eleventh quarter

Week 13 \ Reflection

It was the short 2 hours of this class every week that kept me engaged the most. I had a lot of my positive experiences and connection here as our class activities were the most relaxing, creative and collaborative. I’m so glad this class enabled me to research and learn about topics that interest me because it has kept the spark alive. I have struggled with creativity and vision immensely towards the last couple of weeks, but Karen has provided great feedback and advice and I pushed through.

Our lectures were engaging and I got into good rhythm with them: when I would watch them I could take notes on the subjects that interested me to research. Karen and Andy’s spirits are knowledgeable, engaging and wacky. The level of effort that has gone into the lectures has been appreciated and very helpful as I am a visual learning and struggle reading from documents.

My assignments have allowed me creative freedom and it’s been beneficial to me to learn more about my own interests. “Hello, my question is...” was fun and experimental and a good way to start of the course. At first I thought it would be a simple task until we couldn’t really go outside. Our new predicament actually shaped my question “Can art help me escape?”. I thought it was fitting. 

To be honest, I’ve really enjoyed this Tumblr assignment as I generally love reflecting (can you tell). I’m proud of my effort and consistency in doing this. I would say this is a tool that has helped me grow the most and I’m so glad I have this all documented so I can read it over.

This Zine has been my demise a great growth opportunity. Most times, creative direction will come to me as a gut feeling or idea. I have now learned what happens when you don't have a gut feeling. I am more proud of this Zine than anything else because I kept going through frustrated tears, 14 hour days and restless sleep to get it here. Even though I felt like it wasn’t going to be something I liked in the end - I genuinely do. I only wish we could have done this hands on in class, to be inspired by others.

I always have faith that I will pull through and I haven't let myself down.

Side Note: Learning about da Vinci has given me new life, and it’s strange I went so long without knowing much about him. I don’t need to apologise for being a perfectionist - some of that character came out in da Vinci’s answers. He helped me learn that it’s important for me to have an appreciation of art and science alike. Considering this, looking into parametric design had me reflect on my current situation at University and the decisions that lie ahead of me.

Everything is OK!

ZINE

 So begins a long and winding road. Here is the final development in pursuit of a ‘Ziney” Zine. The final spreads will be posted once it’s complete. 

After taking time to hand write out all my questions and answers, re-drawing the layout, playing around with images I am on the final day, trying to make sense of it all with finally, some sort of direction.

Feeling very lost, I constructed an email with the first two images asking for help. In response, Karen mentioned that cyber punk could be something to consider, as this was a good concept to run with. I spent the morning re-designing once again. We discussed it in class that day and I felt good about where this path was going and a very helpful piece of advice was to have a look at the 3D models people have made on Leonardo’s work. This has shaped the direction of my final work.

Above are some photos from me redrawing my layout with the idea of overlaying my hand written questions on top of the virtual imagery to separate the 2 worlds.

I then devised a plan. 

Da Vinci as determined, is trapped in a machine, but after talking to my boyfriend, I decided why not just run with that idea? So the interview will take place in code, on a computer. I then asked him to help me out with the technical language associated with Da Vinci being preserved in a USB awaiting being found, hence my name being in the command code. I like the idea of the language being technically correct in relation to the concept.

This is my development where from this concept onward, it’s still lacking a certain something as well as the final images to fill the space. I finally really like my concept now it feels like I have some form of creativity back.

I keep coming back looking for ideas in my Pinterest board how to add more depth to the images. Finally, I emailed Karen for advice and then I had a lunch break and watched a video on YouTube: How Animators Created the Spider-verse | WIRED

Watching this 13 minute video sparked my love for visuals and animation, reminded me that there are things that give me inspiration and gave me glimmering hope to finish off this project.

Week 12 / Lecture

We ran through our previous lectures with a quick recap of each week. I’m going to respond to the key parts of it in this mess of words:

“You already have everything you need to create your designs” - Andy

I take this metaphorically and I feel personally attacked (joking). I need to believe in myself and have the confidence that the decisions I make are considered and valid. That might be the lesson for me to learn this semester. I think this bugs me because I cannot figure out this Zine situation and I have no idea why. I’m waiting for something to present itself while racking my brain so maybe I should meditate and repeat these words in rhythm. 

Why I study design..? Why I design.

To learn as much as I can about communication and design; communication in design. To also bridge a gap between what I am good at and what more I can learn. I don’t believe I will stop here and I hope to get everything I possibly can out of being at RMIT, studying design, during a pandemic and beyond. This question is very useful for me to visit at this point of feeling stumped. 

“We need to celebrate design, and we need to make sure that all the voices are heard” - Karen

Week 12 \ Project Development

The plan at the beginning was to mimic the unfinished, unpublished vibe that he had going on with a messy sketchbook/handwriting feel. I imagined finding a font that would match this and incorporate images that went with the theme of the question, somehow blending them into the pages of the sketchbook. Backwards writing would feature on one question, as the whole book written backwards would be overkill. 

