It is the end of the semester and the project is complete, the world of John Mitchell Christie is ready to explore. At the beginning of this journey, the group set goals for ourselves, we wanted to present an augmented reality of historical settings around the city of Melbourne. We wanted to incorporate videos, sound, images, and an app, with everything connecting to the central hub (the website). During the six weeks of research, planning, production and editing, elements didn’t always go according to plan, however the final product is what we hoped for, a successful transmedia story that has fragments of the story strategically placed on different platforms.

Overall we ended up shooting one video component, and editing it into into three types of videos, the trailer, the app version, and the full version available on the website; five audio artifacts; created an image timeline; and designed case files for each of the stories. As this story’s time period was so male dominated, the audio artifacts were shared through the voice of John Mitchell Christie’s wife – this way a female audience could be targeted, and it gives the story a modern twist. After all we are making a project that is able to share history through modern and engaging media techniques. Each component is spread across the platforms, and when put together it transforms itself into a story world. As I said in my previous post, we got to the end of the project brief and lost our story or the motivation for the story, and had to figure out how to get it back. When working with various platforms it is easy to have the story spread so far apart it actually breaks, and this was one of the biggest lessons. All of the components have to be a driving force within the story world, each with their own story components, and losing these just isn’t an option. After every component was put together the story was noticeable, it just needed extra information or a background story on the website to tie is all together cohesively.

We created an app, however it wasn’t what the group had hoped for, as we wanted an augmented reality app, this just wasn’t an option within the time frame we were given, and there was no option to include such a feature in ‘The GoodBarber’ program. This meant that we had to go to our back-up plan which was including pin drops around the city of Melbourne on a map, and the user being able to access those locations and read up on the information either on the app created, or the website for further information.

Brontae and I worked very closely with the app and website, however it was my role to design and put together the center piece to this story world (website), it was up to me to tie everything together and make it flow. Without the website this story would fall apart, as it contains added information which is the backbone for the other platforms. Every component that the group wanted to include in the website was added, and further information and design elements – such as the John Mitchell Christie character talking the user around the website – were added to make this story more interactive and engaging for the user, and to motivate them along throughout the transmedia story we have created. The story’s motivation was such a significant topic when receiving feedback for our presentations in week 7.

One point that I made in WK7, was that “I wanted to learn new and innovative ways of making a website/app and to understand the powerful role of transmedia storytelling”. Overall, I have learned how to create a website, overcome hurdles, edit work with a critical eye, and to design a project that is transmedia. Not only will I have these skills for future tasks, but it has made me look at storytelling in a whole new light. The project we set out to do was complete to a level each group member was happy with, and it mirrors our understanding of what a transmedia story is. It is engaging, motivating, and most of all is a modern day digital museum, all at the touch of your fingertips, which will hopefully keep progressing into the future.

Website:

http://pocketmuseumjmc.wix.com/pocketmuseum

Application on Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodbarber.pocketmuseum&hl=en

Vimeo channel:

https://vimeo.com/pocketmuseum

YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLcTXmZ-mJLtqDm4dwJ1TzA

SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/pocket-museum

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pocketmuseum

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/pocketmuseumjmc

Brontae and I have looked into the fluidity between the website and app, taking into account why we have chosen to do so, and why it is so important. We have also gone into detail the idea of agency between the two platforms. As these are the two main components, it is crucial for their to be continuity that allows the user to understand how they partner each other significantly – enabling the user to make the most out of the story without getting overwhelmed. They have the same design, similar content, layout (same titles used), descriptions, footage, colour scheme, pages (different sections for example: home page, JMC page, and then all of the subheadings that come underneath that – except for one or two). While the content addresses similar points and storylines, they are meant to be created differently so it doesn’t become repetitive to the user. The story is revealed gradually and in different depths depending on the specific platform, and it is a fine line between expanding and repeating. This is why certain information that is on the app isn’t on the website and vice versa. To get the most out of the story and various platforms, we had to decide on which one hosted specific information. The interactive points suited the app because it allows the user to actively engage with the setting, and by just bringing their phone that they would already have on them, they can connect with the content on offer. The audio was also great for the app, as the tracks would be able to easily help the user to become immersed in the story and setting – however they can also be enjoyed from home which is why they are placed on both the app and website. Everything has to be versatile. To promote the user going between the two platforms, Brontae and I decided to keep the designs similar. We used a similar colour scheme, font type and layout. On both platforms we have both go with the idea of having an overall homepage introducing Pocket Museum, as we are thinking of any future progressions, allowing us to add future stories into the equation. On the homepage we have general information such as contact details and the different platforms on offer. On the website there is a sport page for the story of JMC, and the app is the ska e- again keeping with the same layout. We have really planned this project not only for this brief but for future expansions also. The language that is used throughout the platforms are the same, we made sure we wrote the components together or the same person did it for both platforms. This also allowed for continuity throughout both elements, however the app doesn’t have as much content, it has almost skimmed the content from the website – allowing the sense of agency to kick in between the website and app, example: if you wanted to read more about a story go to the website etc.

