Our word was Compress
We did not display the use of this word in the letters themselves, the letters were too big to be put together in an way that would display the word. Instead we had to decide on how to display our word using the location only.
Our word means to squeeze, to flatten, to mesh together into one form that is smaller than before.
We chose the stacks in the Watson library, the stacks are these tiny stairs that leads into the crowded archives of the library in the back section of the third floor. The stairs are only wide enough for one person at a time and when that person climbs up they are being compressed between the railing as they make their way in either direction.
We decided to place our letters into the stacks to take advantage of the literal sense of the definition. It was the easiest and most likely solution sure, but it was the only place safe for our letters that we could leave unguarded for a period of time. We decided to make the definition literally visible by using a place that would be able to show what compress means without us having to explain.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Photography essay
The essay basically came down to one point: People enjoy to see symmetry and patterns.
Life is full of patterns from color to shades to different ways that shapes come together to form a bigger and better shape. Everything is a pattern, and humans have the inane ability to see and display these natural patterns. Photography is a tool that can be used to bring these patterns to life, photos display something that can be shown without relying on words or descriptions.
Photos are more subtle than movies or diagrams or drawings, the message is hidden and must be found by the viewer rather than just be directly told. I am not a photo major, therefore I lack the ability to display what photos can show.
However I can show messages and patterns through my drawings which are a type of photo on their own. However they are designed by my hand rather than using a viewing tool like a camera. Both forms of photography can display different themes and tones depending on how you manipulate the photo. Its a delicate balance that can sometimes tip out of your favor if the angle is not just right or if there is too much color in one place.
Life is full of patterns from color to shades to different ways that shapes come together to form a bigger and better shape. Everything is a pattern, and humans have the inane ability to see and display these natural patterns. Photography is a tool that can be used to bring these patterns to life, photos display something that can be shown without relying on words or descriptions.
Photos are more subtle than movies or diagrams or drawings, the message is hidden and must be found by the viewer rather than just be directly told. I am not a photo major, therefore I lack the ability to display what photos can show.
However I can show messages and patterns through my drawings which are a type of photo on their own. However they are designed by my hand rather than using a viewing tool like a camera. Both forms of photography can display different themes and tones depending on how you manipulate the photo. Its a delicate balance that can sometimes tip out of your favor if the angle is not just right or if there is too much color in one place.
Team dynamics
As a group we did not face as many difficulties as I did with my last group, the four members of the group including me divided up the funds for the supplies and crafts evenly. We also managed to work out meeting times and divided up the tasks for the project evenly without much difficulty.
However when it came to deciding when to meet and where wasn't easy even though we managed to come to an agreement. Most of us had conflicting classtimes, and I did not have a ride so I could not meet my team at night when it is dangerous to walk out in the dark. We were also a little behind the rest of the groups, we didn't spend even amount of times on the workdays doing everything at the same time. Rather we focused on one task at a time until the end, meaning we were struggling a little with time management and how we were going to complete the building the letters process.
As an individual I did not have many issues with this project, at this point I am pretty used to the class so I can manage my stress and time management pretty well. I still tend to miss some things in my process books especially when it comes to photos. But that is either because I threw away those parts because I didn't think they were essential or I didn't bother to put it in the book in order to save money since I don't have enough to print everything. Another issue is again the fact that I cant get a ride after five so I was rather adamant in not working late at night then walking back in the dark and cold to my dorms on the other side of campus.
However we managed to get our letters done in time without too much argument and since our word is really simple and easy it should be easy enough to place where we want to when it comes to touring the campus
However when it came to deciding when to meet and where wasn't easy even though we managed to come to an agreement. Most of us had conflicting classtimes, and I did not have a ride so I could not meet my team at night when it is dangerous to walk out in the dark. We were also a little behind the rest of the groups, we didn't spend even amount of times on the workdays doing everything at the same time. Rather we focused on one task at a time until the end, meaning we were struggling a little with time management and how we were going to complete the building the letters process.
As an individual I did not have many issues with this project, at this point I am pretty used to the class so I can manage my stress and time management pretty well. I still tend to miss some things in my process books especially when it comes to photos. But that is either because I threw away those parts because I didn't think they were essential or I didn't bother to put it in the book in order to save money since I don't have enough to print everything. Another issue is again the fact that I cant get a ride after five so I was rather adamant in not working late at night then walking back in the dark and cold to my dorms on the other side of campus.
However we managed to get our letters done in time without too much argument and since our word is really simple and easy it should be easy enough to place where we want to when it comes to touring the campus
Different parts of the project
What did I learn about the project? I learned that the parts of a letter and of a word are more numerous than what meets the eye. That typography takes as much study to perfect as does photography, drawing or even painting. I have learned to appreciate those who design logos and manipulates the letters to define a word without using anything besides what is provided. All art takes effort and time to create something wonderful, and that includes typography.
