Find the written response for the Unit 2.1 Positions Through Iterating brief below:
Categories
Month: April 2023
WEEK 1: In the first part of my iterations I was trying to use graphic design to communicate a narrative that was exploring individualism, identity, and a sense of belonging to a society, living under the feeling of being examined, judged.
W1 FEEDBACK + NEW DIRECTION: Following the week 1 the feedback, I got a new thread to explore regarding the idea of being watched in the modern society. My research opened up interesting topics about surveillance in everyday life and how that impacts individuals and the society as a whole.
W2 ITERATIONS: In this weeks iterations, I tried to use my established visual direction and create designs that communicate the life in the surveillance culture in which we engage in our everyday life, being a part of surveillance society and how that can affect individualism. I tried to focus on detail of being watched and how little details change under the impression of being watched. I used the iterations to create stop motion video and also publication.
THE RESEARCH
Surveillance culture (A concept / term founded by David Lyon)
= A culture where surveillance is integrated into everyday environment. Daily use of surveillance technologies and practices in modern society.
We as ordinary citizens constantly ad routinely make sense of / respond to / initiate surveillance through technologies. That can lead an individual to a suspicion, fear of control, it can affect a sense of belonging, security and safety. (Lyon D., Surveillance Society: Monitoring Everyday Life, 2007)
NEW ENQUIRY
Exploring the use of graphic design tools to understand the role of identity in the modern society, exploring the social and emotional implications of living as an individual in a technology and surveillance culture, to draw attention to the presence of surveillance in everyday life and to challenge viewers to rethink their assumptions and attitudes towards surveillance culture and rethink their own role in this society. The focus is put on the social and emotional impact of living in such society and the way it affects their everyday lives and minds and how to visually represent that.
Future exploration: Using the right tool / method to explore the topic. I can imagine working with people and their own experience of living in such society, exploring their stories, opinions and experiences.
The snippet of my work, that I decided to explore further was from the methods of iterating brief. In the brief I was exploring how I can challenge the flat narrative of Risograph by effectivelly using it’s characteristics to bring an engaging design, and create an illusion / revealing effect. I chose to work with blue and red as they don’t only bring physical features such as the red light being the major balancer for blue light, but for me it raises the questions of contrasts, emotions (blue – calmness, positive emotions / red – anger, heated emotions) and tension.
How can design be used to reveal something? The truth / the other side / the unspoken / the unseen / important messages. What kind of topic can be revealed?
After the first explorations, I wanted to expand the visual direction, and I added another photo/s, to continue my exploration, and using the person as an object, I started realising there is a shadow of narrative being created behind the iterations.
I started thinking more into depth about next steps, and started revealing questions connected to individuality, working with the idea of one’s identity being in the “ocean” of other identities. More I was leaning towards the 100 iterations, I realised I was (unintentionally) making the iterations more personal. After finishing the set, I realised I was slowly revealing new questions and started giving the iterations some meaning. During the process I got from exploring the shapes, colours and how they interact together into reflecting my personal narrative exploring individualism, identity, and a sense of belonging to a society, living under the feeling of being examined, judged.