[THESIS] weekly announcement – prep for April 18 class

Hi Class!

Weekly update time… most importantly, during these next few weeks your goal is to advance your project! Keep yourself moving forward – let the making guide you!

April 18 is our last “formal class”

To prepare: Please add ONE full screen image of your work in progress (or an element of your work in progress) to this slide deck: Visual Share Out Deck. We’ll be using this in a very short activity, in which, without preamble, your classmates will respond to what they see. This can be useful for getting first impressions, testing out a style, understanding the legibility of something. Feel free to ask me any questions you have to decide what image – or just go with your gut!

We will also be going over tips for letting the making guide you, storytelling, documentation, and a few other considerations to keep in mind going forward. Come with questions – or let me know anything in advance you want me to cover!

Lastly, we’ll review details for May 2 and May 8/9, as well as what to expect in the summer.

After class April 18:  if you can stay… Jaye has requested your presence for a playtest! We’ll try to wrap early so it’s not too long a zoom.

May 2 

Just so you know in advance, we’ll be doing 1 hour sessions of groups of 4 students at a time so you can practice your final.  Will share the signup sheet in class.

May 8/9 Preview 

The dates/times for final presentations are currently split out as represented in the table at the end of this message. Please review the date/times and let me know ASAP if you see an issue, and know there may still be some slight shuffling around – which we’ll review in class April 18.  You’re expected to stay the full 3 hours to support and give feedback to your peers.

!🤪!

I have added *emoji reactions* to the blog (very important! haha) – if you don’t like these let me know but I thought it could be a fun way to stay casually engaged in each other’s posts. Use them (or not, haha)!

The ITP Show – May 14 + 15 (students near NYC)

Some of you have asked about participating in the ITP Spring show – it’s by no means required, but like the “show-a-thing” show proved for many of you, a deadline and a condensed amount of feedback can be really helpful. I am going to be in touch with Noah from ITP to see what the details are for Low Res participation – in the meantime, can you let me know if you are interested in participating?

Th ITP show is typically for people physically located in NY (ITP has a “you have to stand next to your project throughout the show” policy) – BUT I suppose if you could enlist a local “buddy” to set up and tend to your project, I can advocate for students not in NYC to show work through their buddy.

NYUSH Playtest day (students near Shanghai)

Some of you in Shanghai have wanted to use the facilities there to set up your work. I am working with the local team there to set up a playtest date – can you let me know if you would be interested? I imagine one or two weekend days where you all have use of a classroom to stage your project or prototype, user test, and co-work could be helpful.

A final word of wisdom: take a look at your project with fresh eyes and ask: why you, why here, why now? I find that the more you can locate and emphasize your own voice, interests, talents, expertise, experiences – your unique point of view as a person in this time and “place” – the stronger the project. It’s there in your work – how do you bring it out?

That is all for now!  Please keep up the good work of posting on the journal, checking in with each other, meeting with me and your mentor, and, most importantly….ADVANCING YOUR PROJECT!

🐣

Sarah

DRAFT SCHEDULE: