‘How might we understand…’ Statement:
HMW find the way to improve the marketing strategy of TNS Food Pantry and publicize it to TNS students?
Link to Final Presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BGJ-cTsGpcw3gB5wEiGMCiPJNpKG93rQ_IainPYsuvA/edit#slide=id.p
Image(s) of journey map. (Overview and Details when appropriate):
Images from research process:
1. Orthographic drawings
Isometric View
Front Elevation Side Elevation Plan View
2. 3D model
3. Process
4. Final object
5. Final object + sculpture
6. Reflection
I’ve designed a chair that follows the body curve and that has a space to put one’s stuff in. I decided to use chipboard for the medium instead of wood because from the last polygon project, I’ve realized hard wood is almost burnt during the laser cutting, while soft wood is easy to laser cut, but easily breaks. Many of my classmates glued multiple chipboard, while I engraved line on the chair because I wanted to explore different approach.
At first, I could not imagine what my final object would look like. I could not find the connection between the sculpture and the chair. However, I learned about how to draw a perfectly proportioned figure by studying vitruvian man, doing figure drawings, and by creating the sculpture. For the chair, I enjoyed designing different chair designs and coming up with my own unique chair. It was interesting because every one has different looks, but every one’s face mostly follows the rule of proportion. I did not had difficulties doing the laser cutting as I did for the last project, but it was challenging to use Sketchup and draw orthographic drawings in a proper scale. However, I strive to do it by myself first and then ask help for Jose when I could not handle it. Unlike last project, I attempted to progress class by class, revise drawings, explore different approaches to prepare for the final.
Throughout the project, I learned how every objects are precisely scaled and is perfectly proportional to human’s body. This aspect has a connection to the projects and exercises that we’ve done throughout the semester. We started by learning basic elements and polygons that perfectly fits another and we applied that through re-arranging the polygons. I did not recognize the connection of the chair, sculpture, and rest of the projects, but I realized the final project was applying all the skills that we’ve learned into the real world and real object. Space and Materiality was a challenging course for me because I have struggle to scale objects accurately, but it was a thought-provoking and inspiring course, which I learned a lot and could apply these skills for designs that I am going to do in the future.
Research Topic:
Cosmetic Advertisement and Beauty Perception: Influence on the Body Image of Women.
Process:
-Sketch
-Print 1
-Container
-Aspects of beauty perception
Young&Old , Expression
Fun & look beautiful 
Following others & Distorted view
-Final look
Reflection:
Stakeholder feedback
-More aspects of beauty perception (example)
-Composition of the transparent papers
Project going further in the world
-New marketing method (Listener -> active participant)
-What did you make?
During Seminar, I came up with a conclusion as a response to the negative effect of cosmetic ads. However, during Studio, I decided to question the audience and leave the answer open-ended. For the prototype, I printed my images on transparent paper and made a container.
-How did you make it?
I first took photographies of my friend wearing makeup step by step. Then I Photoshopped the image and deleted the background in order to put multiple layers when it is printed. I went to Fed-ex to print on a transparent paper, but the paper was too thin to stand still. Therefore, I explored different methods to hold the papers and came up with the container.
-Why did you make it?
By showing the process of wearing makeup and the possible effect, I wanted to inspire and question the audience. Makeup could be a form of expression, while it could have negative influence on one’s perception. Thus, I wanted to question the audience, “What is your beauty perception?”
I am Dahee Byun who is studying Communication Design at Parsons. I enjoyed art when I was six years old because it allowed me to freely express my thought. However, when I came back to South Korea, I did not liked art when the art teacher forced me to color the sky in a certain color. I decided to study art and design in my senior year of high school because I was again attract by the idea that I can freely express my thought through color and texture. Moreover, the reason why I chose Communication Design as my major is because I believe visual is a “bridge” that allows easier communication and interaction between people.
During the first semester, the courses were mostly about connecting individual to the context of the world, while this semester, they were more about deep exploration of one idea as if Alice went to the wonderland and explored her identity. The skills that I’ve learned across my first year course is process, exploring, and editing. I might have done the process unconsciously, but I learned how to organize my thoughts in depth and step to step to reach my objective. In the past, I tend to just go with one idea and thought it was waste of time to approach in different direction, which ultimately lack deep thought and research. However, by brainstorming I could explore different approaches within one idea. Then by conducting thorough research or thought and constantly looking back at my work, I was able to come up with strong final work. For academic writing and studio making, I realize both of them could undergo the step to step process to reach the objective so that I can develop more strong idea.
The two highlights from my first year course would be Studio and Seminar 2 and Photography class. I was interested in cosmetic and beauty perception since middle school and I decided to do a deep research about it and came up with a question: “How does cosmetic advertisements influence women’s beauty perception?” for both Studio and Seminar 2. During Seminar, I first did general research about the topic to have a background information, then I did research based on reliable sources. Throughout this process, I was able to do deep analysis, interpret different strategies and psychological theories, and therefore come up with a well-organized paper. I was especially satisfied with the last two paragraph where I could counter-argue possible solution and could present more practical and promising solution. For Studio, I first brainstormed several ideas and narrowed it to one idea. After I decided one idea, I kept exploring different mediums and editing the work to communicate my idea in a best way. This Thursday, I am going to present my final work, which is showing the process of wearing makeup and showing the distorted view through multiplying transparent layers. Unlike Seminar, where I came up with some solution, I wanted to question the audience, “What is your beauty perception?” by showing the process of wearing makeup and demonstrating the possible effect. The interesting thinking process that I’ve experienced through Studio and Seminar is that I could express same work in different approach.
From Photography, I did class exercise that allowed me to learn the basic functions of DSLR camera. Then I learned photoshop skills and went to several exhibitions to broaden my perspective. After these basics, our class conducted self-directed projects and was able to do deep exploration about our interest. The self-directed project was the most interesting and challenging project because I was the one who need to manage my time and progress the work. I first brainstorm and question myself, “What do I want to capture in the camera?” I had to do deep observation to seek for inspiration and explore different topics with different approach. Finally, I come up with a unique work that has a strong identity. I’ve presented photographies that is half reality and half painting. I took a photograph of an object, drew it on canvas with acrylics paint, and place it next to the real object. Therefore, it was a combination of an abstract world and reality that questions the absolute truth. From this self-directed project, I learned how to manage my time and thought I successfully demonstrate the process and progress by exploring different mediums and undergoing trials and errors. One of the most outstanding learning from this course is that I found my interest n the topic of the class, fact and fiction, which is the boundary between abstract world and reality that I would like to pursue in the future as well.
In conclusion, from the foundation year, I learned valuable skills such as process, exploration, editing. I’ve realized that it is important to progress step by step because that allows one to build up a strong basis for the final objective. Moreover, along with the process, exploring and editing could generate another idea as I progress from doing basic exercises into coming up with my own project during Photography. From Studio and Seminar 2 and Photography class, I became interested in taking different approaches within one idea; I suggested possible solution in Seminar, while I question the audience during Studio. Moreover, I would want to keep exploring the topic fact and fiction. I believe the boundary inspires the audience to question oneself and question the absolute truth. Throughout Parsons and in the future, new skills that I would like to learn is to well-organize my thoughts and to do more deeper exploration and research about my interest.