The brief, in full

Leeds Metropolitan University and Holy Cross College

Level 5 Project Assignment

Multimedia Technology

Level 5

                                                           

Assignment Title:     Level 5 Project

Total Mark:                 300 marks

                                      100% for Group Project Implementation

                                      100% for Group Project Evaluation

                                      100% for Professional Development in Context

Hand in Dates:          Pitch Document

                                      Tuesday - 03/10/2011

Contextual Research
Tuesday - 07/11/2011

                                      Working Product Presentation

                                      Tuesday - 07/11/2011

                                      The Final Client Presentation

                                      Tuesday - 19/12/2011

Hand in Location:    Pitch Document

                                      Upload to X-Stream / CD Hand in

                                      Contextual Research
                                      Upload to X-Stream / CD Hand in

                                      Working Product Presentation

                                      Presentation & Upload to X-Stream / CD Hand in

                                      The Final Client Presentation

                                      Presentation, upload to X-Stream (and/or CD Hand in)

Learning Outcomes: (being assessed by this assignment)

(Please refer to Appendix 1 at the end of this document)

Overview

You will develop an interactive PRODUCT that is:

·              created utilising appropriate skills from your Level 5 modules
(and any other relevant studies)

·              substantial enough to award marks for 3 full modules

·              effectively managed and presented professionally

·              as creative and innovative as possible

It is highly recommended that you produce this product as a group but it is possible to work individually.

You are required to:

·        create a finished, working product

·        produce management documentation

·        demonstrate evidence of personal development and employability

·        evaluate the product and the process of making it

You will be assessed by:

·        a pitch document

·        a working product presentation

·        individual contextual research

·        a final client presentation

The Briefs

You must select one of the following two briefs:

An informative interactive product about a creative art form

Overview:

An interactive application that explores sculpture, photography, graffiti art, fashion or any other creative art form. The application contains sections about the history of the art form, the most influential people, a beginner’s guide to creating the art, an image gallery, a time-line etc.

Key Selling Points:

Interactive time-line that shows the key dates in the art form’s history

Video tutorials on how to create the art form

Web links to useful internet resources

Purpose: To inform the user the about the art form and to inspire creative interest

Delivery: To be sold via a book/art shop

OR

A non-linear narrative adventure game

Overview:

An interactive adventure created using video, 3D animation and interactive media authoring. The player explores a world of your creation, collecting items, solving puzzles and experiencing the narrative (story).

Key Selling Points:

Non-linear narrative so the story changes each time the game is played

3D and video combined to create an imaginary world

Item inventory that allows the player to collect items they need to progress

Purpose: To entertain, engage and challenge the player

Delivery: To be given away on the cover of a PC games magazine

You are welcome to negotiate changes to these briefs but you MUST:

·        do this in time for the Pitch Document hand-in

·        agree the changes with your tutor(s)

·        ensure that the idea stays relevant to the context of your award

The Deliverables

The Product

You must ensure that the scope of your project is suitable, allowing you to achieve high marks. Remember - this project awards the marks for 3 modules for EACH team member!

For instance, if your team consists of 4 members, your project should involve 12 times the work of an individual Semester 1 assignment. (4 members x 3 modules = 12 times bigger).

ALL team members must contribute to the creation of the product. Failure to make a substantial contribution to the product could result in you not passing the year.

Please note: If your project idea is too basic, you will not be able to achieve high grades. Please discuss your idea with your tutor regularly.

Conceptual & Developmental Work

It is highly recommended that you develop visual materials that illustrate HOW you developed your final product. These will be invaluable for demonstrating your individual contribution in both presentations.

If you do not produce conceptual/developmental work, you must be able to evidence your contribution to the project in another way.

These materials could take the form of:

·        a graphical paper-based portfolio

·        a digital portfolio (website, blog, video podcast, private journal etc.)

·        any other medium that effectively conveys the development process

The Conceptual & Developmental work might include:

·         sketches/drawings

·         mind-maps

·         visual research/mood boards

·         storyboards

·         creative exercises

·         evidence of your employability skills

·         examples of work-in-progress

·         diagrams/technical drawings

·         clippings from magazines/papers

·         written or graphical research

·         relevant lecture/tutorial notes

Management and Professional Development Documentation

You are required to manage the process of creating the project, producing appropriate management documentation throughout the whole process. You are also required to document your personal development, making specific reference to employability.

This includes:

·        minutes & actions for ALL meetings (minimum 1 per week)

·        a gantt chart or other form of time plan (to be modified and updated as required)

·        a skills audit, job specification & CV (for each team member)

·        a production diary (for each team member)

It is critical that ALL team members contribute to the production of the management material. Failure to contribute to this documentation could result in you not passing the year - even if you contribute fully to the production of the product.

The recommended way to ensure that all team members contribute is to rotate the management tasks. (ie. each team member takes turns at writing the minutes and updating the time plan etc.)

Evaluation

Evaluation is a critical part of this project. At both presentations you will be asked to individually evaluate:

·        parts(s) of the product

·        your own performance, contribution and employability/development

It is therefore highly recommended that you think critically about the process of making the product during the whole semester and keep good notes on your thoughts.

Further guidance on how to deliver a good evaluation will be provided before each presentation.

Contextual Research

As part of this project, you are required to produce some research that will assist you in producing an appropriate, professional product.

