January 29, 2005
Assignment #3: Power
This week, you are charged with illuminating a power relationship present in Moore or Nash Square.
In class, we spent several hours translating concepts of power into formal characteristics. Perhaps this will be useful in building a vocabulary for this project. Your project need not be related to your drawing experience so don't furrow your brows too deeply trying to connect the two.
Try to expand your research methods. Thus far, all of you have used observation and documentation of some sort; some of you have used interview techniques. What other methods might reveal the dynamics of power relationships?
Questions to ponder, if you're not sure how to begin:
- Who (or what) has power in these squares? Who doesn't? Why?
- How is that manifested physically? Spatially? Emotionally?
- What is the relationship between power and order? How are these squares orderly or disorderly? What creates this order?
- How do the power relationships in these squares reflect a broader phenomenon in the world?
- How do you feel about all this?
For Monday:
- Generate at least three studies that illuminate something on the subject. Remember, these are explorations at this point—not sketches for a final piece. These can be three ways of looking at one thing you've noticed or each examining a different phenomenon.
- Bring in three examples of existing visual languages used to represent power in our culture (acknowledging that "our culture" is a loaded term—perhaps you'd like to remind us why...) These might be something from magazines, newspaper, clothing, architecture, ads, whatever.
- Bring what you need to work in class.
Posted by Maggie Fost at 12:00 AM | Comments (36)
January 22, 2005
Assignment #2: The Fleeting
Inspired by the sudden transformation of the city in the snow, this week we will turn our attention toward illuminating something fleeting, temporary, or ephemeral in Moore or Nash Square.
This project will be designed for someone within one or both of the squares. Identify a single person to whom you wish to make a comment on this theme. You should be able to articulate what the comment is, who it is intended for, and how the medium or format in which it is presented supports the message.
What were your first ideas? How did they change when you revisited the site? How did your process/mood/tool/circumstances affect your observations and motivations? No, really, think about each one of those words between the slashes. And post a comment. Really.
[Update 02.02.04: Check out finished projects here.]
Posted by Maggie Fost at 07:53 PM | Comments (23)
January 19, 2005
Jens Gehlhaar
Creative Director of Brand New School
Lecture at 1:00 on Friday, friends. Yes: 1:00. Kamphoefner auditorium.
Posted by Maggie Fost at 02:44 AM
January 17, 2005
Assignment #1: Collection, Part II
++Check out the finished projects.++
Part II is a two-parter: making and writing.
Making:
"Read" your collection. What themes emerge from the process of collecting and/or from what's before you and how you've chosen to display it?
How can you design the presentation of the collection to better communicate this theme, insight, or pattern? This may require editing, rebuilding, or re-representing your collection. The eventual artifact or experience may exist in any format or medium you see fit. Consider your final piece for this project a sort of analysis of the collection you gathered in the first phase.
Go to it! We'll look at the final pieces on Wednesday, January 19.
Writing:
Also by classtime, Wednesday, please respond to this post (click on "comments") with your comments on the following:
- Describe your first impressions of the site. Be subjective. How do you feel there? What do you notice? Is there anything you find particularly delightful? Unpleasant?
- How is this space used? By whom?
- Describe how your collection was affected by each of the following: the parameters of the assignment; the tools or methods you used for collecting; and the circumstances of your visit (time of day, weather, your mood, etc.)
Posted by Maggie Fost at 03:29 PM | Comments (15)
January 10, 2005
Assignment #1: Collection, Part I
Part 1, due Wednesday, 12 Jan:
Collect 50 things from the site. Things may be images, artifacts, sketches, video or audio clips. Or?
Be prepared to describe your collection process.
Questions to keep in mind:
- What method/medium did you use for collection and how did that affect what you chose to collect?
- How did the number of required items affect what you chose to collect? How would be it be different for 5 things or 500 things?
- What level of distance/proximity did your method of collection offer?
- Did you talk to anyone?
- What does your collection reveal about the site? Conceal? What does it reveal about you?
Posted by Maggie Fost at 11:40 AM
January 06, 2005
Ahoy sailors and stowaways!
Welcome aboard the NCSU Chapter of The Process Project's maiden voyage. This shall serve as the primary webspace for the work of a band of spirited, young designers from NC State's College of Design, who have boldly raised their designing paws as willing participants. Good luck, all!
Posted by Maggie Fost at 03:37 AM