can be annoying; keep the animation changing or limit the animationthe animation changing or limit the animation


AnimationAnimation• use transitions and special effects that help use transitions and special effects that help

communicate your message, but don’t get communicate your message, but don’t get overzealous and add too manyoverzealous and add too many

• on the Web, make sure your animation loads on the Web, make sure your animation loads quicklyquickly


SoundSound• use high quality, appropriate, consistent sounduse high quality, appropriate, consistent sound• if different music files are used, they should be if different music files are used, they should be

the same style of musicthe same style of music• it is best to use the same voice for narration and it is best to use the same voice for narration and

voice-overs, but different voices for different voice-overs, but different voices for different characterscharacters

• if different characters are used, the voices for if different characters are used, the voices for each should be distincteach should be distinct


SoundSound• coordinate your sound files with the other coordinate your sound files with the other

graphic, animation, and video elements used in graphic, animation, and video elements used in your multimedia applicationyour multimedia application

• in Web-based multimedia applications, in Web-based multimedia applications, consider using MIDI filesconsider using MIDI files

• clearly label the size and type of audio files clearly label the size and type of audio files when you embed downloadable sound files on when you embed downloadable sound files on Web pagesWeb pages


VideoVideo• record and capture clean, high-quality videorecord and capture clean, high-quality video• keep the video quality consistentkeep the video quality consistent• keep the audience and mode of delivery in keep the audience and mode of delivery in

mindmind• if possible, use external video filesif possible, use external video files• make sure the sound or music and the video make sure the sound or music and the video

complement one anothercomplement one another


VideoVideo• use high-quality video footage that lends use high-quality video footage that lends

credibility and a professional feel to your credibility and a professional feel to your multimedia applicationmultimedia application

• use different characters to add interest to the use different characters to add interest to the application, but don’t use so many that your application, but don’t use so many that your users get lostusers get lost

• coordinate video files to complement the coordinate video files to complement the application and the other multimedia elementsapplication and the other multimedia elements


VideoVideo• don’t overuse transitions don’t overuse transitions • trim video clips of footage that is excessive, trim video clips of footage that is excessive,

boring, or inconsistent with your application boring, or inconsistent with your application • properly place and time video clips so that they properly place and time video clips so that they

are consistent with the content included in the are consistent with the content included in the other multimedia elementsother multimedia elements

Storyboards (3)Storyboards (3)

diagram that describes the content and diagram that describes the content and sequence of each screen sequence of each screen

extremely important planning documentextremely important planning document anticipate potential problemsanticipate potential problems

Storyboards (3)Storyboards (3)

Include:Include:• sketchsketch• description of the elements description of the elements • time allotted for each elementtime allotted for each element• screen numberscreen number• transitionstransitions• tools to be usedtools to be used• budget informationbudget information• method of navigationmethod of navigation• commentscomments

Scripts (3)Scripts (3)

complete blueprints of a multimedia complete blueprints of a multimedia applicationapplication

contain all of the text and narration for a contain all of the text and narration for a projectproject

details the scenes, screen conditions, details the scenes, screen conditions, transitions, and interactions among transitions, and interactions among characters characters

Flowcharts (3)Flowcharts (3)

illustrate the decision making process that illustrate the decision making process that results as users make choicesresults as users make choices

assist team as they prepare for the multitude assist team as they prepare for the multitude of possibilities that often exist within a of possibilities that often exist within a multimedia applicationmultimedia application

Testing the Multimedia ApplicationTesting the Multimedia Application throughout the development processthroughout the development process upon completionupon completion multimedia project team multimedia project team

• design, content, multimedia elements, design, content, multimedia elements, programming code, user interface, method of programming code, user interface, method of navigation, and interactivitynavigation, and interactivity

• goals and objectives are being met goals and objectives are being met • project is progressing as scheduled and budgetedproject is progressing as scheduled and budgeted• all licenses and releases have been obtainedall licenses and releases have been obtained

Testing the Multimedia ApplicationTesting the Multimedia Application

incorporate client suggestions/commentsincorporate client suggestions/comments get recommendations and feedback from a get recommendations and feedback from a

selected group of potential usersselected group of potential users• feelings about the overall program, user feelings about the overall program, user

interface, way the program is executed, interface, way the program is executed, multimedia elements and design multimedia elements and design

• suggestions on features and changes in design suggestions on features and changes in design that would improve the application that would improve the application

• positive feedback - what do they really like? positive feedback - what do they really like?

Storing the Multimedia ApplicationStoring the Multimedia Application

planning, development, and testing stages planning, development, and testing stages sometimes take years; the moment of truth sometimes take years; the moment of truth is RTM (Release to Manufacturer)is RTM (Release to Manufacturer)

multimedia applications must be stored on multimedia applications must be stored on magnetic tape, magnetic disks, magneto-magnetic tape, magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROM, DVD, laser disk, optical disks, CD-ROM, DVD, laser disk, or a combination of these storage devices. or a combination of these storage devices.

multimedia applications may also be stored multimedia applications may also be stored on a Web serveron a Web server

Delivering the Multimedia ApplicationDelivering the Multimedia Application

development of special boxes and development of special boxes and containers to be shipped to retail storescontainers to be shipped to retail stores

adding a link to a Web site adding a link to a Web site professional and consistent with the professional and consistent with the

application and the way it is storedapplication and the way it is stored include licensing information, include licensing information,

documentation, instructions and phone documentation, instructions and phone numbers for technical support numbers for technical support

CopyrightCopyrightIssuesIssues

CopyrightCopyright

don’t take chancesdon’t take chances always get permissionalways get permission carefully read agreementscarefully read agreements

Using Content•Working with content

Content is what the project is all about

Content must be made or acquired


•Using content created by othersContent may come from a variety of sources

Carefully read licensing agreements


•Using content created by others

•CopyrightsOriginal material is owned by the creator

Copyright is implied

Owning a copy of a work does not allow reproduction



•Copyrights

•Obtaining rightsLicense work before planning to use it

Make agreements in writing



•Copyrights

•Obtaining rights

•Derivative works

•Derivative works



•Copyrights

•Obtaining rights

•Derivative works

•Using content created for a project

SummarySummary

ReviewReview

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Planning and Designing the Multimedia Application