We have encouraged the user to use the other platform by having extended points/components from one to the next (ie, they may be at the location, and find an event interesting so they must go to the website to learn more about it). The same goes for the video on the app, it partners the website by encouraging the user to go to the website and watch the full version, the same goes for the case files. When listening to the audio artifacts, the user can then go to the website and flip through the case files for more information and it has more facts and story elements available. On the website there is a section for the map, however it is just a google map to explore Melbourne, and on that page it suggests that the user go to the app and explore Melbourne with the pin drops of actual locations – this means they can explore Melbourne through a historical context, giving the user a specific experience, which is walking in the footsteps of JMC. On the website there is a page for understanding the app, which automatically tells the user that there are more platforms to this story – also helping the user to navigate around the app with ease, encouraging them to actually use it, and not give up straight away. Brontae and I have created two platforms that flow, and that encourage the user to go to the next platform for a whole different experience – overall, creating a transmedia story, with different levels of engagement for the user to choose from. This is a new and exciting way to interact with history through a story world.

We have arrived at the last week of the semester and it dawned on Brontae and I that our story component has been lost, and it is THE STORY LAB! After a short freak out session, we had to think of what we can do to incorporate the main element back into our project. We had all of the information that we were going to have on the website and app, however there ended up being only one webisode created instead of two or three, and it was only the introduction, it was more of a teaser than a story component, and the audio artifacts were of JMC’s wife and not of him directly, so our original idea of having the story partly told through the videos was no longer happening, therefore we had to quickly think up what we could do. We went away and decided to add another page to the website called ‘The Story’ and just wrote a quick overview/story about his life which was looking at both of his personal and professional life. This meant that the reader had more of an understanding of his life, and the reason behind creating this world. In the case files, more of a story was added to the final pages of the mini books, to give more information to the user about each case. We were adding more components to the pages within the website such as descriptions to give extra information. We just didn’t think it would come down to losing our story, after all, it is all about creating a story world and transmedia story told across various platforms. This just wasn’t happening. This is the reason we had to write up the story page, and we had to really think about how we would tie everything together. You cant have this project without the story, it just cant happen, so we had to make up for the loss of story in the videos and put it on the website. In future ventures with this project it is obvious that webisodes will be the first element to do more of, so that that component is a strong tie into the story world. It is just a matter of running out of time. The benefit of the video created was that it was an introduction into this huge project, that will hopefully lure the audience’s in to see more of the world on offer.

The story that was added in at the end was written by me, and the information and timeline that I received was done by Brontae, so we had two people working on a MASSIVE component. Once we had finalised what we were going to do we told the group, and then added it to the website in the final days of it being due. We had to do something, because you cant have a project about storytelling lacking the story component, it just won’t work at all. Now we are happy with what we have created, and everything ties in nicely from each platform, with the user being able to now read a brief story about the character before starting their journey through his past.

