Greeting, whoever is reading this post,
Welcome! I am Elena Xinyue Peng, an international student from China, currently studying Design & Technology at Parsons the school of Design. I just finished my first year at Parsons. It is a year of excitement, hard work, lots of late nights, and exploration in New Year City. Through exploration in the art field and doing projects of my interest, I have a deeper understanding of myself, my life goal and my passion. I also find out things that I am not good at or interested in. As a generally curious person, I really enjoy this year’s journey.
In a short summary, one of the themes in my foundation year at Parsons is “new.” I will never be contented of staying in one area. This foundation year allows me to try many different fields, architecture, fashion, fine art, casting, wood making, game, journalism, sustainability, jewelry study, product design, photography, video editing and many other filed. It is inspiring and empowering that I can do it well even though it is my first time trying. Of course, many skills require many failure and practice, which I had experienced in the process. Even though sometimes it is frustrating that you need to redo over and over again, in the end, it is all worthy to see the outcome.
Another reoccurring theme in my first-year courses is “innovative technology or thinking.” In my works, “technology” appears many times. In the fall semester, my seminar final paper is about the comparison between digital artists and traditional artists. One of my Drawing/Image projects illustrates the world of artificial intelligence, leading humans towards the unknown future. In the spring semester, my final research paper of Integrative Seminar argues about the reliability of machine learning and algorithms. In Sustainable System class, we experiment with bacterial dye as an innovative and non-toxic dyeing method. I used the graphic design skill that I learn from Drawing/Imagine class for my studio 2 posters. I applied what I learn from my Studio 1 final, a card game, in printing my Space/Materiality project. I use my wood-working skill, learned from Space/Materiality class to make my Sustainable System final project—a wood chess set. Some class teaches the same area through two different application. My Space/Materiality and Studio 2 both taught me how to build digital models and in two different software, Sketchup and Rhino. A lot of my first-year courses require model making or prototyping. From making fragment models, I learn that it is never enough to talk about your project on paper. What you think and what you can make are two totally different things.
I think trying new technique and pleasant results make the project interesting and fun. Like Project 3 in Space/Materiality, we made a casting of the negative space of our hands. I think crafting, in general, is pretty fun, but if the work becomes really tedious and repetitive, it is frustrating. For example, project 3 of Space/Materiality is making a cardboard mountain. Cutting cardboard eventually caused physical pain on my index finger and thumb using the Ofa Knife. It is a crazy long project, but the crazier project is my tree-lumber project that came next. The tree-lumber project is tedious but somehow more interesting than the cardboard project because it is a fun discovery of finding the tree. Personally, a pleasant result is most exciting. It is frustrating to see an ugly result when you spend weeks to make it, which probably means you have to redo it. My favorite paper in the first year is one short fiction in the setting of Little Italy. I had a lot of freedom in that assignment. As long as it is associated with Little Italy, our assigned location, I can be as creative as I want. I wrote a story about a psycho eat his victims, convincing himself he lives the victim’s life as if nothing happens. It was a creepy but fun short fiction. I had a lot of fun writing it.
For my History as Object final research paper, I decided to write about Indian Jewelry and Colonialism. We were asked to use at least two books as our source, so I had to go to Bobst Library to do research. It was a new experience for me, researching at an actual library. Because the research process takes a longer time than I thought, I was not able to do broader research on this topic. I wish I can do more research on this topic to acquire a deeper understanding of the connection between Indian Jewelry and situation at the Colonial Period.
Overall, I think my first-year work is just a range of exploration of skills, interests, and expertise. Many works or writings could be better as I further research and practices.
I think one highlight in my first year is the Union Square Intervention Study, including our trip to the Vessel. Actually later, my Space/Materiality professor who is also an architect as my Studio 2 Professor is, took us to the Vessel again for further study of its structure and public space. The whole study of Union Square last 3/4 of the semester time. The process of making this intervention gave me an insight into how architects work on a daily basis. In this study, we cover the basic procedure in an architectural design Studio, including material study, shape/form study, site analysis, and prototyping. Even though the process is long and weary, I actually learn a lot about the architecture industry where it requires patience, preciseness, and persistence.
