SARAH PULVIRENTI
PROJECT NO. 01
FALL 2018
REFLECTION ON PRACTICE*
In Situ
CAPSTONE IN DESIGN FORM + FUNCTION
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SARAH PULVIRENTI
FALL 2018
CAPSTONE IN DESIGN FORM + FUNCTION
IN SITU
PROCESS REFLECTION
Introduction Assignment + Objectives
Pictured: on-site images
INTRODUCTION
You will design an artifact (or series of artifacts) to convey your design concept. Your audience will interact with your work off-site, so the key is to consider what the most meaningful traits are that you want to share. As you develop concepts, go beyond a one-to-one relationship between site and artifact. Consider multi-sensory approaches, and multiple formats. Collect observations of details large and small that can feed or drive a concept. Your project may take the form of an app, kit, guide, map, game, booklet, etc. The final product should serve as a functional prototype that adds a new layer of meaning, understanding, and /or delight for the user, guiding them through a carefully researched and crafted experience.
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_Use research findings to inform design decisions _Utilize form and content to convey an engaging and _intuitive experience _Create a prototype that is visually compelling and _thoughtfully crafted _Capture sensorial experiences within a designed artifact
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Research What did you turn to for reference, inspiration, and understanding for your project? How did it influence—directly or indirectly—what you made?
Pictured: collage techniques and other forms of compositional inspiration
01_RESEARCH
Throughout the research process, I was heavily inspired by the preexisting eclectic quality of Sk8 Liborius Social Club. I had never heard of the site before, but luckily came across it online while attempting to research a similar St. Louis location. In visiting the church as well as speaking with recent frequenters, I learned a great deal about the visible and metaphorical qualities of the space. I first visited expecting an eerie old church with broken windows and graffiti, but I was pleasantly surprised after entering. Yes it was an eerie old church with broken windows and graffiti, but it was also a space in which a community of local skaters, with ages ranging from 7 years old to 35, congregated with the same goal in mind—to live and skate in peace. I also furthered my research by reading interviews done by Sk8 Liborius founders and by watching the documentary, “Sanctuary,” that documents the club’s history. I became immediately drawn to the mentality of repurposing vacant spaces to pursue practical, refuge-like projects.
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The idea of two communities living in one brought me to research collage techniques due to the literal parallel the approach had to my concept. I looked into how other artists have combined photography, drawings, stenciling and other media in order to reimagine the traditional “collage.” The space and how it’s been transformed isn’t traditional, so I was determined to take collaging beyond just recontextualizing photographs. This also served as justification for why I chose to do a poster series. After contemplating a few different routes, i.e. a Bible-like book and an app, I decided that focusing on a poster series would make the greatest not only due to scale, but because of their intrusive quality. Posters encourage a visual reimagining of a space, as well as some level of heightened audience interaction, and this was exactly what Sk8 Liborius Social Club had done.
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PROCESS REFLECTION
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Discovery What was your process for generating possible ideas for the project like? How wide and deep did you explore before coming to a final idea? Did your discovery process generate outcomes that were successful? Why or why not? How did you measure success?
Pictured: reference images; sticker illustration, site images
02_DISCOVERY
A great deal of my early iteration process was done digitally. I started editing and collaging my images virtually because I felt as though it’d be the most efficient approach and, retrospectively, I don’t necessarily regret it. I was able to quickly pinpoint which visual strategies were both more interesting and relevant, and thus took my findings to confidently move onto analog collaging in order to manipulate my compositions in a more tangible manner. Soon after, the ideation process started getting more and more difficult in the sense that I prematurely allowed myself get distracted by the timeline ahead rather than focusing on fully developing my concept at my own pace. I quickly clung to making a five-piece poster series and a book to accompany it, but after talking it over with others I realized that the deadline called for a reevaluation of my ambitions in order to produce a finished and coherent product. I had a few directions in which I wanted to continue to explore regarding visualizing my idea, but I put on the breaks really early on and stuck with one direction out of fear of not finishing. Oddly enough, I now feel like the “sticker book” direction I ended up taking was the most pertinent and interesting one I had to choose from, but throughout the process I couldn’t help but regret not experimenting more. In terms of taking on this direction, I found myself researching as I was making in hopes of staying authentic and true to the two cultures at hand. A lot of time was dedicated to studying skateboard stickers and their common illustrative approaches.
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In terms of success, I’ve definitely had more fruitful drafting processes for other projects. I would say that I could attest this to trying to readjust to the more formal studio process — something I’ve been removed from for a few months — and am grateful to have gotten it out of my system. I measure success on how much I learn or take away from a project, and I think this readjustment was something that needed to happen especially given its objective value.
