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Final Writing Initiative

Throughout the last 12 weeks working on this assignment, I have been able to learn a lot more about myself, my design process and practice. In the last 3-ish years in OCAD, I rarely have created pieces that are physically interactive in the form of a "mini exhibition" /installation. This project presented me the perfect opportunity to not only think about how the materials and medium of my pieces could shape the execution and delivery of my pieces, but also to think about how my audience will experience this whole project as one whole piece. One of the aims that I was determined to incorporate into my project was representation. I wanted to showcase East Asian representation by manifesting shared experiences from our cultures not just by visual elements, but through creating a visual simulation of these experiences. I wanted the audience to be able to immerse themselves into the context of my research and thesis statement and almost live through that simulation of the shared cultural experience.

I challenged myself in a lot of different ways while doing this self-directed project, one of the biggest challenges was forcing myself to work more hands-on and create tangible pieces with new materials and methods. I have always wanted to experiment with creating designs with physical materials, especially after being in this highly digitized program for the last few years. For this project, not only did I explore new methods of working with print and paper, but I also experimented with fabric and other unconventional materials like safety pins, chains and beads. On top of that, I also had the opportunity to think creatively on the final presentation format and layout of my pieces. For instance, I installed my 3D piece, the safety pin tie, onto a mirror with sticker labels mimicking the visuals of analytical softwares from CCTVs. That installation itself was a whole experiment with materials. I wasn't sure whether the sticker could be peeled off of the mirror surface or whether or not my X-acto knife was going to scratch the surface. I just decided to try it out and if it doesn't work out, I'll figure out something along the way, but THANKFULLY everything worked out fine.

Another thing I found especially challenging was how much creative freedom we had. I always thought having a lot of creative freedom would make things easier as there are no restrictions and endless possibilities. However, I have learnt that endless creative freedom may be a good starting point in the beginning stages of this project where I got to explore themes and topics, but eventually I would have to set out a defined scope and expectations for this project to be grounded and executed properly. There were many times where I felt like I had too many ideas and was also constantly searching for more information on everything and anything. It got to a point where I had to just force myself to stop researching and start making. The biggest takeaway from this part of the process is learning that we know more than we think. Research is important but at the end of the day, we need to learn to realize when it's time to just close those tabs and start making.

If there was one thing I would choose to do differently now that I have finished this self-directed project, it would be to remember no ideas are bad ideas. Towards the end where I was getting progressively stuck on my 4D and reflective piece, I found myself digging through my old notes and comments I wrote down from critiques as early as week 3 or 4. There were ideas and suggestions that I wrote down where I vividly recall discarding them as I didn't believe it would work out. However, when I was looking back on these scrapped ideas from a new perspective weeks later, I was able to re-interpret them into newer and better ideas. That being said, when I have the opportunity to work on another self-directed project in the near future, I would definitely take better notes on all ideas and concepts throughout the process.

All in all, this project was an amazing learning experience and opportunity for me where I felt like I have definitely grown a lot as a designer and learnt a lot about my own methods and process, especially in the supportive environment Paul, my peers and I have collectively fostered together in this course.

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4D: FINAL

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FINAL [TRIFURCATE] SET-UP

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4D: Audio Content + Exploration

The recording content is as follow:

"Please be reminded of the following dress codes: Only opt for basic colors, such as black, navy blue or grey. Do not wear more than 3 colors. For men, you are advised to wear a simple suit, shirt and tie in conservative colors. For women, conservative clothing in modest and muted colors are expected. Thank you for abiding by the dress code."

I wanted the recording to have the ambiance of being played in a large hall, such as in a train station. I edited the original audio file in Garage Band to have the reverb effect, then in AfterEffects I added the Bass & Treble effect where I boosted the Bass and lowered the Trebel by 100 to create the muffle effect. I also layered background noises from office environments to further that immersion experience.

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4D: Audio File + Content

For the 4D piece of my project, I revisited a past suggestion from earlier critiques by a peer to look into employee training videos and public service announcements. I took some time to research and find whether there were any written materials about dress code or appropriate workplace attire policies in Asia. I then extracted pieces of information from these articles below and written out a short monologue for a hypothetical public service announcement on dress code policies in work place. I wanted to create a sensorial experience imagining what it would be like to verbalize these unspoken yet universally agreed on dress code policies and expectations through my 4D piece. I came across Hume AI and I was able to plug in my written announcement content into the AI machine and direct it with the tone and pace that I want it to be for my project.

