#processofcommunication

For Process of Communication we was given a choice of briefs from YCN’s competition, the brief I decided to work on is the end is Syfy UK. Syfy is a TV channel, the name of the channel speaks for its self as its based on sci-fi programs. The aim is to encourage and persuade sci-fi fans to come a watch and engage in their channel. 

First I researched their channel, and then listed all the obvious ideas which I could think of straight away, but all these idea where common and has been done a lot so I had too look at other ideas which I could implicate to this brief. I also researched other channels to see if there could give me a idea how they would get the audience attention but there wasn’t any as most channel gets the audience attention by the program they show on the channel. I then had a look at how brands create loyalty and fan base to see whether I could any other ways to encourage and persuade the audience to engage in the channel.

As I had to encourage sci-fi fans watch and engage in the channel, I decided to have a look at some campaign, which actually does this kind of job. In the end I found a lot of alternate reality game (ARG) campaigns which is a combination of the virtual and reality world, this would allow the brand and audience engage and interactive with each other solving puzzles and problem to discover exclusive and secret material.

I then decided I wanted to create an ARG scavenger hunt in a glitch or hack theme, this would work by the channel going offline and showing instructions to the website which would cause suspicion as to what is happening to the channel, this would then lead to the website where they would get more instructions and clues for there next task which is to collect series of codes via posters, websites, newspaper and TV etc which they would enter on the website to unlock prices and rewards. The problem with this is there area too many stages which could put off the audience as it would be too much effort to collect them all unless the prices was big which would tempt them to do it but in the end it would be too complicated and complex, I would need to try and simplify the idea for it to work better.

So I then had a look at other competition, which was a lot less complicated and complex than mine, and see if I could implicate that to my scavenger hunt. So I then decided to only have the code on broadcast video which would be like a emergency broadcast which would appear on other TV channel on ad break, during a program or the credits of the program. The broadcast video would contain the code. The problem with this idea is the channel is engaging and interacting with the audience but they aren’t interacting back.

This idea started to become a lot more difficult to figure out and solve so I decide to change the idea. I then had a lot at another way most TV shows would do the get the viewers engaging with their channel, they would do this by giving the audience a question which they would need to call up and answer and this would also enter them into a competition to win a prize. The question would be so easy that anyone at any age could answer it. I then had a look at a game called wealthy walrus, which is a trivia game app which ask a question which involves a lot of money but with consequences and the answer would always be yes or no.

I then thought maybe I could do something similar by using the phase like ‘could you imagine…’ or ‘imagine if you could…’, the key word would be imagine as this is used in their strapline, these question would be linked and related to sci-fi. Instead giving answers on an app or website they would answer on social networks instead as this could trend and become a worldwide thing.

Then I had to come up with an idea for the website cause before it just contained the prize and a place where you would need to enter the code. I then had a thought maybe I could use the webcam on the computer or phone which would add a filter over your face and sync with in so it actually make you look like something else, so I then researched app which does something similar such as photo booth which distorts your face, aging app which make you look older and fat app which make you look fat.

In the end I have created a series of posters, which contains the question, this will be used on the posters, broadcast video and banner I have created. I have carried on using the glitch theme as it gives off that hacking, virus or even alien interference feel to it as this could be very scary, mysterious and suspicious to the audience which would definitely draw the audience attention.

A example of the question used in one of the poster is ‘Imagine yourself as a alien on earth, what would you do?’ This would then allow the audience to answer and discuss the question with the # via the social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This would allow the audience to engage and interactive with the channel and also to other people around the world as this could trend all over the world.

The social network will then advertise the website which would allow the user to become the sci-fi creature, such as an alien, zombie and cyborg via the webcam or photo. They would also screenshot themselves as the sci-fi creature and share them on social networks to persuade other people to get involved and to participate in the campaign.

Here are the poster I’ve created, I’ve carry on using the glitchy theme as i find this gives off that hacking, virus or even alieninterference feel to it as this could be very scary, mysterious and suspicious to the audience which would definitely draw the audience attention.

I have played around with the layout, colour and type. I was difficult to pick the colour of the type as the glitched imaged on the background would make it difficult for they type to be seen on some of the poster as the colour of the background would be different on each poster, this would mean it wouldn't be consistent if I changed the colour for each poster, so to solve the problem I added a box underwear as this would highlight the type making it more visible to the audience. The box would still fit in as it rectangular like the glitch out pixels on the poster.