Objective to Subjective - Enlightenment

In order to gain a better understanding for both subjective and objective design, a task was set to turn something objective into something objective. For this task we had to take a word and create it into a design exploring many design methods and approaches. 

Enlightenment

With existing knowledge of the meaning of enlightenment, the idea of combining the wayfinding brief and this activity would open up the many opportunities and ways to which wayfinding systems can be created; this was done by interpreting the word enlightenment through a journey that leads to enlightenment itself. Through research, the term unalome was developed, which  is a visual representation of the journey one takes to enlightenment. The unalome symbolically suggests that although there are difficulties and hardships in life,, it will lead you to enlightenment, I wanted to interpret and further develop this meaning through the use of line. 




Through simple line sketches created in a 1 minute task, I was able to create ways in which the journey of enlightenment could be shown, that being through, shape, line and space. The theme of a never ending line became a theme of the journey, symbolising the hardships of life. Designs were further pushed through the use of mixed media, that being cut up paper and tape to form intertwined lines. For this task we were given ideas to which the design could be pushed further, one being experimenting with 'Photo Booth' on my iMac, this process actually proved really interesting, helping to form and create numerous forms and shapes with one design; in future modules I will use this technique help form and generate new ideas. 

Using the design principles of Fruitiger, I wanted to develop designs that further represented a form of movement, adding to the notion of moving forward (towards enlightenment), the best shape for this was the triangle, as the apex offers a sense of direction, and the slanting side of the shape share similarities to reaching enlightenment, shown by the joining of the to lines to the apex. I experimented by creating 3D patterns, taking wayfinding systems into mind, I looked at how the objective word of enlightenment could be created into something subjective to create a possible supergraphic design that also used objective design principles:

This design approach was further developed, as I created a more detailed intertwining design (shown below), in context this form of design could be used as a supergraphic, with the single line leading away from the tangled design being the direction to follow. This design could be used in art based festivals, such as music, film or art itself, the design is intriguing and will have the public focus on the design and follow it. 

Relating back to the unalome design approach, I incorporate the use of triangles into a design, that both creates a form of direction and links to the meaning of the journey to enlightenment. The design shown below was said (by peers) to be some what relaxing and soothing, although the design is comprised of sharp straight lines, the overall structure of the design is strong and stable offering a calming feel of control. 

Other ways in which I created subjective designs was by looking further into the contextual values of the word enlightenment,  to do this I researched into the tibetan symbols and prayer of enlightenment and created subjective designs by image tracing these designs to form bold and interesting layers. The use of warm colours (inspired from both Aicher and Wyman) share links to the word enlightenment and could be further developed to form pictograms.