Rodan + Fields & MODE
MODE has been thrilled to work with our collaborators at George P Johnson to create amazing success in Screens Production for Rodan + Fields Convention 2017 and 2018. Let’s discuss how MODE could work as a Production Design Collaborator in 2019 !
mode design phases
Concept Development phase
MODE believes that good creative and design is answering a question. In the beginning of every project, we are listening carefully for those questions. In the Concept Development Phase, the MODE team works tightly with you and GPJ to develop and agree on the important core of your creative needs through blue sky sessions, charettes, and creative investigation. The result is consensus on creative direction, as well as an initial understanding of the budget and process plan to take your project from page to staged. At this point we use a lot of pencils, and we aren’t afraid to explore widely… For an event like R+F Convention, the design must be WHOLE – A singular unified expression of architecture, media, light, and sound.
Design Development phase
The MODE team now works with you to break down the core creative at a granular level. The goals in this phase are two-fold: A complete understanding of this year’s R+F Conference circumstances and conditions, coupled with detailed cultural and creative strategy development to KNOW the flavor, the tone, the atmosphere, the possibilities, the palette, the plan. The real details ? We’ll engage in site surveys, we’ll evaluate facilities impact, we’ll begin using paper, pencils, code, and context to create more advanced visual renderings. We’ll work with GPJ to initiate the the producing tools necessary to manage the project smoothly. We’ll work together to define a process to succeed !
schematic design phase
This is where we make sure that every nut, bolt, syllable, and statistic is accounted for, and communicated to all members of the team. MODE’s Creative Directors, Designers, and Producers will now commit ideas to ink, working with GPJ’s extensive drafting expertise, generating the definitive documents to fabricate, assemble, shoot, visualize, and produce. In this phase we work with you to develop scenic draftings, treatments, construction documents, pitch decks, scripts, and detailed budget breakdowns.
Physical Fabrication phase
The rubber hits the road. In this phase, we help determine and supervise vendors in the fabrication of scenery, structure, and production technologies. MODE works with GPJ to make sure that what is built, is what we have drawn, and what YOU want to see in final production. At this stage we also engage in previsualization and prototyping of special technology and programming. If the design calls for inspiring innovations (robots ! drones ! Flying performers !) this is the phase where we match art with science.
content Development phase
For R+F Conference content IS scenery. Besides compelling information, the content arrayed across the many potential screens establishes location, mood, psychology, tone. The physical design is a blank canvass… Content is the paint. We supervise content production standards, we create style guides, and we plot a visual narrative, providing the guidance all of the teams need to arrive at a consistent result. During this phase MODE works with R+F’s internal team, GPJ, as well as content production vendors to make sure that every pixel is conveying information, excitement, and scenic value.
onsite production phase
MODE and GPJ Designers and Producers now accomplish the translation of page to stage. We’ve planned and executed carefully, but we all know that getting into the space and time of production WILL bring many changes. MODE works to adapt to change while retaining intention and effect. The Designers work with all of the vendors to assure that adjustments and adaptations happen logically and sensibly. MODE’s Screens Producing Team works onsite to provide quality control and accountability for all of the content arriving, working with you and the production team to assure flawless execution. MODE works closely with Gavin and Ben to refine and deliver creative direction for the critical Performance Moments.
DELIVERABLES
what do concept development images look like ?
Concept Development is most effective when we have a common understanding of your goals and dreams, and we then move quickly through ideation. Imagine a process where ideas are generated quickly, and translated to a common visual reference with the simplicity of pencil and paper. We curate a design experience that moves efficiently and allows freedom of exploration. We are looking for your concepts and values to intersect with shape, interaction, and inspiration
There is magic and freedom in the storyboarding process. It is a sandbox for exploration. And then it becomes a definitive roadmap.
Right now we think in stages, first about form, shape, and expression. Then color, sound, and the world building through content. Let’s look at STEP 1, pencil based scenic and content storyboards…
STORYBOARD EXAMPLE GALLERY:
now we add color and texture
Now that we have had a rigorous exploration of the fundamentals, we move to color, and texture. Often represented digitally within the pencil storyboards, this stage of imagery wraps the team minds around the next development, AND result in images that become useful for budgeting and planning content production scopes.
We retain freedom at this stage – It’s time to bring the same rigorous and rapid ideation to world building in content.
COLOR RENDER IMAGE GALLERY:
visualizing phenomena
Some stage moments call for extraordinary moments of effect, environment, or interactivity. MODE enables this process with an elevated approach to visualization.
Digital pixels meet paint and ink…
Our digital tools now enable us to combine all that we have drawn with a nuanced representation of content, lighting, and effect. It allows you to make powerful decisions to construct an event with logic and flair.
What you see is what you get
From pencil, to color rendering, to final output, what shows up in the venue is what you saw from the beginning.
