SELF 足PORTRAITS D|MA Senior Show Preparation, Part I Tiffany pan WINtER QUARTER, 2009 Adviser: W.H. LUCAS
WRITING A MISSION STATEMENT Our first idea step was to determine what the goals were for our senior show. Because this year’s would be only the second time in a long time that D|MA organized a senior exhibition, we had several questions to answer. Did we want it to be a portfolio display? A professional debut? A chance to make new work? A celebration of the past four years or a preview of whatever it is to come? In the end, we answered with some combination of the three.
UCLA D|MA Senior Exhibition 2009 Mission Statement The senior show is a chance to showcase how far we’ve come. Our goals for this year are to: 1. Put on a show that thoroughly represents us and our best work to friends, family, the department, the school, the rest of the outside world. 2. Celebrate completion of a degree from one of UCLA’s most unique departments. 3. Establish the show as an incentive for underclassmen to work hard for and look forward to.
CHOOSING A CONCEPT The next step was deciding on a theme. After a couple meetings, we came up with several possibilities; Henri recommended we narrow it down to two main contenders:
1. Senior (Self) Portraits: One of the first and only requirements for admission into this program is a self-portrait in any medium. Upon leaving, it’s safe to say that our experiences have changed how we choose to interpret this assignment now. In the meantime, we’ve put on many hats; we’ve experimented with multiple media and explored many influences. Because any work is inherently a representation of who we are, this is an invitation to revisit everything that we’ve done, who we were, and what that has become now. How might we use the openended nature of the prompt to reflect and refract the expansion of our selves and how we see our work? This could be anything from a painting, a video, a processing piece, a collection of all the toilet paper rolls you’ve amassed over your undergraduate career, to a song you wrote, a font you designed, a re-enactment of dinner with four friends, anything that’s at least a little bit of you.
2. re(view): We inspire and challenge each other directly or indirectly, thus our work is never created in vacuum. Yet we tend to create our work in isolation and the only time for review comes at the final stages of class, during the critique. This is an opportunity to incorporate peer review and collaboration from the very beginning. The process will be 1.) Contribute a piece of work already done. 2) Swap works with another student. 3) Create new work inspired or derived from the work you’ve received. This will be a chance to do any combination of the following:
re(visit) re(fine) re(ply) re(apply) re(mix) re(present) etc.
re(work) re(vise) re(act) re(fresh) re(connect) re(trace)
ORGANIZING OUR FIRST TOWN HALL MEETING Ideas in hand, the next step was organizing a townhall meeting to vote on our final theme.
senior show
TOWN HALL MEETING 1 pm | thursday, jan. 15 EDA
come, speak, vote!
A flier I designed to advertise our first townhall meeting.
The masses (maybe ten of us, in actuality) had spoken, and because the re(view) concept required much more coordination and interdependency, we opted for the first idea. Those who were so inclined to work with others were absolutely free to do so.
A FIRST STAB AT A LOGO Armed with a mission statement and a theme, we embarked on creating a visual identity.
The idea behind this was to communicate the breadth of our self-reflections. As any work can be seen as a self-portrait, we wanted to use the multipurpose “photo corners� as brackets for our pieces, be they posters, programs, sculptures, sounds. This, combined with an imperfect/unique aesthetic gave us at least something to work with for the rest of our materials.
INVITATIONS TO APPLY Laurel and I worked on an application to invite each senior personally to submit to the show as well as to notify them of all of the deadlines.
Objective The senior show is a chance to showcase how far we’ve come. Our goals for this year are to: 1. Put on a show that thoroughly represents us and our best work to friends, family, the department, the school, the rest of the outside world. 2. Celebrate completion of a degree from one of UCLA’s most unique departments. 3. Establish the show as an incentive for underclassmen to work hard for and look forward to.