I wanted to include a painting he hadn’t finished: “The Adoration of the Magi”, as I ask if there were any paintings he regrets not finishing and that explains the imagery accompanying and shows his personality of being complacent.

I thought the front/back covers could look like a leather journal (similar to his own), or to incorporate backward handwriting with a serif typeface with big bold or colourful letters. At this point I had thought my questions would be in one font and his answers in another.

*It was at this stage in the development that I had doubt that I’m not having fun with it and my stunted creativity is not helping me*

The front cover can just have handwriting on a journal, it can scatter drawings of his on the pages etc or my design can mimic shapes of his drawings.

The Zine will be in a A3 page: making an A6,16 page Zine.

(Above) This was my first layout sketch of those ideas.

This was the first iteration that I got feedback for. Even though I was confident in choosing Da Vinci, also enjoying the research process and question answering, I have been quite stuck in how to convey his essence in a creative way. 

I made it apparent that this was rough. I was unsure and I didn’t like the boring sketchbook look that the beige colour gives. I slapped on some pink text because Da Vinci liked pink and this was meant to be a non accurate representation of what I wanted it to look like. I don’t often struggle with things as much as I have with this, and I think the online learning has something to do with it - losing inspiration, not being in a stimulating environment etc. 

Karen mentioned I could actually hand write the text to make it feel more authentic and I agreed, even though I bought a font that to me looked like a non stiff version of cursive. A class mates said I could even go the opposite way with the aesthetic and be bright and bold and modern. I also liked this note.

So, on to some more sketching I went...

It was at this stage that I decided I wanted to change to an A3 page: making an A5, 8 page Zine. I felt like what I’m trying to portray gets to busy and I was just trying to fill the pages rather than deciding how many pages I needed to convey my message.

These is my latest sketches on a new design, I’m imagining adding vector drawing versions of a couple of Da Vinci’s known works and making it look like a blend of old sketches a technology. 

I have hand drawn all the text elements and scanned them in, so I now need to do some drawings in illustrator and try to think of how to blend the new and old together. I will also have to decide on a typeface and colours to make this work. I still need to do some research on exactly what look I want to achieve.

Week 11 \ Lecture: exploration

Talking about parametric and generative design has me thinking about my future jobs and the things I ought to (and want to) be learning. I could understand the use of generative design and think the things produced in this method is really cool but I need to know more about it. 

A site that helped me best to understand the concept of parametric design (mostly in industrial design), was from a design studio Robazzo. Pictured is The Nobu Light designed by Robazzo. This light is so pleasing and makes me feel really relaxed. 

This quote from the page gave me insight as to why we would adopt this kind of design and the benefits of it. 

“With computational design, we can explore so many creative possibilities—without exhausting resources.”

Parametric design can be used in so many fields: architecture, art, clothing, even jewellery! (pictured below). I recognise that it will be an integral part of the future of design and I am keen to learn more about it and how to use it in my time at RMIT.

This topic also brings me back to someone I quite admire: Neri Oxman. 

It’s funny because in this weeks Image and Identity specialist class: Image Media, Neri and the MIT Media Lab were mentioned as well which delightfully reminded me of her. I first came across Neri when watching the Netflix series “Abstract” and was instantly amazed by her, her knowledge and projects. 

The aspect of bio-architecture and striving for a more sustainable approach to living as human beings was what I am interested in. Neri is so intelligent and her passion for designing using principles of nature is what makes me admire her so much. She uses computational design and digital fabrication and applies it across disciplines: architecture, fashion and product design. She started off breaking the mould and I respect that she has the determination and passion to create such a change and pioneer “Material Ecology”. I intend to do more learning about what she has done/ is doing to give me direction on my own path.

Material Ecology: Considers computation, fabrication, and the material itself as inseparable dimensions of design. Products and buildings are biologically informed and digitally engineered by, with and for, Nature.

Included are examples of her using applied parametric design.

(Above) Wearable Structures for Interplanetary Voyages: Al-Qamar

(Above) Aguahoja I: MIT Media Lab

(Above) Glass printed sculpture by MIT Media Lab

The realisation that there is a whole world dedicated to generative/parametric/computational design, with people like Neri trying to connect it to nature to benefit the world has lit a fire in me, perhaps one that will guide me to my own career. I can connect this to my Image and Identity project on sustainable fashion and what I’ve learnt researching that, where the fashion industry is the fasting growing category of waste and second to the oil industry in pollution. There is a gold mine here that I want to explore now. 

Week 11 \ Class Activity \ InDesign

Sketchbook: A short story.

Since Da Vinci wrote backwards in his journals, I wanted to incorporate this into one of my questions. I figured I would only include it in one questions as it would be overkill to do it all that way. I also have to make sure the back side of the page I put it on has the negative space required to read it. 

Week 11 \ Lecture

Quoted from Andy. 

I thought I would add a picture to go with it as the saying made me giggle and I could just image it being belted out by grandpa Simpson.

Week 11 \ Lecture

This week’s lecture talked about the future of design and the use of machines/machine learning in art and design. This conversation is interesting to me because I know nothing about it - and I think that should change. My ears pricked when Karen mentioned the elective I can take next year: Visualising Data Through Art.

