Collection of Works:

www.strathearnmutlimedia.co.uk

Application Design (Programming)

BBC TOUCH // Flash Enabled Only

BBC TOUCH was an application I created in response to a BBC student brief, the system was designed for android tablets and larger scale touch screen devices. The concept was to make a mobile application for the BBC service that was simple and easy to use; accommodating all levels of users and abilities. The main feature was a touch screen TV planner that could record and save TV features via the touch of the screen, it also has a unique news feed that can send updates on specific news stories to other mobile devices.

THE RAIN APP

The Rain App was the first desktop application I created during my second year at university for a data visualisation module, the app uses RSS. feeds from online weather reports and complies the value of rainfall for the whole of the UK. I then took the mean value and used that to control the amount of rain to fall into the glass and the speed of the rain drops.

Working on these applications required a very structualistic approach and work ethic. I spent a-lot of time doing market research, mind mapping and looking at ways of advertising these systems as products. It was interesting to work in this format because usually when I work on project its in a very non linear style and then the projects gain definition over time. However, both project time frames were very short  and I had only a few weeks to complete them. In turn, the planning and developmental stages were very strict and I had to think outside of my usual open creative space and think more commercially and refined. 

ANIMATION (Physical Design)

Through The Eyes of Children (Stop Motion)

Through The Eyes of Children was my first attempt at creating a stop motion short, I built the set and model from scratch and made studio equipment from bits laying around the house like the roof of an old fish tank for a lighting rig. The short was shot in one go using a standard camera on a tripod, I recorded the sound score through pro tools using my bass guitar and pre installed effects. A lot of time was spent creating the models and many different forms of prototyping and experimentation where implemented. These ranged from creating skeletons and armatures to using software for the purpose of creating walk cycles. I am a massive fan of jan svankmajer and I wanted to have that rough edgy feel to the project almost like if it wasn't for the fact there was a screen infront of you all the elements of the project would tumble out into chaos. 

The concept of the piece is dealing with the emotions associated with loss and trying to rebuild what cannot be rebuilt. The idea of the spider creature keeping the fly in a jar was an open ideology making the audience question wether or not the fly is a pet or food. Keeping the fly in a closet rather than a fridge strengthens the object of the fly as being a pet but placing it on a table reflects that of food; and finally of course the fly as neither but as toy which embodies rejection. This is a reflection of the freudian psychoanalytical construct of the super ego, id and paternal big other. 

Experiment Number 3 from carl on Vimeo.

This is a simple stop motion edit that I made for a rotoscoping test for a potential project

ANIMATION 3D

This is an example of a short 3d animated ident in response to a channel 4 student brief, the short was made in after effects. 

Physical Robotics

This was my first attempt at creating an animatronic system, I made the framework out of mechano and bits and bobs that I had laying around the house such as lego, elastic bands, fishing wire and an old halloween mask. I used futbata plastic gear servos and tower pro micro servos as they where cheap and did not require much amplitude to power them so they could be run purely off a usb power port . The idea was just to test out some of the mechanisms I had drawn out and to see if this was a possible project to be carried over as a final year project. The robot just runs a script on a loop, it uses some random variables to make it appear less synchronised. (Built for under £20) This project became very important to me as it combined everything I had learnt both in college and at university. I spent a-lot of time researching and developing ideas on paper, thinking about how I could integrate and amalgamate systems and functions. An interesting stage for me was also the masking stage as I learnt a lot from it and how delicate and precise one needs to be with masking materials such as alginate, liquid silicone and latex; this was on of my favourite elements of the creation process and one I would like to further expand on in future projects.   

3D MODELLING

I am still learning how to construct 3D models and rigs so this is an on going process, I am currently undertaking tutorials in Soildworks, Mudbox and CAD.

Digital Design

Designing simple digital art pieces was my first step into thinking about how the images I created on paper could be expressed on digital platforms. I really engage well using mediums such as 3d sculpting and digital tablets as they are fluid in use, however they are restrictive in purpose as they do not fill a physical space. I am looking into working with a 3D printer for a future project as I believe it is a massive step in the evolution of this medium.

Physical Design

Before I start thinking about producing work in digital platforms I spend a lot of my time drawing, painting and sculpting. When I am working on a project even if it is purely digital or extremely complex, this is where I come back to. Drawing and painting to me is the equivalent of composing music. Elements within the composition fit together naturally as if they where pre cut,  this also works paradoxically when I listen to music I think in colours and colours that work together relate to notes that correspond or clash with each other. 

Visual Studies 1 Portfolio

Visual Studies V1 Portfolio. from Carl Strathearn on Vimeo.

Visual Studies 2 Portfolio // Flash Enabled only: May take a few minutes to load application.