Another class geared towards understanding the demands of new media as a collaborative effort, from user to multiple specialized producers. I well understand the need for user input, and experts within the works skilled in their areas which would theoretically (and most probably in the majority of cases) produce the ultimate product. "Jack of all trades, master of none" is a saying I’d referred to just a post or two ago, but this is a generalization–not a fact for many people.
An excellent example of non-collaborative work that well, just doesn’t work very well at all, was the Tunxis website. Everyone had the same problems as users, and had they been tapped for input prior to debut, the site would no doubt be much, much better than it is in areas of navigation alone. One of the projects we worked on in this class was done as a team effort; but it is difficult to put together a team of students–unskilled in that for real production work, the team would be drawn from groups expert in their field. There is no doubt that had our team held within it a more diverse experience in design, graphics, narrative, hypertext, and writing, the effort would have produced a much better product. But time deadlines in themselves prevented makeup in the areas where the shortfalls occurred. There would have been more time to be creative if one member was already skilled in using Powerpoint, rather than using valuable time in having to learn it. If another could blow out the necessary text, while another manipulated the graphics, and another the audio bits. But this is not a design firm–it is a classroom setting, and students were not required to produce resumes, they were here to learn.
During the American Revolution, guns were made production style. Muzzleloaders–often a work of art in themselves–were usually the result of multiple makers; iron forgers, woodworkers, engravers, crosshatchers* (I’ve forgotten the proper word for this, and my husband’s already asleep!) were all part of the team to produce each gun. Yet, our friend, Gus, has made muzzleloaders that rival those of the mastercrafters in each and every area of production. But then, he can take six months to produce a single gun.
So I suppose that what I’m saying is that new media, like anything else, cannot be held to hard and fast rules. No, the reason for working alone on a project should not be one of preference when common sense should prevail if you want the best that can be produced. But sometimes one has within himself not only the desire, but the talents as well. Rare, but feasible. I’m sure Einstein himself would employ a graphic artist to illustrate his theories because he was intelligent enough to recognize what he was a genius at creating–and where others might perform better than he himself.
Interesting as well is the movement in new media towards the team effort, and the incongruity of the weblog. Blogs are one of the best and newest forms of new media, and yet something’s wrong with fitting it into the pattern. From what I can see, blogs are the individual’s effort to be heard as a single voice–as most written words have always been. Graphic design of the weblog is another outlet for individual creativity, and the majority of bloggers insist on designing their own.
The number of weblogs grows tremendously day by day. Perhaps this should also be considered valuable information and user input.
*It’s called checkering–that tiny diamond pattern filed into the wood by incredibly patient and meticulous people.
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