Δ3: Week 6
Third Triangulate Project
Feedback from the previous tutorial
The two books have similarities and differences. The system, in general, is the same for both but the way the narratives are formed and the kind of images are different.
The first one has a singular coherent and more clear narrative:
– more specific
– diagrams are more clear
– similar kind of images (nature)
The second one is more open to interpretation and more hard for the reader to understand the story:
– different kinds of images
– confusing connection
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I can continue using one of the above approaches.
Let’s say, at the end of Unit 2, I will have a series (5-6) of small/short books.
I can set more restrictions on the way I am working on these books.
– Each book has a certain kind of photographs (e.g. the one has photos from nature, one with people, etc.)
– Each book can answer one different question that comes up from my research paper.
– Starting with a more abstract way of narrating, as it goes it becomes clearer and specific. (1st→10th book)
I can also add restrictions in the way I am diagramming (types of diagrams, ways of analysing, etc.)
Studio Work
This week I have continued working on my studio work; Observing while I am walking and making stories through the photographs taken.
Based on the feedback, this week I have focused on observing specific things or thematics in each walk. This way, the photographs in each story have things in common, visually or meaningfully.
I came up with new three stories (+1 from the previous week). Most probably there will be changes in their structure and content.
– Walk 1: Nature and flowers – The cycle of life.
– Walk 2: Trash (things found in the road) – Alcoholism
– Walk 3: Nature and trees – Tree planting
– Walk 4: Stickers and posters – Community = Cage
Have a look at the work made so far (1 pdf file with four stories/booklets – spreads):
story 1
story 2
story 3
story 4
Research Paper
Apart from the studio work, I have continued writing my research paper as well. It is taking its final form (not completely finished yet though).
New Reference
Design is Storytelling – Ellen Lupton (2017)
This book explores the psychology of visual perception from a narrative point of view. Presenting dozens of tools and concepts in a lively, visual manner, this book will help any designer amplify the narrative power of their work. Use this book to stir emotions, build empathy, articulate values and convey action; to construct narrative arcs and create paths through space; integrate form and language; evaluate a project’s storytelling power; and to write and deliver strong narratives.
“In her book Design is Storytelling, Ellen Lupton explores the idea that design is not only visual problem solving, claiming that behind each project there is beauty, feeling, and interpretation as well. All these are factors that prove how interconnected design with storytelling is, since designers use stories to record emotions, illustrate facts, and share opinions. (Lupton, 2017). My practice is definitely not aiming to solve a problem but is really associated with the above claim. It is focused on the illustration and analysis of items/facts, a procedure by which a series of stories occur; stirring emotions, sharing concerns. In my case, this happens intuitively and is based on my personal approach and way of perceiving. However, what cannot be prevented is how the reader will approach and interpret each story.” (From my research paper.)
Feedback
Focus on the actions that will produce the content of the story (not the structure of the story, and how this will develop).
Can you define what diagramming is for you? How do I define it? How it works for me? (The role of diagramming in my work.)
Use diagrams to clarify something that is not shown in the image. Don’t describe exactly what is in the image. How can you use the material itself to make a story? Give attention to the details, these will form the story.
How can I embrace the subjectivity (personal approach) of my project but at the same time make functional diagrams? I can maybe add more information (KEY). Having similar patterns in all stories will train the reader in how to perceive the story/diagrams).
Speaking to something specific, not the big issue/theme. Attention to details, the specific road, etc.
Reference: Grayson Perry – A Map of Days
Feedback from the Tutor and peers
You have a clearer sense of ‘method’ now that allows you to produce more work, and it also opens the possibility of refining your process over time and through reflection. this ‘method’ considers how you ‘find’ or ‘discover’ content as well as the formal gestures that connect the various narratives together.
Narratives still tend to be told very abstractly, placing the emphasis on bigger ‘concepts’ or ‘meaning’. what if the stories were actually ‘grounded’, that is, more directly connected to the spaces you walked in/through? that might allow the bigger ‘concepts’ or ‘meaning’ to come across in a more nuances, sophisticated way.
In the tree narrative, you use ‘questions’ as a rhetorical device… why? can you articulate what sort of relationship this creates between you and the reader?
What’s working?
Using the walks to find and highlight traces of stories about political/societal topics found in the urban environment.Talking about them from a subjective view.
What’s not working?
The selection of the images seems to still be quite random and it would help to add further restrictions to the „ways of looking“ at the environment.
Further Development?
Maybe there is a way to focus on a specific topic within the urban environment (societal/political) that would help concentrate the exploration.
1. You have managed to find somewhat of a midpoint between the diagrams/illustrations being completely random and somewhat easy to follow.
2. You spoke about how you stitched a narrative together with the images that you found, your focus seems to be on the way you construct the story rather than the method of documenting or the rules around how you narrate. Would it be interesting to see how you would develop a technique for your diagramming rather than the story itself?
- Objective vs Subjective
- The visual language of the diagrams feels very objective…. while the content is incredibly subjective. it’s an interesting mix.
- The diagrams seem to propose results, answers, fixed interpretations, which contrasts with the incredibly personal and individual nature of the analysis you’re drawing out of these
What’s working?
– nice that you have distinct projects that maybe speak to each other
What’s not working?
– how does it communicate to an audience? As someone seeing it for the first time, I feel a bit confused about what’s happening (in terms of process), and what I’m supposed to take away from it.
In these two stories, there are connections between the images that you address your stories with and also the usage of quoting slogans from posters, for me, it is like the area is talking to you and you become the translator to connect the dots. I am still a little confused by the use of diagrams, especially spreads with multiple curved and straight lines. Is there any system behind the usage of lines, dots etc? How can you show the audience more clearly of the function of your symbols? As I think the diagram is your main theme in this project. I think it is important to rely more heavily on symbols than texts to storytelling.
What’s working
You combined photos and diagrams to explain the story together to make your story very clear. This time the story is easier to understand than the previous one. For example, I like your third story the most. It compares things, such as garbage and plants, old trees and fresh flowers, and finally uses a metaphorical technique to connect the tree and the brain.
What’s not working
The choice of pictures seems to be too random, whether some visual connections can be found when shooting. It is difficult to find some connections without your explanation.