Final Solution Rationale

           Every alternate solution I designed shares the same content focus, target audience, and approximate length. The solutions vary in approach. The “Simple Graphic Approach,” “Dramatic Movie Approach,” “Time Machine Approach,” and “Storytelling Approach” each have unique ways of meeting the specifications and limitations, and to different rates of success. Each solution has a different effect on the audience, theme, length, set of components, media, and materials. Every solution is focused on the relationship between science and art in the Renaissance period, a subject assigned only to my role.

            The first alternate solution is the “Simple Graphic Approach.” This solution is viable and meets all specifications and limitations. The “Simple Graphic Approach” solves my problem: that the museum needs to present otherwise dry information in an educational and interesting way. This approach would include a variety of media. This variety gives the video an interesting and persuasive effect. Additionally, the varied media appeals to all the senses. The most advantageous aspect of this approach is the ability to include as much information as needed without design constraints. This solution would be around 8 minutes long, meeting the limit that the average reasonable attention span is 8-12 minutes. This montage-type video would focus on the relationship between science and art in the renaissance period.

            The main aesthetic feature of the “Simple Graphic Approach” is the audio. This solution would contain sound effects for transitions, music, and audio clips of conversation, marketplaces, and other relevant pieces. Additionally, text boxes provide an opportunity to introduce aesthetically pleasing colors and shapes. The information content would primarily include documents, photographs, paintings, writings, historian interviews, narration, music, and transitional text between pieces. Gathering research, documents, and paintings will take the most time. Designing and editing the interviews and pieces will require more time than filming the segments. The “Simple Graphic Approach ties in directly with the museum design themes. This video allows the related interactive exhibits to stand out more. The video can be displayed in the open.

            The production difficulties for this design are not concerning. The video only needs computer software for editing and designing, interviewing equipment, and audio equipment. The related costs are editing software, audio equipment, and interview equipment. The production process and challenge is the editing of multiple sources of content, such as paintings, documents, and writings.

            The “Simple Graphic Approach” has some sources of weakness related to the viewer experience. The video design will be aesthetically appealing to all viewers but will not hold their attention. The video would be more factual-based than entertaining because of a lack of dramatic elements. The video would be displayed in an open room, not requiring the audience to sit down to understand the full message. Video display in an open setting is subject to distractions. This solution has the most comprehensive display of information.

            Overall, I loved that the “Simple Graphic Approach” was easy and inexpensive to compile and edit. Color, sound, shape, and movement make this presentation unique. This solution ties in directly with the museum color and design scheme directly. Unfortunately, even the best execution of this solution would not captivate the younger viewers as well as the other solutions.

Alternate Solution #1 

The “Dramatic Movie Approach” is my second alternate solution. This solution is viable, meeting all specifications and limitations and solving the problem. This video is similar to a traditional blockbuster movie, containing beginning, middle, and end sections. The strongest aspect of the design is the entertaining effect. This solution is an educational video disguised in a traditional movie layout and effects. The main focus of the “Dramatic Movie Approach” is the relationship between science and art in the renaissance period. This approach would be around 10 minutes long, meeting the attention span requirement.

            The outstanding aesthetic feature in this design is the mood setting, including lighting, acting, and audio elements. The information content will be presented in the narration and script of the video. Music, re-enactment, audio clips, and raw video footage would create a mood and setting for the information presented. The video will transition from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance era, creating emotion and drama in the storyline. Sensory details in each scene will fit the storyline. This video solution will be difficult to dispense a substantial amount of factual information and still be coherent with the storyline. Writing scripts and filming scenes will take more time than editing. Unfortunately, the video design requires a scene for every information topic. Another challenge is that the nature of the video requires the presentation to be in an enclosed space, with seating and proper lighting.

The production process requires a huge amount of equipment. The “Dramatic Movie Approach” solution needs filming equipment, set designs, set scenery and props, audio equipment, and editing software. The main costs involved in this approach are actor payments and set equipment and supplies. The production process involves filming scenes for renaissance, astrology, anatomy, and discovery subjects. Planning scenes and designing sets will be complicated and filming this variety of scenes will be time-consuming.

The “Dramatic Movie Approach” is entertaining for most viewers and provides the audience with a full transformative experience. This solution is appealing to all the senses and is most appealing to adults and older children. The video has more value and importance in entertainment than factual information. The educational information is “hidden” in the movie plot because of fast scene transitions and action pieces. The video will be presented in a theater room, with seating and proper lighting features. Because of video length and presentation setting, the owner will have to preset times for screenings.

            The “Dramatic Movie Approach” would be successful in two important ways: audience entertainment and dramatic effect. This approach would have a similar effect as William Kentridge’s “The Refusal of Time.” This exhibit’s audio and visual pieces created a lively, stimulating effect for the audience. A video similar to a blockbuster movie would also heighten the importance of the topics with dramatic elements. I did not like the time, money, and energy this video would cost. Additionally, the educational information would not have as prominent effect as the action would in this option.

Alternate Solution #2

The “Time Machine Approach” is my third alternate solution. This solution is viable, meeting all specifications and limitations and solving the problem. The “Time Machine Approach” transports the viewer to the past by beginning with an animated scene. The strongest aspect of this solution is the interest younger children will have for the video. The video will be around 10 minutes long, meeting the attention span requirement. The “Time Machine Approach” is an education journey with animation, focusing on the relationship between science and art in the Renaissance period.

