#open studio

Open Studio, 2021

WHAT I FORGOT TO TELL YOU About Art at the Source this weekend…. It’s been a hard year… So hard that I totally spaced doing any outreach to all you folks who signed up for newsletters! (screaming emoji face here….) A lot of (non-fatal) health issues continue, a major marriage hiccup with my long-term relationship for a year now, issues with longtime apps going broke/being discontinued on my…

During the school's Open Studio event, I viewed the works of graduating students, and two pieces stood out to me.

The first piece was impressive for its use of mother-of-pearl. The shimmering, iridescent surface created a strong contrast with the dark background, giving the design a tactile and material-driven quality. I found it interesting how traditional Asian lacquer craftsmanship was translated into a contemporary branding system. The material reflects ideas of time, patience, and layering, which connect to the concept of “slowness.” This made me realise that strong branding is not only visual, but also conceptual and meaningful.

The second piece stood out for its integration of packaging and experience design. As someone interested in packaging, I was drawn to how the box functioned as part of a workshop kit that encourages participation. The project extends beyond visual design by creating a complete system that includes branding, instructional materials, and user interaction. It also communicates a meaningful concept through crochet and activism.

From a critical thinking perspective, this experience helped me move beyond simply appreciating aesthetics to analysing the intentions behind each project. I began to consider how materials, systems, and interactions contribute to meaning and engagement.