This thesis research is constructed around leveraging applied, professional art practices coupled with emerging technologies to expand the educational experience in the Design classroom. By extending the classic theories of teaching Color Theory, rooted from the Bauhaus School, into a digital and interactive space, students are likely to have a better understanding and appreciation for the interaction of color in the digital space.
The experimentation of several interactive prototypes could potentially be used as options for enhancing different tasks in digitally manipulating color. A different concept for each prototype allows for a wider evaluation of the effectiveness of each prototype and create a more creative and exploratory experience for the final product. The difficulties that programming presents prohibit the completion of several conceptual prototypes. It would be interesting to examine the effectiveness of contracting the knowledge and abilities of one or two Computer Science students to assist in creating fully functional prototypes to strengthen the results of this research and to have the ability to create a final product for usability analysis and investor presentations.
This product will not only teach designers and emerging artists basic color theories in the digital space, but will allow the students to explore various color harmonies and color nomenclature based on the teacher’s lesson plan and allow a cognitive approach to manipulating the interaction of color in a digital setting.
Several prototypes were designed and developed containing various components centered around color theory. Each platform offers the student different ways to explore the interaction of color, with thorough explanations of color interactions in the digital setting, such as color relationships, perception hue, and saturation and value. Lessons were reinforced by different interactive exercises throughout the system. Secondary research shows that various defined user experience elements need to be included during the design of the prototypes, such as accompanying feedback, providing the assistance that guides users in correctly manipulating the color on-screen. While one prototype may give the user complete control in each exercise, keeping track of each decision made throughout the experimental process, as well as offering tips to enhance or alter the outcome for different desired results.
Through an evolutionary process, the final prototype was more robust and addressed the results from each testing, while new concepts were introduced through iterative research. The first step was to design and develop a basic prototype that addressed the fundamentals of the in-class exercises. By first testing the usability of that prototype as well as assess student engagement and comprehension, the results were used to create an improved prototype the second time around. Additionally, by including new concepts in each successive iteration, the final prototype addressed needs of the student currently, while offering advancements that will create a better experience in the long run.
Using the application, students can interact with the interface and manipulate color with touch technology, a gesture based system such as the Microsoft Kinect or a web based point and click environment. By leveraging touch technology or interaction design in general, the student will participate in a richer interactive experience compared to one using a mouse and keyboard. The touch screen interaction mimics the actions akin to the analog experience of using traditional methods of cut paper and paint. Touch screen technology also opens the door to the possibilities of future implementation of a multi-touch experience and exposure to collaboration and co-creation in the classroom.