ICONS!!!!

here's my icon system I've worked up over the last day. see if you can guess what sustainability issues each one represents, then check the comments section to see my intent.

degree project: research experiment prompts

I approached brainstorming for my research experiments for my degree project as hypothetical statements starting with the phrase "what if..."

What if:

...the government made designers put a sustainability "nutrition facts" label on all their packaging solutions?

...designers could no longer use petroleum based plastics in their design solutions?*

...every package had a life beyond the shelf?*

...There was a free resource to help designers grade their packaging against and obtain a green score/standard?

...people knew the truth about the "recycle" symbol and plastics? (dispel common misconception that plastics w/ "triangular" recycle symbol are made from recycled materials)

*denotes prompts requiring more information (ex. mindmaps, lists, etc.) to be posted.

degree project: dream job

As unbelievable as it may seem, I’m finally at the age where I actually have to put my dreams, goals, and aspirations into practice. In order to do so, I have been asked to designate what my “dream job” would be. Because I love print design, especially branding and packaging, I would really love the opportunity to work for VSA Partners, Inc., in their Chicago offices. I have admired work being produced by this company for a while now (even before I realized it was VSA doing it) and after a presentation one of their partners, James Koval, gave during my design systems class last semester about their process and work, I can’t help but set my sights on working there someday.

From what I’ve seen, I think that they produce many different “styles” of work. I think I would benefit from and enjoy this variety of tasks and styles. They seem to approach every project with a fresh, clean slate which results in every identity being unique. They aren’t a one note design firm.

I am also attracted to this particular job’s location, the city of Chicago, for a number of reasons. I’ve always thought that it is a big city that still has the midwestern charm I’ve grown up with. I feel like moving there wouldn’t be as big of a transition as New York or LA would be, but would still be a big enough change of scenery to be an exciting experience.

Laugh at me if you want to, but this is what I want. I think the craziest thing about my dream job is that I feel like it is within my reach. I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am, and soon I’ll be out in the world trying to make it happen.

degree project: identifying my researchable question

Corie Chambers helped me come up with a researchable question for my degree project:

How can graphic design educate the consumer culture on sustainable packaging?

We then began to tweak it in order to fit my project a little better. So my researchable question for the semester is:

How can graphic design educate consumers on sustainable packaging?

-or-

How can interactive print design educate and engage consumers with sustainable packaging.

Then I revised it:

How can sustainable practices in package design engage designers and persuade consumers?

Then I revised it again:

How can information design, branding, and packaging design merge to educate designers and consumers about sustainable practices.

MX: all process for project 2

Just to be sure it's all here, I'm going to post/repost everything right now.

initial brainstorming



brainstorming pt deux







rapid prototype screen grabs

idea 1-sort categories


intro-page with swapping portfolio image in bk/g


one sorted view of my portfolio


individual portfolio piece slide show

refinements toward final direction

screen grabs from final (semi)functioning website

MX Final Crit

I set out to create a portfolio site that could be somewhat exploratory, but at the same time would offer the viewer the option to also quickly access certain pieces of information. I acknowlege that the grid view can be busy and lose its novelty (I am still trying to work out the jerky nature of the 'reverse' highlight, or dim), this is why I also offer a list view.

I also wanted to introduce myself from the start-this is why my contact page is also an intro page. This is almost symbolic of a firm handshake with good contact at the beginning of an interview.

I'm really proud of the amount of code I've produced to trouble shoot the adverse reactions that are going on between different components. That being said, I feel like I'm still having a ton of issues that I need to work out. For example I haven't figured out how to combine my sorted views with my slide-show view. I definitely had a few moments over the last couple weeks where I would stand up and exclaim "I'm an f*(%ink genius!" while others I wanted to stomp my macBook into pieces because I was missing one little tiny detail that would make my code work. Evidence of this is the fact that I started over nearly clean slated upwards of 60 times. I definitely learned that I am not a patient person and have a lot of trouble learning without example, or with an example that's out of context of location to the code.

Regardless, when I work my issues on this out, I think it will be an innovative yet clear way to introduce myself.

MX: Response to section four of the language of new media

I found the idea of representation vs simulation via the different stages of the screen as discussed in previous readings. The position of Representational apparatuses were characterized as requiring the body to be fixed in space, where as simulation requires a seamless blend between the physical world and the simulation through comparable scales and bodily participation.

These categories are illustrated through example in the selection. The Classical screen requires the viewer to focus on the painting or photograph. It also held the creator immobile while the object was in progress. As cinema came of age, it immobilized the viewer to a new extent, where as television was constructed to allow for interruptions and conversation between viewers. This immobilization is due in part to the "cinematic eye." This requires the viewer to put themselves in the shoes of the shot-the story is built through multiple viewpoints construct a representational space on the screen which the viewer is a part of while suspension of disbelief is taking place (the frame within a frame theory discussed in an earlier response).

But various forms of virtual reality threatened to break this representation filled world by marrying it to simulation: the panorama. viewers are placed in the central viewing area, becomes subordinate to the virtual space.

Another way the author describes representation vs simulation is a comparison to renaissance paintings as opposed to a fresco or mosaic respectively. Frescos/Mosaics are integrated with structures and become an environmental experience, where as a renaissance painting is clearly separated by the frame (or classical screen) and ask the viewer to focus directly on the painting.

This made me think back to Baudrillard's "Simulacrum and simulation" where Baudrillard discusses Disney world as a simulation whose walls are the only thing that separate the real world from fantasy. This fantasy reaffirms the existence of the real world.