Monet 2010
Introduction
Monet 2010 is an award winning Flash site that documents Monet's life and and works. The look and feel of the website imitates Monet's impression style, from everything to the splash screen right down to the loading animation. In addition to the standard interactive timeline, the site has an interactive gallery that asks the user to participate in altering Monet's works.
Principles & Techniques
The Loading Screen
In my opinion, the loading screen is one of the most subtle yet brilliant example of the principles and techniques we have discussed in class. The designers wanted an compelling, interactive experience that would draw the user in undisturbed and uninterrupted. The loading screen in a flash site plays an important role because it gives feedback to the user that the site is loading and content is coming. However, it can also be jarring for the user as it takes away from the 'wow' factor of many modern day flash sites, either by not providing enough information to the user or breaking the theme/feel of the site.
Monet 2010's loading screen does a brilliant job of conveying important information to the user while still retaining the impressionistic style. It also contains many of the animation techniques we are learning in class. The leaves and their shadows give the illusion of 3D and the 'floating' animation gives a sense of movement and action.
The Interactive Gallery
Many of the design objectives - creating a mood or feeling, encouraging interaction, facilitating understanding, and solving a communication problem - are accomplished by this gallery. The designers create a feeling by displaying Monet's works on a moving canvas that and encourages interaction by having the user participate in the creation and altering of Monet's paintings.
All of this answers a vital communication question - How could the designers get users to actually view all Monet paintings in a gallery and also be enthralled by his work? The answer is the interactive design gallery.
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