Document here:

https://wp.nyu.edu/licastro_fall14/?p=953

Together we have explored future dystopias through the imaginations of EM Forster, Ray Bradbury, and Margaret Atwood. Each of these writers invent new technologies in their works in order to address current political and cultural issues they wish to address – for example, genetically modified food, over-exposure to screens (and celebrity), violence in video games, etc. These devices often utilize “remediation” drawing from new media concepts we are familiar with, and enhance them to fit in the alternate reality the author has created. For this assignment you will engage in “reflective design,” defined by Hancock et al as “promot[ing] critical inquiry over usability and exploratory prototyping over fully realized productions.” You can do this by beginning with the current state of new media and then projecting potential solutions – or perhaps evolutions – of these tools to enhance the reading and/or writing process in the future. We are specifically concentrating on the tools of composition for this project, since this course has focused on literacy skills the tools we use to communicate. However, these are meant to be visions of the future – featuring a balance of imagination and practicality.

 

This project will be broken into 4 parts:

Stage 1: The Pitch                 

Due Date – 11/14

Create a proposal for your “design fiction” project (3-5 pages, 3min presentation)

• Introduce the product and explain its purpose – this is the time to dream big!
• Explain what need this product will fill that isn’t met by currently available technology and how it builds on current technology(ies)
• Prove this item has a customer base, and be specific about your target audience
• Imagine the process and materials it would take to manufacture and distribute this product – even if these do not exist yet
• Come up with marketing materials, such as a catch phrase/motto/logo to use in your pitch

Stage 2: Group Proposal

Due Date – 11/21

As a class you will vote on the top 3 products to develop into your collaborative final projects. (5-7 pages)

• As a group you will create a contract defining the roles each of you will fill for your group, then you must divide the tasks you need to complete, and provide clear due dates for each task
• This proposal will also revise the original pitch to incorporate everyone’s ideas and create a robust description of your new tool and its purpose
• Together you should re-think how to prototype and market this product – consider your audience, and how this idea improves on already existing products
• Create sample marketing materials

Stage 3: Annotated Bibliographies

Rolling due dates, post as you go (2 must be added before Thanksgiving)

Using Zotero, you will build a research base for this project

• Each person must contribute at least 3 resources to our group library
• Each source must include a correctly formatted MLA citation
• Each source must be summarized and evaluated in the “notes” section (see presentation slides uploaded to our site for more information)

 

Stage 4: Final Project

Presentations on 12/8 and 12/10

Create a website for your product

• This site should serve as the complete representation of your product
• Include a description that features your research (properly cited) and connections to what you have learned in this course
• Include some kind of prototype or mock-up of your tool
• Design marketing materials, and work these into the overall design of the site
• Use mutlimedia to your advantage!
• Include a full works-cited page for all materials used (including media)

 

Additional Notes:

Each group must meet with me in pre-scheduled conferences as listed in the syllabus. I am also available to consult with you on your individual product pitches during office hours.

This description is subject to change after we discuss your ideas. Suggestions welcome!

A final reflection paper telling me what you learned through this process will be due on the date of your final exam.