Fall 2020: Senior Studio
Creating art during a time when the world feels like (and is literally in some parts of the world) on fire was a challenge, to say the least. But nonetheless, although I didn’t create work I am too proud of, I am proud of the personal growth I’ve had throughout this semester and forever grateful for the health of my family and friends during this time.
Welcome to a review of my Fall 2020 Senior Studio Graphic Design semester.
In our first studio project, we were to create a book or video based on our interpretation of Impact and Empathy. The team I was on included: Steve Kim, Rachel Wui, and Fei Zhao. We took this project to address the current xenophobia towards Asian-Americans. This topic then evolved into researching about race, in general, to finally come to the concept to metaphorically express race and diversity through the use and study of typography.
We each created a book expressing a different part of the metaphor. My book, Book 4, was devoted to the explanation of the metaphor in a more upfront way. This was done in the hopes that anyone reading through this project would gain a full understanding of why we created these books and why it was important to understand our metaphor. We then ended with four small videos overlaying all the typefaces, spelling out the word, “RACE”, to bring everything together.
Overall, I enjoyed working with this team and our final products. We all created individual but cohesive work and communicated well through Zoom.
For our second group project in James Grady’s Fall Senior Studio, we were given a prompt to design an installation based on our questions and reactions to chapters 2 and 4 within The Graphic Design Reader. Our team: Natalie Bolton, Ivan Reyes, and Lena Johnson decided on a concept that revolved around the questions: What were the requirements to be a graphic designer? Why isn’t graphic design hung up in museums like fine art is? Why isn’t graphic design considered a fine art? These questions all lead to our concluding statement that defined our installation: This Is Not Art. Because, what even is art or graphic design?
We each created our own 25 riso printed 11x17 pieces and installed them in Gallery 5 in 855 Commonwealth Ave. Due to me being the only virtual person on the team, I created a video component that compiled everyone’s pieces together. Which in the end, helped bring the project together as a more cohesive piece.
Since I was the only remote person on this team, I found it extremely difficult. Mostly due to poor communication and inability to be there in-person to help create the vision and install the final piece. However, I am proud of the overall concept and what my teammates created in the end!
During the first 8 weeks of the semester, we were given the assignment to post one piece or person of inspiration each week. These could be from artists, scientists, really anyone. In the end, we compiled them all into a research video. I honestly do not enjoy my video at all, but I enjoyed the process of researching and finding pieces and people that really spoke to me and who I desire to become or create work with a similar identity. Some examples of some great finds: SPACE10, Tyler Mitchell, and Alexander Chen.
Project 4: Thoughts on Thesis
My initial thoughts were to create a thesis around the main two topics that have surrounded my life as of recent: Music and Medicine. Through my own personal passions, I have found myself drawn between the relationship between the two subjects and how important the role of music is in the healing process from neurological degenerative diseases. And with design, my main interests lie in using design as a visual tool and space for combining different subjects together. So, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to take a personal interest of mine and use design to further push and bring the topic to life for others to experience the impact of music on one’s health.
Music and Medicine will utilize projection, technology, sound, and visual interpretation through graphic design to display the connection between the music we hear and feel to healing processes within medicine and psychology. Initially drawn towards this topic through my own love for classical music and health, I’ve become even more drawn towards this idea after my high school attempted to take away the art programs this year. It was an attempt that opened my eyes to how some communities still believe the arts have no benefit or impact on one’s health and development.
The origins of the relationship between music and medicine go back to the ancient world, when Apollo was given the role of both protector of music and medicine. The relationship between the two subjects continues to evolve present day, with contemporary scientists proving how music can enhance the function of neural networks, slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce levels of stress hormones. This, along with the cultural significance music has within different cultures throughout history and the world, prove the importance of music to the human experience.
However, creating an entire thesis devoted to these two subjects was and is a daunting task. Mostly because I am not well-versed in music or neuroscience, the main two fields that encompass the subjects I want to explore for my thesis. I found this task daunting due to me knowing that the projects I have enjoyed the most contain content that is already “finished”. Either a finished interview, article, or set of data. With this topic, the subject was and is never finished. In fact, there’s still research being done today, for example, in the John Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine.
So, after having a discussion with a classmate and James Grady, we decided it was best to go in a more general direction. This general direction is centered around the senses and the process of healing. We felt it was more feasible and there was more flexibility with the subjects to make it my own.
I will say, that I am not sure about making my thesis more general. It does make it more general, thus easier to create, but going in a more general direction isn’t of interest to me because it takes away the topics that drew me to propose this thesis: Music and Medicine. Before the Spring semester of Thesis, I will take the time to think more about these subjects, their intersections, and what interpretations can come out of it that are feasible to do in a timely manner for Senior Thesis.
Thank you all for reading and wishing you and all your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season!
