viscom 1 p r o c e s s
b o o k
concrete book The objective of this project is to understand the relationship between form and content. The challenge is to represent the content, the essence, of a book through its form.
the metamorphosis Kafka’s novel revolves around the theme of humanity, and how the forces of society can turn a person into a mere part of a bigger machine. The resulting design solution is composed of two parts: the physical shape of the book has turned into a machine while the content, which is the essence of the book, slowly disappears and becomes completely incomprehensible.
from l-r As one flips through the pages of the book, the reader discovers the story of the metamorphosis he Metamorphosis through the actual shape and transformation of the book.
process / sketches top lef t: Mind map to understand the different ideas and connections found in the book top right, bot tom lef t- right: Sketches of design solutions before actual manipulation of the book
process step 1: Prepare book and black gouache, then begin to paint pages - from words, to sentences, to full pages
2: After the pages are dry, begin shaping the book into a gear by using an x-acto knife
step
This design for the movie poster shows a grid system, the blueprint that society works within. And also found in the poster is a red point, which unlike the other points, does not work within the system’s limits.
The movie beasts of the southern wild revolves around Hushpuppy and the Bathtub community. When a huge storm hits their location, they are faced with a choice of either staying, or joining the rest of society.
beasts of the southern wild
The objective of this project is to develop a design process that produces original results. In addition, the theme and message of the movie must be communicated effectively with impact.
movie poster
process / sketches The first few sketches mainly revolve around the theme of unexpected change and transition which is a common experience for individual persons as well as societies.
signs in context The objective of this project is to insert an object or sign (in the semiotic sense) into a space to elicit a desired response from the people who encounter it, which is specifically targetted to the people living in the Pacific Northwest. Your goal is to make a statement through the simple use of context. Using the forms of viral campaigning or object art, or both, create a project that incorporates design with an environment. The space and form of the project is up to you but the final must be physically installed.
seattle freeze? The major barrier to break the issue of the Seattle Freeze is to bring awareness to the reality of it. With this, the objective of the project is to have people ask the question “Seattle Freeze.. what is it?� To address this, the design solution I came up with is to place a signage in a very public, yet unusual space. I particularly chose the unused building facing the main campus of Cornish College of the Arts to maximize its exposure.
process step 1: Print actual size of type to be used which will be used as a stencil
2: Cut out letters from corrugated board and wrap with using butcher paper for visibility purposes
step
step 3: Build the platform which can hold the letters and lights to make it visible from a distance
icon, index, symbol The objective of this project is to develop awareness of signs and visual systems. Three sets of signs (iconic, indexical, symbolic) are to be created, and then made into buttons.
final buttons The result of the project includes buttons with sushi icons, weather indicators, and multiple hand gestures.
sketches tl :
paper and pen sketches for symbolic hand gestures
tr : digital sketches for symbolic hand gestures bl : reference images for sushi icons br : reference images for weather indicators
process step 1: Design and create 18 1 1/â‚„" diameter circles with image within a 1" inner circle
2: Cut out using circular cutter
step
step 3: Use button maker
narrative The main objectives of this exercise are to: • Develop the ability to construct a narrative • Develop an understanding of sequential and film semiotics • Demonstrate the ability to be creative with supplied imagery
text and image The objective of this exercise is to change the meaning of a single photograph by adding 9 different captions. You may place the caption anywhere on the photo and use different fonts for each caption. The photograph must be cropped the same in all 9 explorations. Consider how the captions change the images.
We left our fridge open!
I miss mom.
W
Su
fal
What now?
upreme
ll/ win t e r 2 013
You’re waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away.
She had it coming, kids.. You know she had it coming..
postcards The objective of this project is to change the meanings of 6 related photographs just by adding text to the images.
critical look This project deals with a contemporary visual work and conduct an analysis of it. The main objectives of this project are to: • Observe / to watch carefully, especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment • Criticize / to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly; to evaluate • Comment / a note or observation intended to explain, illustrate, or criticize the meaning of writing, book, film, etc.
Dr. Marte
#st and fors ome t
ens
thin g
#standforsomething Dr. Marten’s #standforsomething web video definitely makes a statement, grabs its viewers’ emotions, and asks them to share the same sentiment and be involved with the brand’s movement.
print ad review The objective of this project is to develop awareness of signs, visual systems, and themes found in the usual print ads we see everyday.
reaction essays
On Susan Sontag’s On Photography
Whenever I’m walking, either for pleasure or as a means to get somewhere, I find myself always trying to figure out if there’s a good photograph I can take. That has always been my instinct ever since I owned my first digital point-and-shoot. Maybe even earlier, I can’t remember. “What’s the story? Does it even have one?” – these are the most basic questions I have in mind when I shoot with my camera. I had the idea that images and photography have something more to them, but I haven’t explored the whole concept until reading Sontag’s The Image World. The article has a rich discussion on what it means to take a photograph of a person, a place, or an event. Some of the discussions that I can remember clearly are the following: does photographing somehow reduces originality? Is it meant to strengthen the reality of something already existing? Or does it contribute to the consumption of things that ulitimately leads to their obsolescence? The reading can leave someone who loves photography feeling overwhelmed with the amount of responsibility given to the act of taking a single or multiple pictures. That’s how I initially felt after reading the chapter. I believe this is only one way of reacting to what Sontag have written. The other way, I believe, is to just be aware of the fact that photography is a form of communication that is open to an invididual’s own interpretation.
On Roland Barthes’ Myth Today
I was born in the year 1988, and by the time I began to gain better awareness of what’s happening around me, the world was becoming more and more a world surrounded by all kinds of media - from what we know as the traditional media (TV, radio, print) to the then emerging digital media (websites, web videos, blogs, social media). Having said that, and after reading Roland Barthes’ Myth Today. I cannot ignore the fact that the world as I know it was built and designed for me by other people. This undertanding somehow puts me in a position, within a system, that one cannot easily detach from, if that’s even possible. One of the few things that I can think of that’s left for me to do, is to continuously be reminded of my situation and be critical of how I perceive and read myths. In addition, having knowledge of the impact of myths on society (such as Barthes’ discussion on the impact of the word bourgeois on the French) leaves me with a sense of responsibility for how we communicate, use language, and name anything or anyone other than ourselves. I realized that as much as we feel that power was exercised on us by the society we grew up in, we have the same power and influence to the people who are born, or migrate, to our society. The above is most especially relevant to my current position – a student in the design and communications industry, who in the future will be given and take the responsibility of carefully conveying messages to a large audience (hopefully), building and designing myths for future generations.
On Umberto Oco’s Towards a Semiological Guerrilla Warfare
Communication was never easy for me - I’ve always had to say and explain things at least twice in order for us to understand each other. From Umberto Oco’s discussion and understanding of the concept of communication, I’ve come to think that this difficulty is uncommon, and is generally experienced by people and the bigger society. In addition to this realization, I found the solution that he thought of. which is more of a guerrilla approach, interesting. In a way, I can relate to this idea while being in the process of planning and designing a campaign that also aims to reach and involve the addressee. Based on my insight from Oco’s discussion, it makes sense that I, as the source, use another channel to explain my thoughts and ideas, which will help minimize the possibility of miscommunication. The main questions and challenges that Oco leaves me then are: Other than the guerrilla strategy that involve smaller groups and units, are there other ways, maybe non-guerrilla methods that solve the same problem of miscommunication? As graphic designers and communicators of this time, what are concrete steps that we can take to design a system that helps in communicating messages more accurately and effectively?
prepared by: miguel wylengco