Concept Statement
The quote by designer Irene Au, “Good design is like a refrigerator—when it works, no one notices, but when it doesn’t, it sure stinks” speaks of how design is concreted in everyday objects but can be ignored by the population due to its efficiency and harmony. Her humorous comparison of the refrigerator functioning juxtaposed to it not functioning reflects on how design is not necessarily meant to be flashy or overwhelming but can be simple. In similar matters, my gift is simply giving time and tranquility during this tumultuous pandemic. To build upon Au’s words, the video ends with its “breakdown”, proving that function is essential to creating meaning. The gift is a playlist packaged in a short animation and claymation. The purpose is to provide my recipient with music emoting quarantine sentiments. The songs are about loneliness, boredom, positivity, and hope. It is designed to send the message that no matter what one feels right now, they are not alone, and society will endure. The animation provides an invitation to join me in listening to a few samples of the songs. It is me virtually spending time with the recipient. Through the use of movement, the video will give a live perspective on experiencing the music. Shape and form will a transition from arriving to socializing. This is done through the use of 2-dimensional digitally drawn animation and 3-dimensional clay stop-motion film. The clay’s character use smooth texture to provide a clear, legible form. The dynamic playing of the movie will be cut short, abruptly demonstrating poor design. This unfortunate ending reiterates Au’s words of disfunction being noteworthy. Nevertheless, the recipient will be left with the message hidden in the music.
Plan Ideations
Spot the difference, puzzle, virtual scavenger hunt, animation, claymation
***Music playlist added later
Elements and Principles
Primary
- Color
- Use bot BW and color
- Contrast
- Functioning video vs breakdown
- Black and white isolation vs colorful hope
- Unity
- Beginning and end relate
Secondary
- Movement in visuals
- Scale when using clay
- Smooth texture and clean form in clay for clarity
Function and Meaning
- “Good design is like a refrigerator—when it works, no one notices, but when it doesn’t, it sure stinks.” –Irene Au
- It speaks of how design is concreted in everyday objects but can be ignored by the majority due to its efficiency. She highlights how an object’s design can be appreciated more when broken. Her example of the refrigerator functioning is invisible, but when it does not work it is quite bothersome. This idea had me reflect on how design is not necessarily meant to be flashy or overwhelming but can be simple. This made me reflect how a gift is similar.
- Quote location and more about Irene Au- https://medium.com/design-your-life/design-and-the-self-a5670a000fee
- Spend time with gift
- Relate through quarantine
- Provide sentiments of hope and positivity
- Introduce source of entertainment in these boring times
Materials and Tools
- Clay
- Paper/ cardboard backdrop
- Animation
- Motionbook
- Photoshop
- Sketchbook
- Playlist
- Spotify
- Just a list
- iMovie to bring all together