Module 1: Media, Making, and Identity
Summary, reflection
Artists: SAMBYPEN, Keith Haring, Glenn Brown, Frida Kahlo
Groupmates: Leah Walko, Arden Wolf
This project has been a stimulating opportunity to explore and mix the styles of four contrasting artists. In the partnering phase, I became interested in working with Leah Walko because of my curiosity in how we might bring our selected works together. For example, how might the animated style of SAMBYPEN (my selected 21st century artist) compliment, contrast and enhance the neo-expressional style of Glenn Brown (Leah’s selected 21st century artist)? In the process of remixing, I found that there were many factors to play with aside from the obvious visual ones. The colors, stories and motives naturally came together and prompted me to think of a feminist narrative surrounding Frida Kahlo. I think this was the perfect practice to emphasize the way in which remixing helps surface “new” ideas. It reminded me of a project I worked on about translating projects across mediums (for example, musical composition to graphic design). Later on for the 3D translation, I came across an image of two huge inflatable arms draping over the sides of a brick building on a quiet street (fun fact: it was posted by a food blogger in Taiwan). This became an ingredient in our remix as we thought about the ways in which pieces of our selected works could be sewn together to bring a building to life! We approached it in an exquisite corpse style by making the head, limbs and body (building) separately in order to piece them together at the end. This again emphasized the idea that existing knowledge, practices, etc. come together in order to form new ones — nothing is creatively brand new. While I look back on my takeaways throughout this project, I am reminded of a piece of advice I received from a senior designer: “When you’re stuck on a design, don’t look at other designs. Go out on a walk or do something totally unrelated.” The process of this project felt natural despite all the diverse elements being merged together. …
In an episode of Tic Talk by Crush, he mentions how much more easily he’s able to explain his music when chatting with friends rather than hosts (in interviews). This level of comfort helps him better process his thoughts and reveal further details. Similarly, design is a social practice. Inspiration can be found through dialogue (especially with those in different realms of work).
I want to create a casual, podcast-like series with friends to learn about their sources of inspiration. Beyond this project’s prior contexts of design and music, I want to know about any books, movies, conversations, experiences, etc. that have inspired their lives, works, mindsets, etc. …
How do ideas travel? From makers to curators, they’re passed on, absorbed and cherished. Carnival is a digital space for exploration and participation in the unseen network of creativity.
Autographic visualization / Generative music
Initial research + concept
For this project, I was interested in the sky and and its invisible trace of sound. Although the sky is generally a visual experience, I wanted to experiment with ways it might become audial as well.
To begin my image to sound research, I looked into a color to sound device, an article on different types of background noise, and Yuri Suzuki’s Face the Music project.
Process
To begin, I crowdsourced images of the sky. …
Branded experience
Initial research
Historical Perspective and Background
“For the past 30 years, we’ve been a company with strong beliefs about the rights of people and planet.” As a result, all products are plant-based, renewable and sustainable.
Overview
The direction of this project is focused on Seventh Generation’s promise that every decision, every product, will be made with careful consideration of our impact on the well being of the next seven generations.
What We Believe, Actions and Progress
Seventh Generation’s outstanding characteristic is its dedication to promoting a sustainable lifestyle in and beyond its products. On its website, they have rallies, ingredient facts, etc. …
Design process
This is an abridged version of my full process, which can be found here: https://medium.com/p/e3ac81d2d972/edit
Challenge
“Your challenge is to visualize an ephemeral phenomenon in the complex system of the city of Pittsburgh.
You will also propose one positive change to the system that could come about if what you visualized is used to make system-wide change.
The form of this visualization is purposefully open-ended, however it should consider user interaction.”
Concept
An interface where people can input demographic and music preference information to see how their profiles relate to other Pittsburghers’. Basically, relationships between people in Pittsburgh through music. My community goal was to show those relationships in the interface in order to push the idea that despite the different Pittsburgh communities (demographic information), people could find connectedness in music. …
Full process
*An abridged version of my process can be found here: https://medium.com/p/e3ac81d2d972/edit
Challenge
“Your challenge is to visualize an ephemeral phenomenon in the complex system of the city of Pittsburgh.
You will also propose one positive change to the system that could come about if what you visualized is used to make system-wide change.
The form of this visualization is purposefully open-ended, however it should consider user interaction.”
“Carve out an area of the city and spend time Deep Hanging Out. Ride a bus to a place you’ve never been. Follow an urban walking or bike trail. …
