This is the very beginning of my project that began during the summer. On my very limited number of days off from being a camp counselor in Maine, I kept trying to figure out what I wanted to work on for two semesters, something that I could be really into. In Wiscassett, Maine I found a store called Paper, Scissors, Rock that sells fine paper products. I found the store with my mom when she came from Ohio to visit. I had told her some of my other ideas for IP but I still wasn't really excited, just apprehensive to the daunting task ahead, which was a terrible feeling. She saw how excited I was by paper and how much I paid attention to the details in the store, and listened to me jabber about why I liked the weight of this paper or that or how cool I thought those cards were. Then she sort of just said why don't you think about working with this subject? And thats how I got to writing the first answers below.
Tell us about your project. I want to work with two things primarily—language and paper. I am interested in phrases that are widely used and known. I am interested in such language that I could use to communicate with other people via paper or something else non-verbal. I want to explore the use of humor and wit in language. The project should connect people, be beautiful, enjoyable, and environmentally conscious.
The idea of enjoyment out of something simple, such as a card in the mail from a friend is something I appreciate. I want to create a body of work that emulates intentional simplicity and well considered design.
I want to create a line of paper products in which I will design greeting cards, poster prints and explore other paper arts. Graphic design, paper art and potentially printmaking will be used to create an array of items that are connected by visual aesthetic and concept. I will research language, phrases and words and combine them, when appropriate, with simple imagery to portray a message.
What final form might your project take? I will accomplish a cohesive line of products and designs. I will study different terms, sayings, phrases, colloquial and universal language that will contribute to the cards that I will design. The cards should be beautiful and graceful in both aesthetic quality and in language. Posters should do the same, but with more elements and space, thus posters should be more dynamic. I also want to create something unique out of paper- perhaps an installation or a product (example: lampshade, wall-hanging). All of the products in the line will utilize basic design principles and paper art. I also think it would be a worthwhile effort to create a digital representation of this body of work.
Place your work in context so that we may better evaluate it. My topic of interest is paper art and graphic design. I want to explore text, letters and simple imagery. I love letters and language and communicating them on paper. Keywords are paper, imagery, paper art, graphic design, visual communication, beauty, grace, humor and wit. I don’t consider myself particularly witty, but I think I can work on that during the course of my research. Some individuals whose work I find interesting are Heather Smith Jones, Patricia Zapata, Esther Ramirez, and Thurle. Companies that I admire are Snow & Graham, Pancake & Franks and Pikku. I love the joy of a beautifully designed card, postcard, poster or unique paper product. I recently found a paper store called Rock, Paper, Scissors in Wiscasset, Maine and found that very exciting. The store had the most beautiful products, stationary, greeting cards and other nicely designed, unique products. I would like to get in touch an acquaintance who uses a printing press to set type to create high end paper products.
What kind of impact-aesthetic, intellectual, communal, civic and/or social-do you hope your project will have? For myself the project is worth doing because I am excited about working with paper art, language, text and imagery. I love paper. It matters because beauty and simplicity should be available to everyone. And, because I believe good design is important to communication and can have a great effect on society. I don’t know yet if I am a good designer, but this is my opportunity to hopefully become one. It is also important because good, environmentally friendly products are a healthy pursuit simply for the wellbeing of the environment. Often, beautiful things can be negligent of environmental consequences. Nicely designed and executed products should also be environmentally conscious, aside from being beautiful.
What in your past experience has prepared you for this project and how might your project act as a catalyst for your creative and professional growth? My previous coursework at the University of Michigan, abroad and my internship have given me basic skills to undertake this project. Beginning with Professor Doug Hesseltine’s course Structure and Expressiveness in Visual Communication: Making and Breaking the Grid. This course introduced me to graphic design and the precision it requires, even when working on the computer (compared to the letterpress). Professor Hesseltine’s course also made me realize that a piece is never done the first, or second, or third time around. The ability to work and rework a project plays a large role in whether a piece is great, or just okay. The summer after I took Professor Hesseltine’s course I had an internship at the Toledo Museum of Art under a U of M A&D graduate. At my internship I continued to learn the importance of precision, even to extremes, and learned to love paper. I worked mostly with print materials at TMA and learned about paper and inks. During the Fall 2008 semester I took Graphic Representation with Professor Overmyer and Type in Context with Professor Hannah Smotrich. Both classes allowed me to continue to learn basic concepts in graphic design. Professor Smotrich’s class introduced me to the letterpress, which I found particularly challenging. During my time abroad, it was exciting to work under a designer from the Czech Republic. Much of my work incorporated photographic image. I hope that by doing my proposed project, I can refine my ability as a designer, learn new skills and add a significant piece to my portfolio.
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