It is in the last week before the assignment is due, everything is getting edited, deadlines are approaching and the website is basically finished, just needs to be finalised, the links set and to have everything running smoothly. I am just needing to finish the timeline, finish adding in high resolution images so that everything looks professional and finished. This final week has been a bit crazy as the audio and video components were finished after our ideal deadline that we set for ourselves, which meant they were only going in at the last stages, therefore Brontae and I had to wait to finalise the project. Once we got these we then we could set up the links to the various platforms such as Soundcloud and Vimeo, where you can play the pieces on the website itself. It was quite stressful this last week, as the app and the website are the two most important features, and there was so much to do in order to finish them – it just shows how important it is to try and stick to the deadlines we give ourselves, otherwise its like a domino effect. In the end everything went in, and now it is just a matter of making everything picture perfect, user friendly and making sure it all works properly. Brontae and I have been working very closely with the two components, making sure we have them completed at the same time so they can both go live together. As there was so much to do and Jen and Ellie had finished their components,we had to delegate them jobs that we couldn’t do on our own, we needed them to source images, research how to publish the app, the small jobs that needed to be done with the help of other group members. This meant there was more than two people working on the final product – allowing us to get it done on time.

The group set deadlines for when the app and website needed to be published (ideally), and we worked very hard to get it all done and ready to go. After very long days, emailing back and forth Brontae and I got it done within the deadline, making it so much easier for us to reach the final stages where everything is due. Deadlines are so important because they push you to get the task done, whether they are hypothetical or real, there needs to be a structure of what we are going to do and when we are going to have it done by – this way we can allow ourselves time for any issues that may arise. Unfortunately this project didn’t have all of the deadlines met, meaning everything had to be pushed back, so if there were any huge problems that came up it would have been difficult to overcome. Luckily for us, we all worked through the minor hiccups as a group and overcame them to reach a result.

Well, it is getting down to the pointy end of the semester, where every component has to be fine tuned, and looked over with a critical eye. I have gotten everyone in the group to look over the website and give their opinions, and have changed components accordingly. This is the week where we all set deadlines to have the videos and audio edited and ready to put into the app and website in the middle of the week, this way it wasn’t all being left to the end. This week was all about getting everything into the website, making sure all of the links are working, such as social media links, and also links to the different pages.

I had a couple of issues with the website when I was designing elements in Illustrator and then exporting them for the website, they were going pixelated and I could get the sizing right. The timeline was my biggest issue surprisingly as it was only a 3-D photo gallery, however I designed all of the individual items, and getting these to work was quite a task, however after researching and experimenting, the images fitted nicely into the gallery, the background images and also the images throughout the website. It was all about the exporting details when saving them out of Illustrator, as I had to change the resolutions, the art board sizes and the quality of the image. After this was overcome, I went straight into fine tuning the rest of the website.

Last week I had a design that I was happy with but it wasn’t 100%. After critically examining and dissecting the website as a group, I redesigned the website (only some of it – such as colours, font etc), so that it was mirroring the goal at the beginning of this project. Once editing the website it was all about making sure all of the components were ready to go for when the videos and audio were given to Brontae and I. It was in this new design that I thought about the website in some more detail and took on board some of the feedback from the presentation earlier on in the semester, where the guests suggested having a “little spirit” following the user on the journey or driving them along to the different components. In the time frame that we had, I had to think of something simple yet interactive, so I decided to have an image of JMC throughout some of the pages – and beside these images would be him talking to the user, sharing his thoughts about the page or the content, or where they should check out extra information. This way it is like he is speaking to the user himself and guiding them through his own story. This element adds a personal touch to the website, along with a bit of fun, as you are always on the look out for when he might pop up, and the user is more invested in what he is saying (as it is coming out of a speech bubble), then what has just been typed up on a page. The website is all about managing all of the content as it is the central hub, and making sure there are quirky elements like this to keep the user happy and intrigued.

This week is FULL ON – the website and app are both underway and the filming and recording of footage and audio is happening later in the week/early next week. With the website I have gathered some of the content I need for the specific pages, gradually just teaching myself how to create a website. I have been experimenting with different designs and trying out their features, some that will work great for our story world. Those being – news feeds, social media feeds, google maps, contact us features, video components, audio components, interactivity and more.

