S research
future scenario
photography
public space
public space
research methods compiling and analysing information
creating future scenario writing/explaining visual research forecasting ‘acting’ team work
getting use to a new camera trying to re-create a shooting style i like becoming more comfortable with approaching people with a camera
creating a concept based on varied reseaerch creating an interactive installation questioning society graphics
painting techniques model making applying a concept in an artistic form exploring my ideas/thoughts about the city
ELF REFLECTION
JOSHUA WOOLFORD 1 what have i been doing?
self reflection how i have worked: what i have learned
I 4. research II 8. future scenario III 12. photography IV 16. public space (please do touch) V 20. public space (multifunctionalisty) VI 24. leger des heils
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I
RESEA
I
ARCH
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RESEARCH
For me it was really nice to be reminded of research techniques. I was studying Psychology after high-school and really enjoy the subject ( I was going to study a crimonology bachelor if I didn’t go into design). I was really interested in the subject also, and had the plan to dive into the subject on my own, before coming to forum. So since the beginning of the project I have been really enthusiastic about finding out a lot of information and getting involved. I’m happy I could experiment with interviewing people working in these homeless organisations as well as friends and people surrounding me. Also because I have deep interests in society and the way people think and interact with eachother. I think something that distracted me was how connected I became to Leger des Heils. I think it could have been more interesting for the research if there was more shelters/programmes that I could have compared it to, but at the same time this close connection means that I could get answers which I would not have found on a superficial level, and that I have made a new friendship with an organisation which could be useful in the future. The thing I struggled with the most was to make photographic evidence. I felt like I had no right to intrude these peoples privacy, although now that has changed as people start to recognise me and we talk. I also struggled in the beginning with approaching people, I was always wondering if they would speak English, or if they would be angry or not understand what I wanted. But after the first 2 or three conversations this got much easier.
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I
FUTURE S
II
SCENARIO
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FUTURE SCENARIO
I really enjoyed creating the future scenario. Again it plays with my interest in society and psychology, and it was great to bring it to a bigger scale. I liked researching and collecting information about things which are happening now, relate them to history, philosophy, psychology and my own interests and opinions and project them onto the future.
NOMADISM
GENIOCRACY
PLUTOCRACY
€
TECHNOCRACY
Something I really enjoyed thinking about was how new groups will form, how people will think, feel, act and present themselves in the future. I was really interested in how all these factors are represented through the way people dress.
MAOISM
For me I also really tried to visualise the informatio, I’m really interested in graphics and layouts so tried to also develop these skills. I visualised the research I was doing into government and social systems, created the layout for the books and prepared the props for the future scenario video. I think the story and the angle we have taken in this project is very big and it can be taken a lot further and in many different directions, but I think that in the time-frame we did a good job at researching, editing, visualising and presenting our concept. In the first few weeks I was a bit disappointed with the lack of action within the group (also with isabelle’s assignment) but in the last weeks it started to come together and we could get quite a lot done.
HINDUISM
TRIBALISM
OLIGARCHIC FASCIST TOTALITARIAN
BOHEMIANISM
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II
PHOTOG
II
GRAPHY
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PHOTOGRAPHY
I have always loved to take pictures of my surroundings, but since coming to the Design Academy I have been spending more time taking pictures of my work and exhibitions rather then spaces. So it was nice to get back into taking my camera everywhere with me and making pictures of the things that attract my attention. During this assignment I also sold my camera and got a new one, so it was the perfect time to be taking picturs on manual and to find out how the camera works and what I can do with it. For the assignment in the end I was interested in creating this layering and playing with the focus of the camera. I was trying to recreate and effect I saw in Chungking Express, a film by Wong Kar Wei, where the focus is always shifted between the protagonist and seemingly useless objects (actually the film looks at the relationships people have with eachother and with the objects in their surrounding). I have never been the type to photograph people, which is quite strange when I think about how interested I am in how people behave. But then this was great for me to play with the perspective and draw attention to objects, with people being the background, rather then the other way around which is what we are generally use to. I think that this was a great exercise for me, I also discovered my limitations (wanting to photograph the interior and exterior of monk and create a manual, inside out panorama was not possible with the equipment I had)
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I
PLEASE D
IV
DO TOUCH
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PLEASE DO TOUCH
For the assignment of improving the public space I worked in a team with Mila. It was really nice to work with a student from a higher module, and now me and Mila are good friends, already a great point about the project. We started by researching what public space actually is. I am always interested in trying to deal with real problems/ discussions in my projects, so for me this initial research was an important stage. I think we worked well as a team, we had very similar opinions and interests and could talk about them openly and honestly. I was happy to be hands on in this lesson and to actually make something (we decided this from the beginning). I also worked on the logo, so more graphic practice! I think that well. We had questions from wanted. And
our experiment went quite a lot of interaction and the public which is what we the sun was out (bonus!)
For me I think this lesson was really good because it encouraged me to turn research and ideas into an action, and to involve people in the proecess, which is something I think is very important - if you are designing for people I think it’s important to involve them in the process. I really like the idea we came up with and it’s another project I would like to continue after Forum 2 has ended.
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V
MULTIFUNC
V
CTIONALITY
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MULTIFUNCTIONALITY
When I started in the class of Johannes I was kind of sad that I missed the painting assignments, so I decided to combine my research into problems of the city with a my own painting assignment. I’m happy that I did because since last year I do like to paint but never find the time. One of the biggest problems with my paintings are that they are ‘too grey’.. well, grey is my favourite colour so that makes sense, but I also just enjoy painting things they way they look, I like subtle differences in tone and shade. But it’s true that in order to really study colour, and to create intreresting, personal, creative paintings I needed to express more. In the end I’m happy with the painting, I always surprise myself when I paint something and someone says they like it, because in my head I am a shitty painter, I’m also happy how it worked out with splitting the painting into three different collages, with each collage experimenting with a different technique/style. I really struggled with translating my idea/concept into a piece of art. My first instinct was to make architectural models (although I swore that I would never do that again after the first year). So actually for me it was a really nice oppertunity to be able to create something that is not precise, and measured, and exact. But more a visualisation of the idea or possibilities I see.
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V
LEGER DE
VI
ES HEILS
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LEGER DES HEILS
Helping out at Leger des Heils gave me a lot of energy during the last few weeks. For me it was great to be able to combine the skills I learned during Atelier, and use my colour samples to help re-decorate the homeless shelter we were visiting for our research project. It was realy nice to work with someone from the outside, and for a nice cause. Not that I helped to solve the issues that these people have to deal with, but I did make Alinda happy and made a good friendship with her. It also helped in getting some extra information for the research project, and I hope it will also encourage others to go out and apply their skills in the real world. I am really happy that for all of the projects I was able to combine research with action. I always want to do things, and act on things, so I’m happy that I could afford myself the freedom to do so. I think that it would be good if I could spend more time on all of them actually, because I think that they all still have a good potential to go further, which I am also always aiming to do with my work - explore areas that have the potential to inspire me and that I can come back to or continue in another project, at another time.
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