Studio Brief & Week Plan
Brief
Which is the relationship between the diagram as fact vs interpretation?
Interrogating storytelling through the exploitation of diagrams as a form/medium of communication.
My project will be divided into smaller research and studio-based experiments that altogether will structure my investigative journey into the interpretation of diagrams.
Exploring the comparison between the actual elements of the diagram, the possible meanings and what visually looks like, through the interpretation of the viewers.
Project constraints
– Black and white
– 1.5pt stroke weight
– Arrow, shapes and lines only (or not?)
– No captions/text, leaving the interpretation up to the viewer (endless stories), or not?
Week Plan
Week 1
https://panagiantreasunit2.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/04/28/studio-progress-week-1/
Brainstorm, possible directions and ideas.
Position: Which is the relationship between the diagram as fact vs interpretation?
First (small) experiment asking others’ interpretation.
Written Component 1 (reflection on my 100 Screengrabs project).
Week 2
https://panagiantreasunit2.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/05/studio-progress-week-2/
The research focuses on the relationship between the diagram’s elements as facts vs interpretation.
Experiment 1
Creating a diagram based on my own interpretation that will serve as the starting point for the followed iterations.
Each new iteration will be developed based on the interpretation of the previous one. The iterations will be interpreted by a new person each time, asking the question:
‘How would you interpret this diagram?‘
1. 20 iterations using interpretations from designers from all over the world (22-28 years old).
2. 20 iterations using interpretations from people that are not designers from all over the world (22-28 years old). Is there any difference?
The diagram iterations will act as a collection of interconnected interpretations that use the same medium. How/why the interpretation changed from the starting point? What are the findings? (reflection)
Experiment 2
Asking others’ interpretation using only one of the above iterations. Collection of the answers. What are the findings? Do the interpretations vary based on demographic information such as ethnicity? Is there a difference between the interpretation received from viewers originated from Western and Eastern countries? Is there a difference in the approach of interpreting the diagrams (linear/ non-linear)?
Week 3
https://panagiantreasunit2.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/12/studio-progress-week-3/
The investigation journey into the interpretation of diagrams continues. Focusing on non-linear thinking and compositional work through diagrams.
Experiment 3
Based on the conclusion that a diagram can represent almost everything, and interpreted in any way.
1. Mixing diagrams with random interpretations I got from experiment 1.
2. Adding random quotes at the bottom of the diagrams.
Reflection
Experiment 4
Creating a series of diagrams using the same words/special characters in each one (different diagrams, same words – different positions/layout).
How the interpretations of people changed and what are my findings (reflection)?
Deciding my final direction (week 4)
Written component 2
Week 4
https://panagiantreasunit2.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/19/studio-progress-week-4/
Focusing on my final direction
The relation between diagram and interpretation is really connected to storytelling. As stated previously, a diagram without text or a specific context can be a source of interpreting endless stories.
How a series of diagrams can be shaped into a story? And how this diagram collection/sequence will then be interpreted?
→ A story structured only out of diagrams (no captions/ text), based on a source, that will take the form of a one-page book(A4, folded two times). It can be read from any side and interpreted into endless stories. Collection of interpretations, reflection and analysis!
Experiment 5
As there is a hidden ‘image’ behind each diagram (different for each viewer), I was wondering how an actual image can coexist with a diagram. How the meaning changes when using the same diagram on different images? Which is their relationship and how one interacts with the other? Is the interpretation/approach of the viewer different? (this could be a nice direction for future development of the project – next term).
Visual essay – Plan
Written component 3
Week 5
https://panagiantreasunit2.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/19/visual-essay/
Visual Essay
All the research and studio work will now take the form of a visual essay.
Written Component 4