I had this idea that would be great if we had more time – but it was to treat the user like they were the detective, finding clues about the different cases and putting it all together themselves, working out who did what and when. This would make it more interactive and more of an adventure, while still being truthful to the history components. It would be great to have them follow the map as if its a treasure map, going to the locations to find more clues to unlock further content. Actually allow the user to become invested into our story world, and to get a feel for what JMC did. The user could even follow a red dot on the map around the city, finding clues, going on a journey throughout the past. The red dot could even be JMC himself, telling the user where to go next or where he might have gone to. It is all about working out his character and learning about his history. When you go into a museum you are hammered with boards and boards of facts, sometimes it is overwhelming, and I hate to say it, but a little bit boring, just because you can get sick of reading the exact same text on every historical person or event. There are no elements of interactivity and nothing making you want to learn more. The idea for the app (to me) is to change the way history is told, not only for adults, but for all ages. You can connect with your past, move around the spaces, watch videos, listen to audio. However, due to the lack of time, it isn’t even an option.

With this still in mind, Brontae and I were brainstorming ways to make the content on the website less “boring”, and make different in some way. We came up with the idea to use case files for each of the stories. It is a way to document the story and facts without just typing them onto a page. With the approval of fellow group members, we went through the selected stories and Brontae took out the main components and wrote out the info, while I designed them. We went away and with this in mind, I was experimenting with WIX and found they had a book option, and I thought to myself, PERFECT! So I created the book covers in Illustrator along with the case files. I researched old case files from that time period and tried to mimic them. I had all of the info for each criminal on there, and with the help of Brontae she came up with the headings to include (e.g age, job, crime committed, etc). I used an old font, and to make it more realistic I found fingerprints and the Royal Stamp to put at the top of the page – making it look official. With all of components finished, I started creating the mini books for each story, each one with a cover, the case file and then the story. This idea means that the user is literally reading a story, and it is an interactive way of viewing information, which is more likely to be read.

There were so many big ideas floating around this week, one of those being the overall design for the App. This included having the one central app that was specific to Pocket Museum itself, and then within that app the characters and their stories sit. This means that if their was ever future progress with this history App and we wanted to include more historical characters then it would mean that the user wouldn’t have to download multiple individual apps, instead it would be just the one. In the App you would click on the desired character, in this regard John Mitchell Christie (JMC), and it would come up with headings to choose from, those being: Audio Artifacts, Webisodes, Maps, Rewards, Pictures, Website, possible social media sites and a favourites/rewards page.

The idea of having rewards we thought, was a good incentive to the user to go to these locations and learn about the history and engage with the stories. It would be at these locations that they would win a prize – which could be exclusive content, behind the scenes footage, bonus stories, virtual trophies. With this, we want to find out a way to sync the app and the website, so that when the user gets these rewards, they automatically sync to both the platforms which acts like a trophy cabinet. This would mean that the story is becoming interactive and engaging, which is what you want when learning not only about the history of Melbourne but also when creating a detective/mystery story. The website will have the same pages as the App as we want to keep them both consistent, however as I have been saying, the website will contain more content.

The reason we wish to have this incentive is to make the user want to continue along with the story (which was our feedback in our presentation). What is making them want to go to the next location or story? Why should they? What makes them different? Some might do the first one and not even bother going to the next because they know the content will be on the website anyway. These are all things that we have to consider when creating this story world – we want all of our components to be seen and to be engaged with – that is the purpose of having multiple platforms on offer, it means the audience is getting a different experience with each one. At the end of the day, if we cant work out how to do this in the time frame it is something that we will have to leave out, however if it can be done, then we will create this added bonus.

Coming into the final weeks before the project is due, there are a lot of ideas being put into place and a lot that have to be pushed to the side, due to the lack of time and the amount of work that needs to be done between now and the deadline. This week was getting down to the final business, deciding on the significant elements that need to be done, and what else we can fit in before the due date.

We have been thinking around the possibilities of taking this project to the next level, and we spent a lot of time considering features to use on the website and app. We liked the idea of engaging with the viewer, and when they reached a location on the app, it would send the a push notification, notifying them that event took place there – this way it gives them the option to read about it or keep walking. We had another idea that we should use pins on the map, so that people can look into each location and know where they are when looking on a map of Melbourne- and also where they are in comparison to the rest of the cases. The ideas that were bouncing off were to have bigger pins for the main cases, the ones where we advise the user to check them out for the main story plot points, and the smaller the pins means that they can go to them if they want extra information, however they aren’t crucial – it is like a next stage for those that want to invest more into the story line.