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Writing Initiative #6

In week 10, I presented my almost completed 3D piece to the class, some rough ideas and visualizers for my 4D and reflective piece with the class. The necktie now has branching out elements that visually ties back to my word, trifurcate. Although at this stage of the project, I am still feeling a bit lost on 4D and reflective piece, I felt like my project thesis was becoming more apparent. I have decided to define the aim of my project as exploring the desire for personalization and self-expression through fashion in infrastructures promoting homogeneity with dress codes. During critique, a few of my classmates were able to pick up on that visual cue and messaging behind my choice of materials. One of them also shared their experiences from when he used safety pins to adjust his school uniform to look a certain way when he was in school. I noted how I also took inspiration from also personally experiencing that in this piece and wanted to subliminally pay homage to that shared “personalization” experience of trying to make your uniform look a certain way to fit you. My critique group expressed how they think the pieces were effectively telling a story visually and are interested in how I will be presenting this static pieces in an engaging way at final critique to communicate my theme and thesis to them. I also took the opportunity to flesh out some rough ideas and visuals for my 4D project and reflective to see if anyone has any suggestions that could help me push this assignment further as I was getting progressively more stuck on the assignment. I got a few suggestions to look into sewing patterns, clothing tags, labels, and dress up dolls. I had a rough idea of wanting to create something for my reflective piece where everyone got to “personalize” their own set of school uniform using set pieces of sewing patterns I would prepare. I wanted the class to all curate their own set and have them displayed hanging on something that was reminiscent of a clothing rack to simulate the shopping experience when you go into a clothing store to pick out clothes that you like, essentially curating your persona through clothing.  For the 4D project, I decided to revisit some suggestions and feedbacks from the very first few group critique sessions to explore ideas that I kind of put on the shelf. I finally decided that for my 4D piece, I wanted to create a sensorial experience where my audience could experience the act of analysing what other people are wearing, and how trends or personal styles are essentially formed by observing things around you. I wanted the focus to be on workplace attire, specifically in corporate settings. 

Although I am unable to produce physical images of my works right now as I have barely found a sense of direction to my 4D and reflective piece, and am still figuring out how to present my 3D piece, I can still speak to how an aspect of word is being manifested in each of my pieces. In all of my pieces, I tried to have everything visually relate directly back to the number 3 or be divisible by 3 (e.g. 3, 6, 9,etc.), whether it be how many things are placed, or the dimensions, or just the physical structure of the final pieces. In my 2D piece, the essence of branching out into 3 is visually conceptualized and manifested into the collaging and image weaving aspect of my piece. I interpreted the branching factor of ‘trifurcate’ to suggest that there has to be a starting point where all things originate from, then it separates into 3 different entities. In my 2D, I built out 1 base figure in 6 different outfits then by cutting and taping them back up to mimic that of weaving, I ended up with the silhouettes of 3 figures. I also left the edges of the collage untaped so that it remains physically branching out. Similarly for my 3D piece, I arranged the pins in a way that the silhouette of the tie is ultimately created visually by branches in groups of 6. Each vertical unit of the necktie is also connecting to each other is in units of 6. For my 4D piece, the concept of ‘trifurcate’ is manifested in a more conceptual way relating back to my thesis statement. As mentioned earlier, I interpreted branching out to be an act of having a singular point of origin then separating into different entities. I manifested that into my thesis statement in my 4D project how people curate trends and styles by observing what other people are wearing, picking and choosing, and then ultimately crafting what feels the most like them. The same is being done in my reflective piece where the essence of decision making and having choices from the word ‘trifurcate’ is being manifested into my piece in the context of my thesis statement.

