Digital Artefact Development
- leey0nna22
- Apr 18
- 3 min read
Initially, this project aims to showcase an international student’s life experiences while studying abroad, through storytelling. I was supposed to reflect on my creative process, time management, and consistency, however, reflecting again what needs to be done, it can be time consuming especially when it comes to getting new footage for my digital artefacts. This was my first prototype originally.
My first prototype was a "day in my life" vlog, and it got off to a wonderful start. After a week or two, the view count increased to 600, making it one of my most watched Tiktoks. At first, it was fairly slow and stationary. However, spectators were not very involved. I was stuck in a creative rut for a long until a sudden flash of inspiration hit me one day.
“What if I film myself doing things I loved that I once did?” I internally asked myself.
A little about myself: I used to play a variety of sports in secondary school (similar to high school here) - netball, basketball, volleyball, and cheering. In addition, I was a performing arts student. Joined all school events to perform, whether it was singing, dancing, or musical theatre. As a result, I tried a new segment called "Trying again things I used to do"
I posted the first experimental film, which included volleyball, a sport I had given up at the age of 17 because of knee strain. I approached the game in an entertaining way, emphasizing funny scenes and meme sound effects. The TikTok video had four times less views and six likes than the first prototype. I came to the conclusion that it might not have reached the intended audience. I then attempted dancing, which was more meme-like than their last TikTok video. With 340 views and 17 likes, it performed better than expected in terms of views and likes.
This shift in content orientation reflects the Long Tail Theory. Platforms like TikTok allow producers to access smaller, more particular audiences that are strongly engaged in narrow topics—such those nostalgic about old interests or certain sports. While my new material did not do as well as my mainstream vlog, it appeals to a distinct demographic of viewers that are equally interested, if not more directly attached. The Long Tail demonstrates that success isn't necessarily about becoming viral—it's about continually reaching the smaller, more dedicated audiences that digital platforms now enable.
By concentrating on unique hobbies and emotional connection, I'm learning to embrace the "long tail" of content creation and I'm thrilled to see where it takes me.
I participated in a peer conversation with six other peers (Alex, Arlena, Joel, Khanh, Max, and Zara) in which we discussed our challenges and experiences in creating our digital artefact. Being uncomfortable in front of the camera was a challenge that everyone faced in some way. Rejection therapy was one of Arlena's best recommendations, and it was to film yourself with the attitude that you don't care about what other people think or feel. In conclusion, the sharing session with individuals from all experiences and viewpoints was excellent.
In conclusion, I've realized that it takes a lot of time, work, and mental energy to create a Digital Artefact. To get anything out of it, especially documenting yourself and sharing it to an audience, requires a great deal of accountability and perseverance. In my next DA, I'll be experimenting with a different strategy in the hopes of improving the results.
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