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PROCESS REFLECTION
Information on item one; St. Liborius 1892
Information on item two; Sk8 Liborius 2014
Information on item one; St. Liborius 1892
Information on item one; St. Liborius 1892
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Information on item two; Sk8 Liborius 2014
Information on item one; St. Liborius 1892
CONGREG8 Information on item two; Sk8 Liborius 2014
Information on item two; Sk8 Liborius 2014
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Pictured: preliminary poster iterations involving transparency and interactive overlays
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02_DISCOVERY
Pictured: collage with stenciling, early notes regarding possible compositions
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Pictured: more developed sketches involving poster installation methods, compositions and preliminary book design
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02_DISCOVERY
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Refinement How did you refine your work? How did you make decisions as you refined your idea? What criteria did you use to evaluate those decisions? Did you find your final refined idea to be the final iteration of your idea?
CONGREG8 congreg8 CONGREG8 CONGREG 8 CONGREG8 CONGREG8 Pictured: type studies
03_REFINEMENT
The refinement process was arguable the most time consuming due to the concept’s reliance on a spontaneous, not contrived appearance. Because spontaneity is highly unreliable, this translated to having to make very deliberate compositional drafts and decisions. These refinements dealt with scale shifts, negative space interactions, distribution of type, color, etc. I often worked with the three posters besides each other, constantly hyper-aware of how each worked besides each other given the fact that they were to always be presented in a structured series. Distribution and treatment of type happened to be one of the most integral studies done throughout the refinement process. I asked for feedback from faculty and peers regarding my dilemma of distributing type based on image composition (rather than keeping a constant “spine” of type throughout the triptych), and eventually came to the conclusion of moving around type but in a controlled manner. I also looked to others for advice on the “congregate” typeface because, by this point, it had morphed into a kind of branding for the series that consequently needed to be more heavily focused on. Once I began thinking of the “congregate” as a brand, I found it easier and generally more fun to tackle.
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In terms of refinement for the sticker book, much of it revolved around trying to navigate around and coordinate with what was possible when printing stickers. Because a blank background was required for the sticker pages, I iterated different page compositions to see which would most effectively incorporate this factor. Additionally, I felt as though a sticker book with only three stickers felt like it was lacking substance and, consequently, real purpose. This brought me to incorporating an “extras” page of stickers that I had either previously made for other poster ideas, or stickers that I felt belonged in the narrative at hand. However, because this conclusion was reached relatively late in the project, I wasn’t able to expand the sticker motif as much as I wanted to. Thus in the future I plan to refine the sticker book even further via the incorporation of more sticker-like imagery throughout more of the spreads.
IN SITU
PROCESS REFLECTION
Skateboard wheel, standard four inch diameter; Sk8 Liborius Structural details, including ribbed gothic ceiling and decorated columns; St. Liborius parish
Wooden crucifix and Donald Trump Halloween mask; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
CONGREG8 Catholic votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of Madonna and Christ; St. Liborius parish
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
CONGREG8 Stained glass window with rosette detail, exterior view; St Liborius parish
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Skateboard with standard 80 cm deck, 52 mm wheels; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
Rows of gothic pews; St. Liborius
Rows of traditional wooden pews; St. Liborius parish
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius
CONGREG8
Rows of gothic pews; St. Liborius
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius
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CON GRE G8
Catholic votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of Madonna and Christ; St. Liborius parish
Quarter pipe sporting ramp, decorated with graffiti iconography and type; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
Catholic votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of Madonna and Christ; St. Liborius parish
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
CONGREG8
CONGREG8 Catholic votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of Madonna and Christ; St. Liborius parish
Structural details, including ribbed gothic ceiling and decorated columns; St. Liborius parish
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
Collection of Catholic votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of the Virgin and Christ; St. Liborius parish
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
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Catholic votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of Madonna and Christ; St. Liborius parish
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
Wooden crucifix and Donald Trump Halloween mask; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
Stained glass window with rosette detail; St. Liborius
Skateboard wheel, standard four inch diameter; Sk8 Liborius
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Catholic votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of Madonna and Christ; St. Liborius parish
Pabit Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
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Pictured: sampling of poster series drafts, including exploration of typeface, sequence, and type/image relationships
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03_REFINEMENT
IN SITU
PROCESS REFLECTION
Pictured: early book drafts looking at contents page, inclusion of poster imagery, expansion of sticker motif, etc
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03_REFINEMENT
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Criticism What criticism did you receive from your peers and faculty about your project? Did you agree or disagree with it? What did you learn from criticism?
Votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of biblical figures; St. Liborius parish
Pabst Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
CONGREG8
1850 Hogan St, St. Louis, MO 63106
CONGREG8 Stained glass window with rosette detail, exterior view; St Liborius parish
Skateboard, scaled from 80 cm deck and 52 mm wheels; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
1850 Hogan St, St. Louis, MO 63106
CONGREG8
Structural details, including vaulted ceilings, molding, and columns; St. Liborius parish
Wooden crucifix and Donald Trump costume mask; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
Pictured: final poster series
1850 Hogan St, St. Louis, MO 63106
04_CRITICISM
The critique for this assignment was interesting and undeniably helpful. Overall, my peers and faculty responded well to my concept and how it was ultimately handled. However, very pertinent questions were raised and suggestions were made especially pertaining to the sticker book. The three points that stuck out the most included type choice, the sticker motif, and the use of context images. In terms of type choice, it was suggested that I use a “less perfect” face for by body copy. The posters and book both used Aktiv Grotesk, a face which I had prematurely decided on and thus hadn’t truly revisited throughout the final days of the project. Aktiv Grotesk is very clean and highly legible, and I had used this as justification especially for the posters and their need for legibility. But, this didn’t mean that the book also needed to be set in the same font. The sticker motif being used throughout the book was something I also believe should be taken further. The book lacks the active, “slapped on” feel of the posters, thus hindering its usefulness as a supplementary piece. My peers suggested applying the imagery more heavily throughout the details of the book to remove the book from the traditional hole it seems to be digging itself into, and I completely agree with this.
