Spring 2003

Design Direction - Flanagan

Final Proposal

The Design Direction Project Proposal is a written, word processed document which describes a proposed artistic or business project in depth. The Proposal is used to communicate the scope, scale, approach, and content of your project. The project must showcase your understanding of conceptual, aesthetic, and technical aspects of your area of study. It could be a book proposal, an installation project, a web site, etc.

The proposal must be in the following format and should be appx 5 pages in length.

Alternatively, you can choose a proposed funding source with similar length and detail guidelines (such as the Oregon Arts Commission or the Daniel Langlois Foundation) and follow their format. It’s up to you.

1. Abstract

The abstract is a 250 word mini-description of your final project. It should be a short, few sentences of what the project is in a nutshell. What you plan to do? Does it clearly identify your project for the readers? Why is the project worth doing? Importance?

2. Artist Statement

The artist statement is a one page description of yourself and what interests you about making art or doing design work. It should not be about assignments, or about school, but about your personal approach to making projects and work. What motivates you? What is your process?

See various web sites for inspiration when writing an artist statement: http://www.nitaleland.com/articles/statement.htm, http://www.artadvice.com/advice/article12.pdf, http://www.artistresource.org/forums/forum6/39_2.htm, http://www.artists.ca/FCA-7c1.html, http:// www.artbusiness.com/statement.html

3. Project Description
The project description is a 1-2 page complete description of the project. It serves as a brief summary of the project's purpose, and effects. The Project Description is a written narrative which presents the content and format of your project in some detail.  Its purpose is to give your readers a solid understanding of the project without excessive detail.

1. It describes the project you are proposing.

2. It explains how the project will solve a problem or explore a concept in a unique way.

3. It explains why your approach to project is the best approach and why it is significant.

The description section is your opportunity to describe how you will create your piece, why it is a unique artwork, why web technology is the best way to present your idea, and why viewers will find it interesting. It should also address your conceptual concerns. Are you interested in …representation? surveillance? language? history, memory, violence, popular culture, poetry….etc etc…. Where is the project going to be shown? Is there a publisher? What are the concepts behind your design idea? Who is the target audience, target viewer, or interactor?

The proposal needs to include a minimum of 3 rough sketches and at least 2 references to work (artwork and books/theorists) which are inspiring you.

4. Exhibition Format/Dissemination

This section should be appx. ½ a page and should describe in detail where you plan to enter the work into competitions, publish/broadcast the work, publish it, or show in a gallery setting. Explain how you will document the work. This material should occupy at least a paragraph in the document. Be specific, and do research.

5. Technical Approach

This section should be ½ a page and should outline the technical approach including tools used and platforms the piece will run on. For example, will the piece require the user to have a plug in? What is the minimum configuration of the user's machine? What tape format will you master on?

6. Budget

You might not think you have a budget for your projects, but generally you do. Construction paper, video tapes, zip discs, travel, etc? Document these items in a table format. The budget should take up at least ½ a page. Make sure to include any additional resources required (number of people helping on project, if any; additional hardware, software, expenses, fees, etc.)

7. Schedule

This section focuses on how you will complete the tasks you have laid out for yourself. See example below. Yours will be monthly (at least) in detail and should include actual dates for finalizing "deliverables". Make sure you include time for user testing the project, uploading to the server early, etc. The schedule should be detailed to at least a page.

(Here is an example example Project Timetable)

The following is an example of an approximate overall project timetable for a project

Time	Development Phase	Production Task	Other Activities
Weeks/ Months 1-3	Planning, Design, and approval	Meet with client, write preliminary version of the proposal; project abstract and slides/documentation; Proposal revision. Advisor must sign off on idea.	Interest/design testing; seeing other related artwork, attending visiting artists' lectures.
weeks 4-7	Prototyping, working out concept, sketching	Research. Finalize conceptual sketches	Technical tests (for example, learning updates to software, testing camera lenses with your animation, etc).
weeks 8-10	Finalizing research	Produce work. (detail what)
weeks 11-13	Acquire materials, Begin production	Produce work. (detail what)	Seeing other related artwork, attending visiting artists' lectures.
weeks 14-17	Production	Produce work (detail what) Alpha Stage.	Seeing other related artwork, attending visiting artists' lectures.
weeks 18-21	Production	Revise work, produce work, Beta Testing.	Seeing other related artwork, attending visiting artists' lectures.
weeks 22-25	Testing, final feedback	Document test set up of the work. Enter work into outside competitions and gallery shows.	Seeing other related artwork, attending visiting artists' lectures.
weeks 26-29	Hanging, testing, and in some cases, showing!	Work is hung or uploaded for testing. Enter work into outside competitions/gallery shows.	Document work in a packet with artist's statement and supporting materials. Update portfolio.
weeks 30-31	Crits	Work is shown in competitions	Post Mortem.

8. An appendix of sketches and diagrams

An appendix of sketches and diagrams must be included to illustrate the proposal. Include sketches or storyboards, and proposed interface design if applicable.