The Visual Story by Bruce Block

     The Visual Story presents the basic visual components found in every moving or still picture we see: space, line, shape, tone, color, movement, and rhythm. After hearing these components the average person may be taken back to the days of practicing the use of the primary color wheel in middle school art class, but Bruce Block has more to offer the reader than how to color inside the lines. Bruce not only defines these visual components to the reader, but describes how to use them to create certain moods in works of art. The author provides examples for each component and assigns the best kind of homework - watching classic movies.
     For me The Visual Story has done two things 1) given me a concise formula for approaching visual design pieces, and 2) made me appreciate the incredible amount of skill that goes into directing visual art. It was very rewarding for me to read this book during the Academy Award season, where the world's best visual artists showcase their work for everyone to see. I look forward to watching many of the nominated films (Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Theory of Everything, The Imitation Game, and Selma) in the coming weeks and analyzing them using Bruce's visual components.
     It's easy to skim through The Visual Story as it is less than 300 pages and contains many pictures and diagrams, however it is a book that is best digested slowly. Take some time between chapters and look for examples of what Bruce describes out in the world. You will begin to see things differently, and possibly come away with a better understanding of yourself as a result.

Zapp! The Lightning of Empowerment by William C. Byham

     Zapp! is about a fictional company in a fictional town. The Normal Company in Normalburg, USA manufactures Normalators. Things aren't looking great for the Normal Company. Profit and performance are poor and employee morale is at an all time low. Ralph Rosco, a particularly disgruntled employee in department N, has a brilliant idea for a new product. Ralph uses parts from old Normalators to build his invention, the Ralpholator. The Ralpholator transports users to the 12th dimension where they can see the physical manifestation of a person's energy and feelings. In the 12th dimension you are able to see if people are getting zapped with positive energy or if their energy is being sapped out of them.
     Right away Ralph notices the energy sapping decay that the Normal Company is in. As Ralph is wandering the 12th dimension he sees all kinds of unspoken flaws of the Normal Company. There is only one place that is operating effectively, department Z. Ralph studies department Z and notices that the department supervisor, Lucy Storm, practices 5 key principals to energize her employees. These five key principals used in Zapp! are:

1. Maintain or enhance self-esteem
2. Listen and respond with empathy
3. Share thoughts, feelings, and rationale
4. Ask for help and encourage involvement
5. Provide support without removing responsibility for action

     Ralph brings this discovery to the attention of his supervisor, Joe Mode, who learns to use the key principals over time. Lucy Storm, Joe Mode, and Ralph Rosco then team up to transform the whole company using the successes of departments N and Z as models.

     Although Zapp! is an abstract and humorous story, its application to everyday life is fantastically obvious thanks to characters Joe Mode and Lucy Storm. Lucy is the star supervisor who sets the example for other departments. Joe is a distrusting supervisor who usually does not consider his employees when making decisions. Joe tries to implement the key principals lazily and hastily at first which ends up sapping employees more than if they had not been implemented at all.

     Zapp! is a fun short read that would probably take most readers 3 hours or less, but the key principals mentioned in the book are deep in value. It will be fun and challenging implementing them in my next design project.

Understanding Video Games, University of Alberta

Understanding Video Games by the University of Alberta was my first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). The class was not very challenging but the material was gold. I was just beginning my knowledge quest for all things video game design when I started the course. The class material served as a great complement to the book I was reading at the time (The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell). I'll be sure to call upon the videos and course material in my future pursuits. Take the class for free here!