(Above) Screenshot from the lecture presentation.

The idea that a computer can generate a string of words that are considered ‘inspiring’ is crazy to me. I had my mouth wide open when “This Person Does Not Exist” project came on screen. I visited the website and had a look. As someone who paints realism portraits, this blew my mind for some reason... A machine can generate something that looks like a child with smooth skin and have consistency in that aesthetic and then generate a person that is old with wrinkles. All I can say is: ?????

I laughed along with Karen when the Inspirobot punched out this Goldie. It’s a reminder to be humble?

(Above) Screenshot from the lecture presentation. *Awful resolution included*

This topic made me think about my interviewee: Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci was very aware that science and art coexist and intertwine. I think parametric design is my missing link to my project that I’ve felt lack of direction for days weeks. I can imagine that if Da Vinci were alive now, he would be creating crazy glass sculptures in MIT media lab with Neri Oxman or testing Elon Musk’s Tesla’s on the track and doing crazy things himself. But, I will review my thoughts on my research on Da Vinci in a final reflection. 

“Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses- especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” - Leonardo Da Vinci

Week 10 \ Class Activity \ Zine Templates

Top Left: Trimmed A6 16 page zine Top Right: A6 16 page zine template

Middle: A6 16 page zine template: open

Bottom Left: Drawing on double pages: after trim Bottom Middle: Drawing on double pages template: unfolded Bottom Right:  Drawing on double pages: after trim

Class today was about getting used to folding and using templates when considering making zines or books. Karen walked us through numbering the pages, had us draw pictures in the enclosed pages to see what would happen and then trim the borders to mimic what would happen to our pages when printed. This process helped me to understand how I would go about making a zine and the key parts of the process for example: ensuring the content will fit within the border once the paper is trimmed, even avoiding complications when placing images on double page spreads when they aren’t a centerfold. 

It was great to actually make something as it’s been a while sitting in front of the computer screen. I’m just regretful that we haven’t been able to actually print them ourselves. To be honest, I think it’s making this process a bit difficult for me. I love learning new things and being tech savvy and creating sleek things on the computer, but I’m a maker at heart and I’m really suffering from missing out on that environment. Nonetheless, I am grateful for everything we’re learning and the continued encouragement and positivity from our teachers.

My plan of attack:

I want to bring through an ethereal quality in the responses from Da Vinci since he is a huge part of culture and history and people consider him genius with insight we could not achieve. I tried to steer toward questions that would evoke something else from him, like his philosophical personality. I aimed to use some of the most appropriate and sophisticated vocabulary I could pull out of me and use quotes from him to contribute to his answers. I definitely had fun with this.

The aim was to loosely target 5 separate professions he’s known for and accompany them with relative images. I had imagined the sequence of the questions and images would mimic the transition between professions of his lifetime. This is not an easy task - one I may not achieve effectively - because he often jumped back and forth between professions. Taking this into consideration, I might just arrange the content in a way I find the most visually appealing and practical.

I don’t want these questions and answers to be stale as I’m conscious of portraying Da Vinci in a tired and used way. 

Without further ado, here are the questions and answers:

Invention: Why did you write backwards? *written backwards*

“Wherever good fortune enters, envy lays siege to the place and attacks it.” People can be jealous, malicious and they will do what they can to destroy you if you give them a reason to. Talent and intellect seem to be that reason.

Anatomy: Why didn’t you publish any books on your research?

I faced public hanging if I was convicted of a crime I did not commit. I could be shamed and hanged, convicted of something that I did commit. The world will find my work if it needs it. All good things take time and in due time, the world will make good of my research. It’s best for me to dedicate as much time into research rather than waste time on publishing.

Painting: Is there a painting you regret not finishing?

Painting will always be my love, but she alone will never give me satisfaction. An Artist’s work is never finished, a painting is never finished, only abandoned. Regret is not a word I admire. If I had two lifetimes, I would not spend my time finishing paintings if it did not please me to finish it in one.

Philosophy: Do you enjoy being a perfectionist?

Perfectionism makes my life interesting. If I were not a perfectionist would the world be much different today? Being a perfectionist makes me exactly who I am, is that detrimental to the world and is that affecting you? “Why does the eye see a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination when awake?”

What is your final inquisition?

Engineering: Did you expect the modern world to invent using so much of your ideas?

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” It has only been a matter of time for man to fly and to fall gracefully and to move in fast motion and be halted to a stop. My work was to wait until man decided he was ready to use it. There was no reason to conclude or to publish or to finish in my time because that is for you to do. I utilised my years to create and theorise and to research and to sketch more than 15, 000 times so you can achieve answers. Are these answers what you had hoped for?

Extra: What do you think about the teenage mutant ninja turtles? (for laughs for me)

The future is exactly what I expected it to be, however it remains a pleasant surprise. I do not care for parts of the future that do not recognise its past, and the past dictates that Michelangelo should not be a crime fighting turtle, hardly a rat in a sewerage system.