Month: January 2020

Hidden In Plain Sight – Font Exploration – Project One (2130)

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Instruction

For your text, find a font.

 

Purpose

Decide on a font that pushes the narrative of your project foreword. Explore contrasting and matching tones.

 

My Interpretation

I first explored a font that mimics handwriting and I thought it looked too scrawled and less genuine. Next I explored very plain sans serif fonts, complimenting the simple aspect of taking a break and though they worked well, they Seemed slightly too commanding. Next, I decided to lean into that command, using a bolder and heavy font to almost demand a break, but I though the contrast was unnecessary and intimidating. Finally, I decided on a simple font with whipping serifs. I enjoy this font the most as it still retains the simplicity it needs, while having a slight movement quality, further expanding on the theme of a break not meaning progress has stopped.

Hidden In Plain Sight – Revised Model – Project One (2130)

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Instruction

Revise a previous model.

 

Purpose

Find more natural positions to view your words from the seated positions established in the previous process post about models.

 

My Interpretation

I went to the same chair and bookshelf and simulated sitting down in the chair with the full intention of resting, going so far as to lean back, lift my feet up, and seep into the cushions of the chair. This action naturally led my gaze upwards towards a ledge above that was a plain off-white wall. This new spot for “A calming/ A stilling/ A hearing/ A waiting” seemed more powerful and meaningful than the previous bookshelf spot, as that spot is much less natural and indicative of a break. To look sharply to the left towards books is not what I’d do first when relaxing.

Hidden In Plain Sight – Models – Project One (2130)

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Instruction

Create three “models” of your words in space.

 

Purpose

Find out if the proper feeling is being conveyed by your choice of words and the area they’re in and how they are hidden. Explore how the views can change in space and how they can be viewed over time with (or without) human interaction.

 

My Interpretation

I plan to install the words “A calming/ A stilling/ A hearing/ A waiting” (I swapped “hearing” and “waiting” from the original because I wanted “A waiting” to be last) in a place where the answer to this poem lies – in the Fine Arts Library – where you are there to study, but are able to take a break from everything for a moment and appreciate your surroundings. The literal answer to the poem is “A break”. I want the words to be hidden and only visible from a resting/sitting position, emphasizing that the answer that, in taking a break, stopping to focus on yourself doesn’t mean you’re not making progress. The lounge spot is a common resting area, but the words may be too visible before reaching the couch in the space which would dampen the point. The chair by the bookshelves is a great personal and inclusive spot, the words can blend in with the blur of colored books, even being more and less covered up as more and less books from that specific shelf are checked in and out. The ottoman space is almost too hidden, leading me to want to make it visible, but unreadable, from the lower level of the library (see video) in order to make someone pursue the words in the space, much like how you’d work towards a break in your day-to-day. Finally, I also currently plan to add a small graphic (early draft seen in previous progress post on concept statement draft) alongside the words installed to further the theme of progress not being halted while resting.

Dynamic Page – Revised Model – Project One (2330)

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Instruction

Further progress on the project, begin creating a draft model for critique.

 

Purpose

Start working towards a set idea and proof of concept. Find a theme and pursue it for it to be later critiqued and drafted upon.

 

My Interpretation

I decided to entirely ditch the flat hexaflexagon model in exchange for a 3D version. This version has four visible phases that are accessible cyclically by being turned in or out. This also means I had to scrap the adventure theme idea in favor of a constantly zooming in/out theme.

Dynamic Page – First Model – Project One (2330)

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Instruction

Purpose

My Interpretation

I simply labeled the flat hexaflexagon sides from 1 to 6 for clarity. 1 connects to 2 and 4, 2 connects to 3 and 5, and 3 connects to 1 and 6. 1,2, and 3 are the normal cycle of the folding paper, it can infinitely loop in or our on itself in this order, but if you go to 4, 5, or 6 theme you must return to the respective 1, 2, or 3 to continue looping. You are unable to go from 4 to 5 to 6 to 4. Using these sets of rules, the idea to create an exploration-type project came to mind. An early concept of the idea was the sides 1-3 being some sort of forest that one can get “lost” in, and hidden within (on sides 4-6) area treasure3s to find, the goal being to find all three. However, this concept was tough to follow and most people were unable to fully understand the proper way to use the flat hexaflexagon, so a redesign was necessary.

Exercise – Initials and Space

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Instruction

Using positive and negative space, create your own initials and have them reflect something personal about yourself.

 

Purpose

Understand positive and negative space, further explore gestalt principles.

 

My Interpretation

I wanted to utilize all three of my initials (MAJ) because they fit well together and can create a lot of unique shapes. I started with a theatre setup, the M being the proscenium, the A being the lights, and the J being the stage and backstage. I also included an iteration where a backstage box is the tittle of the J, further lowing the backstage theme. I also explored musical interactions, fitting MAJ within a music staff and simply MJ in music notes. Still unsatisfied, I simplified the entire project and tried fitting the letters within each other in negative space, but I was still disinterested. Finally, I decided on recreating my initials in a form of my face. I wanted to highlight my hair and my piercings as I connect very strongly with them. The M is the widows peak of the hairline, the A is the nose, and the J is the jaw line. This iterations also uses the most gestalt principles, using closure to complete the face, similarity in the piercing shapes, and simple positive and negative space.

Dynamic Page – Iterations – Project One (2330)

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Instruction

Choose one design from the mind maps and iterate ten ideas or more based off of the design.

Purpose

Iterate and explore different version of the same base concept. Find ideas that work well with the chosen format and investigate them.

 

My Interpretation

I decided to take on the challenge and take on “hexaflexagons” and play with the concept it brings on. I struggled to find any meaningful cyclical process with six steps. initially i started with weather, specifically people in weather and then the weather itself and then the appropriate garment to wear in different weather. I then experimented with different emotions, signage, symbols, emotions/faces, and even the building up of something (a stick figure). True inspiration struck after a conversation with the instructors. I was told to try leaning into the confusing nature of the hexaflexagon and paying with that idea, whatever it may be.

Exercise – Text in Context

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Instruction

Laser cut a word (in a font of your choosing) out of any material and semi-permanently place it into a location within Hayes Hall, the Fine Arts Library, or Hopkins Hall.

 

Purpose

Explore words in context and how proximity and other gestalt principles impact meaning. Experiment with font types and how they use the same principles to change the overall feeling of the word.

 

My Interpretation

I played with many verbs, most notably “performing”, “pin.”, and “RIOT”. I played with punctuation and capitalization to change the overall feeling of the words and ultimately decided on “RIOT” in a font titled Filicudi, which uses the negative space between bars to creat a blocky and bold typeface. I placed a template of my word in many chaotic locations such as near punched holes in the wall, under bells and alarms, and even over another person’s placed word to emphasize the theme of what “RIOT” means. In the end, I decided to create contrast with my word by placing my call-to-action in a quiet, calm, and civilized library, right in the center of a table.

Dynamic Page – Mind Maps – Project One (2330)

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Instruction

Create a mind map for at least three different kinds of dynamic paper craft.

 

Purpose

Explore options within paper craft and start forming an idea of what you aim to produce. Experiment with using multiple methods at once.

 

My Interpretation

My first idea focused on “hexaflexagons”, a six sided, six phased paper craft that is relatively difficult to flip through and around to find all phases, it is cyclical and repeats. The next idea I had was focusing on a bi-linear style of paper craft, making a choice to push a narrative, your choice changing the outcome. This would be done by flipping a tab on the left or right to make a decision or flip both to see all outcomes. My final idea was a uni-directional style, one tab leading to an outcome that has a beginning and end, in this case cascading down like a waterfall or Jacob’s ladder.