Aesthetic Design / Lesson 1 / Styling Your Look
Lesson Overview
We should consider how effects and digital manipulation influences the interpretation of our imagery. They will have their own connotations and history. For instance, effects that simulate an old VHS tape or an analogue synth may tie it to a certain era, e.g., the “Stranger Things” opening title.
Lecture Videos
- Styling Your Look: History and basic concepts
(Styling Your Look Lecture Video)
- Styling Your Look: VDMX Demonstration
(Styling Your Look Demonstration Video)
Lecture Notes
(Styling Your Look Lecture Slides)
Reference Links
- Ethel - Documerica
- Eclectic Method - Guns
- NONOTAK - LATE SPECULATION
- Electric Sheep
- Sounds of the Future: A Historical Primer on Synths in Sci-Fi Movies
Resources
Related Tutorials and Case Studies
- Using LUT based FX in VDMX
- How To Create A Classic Music Video “Zooming Feedback” Style Effect
- Minimalist visuals in VDMX
- CandyStations live visuals for Sufjan Stevens Age of Adz
- Creating a Retro Halloween style in VDMX
- DJ Mixer EQ Style Masking FX for VDMX
- Creating a “LiveLeak” Background Fill FX in VDMX
Homework
Assignments
- Create an mix that uses at least three different styles as a test sketches for your final project.
Review Questions and Further Discussion
- What are some aesthetic styles?
- Minimalism
- Retro
- Glitch
- 3D Graphics
- Aesthetic Design
- How do we style visuals with FX and LUTs?
- What are some related DJ / VJ techniques?
- Mix / crossfade
- Time jumping / scratching
- Audio and Visual FX
- 2 vs 4 channel setups
- Samples (Archival, Modern, Live captured)