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Reflective: Process Video #2

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Reflective: Final

As I was creating my reflective piece, I realized that it would not be possible to have all my classmates curate their sets of clothing patterns within the 10 minutes presentation timeline. Hence, in order to make sure I am able to deliver a completed experience of my project, I pivoted my idea that instead of having my classmates curate their sets, I would curate 12 custom sets reflecting on my design process journey throughout the 12 weeks of GD4 using varying components to signify different stages of my process. These components include: 1) a clothing tag - the week is indicated on it and I used a tracking wheel and a signature punch to outline the shapes of the numbers, thus making it a tactile experience as well ; 2) a label - a standardized label inviting the audience to note down what is included in each set ; 3) sewing patterns #A [blank with no markings on vellum] - indicates presence of concept but with no clear sense of direction in the project ; 4) sewing patterns #B [traced and outlined with rulers on velum] - indicates clear sense of planning and direction ; 5) sewing patterns #C [free hand tracings and markings on vellum] - indicates a vague sense of planning and direction ; 6) fabric sewing patterns - indicate work is in progress (depending on how the pieces are organized will reflect on how completed the project being presented that week is, e.g. week12 will have all the pattern pieces of the shirt grouped together in ascending order of sizes, followed by the ones for the skirt).

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Reflective: Process Video #1

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Reflective: Process #2

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Reflective: Process #1

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3D Assignment: Video Close-Ups #3

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Writing Initiative #5

By Week 8, I presented more progress on my 3D piece. I built out some more basic units of my safety pin neck tie. I took inspiration from one of Paul’s observations from the week prior about how the patterning of the weaves reminded him of tartan skirts/plaid patterns commonly seen on traditional English school uniforms. This part of my assignment ties back to my word ’Trifurcate’ through form and concept. I fleshed out the rationale of my 3D piece a bit more and upon reflecting on my making process, I feel like the piece is more conceptually grounded now. I chose to make a necktie by weaving safety pins in varying sizes and forms (curved, straight, gold, silver, etc.). The rationale behind this was that neckties are usually one of the unique pieces that distinguishes one school’s uniform from another. It plays an important identity indicator among students to distinguish themselves to their respective school. I decided to use safety pins as the main material for this piece for a few reasons: 1) it is malleable 2) it is a common school/office supply 3) safety pins are often used for minor fit altercations of school uniforms. I experimented with the weave of the safety pins as I was creating the necktie, there wasn’t a certain method I was following but I just went with the flow of things and made decisions as I go. On top of that, I also wanted the piece to have visual elements that related back to my word ‘trifurcate’. Hence, all the basic units that make up the overall structure of the necktie are just safety pins essentially branching into new units and forming into a structure. I haven’t made much progress on my 4D and reflective and was pretty stuck on it. I placed the 4D and reflective pieces at the end because I wanted these 2 parts of my project to be able to encapsulate the overall messaging of my topic rather than just elements of it such as in my 2D and 3D. I asked my classmates for advice and got some new suggestions such as making clothing tags, clothing labels and clothing patterns. Someone also made a comment on how the nature of clothing patterns are ‘disjointed but pulled together’ and there was also recurring comments on the phrase ‘personalization through restriction’. This pushed me into asking myself more questions to further my topic and branch out. 

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Reflective: Moodboarding

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Writing Initiative #4

By our week 6 discussion, I’ve been able to present process and experimentations of my 3D piece with my classmates. Although my 4D and reflective pieces are kind of still up in the air, class discussions and peer critique has been able to help me slowly find a clear direction for those two projects. I think one of the strongest feedbacks I was able to receive from my classmates and Paul was that they were able to understand the rationale behind my 3D piece pretty easily. I was quite worried that I wasn’t successfully communicating the message and rationale to them but they were able to understand it and provide descriptions and comments that were relevant to my piece. Another strength in my 3D was my consideration towards materiality and methodology in my 3D piece. I provided my reasoning behind why I chose to use safety pins, how it relates to my topic and word choice in terms of its function and purpose, and my classmates were able to grasp the messaging behind it immediately. This provided me with sufficient reassurance that my project is effectively engaging and communicating both my topic and my word choice with the audience. Some reoccurring suggestions I have been receiving even from before I started my 2D piece was to create something like paper dolls or dress up dolls in general for the audience to play around with. Initially, I was pretty stuck on exploring the school uniform culture and how the desire for personalization still can prosper in spaces with so many rules and restrictions. I was trying to stray away from creating a piece that allowed the audience to “personalize” things because I was putting more emphasis on the restriction part, but I felt like that itself was restricting me to think outside of the box and take my explorations further. Hence, the art direction and concept for the 4D and reflective piece took a 180 turn while slowly starting to take form. On top of that, I feel like I am heading towards being able to nail down a clear thesis statement upon receiving these feedbacks and being more open minded in accepting new suggestions.

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4D Assignment: Visual Moodboard

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3D Assignment: Video Close-Ups #2