Justin Duplain - Icon Project Process Book

Investigation of a Dip Pen

In the fall of 2011, I was tasked in multimedia class with investigating the iconography of a key, a knife, and an old fashioned dip pen. This is that body of work.

- Justin Duplain, 12/07/2011

impact: stains SPLATTER line DRAWINGS letters words sentences essays holes books comics BLOOD wound INK BLOT impression scribble spill TATTOO SIGNATURE doodle scratch metal shrapnel ink BLEED indention splinter sketch hatching wash etching marks permanent color image handwriting CALLIGRAPHY cartridges prints mark symbol note paragraphs variations: pencil razor SWORD typewriter computer pen KNIFE letter opener LASER pointer brush marker brush printing press email tattoo pen BLOOD sharpie OCTOPUS stick FEATHER ink STAMP bamboo calligraphy pen crayon color pencil double point thick point think point black blue red FINGER paint typing letter press braille SPRAY paint printer brush knife ball point pen subjectivity: pencil feather needlecanecrownguillotinejoustmarkerkeyholestickARROW SPEAR musical note magic wand knife caterpillar straw tail rifle sword green beans bamboo phallic finger queen tower fencing cross line pen stick-bug green beans pretzel french fry context: FOUNDING FATHERS greeks writers ceos journalist musicians ARTIST ink well parchment intellectuals desk library REVOLUTION renaissance church monks DESK bible tapestry templerichfolkwalmartartstoreathletepocketpocketprotector phoenicians scribes authors hollywood stars stenographers drawer orientals REPORTER paper actions: write STAB tattoo DART reply draw sketch scratch mark dip document RECORD copy sign wound fling spill refill letter squirt address author contact flick shake mark play darts throw LAUNCH lose find fight break tear down RECONSTRUCT hang calligraphy splash connotations: creative intellectual KNOWLEDGE revolution romantic artistic PERSONAL beauty wealthy old TRADITIONAL oriental classical PERMANENT intelligent memorable pain POWER action INPSIRATION reading thoughtful masculine feminine denotations: writing DRAWING creating practical contact communication power journalism science ENLIGHTENMENTliteratureARTrecordingknowledgereplying marking reading REPORTING democracy making permanent STATIONARY postal calligraphy press unique customizable

s d E r e l r h e y t Y r W l r y t y y r s o D r d h n L e l g e g t e

Brainstorming was used to develop ideas for visual pilferage.

Images mined from the interwebs were the basis for these visual studies.

The most basic formal iconic qualites were exposed through dot studies.

Additional geometric schematics provided insightful clues to the iconicness of the dip pen.

Silhouettes were created using construction paper cutouts. These helped to map out a blueprint of iconography.

By exploring the object’s shadow using photography, one gained estended knowledge as to visual character of the item.

Clues to the expressive qualities of the dip pen were identified through additional drawing studies.

Image-making through photorepresentational methods extended the expressive possibilities and ensured no surprises.

The super image challenge provided a platform for explorative and expressive illustration.

This brough challenges to the fore.

Having thoroughly explored the visual charateristics of the dip pen, vectoring of the icons could begin.

Meanwhile, accomplices reviewed the expressive qualities of some of the more striking creations to reveal the brilliance of the plan.

The final solution became clear. The only thing left to do was to put it to use.

The scene got messy, but clear communication allowed for implementation of the plan. Who knew such distruction could be wrought with a single dip pen?

Armed with these supreme solutions, the rewards resulting from the risk were sublime. The young perp now has the street cred needed to perform serious heists without risk of exposure. Plus, using the computer he could transform a good solution into a better one.

In summary, we see that the desparado left a ravaged path of design in his wake. Though we can now see that the crime was carried out through careful planning, there is no telling where he will strike next. The public should be wary of any strangers carrying a macbook and looking for india ink.