Research
Being introduced to this project was a bit intimidating as the spectrum was so broad and could be taken so many different ways. I looked at some inspiration pictures from commercials such as the one to the right but also looked at Pinterest to see what kind of variation there is with layering paper. I knew going into the project that I wanted to use the silhouette of a human as I feel it can really add to the meaning.
- I was introduced to a couple of sources that really helped me gain understanding of how to visually make something work without it having to be explained. I came back to these sources multiple times as I wanted to implement those techniques in my own work.
- Geometry of Characters: https://youtu.be/i2tkCBFlXyc
- A line is a dot that went for a walk: https://youtu.be/kQETpMy30fY
Exercise: Text-Figure, Ground, Closure
In this exercise I practiced using vectors, exploring positive and negative shapes and get experience with laser cutting or vinyl cutting technologies. Using my own initials, I picked a font and image that I could potentially “hide” in the negative space of the letter. I started by using Adobe Illustrator to make my vector design, then by connecting to the laser cutter I was able to cut out the design onto Bristol paper. Here is the link to view my iterations for this exercise, Exercise 1 Layers Iterations
Iterations
- Brainstorming
- My first idea for this project was based on a child at Disney and what that means/looks like for a child. Incorporating the idea of depth I wanted to show how that child evolves over time in which they are now an adult taking their own child to Disney. Below are my initial brainstorming notes:
- Over the course of this project I struggled to unfocus my ideas. I had very specific ideas but it seemed that they were a bit too literal in my opinion. I kept brainstorming and continued to struggle with solidifying an idea. Then I began to reflect on my personal life and the things I was experiencing at that time. I began to get excited about my ideas once I got past this hurdle. I landed on the concept of falling in love and what that means for humans.
- I started with this very basic foundation for my design. I knew I wanted to implement the literal figures of a man and woman because it was relating to my own life in that time.
- I started playing around with ways I could show the non-visible connection between the two figures. This was harder than what I expected as the idea for my design was very abstract and the interpretation could definitely change based on who is viewing it.
**Due to my evolving idea and the brainstorming I had to do in order to portray meanings and feelings, I made multiple iterations. Please view the link provided to see the many iterations I made in order to reach my final design. Final Design Iterations
Concept Statement
Romance is a natural feeling that the majority of humans go through at least once in their lifetime. This design was created to resemble the chemistry and feelings the human body embraces during a time when they are ‘falling in love’ with someone. Using black and white card stock, this design takes the viewer on a journey to falling in love by providing representations of the raw feelings that occur from inside our bodies. The contrasting black silhouettes of the male and female capture a moment in time when the surrounding world seems to stop. The feeling of butterflies in the stomach create a patterned line originating from within each individual using principles that include movement, shape, and line. The transition between the cutouts in the white card stock and the 3D butterflies, resembles the feeling of coming alive as the butterflies dance through the scene. The use of line is also dominated in the area of the mind. On the female side, her mind is free flowing from one idea to the next while the male side is straightforward and set to its ways, representing how each gender has a different approach to what love is. Gestalt’s principle of ‘closure’ is depicted as the negative space between the two faces plays with the mind of the viewer. We know the figures are male and female even though they are missing hair or a complete face, while also acknowledging that as their heads join they create the shape of a heart even though we know as viewers it is not perfectly a heart. By unfocusing the viewer’s eye, the faces form together and create a candle in the center where they collide. This illusion ties the design together as a whole by bringing the idea of burning love between the two into full effect. Each feeling is used in various and specific ways to show the rollercoaster of what love is and can be. For those who have fallen in love before, seeing this design could bring back those butterflies in the stomach moments, while for others who might not have had this experience yet, it is a chance for them to get a visual idea of how it may feel when meeting that special person.
Production
Using the laser cutter at the innovation studio, I was able to cut out each layer that I had set up using my Adobe Illustrator file. This was a big learning curve for me as I really had no knowledge of how to use the laser in relation to my files. Making sure my illustrator files had the correct settings and layout was fun but also stressful.
Once I had all the layers cut out, I cut an old cardboard box into thin rectangles so I could use them as spacers in between the layers of paper. By doing this it creates a feeling of depth as the paper is spaced apart from each other. I put glue on each side of the rectangles as they attached to the backside of each paper.
Final Product:
Reflection:
- Overall I grew from liking this project, to hating it, and back to loving it. I really feel like I evolved as a designer with this project. The hardest part about it was how broad the topic of depth is and how much freedom we had to do whatever we wanted. I bounced around so many ideas and it became pretty overwhelming. But with the use of mind mapping and writing out my brainstorming process, it became easier to gather my thoughts.
- I’m really proud of this design. It fully represents the feelings I wanted to portray but in a wholesome way where each element looks and works smoothly with the other. My favorite part is the airy butterflies that flutter through space, I surprised myself with how well that worked out.
- I also worked really hard with figuring out the negative space this piece made. I struggled with the exercise for this project and I was determined to get a better understanding of how I can use negative space to my advantage in designs. The candle with a flame above it that sits in the negative space of the two figures’ faces is a great aspect that just adds more meaning to the story of the design.
Link to Portfolio Project: Layers: Deep Space