In our feedback from the presentation we were told that having a little spirit figure bringing the story together would be a fun way to invite users into our story. We ended up deciding on having Christie’s wife as the person in the audio artifacts – that way it gives it a personal touch, adds a female figure and acts as a motivational aspect into the story – it just means we can include another element and another target audience who might connect with her more. As this story is so male dominated, we thought that a female figure would give it a more modern touch with a bit of feminine attributes.

This week we went back in time, back to where we can see objects from our history, and placed in a cabinet for all to see. Where might you ask are these pieces of history? …… THE IMMIGRATION MUSEUM. A place holding information and artefacts from the past, and allowing us to come and be apart of it.

We have been talking about the Iconic Melbourne Man, our own Sherlock Holmes, and yet we haven’t physically seen anything from his past – until now. He has his own cabinet within the museum filled with newspaper articles, cartoons, illegal possession he has confiscated from criminals and more importantly … the highly talking cane. NOT just any cane, but one equipped with its own sword … what a man!

This excursion allowed us as a group, to go together and see a part of him, where we came up with new ideas, shared laughs (about how he used to catch the criminals), and we learnt more about the character we are writing a story on, and just how we might go about sharing his personality with the audience – it is definitely worth sharing. We have read many stories about this man, and talked about what he has done not only in his personal life, but mainly professionally as well. There were newspaper articles stuck to the wall, which is different to seeing photographs of them. Seeing what he took from the criminals was quite humorous as there were some things in there that wouldn’t even make you blink twice – compared to this day an age.

Now just to bring his life that we saw here (and his personality) and explore that through a multi-platformed story.

We can most certainly do this – bring on the project *pulls out cane equipped with sword*.

Week 9 was all about looking at the individual elements for this project and deciding what needs to be done, so a list was made to keep us in check for what we need to do and what we want to achieve (to-do-lists are always a positive)!

List:
Decide on and write story
Adapt story to relevant platform
Write Scripts (audio, webisodes and website)
Write components for the website
Select facts for App/create walking guide
Create script for audio
Create 8-10 pins for Geo-locating points with a prose and story associated
Figure out how we can upload it to the App story (iTunes, google play, Microsoft app store)
Create webisodes (2-3 webisodes)
Create audio artifacts (2-3 audio)
Find introducing character
One reflecting story told in the app
Get actors, costumes, locations, equipment, crew and script
Elaborate on stories that happened/ were explored in the application
Mission statement

This week was all about getting everything sorted, and giving ourselves a timeline, striving to get components done by a specific time and date so that everything isn’t left until the last minute. This week I started with the website and Brontae started with the App, this way if we start the template it is a gradual process and we can have our components done by the time Ellie and Jen finish theirs’, therefore we aren’t creating a whole website and app in the last week, we are just putting their content into it and then submitting the project. The website I have started creating is on WIX, it was going to be built from scratch, however with none of us knowing anything about building websites I decided to create it on this free template, that made it easier to design and also not as time consuming. I still however had to teach myself every component to this website and read up about it, in order to create the best possible website. Brontae is creating the App on GoodBarber, also for the same reasons listed above. This way we can produce higher quality content instead of spending all of our time creating both of them from scratch.

The design that I am aiming for with the website is simple, clean, modern and easy to use. I want it to be engaging and fun, while still being simple for all ages to navigate themselves around it and the content. I will be using the same colour tone – which will hopefully be across all of the platforms – white, light blue and black. This way there is continuity throughout the website.

This week we sat down and went through the stories that we wanted to include and then split up the work, with Jen writing scripts for videos, Ellie writing them for audio pieces and Brontae and I writing them for the website and App. The website will be the platform that holds the most information out of them all as it is the central hub, it is the meeting place for all of the components, so it is important for it to be filled with information and story elements. With this is mind, it means that the website will be text heavy so we have to try and make it more engaging and less – “boring”.

This week was all about getting started on the website and App which Brontae and I have done successfully and just keep working at it until it is done – Jen and Ellie are starting to prepare the video and audio content.