Mapping_Project Description

Year 2013-2014

Documented Journey

Students will record personal sensory experiences in inner or outer spaces related to daily life activities such as eating patterns, commute, mind wandering, daydreaming, etc. During 1 week, written/voice notes, mindmaps, moodboards, and photographs will be kept in a journal as a way to document such activities, tracking both their perception of time invested, real duration, and iteration; sudden shifts will also be noted accompanied by a contextual explanation, if applicable. Students will describe the documented information in a 1-page narrative, which will then be mapped out using InDesign CS6. As part of the refinement process, students will exchange narratives; each student will map out a classmate’s narrative as a way of gathering information on how the story might be interpreted. Open Media, as long as it reinforces the documented journey/data; i.e. 2D, 3D, mix media (analog+digital). *Introduction to Gestalt principles and visual systems.

Year 2013-2014

PsychoGeographic Mapping: SensoScapes

“Psychogeography could set for itself the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment,
consciously organised or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals.” (Debord)

Students will select a NYC neighborhood and will research its history and culture. In a one-week period students will visit the neighborhood and will observe the neighborhood’s activity and people’s behavior within the space and see if observations match the general assumptions of the space. Also, how did the space made YOU feel? How did you relate to others while in the space? Once out of the space, what kind of memories were formed in your brain? Can you explain why? Open up your senses; record smells, sounds, feelings that arise, memories that come to mind when in the space. This is what in Nemetics terms is called NOTICE (Links to an external site.), and what I believe Arjun Appadurai (Links to an external site.)would refer to as SensoScapes.
Notes, mindmaps (Links to an external site.), moodboards (Links to an external site.), photographs, videos, and sound-bites will be kept as a way to document such activities, tracking both the perception of time invested, real-time duration, and iterations; sudden shifts will also be noted accompanied by a contextual explanation, if applicable. Data collected will be mapped out on the geographical map of the neighborhood. Students will describe the documented information in a 1-page narrative, which will then be mapped out digitally using a combination of tools (Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CC). *Introduction to Gestalt principles and visual systems. Be aware that the media in which you produce your final piece is completely up to your discretion, as long as it reinforces your journey; i.e. 2D, 3D, mix media (analog+digital). *Introduction to Gestalt principles and visual systems.
Deliverables: Any form of 2D media using Photoshop and/or Illustrator CC, presented tridimensionally. SIZE: 18×24 inches

PROCESS:

1. Research on the history and culture of your neighborhood

2. Define a research question

3. Visit the neighborhood, everyday, for a week and observe. Track your path; maybe use an app (Links to an external site.) to help you do this accurately

4. Write a one-page response explaining your findings

5. Draw a digital map of the neighborhood and map out your findings

***AN important aspect of this project is the concept of replication (Links to an external site.): Can other people use your map to navigate/experience the space? Also, integrating new media, such as Smart Phones and web apps, or analogue games, to create an interactive experience (Links to an external site.) is a plus.