Planning
Before we actually study Union Square, we do a material study and shape/form study just to boost our creativity and explore the possibility of the materials. This warm-up exercise allows us to create something artistic without restrictions or making sense. Those studies eventually become inspirations for our final practical interventions. Then, we need to identify the issue that we want to solve in Union Square. We do a site analysis focusing on different topics like noise level, the subway system, green area, pedestrian paths and etc. Then we do brainstorming sketches and small models, which eventually evolve into the final proposal. Actually, I did not do a lot of planning in the process, which become a problem when approaching the deadline. If I have made up my mind, solving a specific issue in Union Square, my process would be much easier. However, I think sometimes, the creative process is not as straight-forward as we planned. Next time, I should allow myself more time finding inspirations in my life rather than looking up online. I was so concerned with the deadlines that I can think creatively. I believe that if I can calm down a bit and really think about what is around me, there are plenty of inspirations.
Outcome
At least, the Outcome of that project is pleasant. At the last minute, I came up with a wired idea. I was inspired by the shape of a lantern. There are three bulking parts of the pedestrian bridge. Each bulking part is made of strips. This pedestrian bridge will be installed in front of the 14th street and across Union Square East. The bridge will be covered by plants, creating shades under for the chess and there will be public space inside of the bridge so that people can still enjoy the park in the situation of cold weather.
Another possible solution
With Rendering
Another highlight for me is the final project for Sustainable System. Sustainable System has been my favorite class so far. It is a mind-blowing class. I think the thinking system that this class taught me is so innovative that I never heard it before anywhere. My final project is to make something that is resilient and lasts for a life-long time.
Planning
At first, I decide to make a wood product because wood is a cradle to cradle material. Also, I know woodworking better than other metal materials. Then, I decide to make a chess set because chess game represents human intelligence. In the future of digital technology, human intelligence will be challenged. I think this chess game can remind the next generation that human intelligence is the key to create and solve problems. Furthermore, there will be many environmental challenges in the near future. Many people have given up to solve problems. I want this chess set to teach others or the next generation that you can still win in a losing situation. With smart strategies and moves, we can win the toughest battle. If I have more time, I would design more delicate checkers and the carving will be neater.
Outcome
Overall, I am pretty satisfied with this project. I made a Chinese chess set mixed with a taste of western chess style. One side is dyed with turmeric and I used a wood burner to burn the characters.
Thinking
I think these two highlights represent a thinking system to solve problems, either in the form of a solution or in the form of educational reminder to raise awareness. Design is to solve problems. The purpose of design is to make lives better. We also design to raise awareness when we alone can not accomplish the solution. We are problem-solver and advocates. That is an essential answer to why I am studying at Parsons. I know why I design for. Furthermore, I think both projects teach me how to persist even during the most frustrating or stressful time. I think the most successful thing about my pedestrian bridge is that there is no other bridge that looks like three lantern. I researched a lot of bridges, but not a lot of them are interesting. I am proud that I come up with the shape of the bridge myself and it does not resemble another existent bridge after many weeks of researches. Even though it is a wried shape, I still make it work to be a bridge. As for the chess set, I think the most interesting part is the checkers. The style combines both Chinese style and western style. Usually, the Chineses chess checker are flat and unified and western chess are dynamic and 3-dimensional. I still keep the Chinese characters on the chess but make them standing and 3-dimensional.
Conclusion
In the future, I want to focus on how innovative technology and system can help us to create a more sustainable environment. Sustainability is a crucial concern right now and gains increasing attention in the future. If we do not move, human civilization will end very soon. With the mindset that I learned from Sustainable System, I think I can further proceed with the coding class next year. Coding is another way to solve problems. I hope I can learn more about this field and create something impactful to raise people’s awareness about our environmental crisis.