Events
So you want to meet some people in the biz? A spring mixer is tentatively planned for May. Industry professionals from Los Angeles will come out for an informal party. Bring your business cards and a portfolio. (We will need your help to bring designers, teachers, your bosses and other students to this event. More info coming soon)
name
Volunteering
website
To be a part of the show, you must volunteer for shifts. Scheduling will be sent out by May 4th to plan for both the install and de-install of the show. Everyone will need to be present the weekend after graduation so plan accordingly.
contact info medium
bio
Budget
We have a tiny, miniscule budget. To print the annual class yearbook, we will be asking for a small donation from each senior who would like to be included.
project proposal (please include a CD of your work)
Web Presence
A web site is currently under-construction. The main page will feature animated GIFS of our beautiful faces which will link to our individual process blogs. This blog will act as a process book. Post links, inspiration, photos of you working and keep everyone updated on your progress. The main site will be devoted to the promotion of the opening night and the exhibition. It will feature the final pieces and photos of the space. (If you can help develop this blog, please talk to Mary)
working title
Advertising
supplies/materials/funding
Promotional materials must be completed 2 months before the show. This allows for time to mail out postcards and posters to all the really cool industry people who are dying to see our work. Thus, the deadline for submitting final work is firm. We need to put photos of completed projects into this promotion. In addition to the standard postcard mail-outs, a folded poster on newsprint will also act as a exhibition booklet (once folded and stapled). Each senior should be involved in their own guerilla marketing--sell yourself, your work and your department.
senior show
TOWN HALL MEETING
Creative Resources
Typography Ilovetypography.com Web Design subtraction.com indexhibit.org Design dezeen.com conga.html jonsonbanks.co.uk grainedit.com eyemagazine.com design observer.com gigposters.com
1 pm | thursday, jan. 15 EDA
Random szymon.tumblr.com itsnicethat.com thoughtbucket.tumblr.com fffffound.com buamai.com spacecollective.org strangemaps.wordpress.com ted.org creativesynthesis.net
Next Steps
come, speak, vote!
1. Cut off this application and fill it out. Tape the two sides of the application for an instant CD pocket.
2. Place this card on your desk as a reminder of deadlines and to access our contact info.
it’s business time
Please include your busines card.
A tabloid-size brochure that folded out to include all the necessary information. Theme:
Deadlines
One of the first and only requirements for admission into this program is a self-portrait in any medium. Upon leaving, it’s safe to say that our experiences have changed how we choose to interpret this assignment now.
March 4th: Proposal due
In the meantime, we’ve put on many hats; we’ve experimented with multiple media and explored many influences. Because any work is inherently a representation of who we are, this is an invitation to revisit everything that we’ve done, who we were, and what that has become now. How might we use the open-ended nature of the prompt to reflect and refract the expansion of our selves and how we see our work?
Submit April 4th: Checkpoint party
May 4th: Final work due
June 4th: Opening
Contact Info
June 14th: De-install
Are you convinced yet? I know you have ideas in the works but we need to see it on paper. So fill out this application, include a CD of your work so far, and get cracking.
Let Loose
Laurel Bybee: l.e.bybee@gmail.com
(310) 975-9270
Tiffany Pan: tiffanypan@gmail.com Mary Huang: purpleclouds001@gmail.com
(408) 480-6082
(858) 776-0357
This could be anything from a painting, a video, a processing piece, a collection of all the toilet paper rolls you’ve amassed over your undergraduate career, to a song you wrote, a font you designed, a re-enactment of dinner with four friends, anything that’s at least a little bit of you. Application Deadline:
March 4th 2009 @ noon
Reasons to Participate create a new self portrait. make a statement. make your parents proud. collaborate with seniors. meet industry professionals. get a job.
REMINDERS TO SUBMIT As March 4 was fast approaching, I designed some posters in order to remind seniors to turn in their application packets. Here are a couple variations:
seniors:
SUBMIT
seniors:
PROPOSE BY
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 4
MARCH 4 2009 D|MA Senior Exhibition: Self Portraits. June 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Bybee (l.e.bybee@gmail.com), Tiffany Pan (tpan1090@ucla.edu), Aidan McDermott (mcdermott.aidan@gmail.com) or Mary Huang (azuresky2005@yahoo.com).
