How does collaboration create communities in art and design? What challenges do collaborative approaches face and what are some of the solutions?

As our world becomes more increasingly networked, collaborations have become countless in possibilities and the formation of communities could not be more complex.

My artwork, DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COLLABORATE? (2018) is a continuation of my Assessment 1 poster, 5 Communities. Find them. (2018) in the sense of extending and transforming my game-poster into an actual online platform game.

In reference to Assessment 1, I explored the topic of ‘Collaboration and Community’ and concentrated more on the “How does collaboration create communities in art and design?” aspect of the research topic. However, for this Assessment 2, I wanted to take the approach of addressing all features of the topic, but through a fun, humourous and stimulating way. 

As mentioned, my artwork takes the form of an online platform game that invites viewers to play the game in order to determine whether or not they possess the capabilities to successfully collaborate. Communities are created based on commonalities, in this case, of those who are deemed collaboration-worthy; those who are deemed collaboration-unworthy; and shared responses - whether positive or negative - regarding the experience of the game. 

In terms of inspiration, I was influenced by Agatha Gothe-Snape’s Every Artist Remembered (2009), Feng Mengbo’s Long March: Restart (2008) and Grayson Earle’s Ai Wei Whoops! (2014). Specifically, through the concepts of incorporating the audience as “collaborators” in my work in that they provide value through playing the game, interacting with the content and reacting to the experience. In addition, using a game as a universal medium that is interactive and effective in communicating my ideas to the audience. 

In playing the game, responders are confronted and intrigued by the “DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COLLABORATE? CLICK HERE TO PLAY” start screen. Players who succeed the game are navigated to “CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COLLABORATE”, and players who do not are directed to “SORRY! YOU DO NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COLLABORATE”. 

My game is a metaphor for collaborations whereby each level is a depiction of a collaborating situation. Entering the game, players - the “collaborators” - are confronted with the obstacles of an “enemy” and sharp spikes that are symbolic of “challenges” one may face when collaborating. Referring back to my survey research from Assessment 1, these “challenges” could encompass “Conflicting ideas”; “Different working styles; “Lazy members” or a “Stubborn team member”. The process of overcoming these “challenges” and collecting all four stars to unlock the door is indicative of one trying their best to figure out a “solution”, in turn, leading to success in their collaboration. Once again, referring back to Assessment 1, “solutions” could include “Communicating and discussing all possibilities-what’s good what’s not”; “Compromise! The best ideas work when people are less concerned about their own advancement and geared towards a successful collaboration”; or doing “Nothing”, and thus, failing the game. 

In terms of design elements, I paid close attention to symbolism. Such that, the player avatar is depicted as a green character to illustrate one’s growth to overcome obstacles to succeed. The sharp spikes and the red-coloured enemy are indicative of aggression, or a challenge. The orange platforms represent the enthusiasm, determination and stimulation to attain the stars, or in other words, collaborators making an effort to “unlock the door” and succeed. The background resembles a “bumpy road” as all collaborations have obstacles, and it is dependent on the collaborators on whether it should remain that way. Instead of the archetypal 3 lives for a game, I wanted to be realistic and incorporated one life, but a life that restarts in each level as a new collaboration situation arises. Finally, the audios are a complementary means and an amusing addition to my artwork. 

The overarching idea of my game is that collaborations are journeys that do not always run smoothly, but if everyone is open-minded and willing to try their best, collaborations can be successful and result in beneficial outcomes for everyone.

Overall, my artwork, DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COLLABORATE? (2018) purposes to subtly engage the audience with this topic of ‘Collaboration and Community’ in an interactive and provocative way. 

Who doesn’t love a game?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ARTWORKS

Agatha Gothe-Snape ‘Every Artist Remembered’, 2009

https://thecommercialgallery.com/artist/agatha-gothe-snape/exhibition/95/every-artist-remembered-2

Feng Mengbo ‘Long March: Restart’, 2008

http://momaps1.org/exhibitions/view/320

http://artasiapacific.com/Magazine/WebExclusives/LongMarchRestartFengMengbo

Grayson Earle ‘Ai Wei Whoops!’, 2014

http://graysonearle.com/ai-wei-whoops/

https://hyperallergic.com/127785/online-game-lets-you-smash-ai-weiwei-vases/

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/online-game-lets-you-smash-ai-weiweis-urns-25797

SPRITES

GameDev ‘Health Bar PNG’, 2016

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2hYAAR2UyxSY3VJeG9pSDNFSUk/view

‘Door PNG’, 2016

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2hYAAR2UyxSNWl6ZGZYTHdOOTg/view

‘Sprite’, 2016 [stars]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2hYAAR2UyxSb2JJSGZrbXR6SFU/view

AUDIOS

Fins ‘Jumping’, 2012

https://freesound.org/people/fins/sounds/172205/

Mattix ‘8BIT_COIN_02’, 2017 [stars]

https://freesound.org/people/Mattix/sounds/402288/

BenjaminNelan ‘Open Door #2’, 2015

https://freesound.org/people/BenjaminNelan/sounds/321085/

EFlexTheSoundDesigner ‘Bodyfall (Mixed)’, 2017 [death]

https://freesound.org/people/EFlexTheSoundDesigner/sounds/372224/

myfox14 ‘Game Over Arcade’, 2017