Project, Create a "Button"

Introduction

This project will explore the foundational element of interaction: the button. We'll look at different ways we experience buttons (physical, digital, simulated).

Your goal will be to research what a button and propose, and construct a button that works in some way and leads to a resulting function.

Objective(s)

  • Understand interface concepts like affordances, signifiers, feedback, mapping, constraints, etc.
  • Conduct research for your idea.
  • Demonstrate your understanding, or lack thereof through the work.

Final Submission

  • a folder with your research (include links you looked at, your journaling)
  • documentation of your final button (video as an .mp4, webpage as .html files or link, etc)

Requirements

  • your button must work, as intended (this might include malfunctioning in a preplanned way)
  • your button must have at least two "states" (pressed and unpressed)
  • your button must some kind of feedback (sound, weight, color, light, smell, etc.)
  • your button must cause something else to happen (a door to open, a light to turn on, a page to load)

No Shuriken Mode Challenges

(No Shuriken Mode comes from here) (Please note that, doing these do not guarantee a better grade or extra credit by any fixed or demonstrable amount, but if you’re doing or approaching these things, you’re probably doing well. The point is that, like not using shurikens in Shadow Dancer, it is more difficult, and increases your proximity to the material. All this being said don’t hurt yourself and consider your other assignments and mental and physical health. Additionally, if you are not feeling challenged by the class or an assignment, and these suggestions are not sufficient for you, please le me know.)

  • create a fake infomercial for your button based on what happens when it activates
  • work with one or two other people to create a performance where you hold cardboard to "perform" your button
  • create a series of buttons on a webpage that activate each other with no real discernable effect, or a "disappointing" one.

Grading Rubric

  • 25% Your research how well did you document your progress, upload your sketches, and collect links you visited?
  • 25% Your idea. How did you arrive at your idea? What did you look at to get there?
  • 25% Your execution. How well executed was the craft, be it digital or analog?
  • 25% Documentation. Did you documented your project well? Did you work with me to procure and edit video.

Considerations

  • It doesn't need to be mechanical or digital You could perform your button with someone else in the class holding pieces of painted cardboard.
  • How much do you want it to work "well"? Do you want to make something you saw on a website or forum?
  • It can be a critique Are you tired of accepting all cookies and not understanding what that means and why it is on every webpage? Do some research and for example, create a satirical button that shows you all the cookies it saves.
  • Let me help with any tools! If you don't want to code a full website, and want to use, for example Figma, I can help there!

Relevant Steps

  • research I will try to help you here with the initial readings and viewings. Begin to look into subject matter, materials or technology you need.
  • sketches Begin to think about how you will construct your button. Do you need time? Technology? Wood? Performers? \
  • prototype(s) Construct a rudimentary version of your idea to see if it still makes sense, or if you need to re-work it (conceptually or technologically).
  • final Construct your final based on feedback and additional research.