Assignment 05b
Object Project: Experiment

Find 3 main themes or ideas from your object and conduct an experiment for each. Shift your focus from what it is to what it suggests. The form and medium of each is up to you. They should be a further exploration of what you uncovered during your research. The experiment you preform should be documented and designed. Your 3 experiments should be presented to the class in a PDF presentation, with a thorough explanation of how you came to your conclusions. Consider pacing, design and sequence.

The following two weeks will be devoted to developing these three experiments around themes or visuals you’ve uncovered from your object. Revisit your research and analyze different tangents you can build projects around. Shift your focus from what your object is to what it suggests. Keep in mind: You’re not only the researcher, designer and organizer but you’re also creating the material as well. These do not necessarily need to share a common visual language. Let the idea reveal what this should be about and why it should look the way it does.

The first step is to think through what you’ve learned, and start looking critically at the work you’ve made so far. Consider exploring the object further, where it’s found, bought or sold. Maybe you want to put together a photo essay about that place. Maybe your experiments can develop into an indexical website. Maybe you interview an expert and transcribe it. Maybe you make a music video. Consider all mediums and formats available to you: video, audio, photography, print, interactive, websites, writing, visuals, etc…

Timeline

Week 12 — 3.31.20
2 of 3 Experiments Completed
Concept, organize and conduct two of your three experiments. Be able to present these projects in detail (look, concept, execution) to the class as a designed PDF presentation. This week can be loose. Let yourself explore without necessarily knowing why or how. We’ll be working in breakout groups this week. Sign up for a block here.

Week 13 — 4.7.20
3 of 3 Experiments Completed
Refine your two experiments based on feedback and complete your third experiment. Create a PDF presentation which walks us through your thought process, design decisions and final outcome.

Background

Read Research and Destroy by Daniel van der Velden (B. 1971). Daniel van der Velden is a graphic designer and writer. Together with Vinca Kruk he founded Metahaven, a studio for design and research. Metahaven's work—both commissioned and self-directed—reflects political and social issues in provocative graphic design objects.

EXAMPLE PRESENTATIONS
Below are some previous student experiments to inspire you. Given this phase is experimental, allow yourself to explore wider than you normally would.

AJ Kim A & AJ Kim B
Eddy Lee
Morgan Light A & Morgan Light B
Shanna Shu A & Shanna Shu B
John Patrikas