design for exploration
Each day, for the next 4 days, we are given a number of tasks and activities to complete. There will be specific requirements in terms of actions, content and deliverables, to be met and we have the 24 hours of that day to meet them. We will each choose a word ‘from the hat’. The words chosen can be interpreted in many different ways. This word is are thematic starting point for all the subsequent work in this project!
my word is ... light
week 1 tasks
Task 1
- Identify and record dictionary definitions of your word (you should be able to find more than one definition)
- Using a thesaurus, identify and record synonyms and antonyms of your word.
- Identify and record a minimum of 6 quotations or pieces of text which include your word, or resonate with a meaning of your word.
Using all of the above as your research, produce typographic experimentations exploring which typefaces, styles and treatments you feel are appropriate for your word. Produce at least six ideas for each of the following:
- Constructed type: Does your word, or your interpretation, suggest particular materials you could make type out of? e.g. traditional art materials like card, clay, plasticine, etc.; found materials like rusty metal, discarded packaging materials, salt, rice, Perspex, glass, etc.; non-traditional materials like tomato sauce.
- Use the Fundamentals of Layout exercises from the beginning of second year (GRAP5060) to inspire abstract typographic compositions.
- Try to express the meaning of the word by manipulating, moving and cutting-up the letterforms.
Definition
Synonyms
antonyms
Quotes
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
― Plato
“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.”
― Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”
― Rick Gonzalez - Timo Cruz
“In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.”
"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
― Edith Wharton
- something that makes things visible or affords illumination
- of little weight; not heavy
Synonyms
- bright
- luminous
- rich
- shiny
- sunny
- agile
- delicate
- slender
- small
- thin
antonyms
- cloudy
- dark
- dull
- gloomy
- obscure
- heavy
- difficult
- serious
- important
- oppressive
Quotes
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
― Plato
“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.”
― Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”
― Rick Gonzalez - Timo Cruz
“In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.”
"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
― Edith Wharton
Task 2
Taking your word as the thematic starting point, use your camera to create images related to it. These can be both objective and abstract. You can go out into any environment you choose or set up things to photograph within the studio or elsewhere in the University.
click on the photo to in see full
Task 3
Using any drawing and painting media, and collage materials, as well as the computer, work through the tasks given below.
- A minimum of 15 colour schemes/combinations, as swatches, suggested by your word. These could be two colour combinations, three colour combinations etc. not necessarily a wide range of colours
- A minimum of 15 textures and surfaces suggested by your word. Some of these could be recorded as rubbings for example, or be swatches of found materials
- Create a minimum of 10 visual interpretations of your word as abstract compositions, using any combinations of squares, rectangles, circles and triangles of colour and/or texture.
Task 4
Using any drawing and painting media, and collage materials, as well as the computer, and the colour schemes you explored yesterday, work through the tasks given below.
- A minimum of 10 patterns exploring the potential of spots/stripes to interpret your word
- A minimum of 10 patterns exploring the potential of grids/geometric shapes to interpret your word
- A minimum of 10 patterns exploring the potential of letterforms used as pattern