Difficulties: Well the main difficulty that I faced was manipulating the cardboard into a viable shape for a letter. Measuring and cutting took too much time and our shapes were not as accurate as we wanted them to be. We had to make a lot of shortcuts to get the letters to be uniform in size. Also the pathfinder in Illustrator never really worked for me, that was a difficulty because I could not figure out what to do without relying on my teachers for help.
Solutions: Well we decided to use a lot of recycled cardboard for our letters that way it wouldn't cost as much. We used the cheap cardboard for the mini models, and then the better cardboard was used for the giant letters. I never really figured out how to use pathfinder correctly so I had to improvise when it came to my compositions. Unfortunately that means the pathfinder exercises are missing in this process book.
Difficulties: Well the main difficulty that I faced was manipulating the cardboard into a viable shape for a letter. Measuring and cutting took too much time and our shapes were not as accurate as we wanted them to be. We had to make a lot of shortcuts to get the letters to be uniform in size. Also the pathfinder in Illustrator never really worked for me, that was a difficulty because I could not figure out what to do without relying on my teachers for help.
Solutions: Well we decided to use a lot of recycled cardboard for our letters that way it wouldn't cost as much. We used the cheap cardboard for the mini models, and then the better cardboard was used for the giant letters. I never really figured out how to use pathfinder correctly so I had to improvise when it came to my compositions. Unfortunately that means the pathfinder exercises are missing in this process book.
Project description
We are exploring language in this project, we were assigned two words one individual word and a word that our group would work on.
The individual word had to be conceptualized and created on illustrator, taking advantage of the pathfinder tools to create compositions that embody the chosen word without actually spelling it out for the viewer.
The group project was to create giant cardboard letters that would spell out the word. Then we would need to put those letters somewhere around campus, and use the location and the letters only to define the word that was chosen without giving any other visual clues.
The aim was to use individual creativity and group effort to define language through the letters only, to learn the fundamental basics of typography and to create a definition for the word using only limited visual help through location and the given materials.
The individual word had to be conceptualized and created on illustrator, taking advantage of the pathfinder tools to create compositions that embody the chosen word without actually spelling it out for the viewer.
The group project was to create giant cardboard letters that would spell out the word. Then we would need to put those letters somewhere around campus, and use the location and the letters only to define the word that was chosen without giving any other visual clues.
The aim was to use individual creativity and group effort to define language through the letters only, to learn the fundamental basics of typography and to create a definition for the word using only limited visual help through location and the given materials.
Parts of a letter
When I first started this project I was aware that we would need to define the word using only the letters that were in the word. we could not use any drawings or any sort of outer imagery to make the word more apparent. I did not know that it would be more challenging than I first thought.
I thought that the challenge came from defining the word itself, but further challenge is imposed upon us when we take typography into consideration. We have to manipulate the letters to define the entire word, because letters in themselves each possess a definition. My word is compress, that word is easy enough. But manipulating each letter to fit that word is where the true difficulty lies.
Having to learn the definitions and the anatomy of each letter is more about memorization and purpose. Its kind of like drawing, each art form has its own terms and uses, but I did not believe that typography could be as hard truthfully.
Now I can appreciate all the hard work that typographists have to put into designing logos and words, it takes a lot of time and consideration into deciding what is both pleasing and what is acceptable in the way the word is used. All art is similar in form and creation more than I thought at the beginning.
I thought that the challenge came from defining the word itself, but further challenge is imposed upon us when we take typography into consideration. We have to manipulate the letters to define the entire word, because letters in themselves each possess a definition. My word is compress, that word is easy enough. But manipulating each letter to fit that word is where the true difficulty lies.
Having to learn the definitions and the anatomy of each letter is more about memorization and purpose. Its kind of like drawing, each art form has its own terms and uses, but I did not believe that typography could be as hard truthfully.
Now I can appreciate all the hard work that typographists have to put into designing logos and words, it takes a lot of time and consideration into deciding what is both pleasing and what is acceptable in the way the word is used. All art is similar in form and creation more than I thought at the beginning.
Written definition of Compress
Official definition: verb; To flatten by pressure, squeeze or press.
Noun; A pad of absorbent material pressed onto part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding.
Personal definition: To keep flat, to squeeze together, to combine into one within a limited space.
Noun; A pad of absorbent material pressed onto part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding.
Personal definition: To keep flat, to squeeze together, to combine into one within a limited space.
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