Beginning Research and Ideation

Surface was the theme for my undergraduate thesis project. It began with the word ‘Surface’ and a quote from Sonnenzimmer: “Graphics and music derive from the same source. Whether it’s paper, a screen, or even projected light, all graphics are bound to a surface.”

From there, I began to explore the concept of a physical surface, the effects of time and erosion on the surface, and how the perception of the message might be affected. As we exist in a physical and digital world, I also included a digital representation of erosion demonstrated by JPG degradation after multiple saves of the same image file.

Mid-Point Artifact

As a result of my experimentations and reflections, my mid-point representation of how I was examining the relationship between the message, the surface, and the effect surface degradation has on the perception of both were a set of mock Polaroid photos. In addition to documenting my experiments, the photos also added the element of time in captured photographic memories. Since they were also digital captures of the physical surface and message, I ran them through the JPG degradation process before printing them to look like old school Polaroid photos. They were presented in a small envelope representing the idea that the message contained in the envelope was something important to the giver of the message.

I also submitted an artist statement to explain how and why the created artifact was the best representation of our research and exploration of the topic of ‘Surface’. The artist statement was returned with a highlighted selection of my own words with the intention of that phrase, along side the Sonnenzimmer quote from the beginning, acting as the focus to reflect on moving forward.

To Design For And Design On

My final representation of my ideas and reflections became a hanging display of the message, “I Love You,” which I had been exploring for most of the process. Along with my original ideas on erosion, I also took into consideration of the phrase, “design for and design on,” that was chosen from my pervious artist statement. The final production represents the communication of the various ideas of love between the “I” and “You” or the self and the other.

The transparency film hanging suspended in the air allows for the elements of the message to be considered in many different ways depending on the angle it is viewed from. “I Love You,” is a simple sentence, but a very complicated concept that depends greatly on the surface it’s presented on.