This research could be about:

·        a technical production technique (that you will use in producing the product)

·        a creative, artistic or planning technique (that you will use in planning/conceptualising the product)

·        the industry / market that your product fits into

·        employability skills and/or other professional skills that are essential for a career in producing the type of product you have chosen

Assessment

Pitch Document (Tuesday 03/10/2011)

By 9pm Tuesday 03/10/2011 you are required to submit a

Pitch Document. This document should contain the following:

·       The Title of the project

·       The Names of your Group members

·       A short Overview of the project*

·       3 Key Selling Points*

·       A Purpose*

·       A Delivery method*

·       A time plan, such as a Gantt Chart (for all team members, for the whole project)

·       A skills audit, job specification & CV (for each team member)

·       Design and conceptual work that clearly illustrates how the product will look and function

* These can be taken from the briefs on page 3.

All of this work should be uploaded to X-Stream. ALL components must be viewable in Microsoft Word 2002 or PDF format. (Please consult a tutor if you are not sure how to do this.)

The document should be professionally designed and ready for presentation to a client.

This Pitch Document will award 30 marks.

Working Product Presentation (Tuesday 07/11/2011)

On Tuesday xx November between 6pm and 9pm, you are required to deliver a Working Product presentation. This presentation is your opportunity to showcase your achievements so far. The product does not have to be finished but aspects of it should be fully functional.

A panel of academics (acting as the clients for the project) will attempt to recreate a commercial presentation scenario and will therefore expect you to present professionally.

You should imagine that the panel has made a financial investment in your project and is therefore expecting to be impressed and re-assured with the quality of your work and the professionalism of your team.

The presentation must include:

·        An introduction to the project; its key selling points, purpose and delivery

·        Examples of your best work (covering all aspects of the project)

·        A demonstration of the product (including fully functional aspects)

·        Diagrams/charts showing the percentage-completed for each part of the project

·        The presentation of an up-to-date time plan & minutes of meetings (with actions)

·        An evaluation of the team’s performance so far

·        An evaluation of the product (as it stands)

·        The presentation and technical explanation of each team member’s individual contribution to the production of the project

·        The presentation of each team member’s production diary

The length of your presentation is determined by your team size, as follows:

·        2 team members: 15 minutes

·        3 team members: 20 minutes

·        4 team members: 25 minutes

·        5 team members: 30 minutes

Failure to present at this work-in-progress presentation and upload your Contextual Research will result in the loss of 100 MARKS. (Please refer to the marking scheme below)

Contextual Research  (Tuesday 07/11/2011)

By 9pm on the day of your Working Product Presentation, you are required to submit your individual Contextual Research. This document should contain the following:

·        The aim of your research

·        Your methodologies

·        A literature review

·        Results/conclusions

·        Bibliography

Your research should be no more than 2000 words in length. Please note that your research can be visual/graphical as appropriate! Feel free to include images, diagrams, drawings, annotated screen-grabs and other form of visual research.

This individual Contextual Research will award 30 marks.

The Final Presentation (Tuesday 19/12/2011)

During the week commencing xx, you are required to deliver a Final presentation. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the quality and quantity of your work and to ‘sell’ your project as enthusiastically as possible.

A panel of academics (acting as the clients for the project) will attempt to recreate a commercial presentation scenario and will therefore expect you to present professionally.

You should imagine that the panel has made a financial investment in your project and is therefore expecting to see the finished product, a detailed evaluation and professional management documentation.

The presentation must include:

·        An introduction to the project; its key selling points, purpose and delivery

·        A demonstration of the finished project, highlighting its best features

·        The presentation of a completed Time Plan

·        The presentation of minutes of meetings (with actions)

·        An evaluation of the team’s performance

·        An evaluation of the product

·        The presentation and technical explanation of each team member’s individual contribution to the production of the project

·        The presentation of each team member’s production diary

At the end of the presentation, you submit all of the following:

·        A copy of your presentation (on CD to Reception)

·        A copy of your project (in an appropriate format to the Reception)

You are welcome to submit individual portfolios of work per team member to illustrate each team member’s contribution (to Reception)

The length of your presentation is determined by your team size, as follows:

·        2 team members: 20 minutes

·        3 team members: 25 minutes

·        4 team members: 30 minutes

·        5 team members: 35 minutes

Failure to present at this final presentation will result in the loss of 140 MARKS. (Please refer to the marking scheme below)

Marking Scheme and Deadlines

Assessment	Deadline	Individual Marks	Group Marks
Pitch Document	Tuesday 03/10/2011	10	20
Contextual Research	Tuesday 07/11/2011	30
Working Product Presentation	Tuesday 07/11/2011	60	40
Final Client Presentation	Tuesday 19/12/2011	90	50

Please note: Further detail can be found in the separate document
‘Detailed Marking Schemes’
Appendix 1; Learning Outcomes

·      Develop and manage a project that is demonstrably relevant to your award. In doing this, you will select and apply a range of investigative techniques appropriate to both your practice and project and thus be able to demonstrate an understanding of professional development in context.

·      Apply technical and creative processes in the development of a product.

·      Implement a product to a specified brief as part of a team.

·      Evaluate the effectiveness of a product against a specified brief.

·      Identify a range of valid solutions to a specified brief and apply critical skills in reviewing them.