The best aesthetic features of the video will be the animation and characters. The mascot or character will be a feature of the video throughout, designed in a way that relates to the overall museum design scheme. The animation will be aesthetically simple and pleasing, making children enjoy the events in the video more. The “Time Machine Approach” will be a fun travel through the Renaissance period. The beginning scene will involve the character in some scenario that relates to later events and topics. Then the character will step into a time machine and travel back in time to learn about science and art in the era. Action scenes tell the story so little narration is needed in this solution. Unfortunately, with less narration, less factual information can be presented smoothly. This solution requires artistic work to recreate scenes and design the animation. The video must be presented in an enclosed space or theater room so the audience can learn without distraction.

The production process largely consists of animation equipment, audio equipment, and editing software. This solution is low-cost, only requiring audio equipment and animation for main supplies. The process behind this solution involves a combination of animation and information. These two layers must be blended in a way that makes sense for the audience and is coherent. The technical challenge is the time needed after gathering information. Both animation and editing will be time-consuming in this solution.

The “Time Machine Approach” is a successful solution from the viewer’s perspective. The animation and storyline is very child-friendly, allowing kids to have fun and learn more about science and art in history. This solution would be entertaining mostly only for a child from about 6 to 11. The information is “hidden” in the entertaining plot and storyline and would not be the most attention-grabbing element in the video. Because of video length and presentation setting, the owner will have to preset times for screenings.

            The “Time Machine Approach” would require knowledge of computer design and animation to be executed successfully. Although young audiences would especially enjoy the characters and action, the factual information would not be of primary importance or attention. The artistic animation and storyline would be time-consuming. 

Alternate Solution #3

The “Storytelling Approach” is my fourth alternate solution. This solution is viable, meeting all specifications and limitations and solving the problem. This solution is a unique way to give the audience a character and transport them back in history. This solution is a narrated story of history and is the best mix of education and entertainment. The “Storytelling Approach” is focused on the relationship between art and science in the Renaissance period.  The video will be 10 minutes long, meeting the attention span requirement.

The “Storytelling Approach” is relaxing, entertaining, and educational. The idea behind the video is that the audience needs a comforting place to sit until they continue through the last rooms of the museum. This video gives the audience a narrator, an actor who will tell them a “story” about science and art. The narrator will take the viewer through each information topic using a traditional storytelling voice and speech format. Writing the script will be the main challenge in this solution, as the narration is the most prominent aspect of the video. The video must be presented in an enclosed space or theater room so the audience can learn without distraction.

The materials and equipment involved in this approach are manageable. Filming is only needed for the opening and closing scenes, high-quality audio equipment is required for narration, and editing software is needed. The main costs involved in this video are the actor’s payment, the audio equipment, basic filming equipment, and editing software. Writing the script, editing narration, and compiling documents, photographs, paintings, and writings will be time-consuming.

The “Storytelling Approach” will appeal to all viewers, because both young and old audiences enjoy listening to a story be told. This solution is a flawless combination of entertainment and educational information about the Renaissance era, anatomy, and astrology. The documentary will end with a question, making the audience want to continue the tour and learn more to find answers. The “Storytelling Approach” must be presented in an enclosed space or theater room to fully engage in the video. Because of video length and presentation setting, the owner will have to preset times for screenings.

            The “Storytelling Approach” is a perfect blend of fun and learning. The narrator creates drama and interest while telling the audience about the factual information. An audience of families, elderly, young, and children would all be captivated by the video. The script and editing process will be the most challenging.

Alternate Solution #4

            I decided to choose the “Storytelling Approach” as my final solution. My decision was based on the results of both my Specifications and Limitations Chart and my notes comparing each solution. I ultimately chose the “Storytelling Approach” because the solution is a seamless combination of education and entertainment, the two most important sides of my role.

            Compared to the other solutions, the “Storytelling Approach” is dominant in production, documentary, and audience categories of the Specifications and Limitations Chart. Compared with the “Dramatic Movie Approach” and the “Time Machine Approach,” the final solution presents the information so the history is the main focus of the video. Instead of being completely fact-based like the “Simple Graphic Approach,” however, the final solution presents the history in an entertaining way, in the form of a story. The “Storytelling Approach” has the least amount of production challenges, with writing the script being the most time-consuming step. The final solution is appealing to a variety of viewers, because most people love being told an interesting story.

            The final rating of the “Storytelling Approach” was 22, compared with other solution scores of 30, 37, and 39. These numbers clearly directed me to my final solution. Upon reviewing exactly what made the final solution unique and optimum, I found that the “Storytelling Approach” was the perfect way to solve my initial problem. The “Storytelling Approach” focuses on a specific topic, comforts the audience in a full experience, makes the audience “feel” the history instead of observing events, gives the museum a unique character, appeals to an audience of all ages, and combines fun and learning. The “Storytelling Approach” was chosen as my final solution both quantitatively and qualitatively.

            To choose a final solution, I used a Specifications and Limitations Chart. I wrote the specifications and requirements in the left column and rated each solution by how well they met the specification. I rated each solution from 1-4, where 1 is the best or easiest. Because my solutions cannot be measured quantitatively alone, I wrote a brief explanation for each solution’s rating, explaining what makes the solution unique, effective, or weak. I then found the sum of the ratings for each solution. The solution with the lowest sum was quantitatively the strongest option. I then referred to my descriptions to understand what made the final solution stand out.

            Before I begin the process of researching, filming, and editing, I will consult my mentors and other sources on tips for making a script effective and persuasive. I then will research my topics and gather film and audio pieces. Then, I will begin filming, recording, and compiling. After my pieces are put together, I will edit each individually so the progression of ideas blends together and the narration coincides with the visual content. The most challenging part of the production process will be writing a perfect script that balances fun and learning.