YEAR:
2024
TIMELINE:
4 MONTHS
EXPERIENCE:
GAME DESIGN, CREATIVE CODING
overview.
In my Critical Computation class, I learned to code Javascript, HTML, and CSS for the first time. I conceptualized, storyboarded, and coded my designs. Here are some of my project highlights. Click the button to see the portfolio website I coded for class which includes all my coding projects.
highlighted projects.
Project: Face Generator
The learning objectives for this assignment were about the following coding functions: User-defined variables, random(), mouseX / mouseY, and mousePressed() / keyPressed(). Since the assignment was given in October, I wanted to represented Halloween in my project. I used random to generate different reds and oranges for the background and eye flashing, mouseX and mouseY to make the “BOO!” text follow the mouse, and mousePressed() to make the small ghost turn into the scary ghost.
Project: Experimental Clock
The learning objectives for this assignment were IF / ELSE statements, and millis() / second() / minute() / hour(). The title of the assignment (Experimental Clock) reminded me of my biology background which led me to think of life cycles. I chose to do a butterfly’s life cycle since it is short and is fun to design. I did some research into butterfly life cycles to make the clock as proportionally accurate as possible. I took the average of the average life cycles of a few different species and scaled it to 30 second intervals so that my animation would cycle twice in 60 seconds.
Project: Experimental Corpse
This was a really fun project to create because of it’s interactive elements.
The concept of this project was to first sketch out a character and create a backstory. Then, in groups of three, we each got one head, one upper body, and one lower body of each person’s character. I ended up with the cow head from my character, a robot torso from a group member, and horse legs from another group member. The legs seemed like they were mid dance which led to my final backstory of a cow that loved to dance but had an accident and received a new torso and legs.
The learning objective for the assignment was to learn to code user-define functions and arguments / parameters. I used user-defined functions to group different moving shapes together so they moved together when dancing. I used arguments and parameters to make the cow dance when keys are pressed.
Project: Optical Illusion
For this project, I created an optical illusion of a storm using movement of light lines over dark lines to simulate lightning flashes. To interact with the piece, move mouse left and right to move light lines or click and drag to move tornado.
The learning objectives of this assignment were to learn about for loops and using code to create optical illusions.
Final Project: Autobiographical Game
For the final p5.js project, I used the coding skills I developed over the semester to create an exploratory, art game. I created storyboards to sketch out and plan all the scenes. Then, I coded a graybox draft of the game to map out all the interactions and collisions of the game. I also used the graybox draft for user testing during class to get feedback about my game. Finally, I added in visual and audio aspects of the game. I used the Sketchpad app to illustrate the characters and backgrounds for the game and found music to match the atmosphere of the game.
