Noticing the Ignored.
Task 6:
This week's assignment calls for us to physically act, research, look, investigate, and record a local geographical area 1-2 miles from our house. We are asked to document, explore, and evidence our work and create something unique to represent our street. When I read this brief, the first thing that popped into my head was, "What can I do to make a difference?" I love to design something that positively impacts people and the world. My purpose as a designer isn't just to create something aesthetically pleasing but also to use materials and textures that interact with the people and leave an imprint. Thus, for this week's challenge, I aim to develop innovative, communicative, eye-catching signs to help fix the roadworks in my street and get people's attention. I strive to make the "ignored" noticed and the "invisible" visible, using my creative skills as a designer.
How do I use the unnoticed?
How do I use recording tools to capture information?
How can you look at something from multiple ways of seeing?
How can you capture and record in various ways?
Learning objectives:
Research, explore and analyse different ways of seeing, looking and capturing.
Document, explore and evidence my ways of seeing, thinking and observing.
Imagine and communicate something unique.
Communicate my interpretation visually.
Document and communicate my working process on your blog.
Participate in and reflect upon debate on the ideas wall.
Manage my independent learning through good planning and self-direction.
Discover:
Mindmap:
Mindmap process:
Mood-Board:
Mood board process:
As previously mentioned, I always use mindmaps or mood boards as part of the discovery process to acquire sufficient data to define my concept and begin the development and ideation. Pinterest is integral to my research and brainstorming, inspiring me to learn without imitating or plagiarising anyone else's ideas. It is remarkable how my concept evolves and clarifies throughout the entire process. Initially, I had the intention of creating a street sign. However, I was still determining the type of sign I wanted to make or how to implement it. However, after completing my mood board and mindmap designs, I can visualise the whole project and begin my process.
Define:
Exploring, recording & documenting raw photographs:
click play on the video below:
Throughout the defining process, I narrowed my idea's flow and chose a specific theme and a unique technique to create my project. I started by walking outside my house and observing things I had never noticed or cared about. After living in the same area for nearly four years, I had never considered how hazardous our pavement cracks were. Even after tripping and falling numerous times, I had not considered it. Therefore, I recorded myself walking in front of the sites where the pavement was being deconstructed and brainstormed creative solutions that could solve this problem in the near future.
Develop:
Example 1: pizza illustration
I took a photo of one of the sewage wells I pass by daily near my house and made it stand out by drawing a delicious pizza. I used my iPad to illustrate freely and give out this realistic "graffiti "vibe. Nonetheless, I have heard many horror stories about people falling into these sewage wells and dying, so I wanted to make the "unnoticed" "noticed" and help improve my neighbourhood into a safer space. I was too scared to paint on the street, not to do anything illegal, but it was quite tempting.
Example 2: geometric patterns
I am a big believer the in the power of colours. I always stop and notice when a splash of colour is displayed somewhere. Thus, I used my iPad to create a short GIF and then edited it to make it look like it was part of a sewage well. It's pretty simple, but it took me a while to figure out how to draw a geometric pattern. I ended up outlining the pattern that the well already had to consume my time, and I'm pleased with the end result. The bright colours it shows off would definitely grab people's attention.
Deliver:
Example 1: pizza illustration
Example 2: geometric patterns
Contextual Research:
While watching John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" episode, he said, "A human eye can only be in one place at one time," I never really thought about that, but it's very accurate. A person can walk down the street and look at different things but only see them in one place at one time. Moreover, Berger also talks about what it means to see and how we view things based on what we already know. For example, I don't know what a pencil looks like unless I see one. It is saddening how he also mentions that many authentic images have been taken for granted by academics, manipulated by photographic reproduction and sold for money. Now we can't really know what is real and what is not.
Self-Reflection:
This week's challenge made me reflect on what I do, what I don't do, and what I'm missing out on. It forced me to reevaluate how I live and become more aware of what's happening around me. We are all equal in this world and uniquely made for a purpose. Doctors and engineers and pilots and teachers and simple workers all co-exist. Through communication and respect for each other, we create and nurture an empire for generations to come. From what I've seen, well-maintained roads are the best way to improve our transmission and safety. Some road and street issues include potholes, uneven or broken pavements, and even some trees that grow from the ground. These can create dangerous obstacles that can cause anyone to fall or hurt someone, regardless of age. We might drive on these roads, and some of us might be used to it, but we need to take action to make sure road safety is better, even if it's just putting up a warning sign. If you asked me in week five if I noticed anything wrong in my neighbourhood, I would say absolutely nothing. So, if we ignore these simple things, like "pavement cracks" or "unstable sewage well," there will be no future for us. Hence, my aim for this week's task was to contribute to improving or making minor adjustments to the best of my ability and to provide aid and assistance to others so that peace and love prevail in our world.
