Create a simple Flash animation that promotes safety and consist of between 6-8 seperate Flash sections, that include animation and some interaction.
This should appeal to all ages that may be involved but particularly families.
I decided to aim for the family scenario, but perhaps slightly older than normal, i.e. families with children 10+, as I feel these are perhaps at most risk of misusing fireworks.
With this piece of work, I aim to put over the importance of right and wrong where fireworks are concerned, following up with the consequences of a safe or sorry approach.
To make the Flash appealing, motion effects that draw the eye will be used, furthermore, the colours used will be attractive and bright, not just pastel/plain colours. Younger people like vibrancy in colour. Bearing the target audience in mind, the text and messages displayed will be simple to understand, meaning their message is clear and understandable.
I believe that interaction does aid learning as the user wouldn't be able to progress without doing so. It should feel user directed, as in, it isn't being broadcasted directly at them, instead, they are directing their way through and finding out themselves. The user is making the decisions, they are bringing about the cause of effects, so it should feel a bit more personal too.
Designs -
'Pick and Click'. Clicking on the correct items related to safe firework practice earns a point, incorrect answer is minus point. Depending on score, you are told to start again or you see a fireworks presentation.
Be Safe Not Sorry.' Clicking on one of the links, you are given a checklist that you must mark to be able to progress. One details safe practice, one details dangerous practice. Checking the boxes for Safe shows a sparkler video, whilst sorry shows an ambulance and burns injury.
'Q & A'. Answer the question by inputting in a text box. Enough correct answers allows you to use the mouse as a sparkler. Incorrect asks you to try again.
'R U 18?' You are a 15 year old, scanning a box of fireworks at a checkout. You get asked are you 18? Choosing yes (i.e. not the truth) shows a scene where you are told an adult must set up and supervise the fireworks, and then a burns injury. Choosing no shows a crowd enjoying fireworks safely.
'Fill the gap'. From an selection of words, you must correctly complete sentences. Each correct answer provides a point, the more points the more choice you have of which firework to launch. Each different value firework shows a different video.
'Build a bonfire'. You have to click and drag debris wood into the designated area. Once the bonfire is built, 6x hedgehogs try and nest in the bonfire. You must stop the animals by clicking on them. Once all completed, you take a match and light the bonfire.
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I decided to go with the Be Safe Not Sorry design. I liked the 'youth' targeted look and believe it does work and appeal to the target audience. I tried to infer that safe is fun, by means of the rainbow colour effect, whilst sorry is dull, being monotone black and white.
I initally tried the design with a very simple black/grey/white palette and knew it wouldn't cater for the age group, it didn't have enough visual stimulus.
The inclusion of photographic images in the piece are strong effective metaphors, they are what we see, as opposed to cartoon illustrations which can sometimes trivialise the content.
The video of the sparklers is nice, it serves as a reward for having completed the checklist. However it did pose some questions as it isn't necessarily fully representative of the advice being set out. The contrast from safe, to sorry, with the ambulance and burnt hand however is a real, visual indication of the issues concerned with fireworks safety.
The suitability of the injury picture came into question, there were far worse examples available to use, but I deemed the hand to be an appropriate compromise for the target audience - not too offensive, but shocking enough.
I managed to achieve the implementation of the checklist, getting the AS3 to disallow progression without checking the boxes. This way, they have to stop and pay attention to be able to go forward. I did wonder about adding red herring options, but then thought that somebody could take those on board and misleadingly believe them to be true.
Also, I managed to get in quite a few pieces of advice about wearing gloves, have a bucket of water, not returning to a lit firework, so this in theory, succeeds on the informational aspect of the project.
Difficulties in this project were met when it came to creating the design from paper to computer. The ideas theoretically were good, but perhaps a little too advanced to achieve in this short span of time. Likewise, if I wanted to be truly creative, I could have illustrated everything myself, but again, I didn't feel confident enough to achieve this and fine tune the look, so it looks credible, in the time.
If anything, I do wish I could have made a more technically advanced piece, it seems perhaps a little simplistic when considering the complex possibilities of Flash.
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