SO close, and yet so far.
submiT youR IngEniouS proposals by March
2009 D|MA Senior Exhibition: Self Portraits. June 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Bybee (l.e.bybee@gmail.com), Tiffany Pan (tpan1090@ucla.edu), Aidan McDermott (mcdermott.aidan@gmail.com) or Mary Huang (azuresky2005@yahoo.com).
submit submit submit submit submit submit 2009 D|MA Senior Exhibition: Self Portraits. June 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Bybee (l.e.bybee@gmail.com), Tiffany Pan (tpan1090@ucla.edu), Aidan McDermott (mcdermott.aidan@gmail.com) or Mary Huang (azuresky2005@yahoo.com).
REMINDERS TO SUBMIT And here are the four that actually went up:
?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! !?!?!O?!?!?!?!?O?!? ?!?!?!?!?!O?!?!?!?!?! !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? ?!? !?! !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? 2009 D|MA Senior Exhibition: Self Portraits. June 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Bybee (l.e.bybee@gmail.com), Tiffany Pan (tpan1090@ucla.edu), Aidan McDermott (mcdermott.aidan@gmail.com) or Mary Huang (azuresky2005@yahoo.com).
SENIORS: submiT youR Proposals by March 4th.
SO FAR, AND YET SO CLOSE
2009 D|MA Senior Exhibition: Self Portraits. June 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Bybee (l.e.bybee@gmail.com), Tiffany Pan (tpan1090@ucla.edu), Aidan McDermott (mcdermott.aidan@gmail.com) or Mary Huang (azuresky2005@yahoo.com).
SENIORS: submiT youR Proposals by March 4th.
A flier I designed to advertise our first townhall meeting.
come, come, All YE Listless & YE LazY:
SLEEP, SUBMIT.
Finally our END is Nearing. submiT youR IngEniouS proposals by March 4th.
2009 D|MA Senior Exhibition: Self Portraits. June 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Bybee (l.e.bybee@gmail.com), Tiffany Pan (tpan1090@ucla.edu), Aidan McDermott (mcdermott.aidan@gmail.com) or Mary Huang (azuresky2005@yahoo.com).
SENIORS: submiT youR Proposals by March 4th.
2009 D|MA Senior Exhibition: Self Portraits. June 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Bybee (l.e.bybee@gmail.com), Tiffany Pan (tpan1090@ucla.edu), Aidan McDermott (mcdermott.aidan@gmail.com) or Mary Huang (azuresky2005@yahoo.com).
RETHINKING AN IDENTITY Up to this point, the paucity of our printed material and advertising didn’t demand too much beyond a flier here and there. However, as everything else was coming together, I found it more and more important that we had a coherent and striking visual identity beyond just photo corners. Here are my first efforts for a poster/postcard advertising the show:
SELF PORTRAITS:
SELF PORTRAITS:
UCLA D|MA Senior Exhibition June 9- 15, 2009 5:30 pm
UCLA D|MA Senior Exhibition June 9- 15, 2009 5:30 pm
SELF P ORTRAITS
SENIOR SHOW JUNE 9 SELF PORTRAITS:
SELF PORTRAITS:
UCLA D|MA Senior Exhibition June 9- 15, 2009 EDA
UCLA D|MA Senior Exhibition June 9- 15, 2009 EDA
Here, seniors’ faces are cropped and reassembled to create a single face. I imagine this could be a pad of four posters, and each time somebody rips off one of the quadrants, an entirely new poster is made. If the budget allows for it, I can see us folding these posters into postcards to send out as well.
WHAT’S NEXT: As of the end of the quarter, we’ve received about 25 applications from the senior class. Over break we’ll be going over these applications and portfolios and refining this new visual identity. Printing materials should hopefully be up at the beginning of spring quarter, and we’ll continue looking for funding and launching into the administrative side of things as soon as we can.