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Lastly, context images were something I struggled with incorporating mainly because the brief experiments I attempted were just that — brief. I do understand the validity of incorporating them, even if that be in a subtle texture or something of the like, and I hope to also explore this in later iterations.
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Votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of biblical figures; St. Liborius parish
Pabst Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can Liborius Social Club
CONGREG8
CON Stained glass window with rosette detail, exterior view; St Liborius parish
Skateboard, scaled from 80 cm deck and 52 mm wheels; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
1850 Hogan St, St. Louis, MO 63106
Pictured: final poster series, enlarged
04_CRITICISM
n; Sk8
CONGREG8
1850 Hogan St, St. Louis, MO 63106
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NGREG8
Structural details, including vaulted ceilings, molding, and columns; St. Liborius parish
Wooden crucifix and Donald Trump costume mask; Sk8 Liborius Social Club
1850 Hogan St, St. Louis, MO 63106
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PROCESS REFLECTION
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CONGRE G
ST. LOUIS HISTORY NOT ONLY NEEDS TO BE SALVAGED, BUT REVERED.
TWO ST. LOUIS SANCTUARIES, ONE COLLECTOR’S STICKER BOOK
Even if that means converting a vacant nineteenth century German gothic parish into a two-story skatepark.
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In a similar vein, the comparable cylindrical forms of the Catholic votive candles and beer can are brought into coexistence in the second image of the series.
The third and final comparison terminates the series through collaging of the original columnar features of the building, and the Club’s “reimagining” of an abandoned crucifix. The top leg of the massive structure, which sits in a pile of brick and other debris in the high altar of the parish, now acts as a display mechanism for a Donald Trump costume mask.
“8” set in Supercalrendon. The typeface was selected given its weight and overall presence that overtly mimics the numerals on the Pabst Blue Ribbon can.
peel me
Beyond this relatively shallow comparison, the two motifs physically inhabit the same space in the building today — on a splintered pew, with a few abandoned cigarette butts, in the far eastern corner of the first floor. Their basic purposes may or may not differ depending on one’s own interpretation, especially in regards to facilitating the vague “quest for salvation.”
Structural details, including vaulted ceilings, molding, and columns; Wooden crucifix and Donald Trump costume mask
The gesture was hastily assembled by frequenters yet manages to keenly comment on and encourage dialogue about modern politics, reverence and mockery. The poster consequently attempts to capture and perpetuate this unique and memorable detail.
“8” set in Times New Roman. The typeface was selected due to typesetting of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign collateral being in Times New Roman.
Pictured: final sticker book
peel me
Votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of biblical figures; Pabst Blue Ribbon 24 oz. beer can
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CONTEN
04_CRITICISM
01.
Stained glass window with rosette detail, exterior view; Skateboard, scaled from 80 cm deck and 52 mm wheels
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NTS
Decorative stained glass window with rosette detail, exterior view; Skateboard scaled to imitate an 80 cm deck, 52 mm wheels
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Collection of votive candles, depicting the pressumed likeness of biblical figures; Pabst Blue Ribbon 24oz. beer can
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Juxtaposed to highlight similarities in physical form, the window detail and skateboard wheel act as a fitting introductory composition for the poster series. In the incorporation of the circular motif, the two achieve a sense of implied motion and transition, motioning the viewer to eventually proceed to its counterparts. The former Catholic parish of St. Liborius, constructed in 1889 under the supervision of American-German visionary J. William Schickel, was transitioned into the Sk8 Liborius Social Club in the late 1990s. The monumental task was ensured in effort to reactivate the sanctuary for a brand new, contemporary audience. A team of inspired skateboarders, former City Museum fabricators, and motivated engineers worked together to reimagine, repurpose, and revive the site.
“8” set in Europa. The typeface was selected for its characters’ geometric quality and consistent weight, and thus the “8’s” similarity to the circular wheel form.
peel me
Structural details, including vaulted ceiling and decorated columns; Wooden crucifix and Donald Trump costume mask
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EXTRAS
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Hogan Street sign, location of Sk8 Liborius Social Club; the “Rad” Cardinal, colorized version of the Club’s pictorial logo and unofficial mascot; unclaimed helmet, currently located on second floor of the building; quarter pipe ramp, graffitied equiptment built on the first floor of the building
peel me
From top to bottom:
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