YSDN 4004 — Process Site

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Start of Semester 1

September 2020

Class Note — Sept 14

Class Note — Sept 21

Design Sprint 1 — Process

Brainstorming ideas to represent how imposter syndrome makes me feel as a designer. Decided to use dice as imposter syndrome comes and goes for me, feels like a gamble when trying to produce work. Life is a “game”, the game of life, dice are used for games, etc.

Class Note — Sept 28

Design Sprint 1 Final— Imposter Dice

Completed 3D mockups of dice using Adobe Dimension. The dice are made out of semi-transparent glass.

Imposter Syndrome Research Book — Sources & Beginning of Draft

Initial stages of finding scholarly resources on imposter syndrome, creatives and design. Looking for behavioural notes and studies on the effects of imposter syndrome, how to handle it, etc. Using Sheridan and York’s online database to collect creditable sources.

October

Class Note — Oct 19

Imposter Syndrome Research Book — Working on Draft

Working on literature review. Currently investigating how creatives tend to mistrust the creative process they have been taught and know, based on glorified compliments received from outsiders not in the industry.

Design Sprint 2 Process — Imposter Posters

Created a set of posters that touch on different meanings of the word “imposter.” What it means to stand out, to be a fraud, etc. Experimented with the feeling of being an imposter also, and comedic wordplay.

Imposter Syndrome Research Book — Final Draft

Finalized the written draft for the research book, Behind the Mask of Success: Lives the Creator’s face of Inadequacy. Submitted for Nov 2.

November

Design Sprint 2 Process — New Concept

Changed the direction of my design sprint 2, the first idea was lacking substance. Started painting water colours as an act of “doing” to inspire an idea, investigated as technique to overcome imposter syndrome from my research book. Got the idea to rip up the paintings and present a classic work of art (that people know and recognize) underneath, as if the art was buried under them. The paintings represent the creative process, and the work of art represents the “the final work.” Illustrating that imposter syndrome can make it seem like the creative process is random or not “good” but with time and process, you can create “a work of art.”

Class Note — Nov 9

Design Sprint 2 Final — “Act of Doing”

The “work of art” that I chose to put behind the watercolour paintings, is the Mona Lisa. Based on the notoriety of the piece, most people should be able to recognize the art and ask themselves what it means.

Class Note — Nov 16

Mental Breakdown

At this point in the semester I was advised to change my thesis topic as it seemed to be lacking a clear direction. I tried to further close in on a direction but in hopes to have a strong thesis, I agreed to switch topics. I felt very discouraged and lost at this stage. Changing my thesis essentially meant I would have to re-write a new research book, and restart everything from the beginning. I was up for the challenge but I was already course overloading for the year in order to graduate on time, and was quite worried how I would manage to catch up. With the stress of classes, the pandemic and pre-existing personal issues I tried my best to get back on track for the year. I began this process by arranging a few meetings to discuss a new direction.

Thesis Proposal — Brainstorming

For the first meeting I prepared a document with general potential topics of Nature, Friendship, Hands-on activities and designed spaces.

December

Thesis Proposal — Concept Breakdown

After the first meeting, I chose the topic of warmth. I then prepared an additional document detailing my thesis concept and approach.

Design Sprint 3 — Installation Mock-up & Gradient Test

For the third design sprint, I created a sketch over an installation space of how I plan to create the piece. I also needle felted a patch of several hues to perform a gradient exploration. Using this test, I determined how many colours I would need to make a smooth transition, and the duration it would require for me to complete a gradient of that size.

Design Proposal — Copy

After the meeting I began working working on the copy of the design proposal. Figuring out details for objectives, deliverables, demographics, etc.

Design Proposal — Design

Once the copy was written, I organized the content in Adobe InDesign using a general layout with colour connotations of “warmth.”

Design Documentation & Reflective Statement

Finishing up the semester, I completed on my fall documentation and reflective statement regarding what I’ve worked on so far and what I continue to address in the future.

Reflective Statement (from Document)

“I began the semester working on a thesis involving imposter syndrome and how it affects a creative’s design/thinking process. I worked on multiple explorations revolving around the topic and further developed my concept during the research phase. Using the research I found, I discussed two main topics within my drafted research book Media Contribution to Fictitious Personas of “the creative” and Mistrust of the Creative Process.

After completing the work related to imposter syndrome I realized my topic wasn’t as fulfilling and full-bodied for a fourth-year design project as I wanted it to be. I sought additional guidance from my course director, Jamie March, and discussed new topics, concepts, and methods of design execution. Once working through my new ideas, I choose a new thesis that discusses the relationship of “warmth” that humans have within contemporary society. For the current research process and for future research, I will explore how warmth impacts society historically, as literal, emotional, and mental interactions.

I will approach this design project with a new vision, for an art installation. The installation is a multi-dimensional sculptural piece created mostly with wool using a needle felting technique. The installation will have supporting design deliverables to aid viewers in learning more about the conceptual sculptures discussing warmth. Moving forward I will continue to work on the research behind warmth, as well as the applicable design deliverables for the final project. I found this self-guided course to be quite difficult in the beginning, as I was not sure where the direction of my thesis was headed. Although with some assistance and peer review from classmates, friends, and family, I have a much better understanding of where my final is headed.”

Warmth Research Book — Finding Sources (1)

Briefly began finding sources for the new research book using the Sheridan College and York University library data bases.

Winter Break — End of Semester 1

Start of Semester 2

January 2021

Warmth Research Book — Finding Sources (2)

Finding additional sources for the research book.

Needle Felting — The Grass & Clouds (1)

Created a green grass patch with a mix of light and dark green wool. Made little cartoonish looking clouds using white wool.

Warmth Research Book — Area of Interest

Worked on written content for the area of interest.

Warmth Research Book — Literature Review

Worked on written content for warmths connection to the earth, by the sun, fire and human survival.

February

Needle Felting — Beams (1)

Started working on the red, orange and orange-yellow pieces of the sunbeams. Based on my earlier experiment, and for consistency, I made the beams in segments and will join them together at the end.

Needle Felting — Beams (2)

Started working on the yellow sun the beams and the “sun.”

Warmth Research Book — Literature Review (2)

Working on the literature review, the second category on emotional connections to warmth.

Warmth Research Book — Literature Review (3)

Continued working on the second category of emotional connections to warmth.

March

Warmth Research Book — Literature Review (4)

Continued working on the literature review, the third category on warmth’s connection to design.

Warmth Research Book — Research Questions

Worked on research questions section.

Needle Felting — Lamb

Ended up not going in this direction. I didn’t want to distract from the main installation. Started needle felting the base of little lamb.

Needle Felting — Beams (3)

Joined all the beam segments together. Attached the beams to the temporary box holder, and arranged them under the grass patch.

Crochet — Template & Beginning of Beams

I started an additional deliverable to the main diorama, crochet sunbeams. These beams replicated the beams from the diorama, using yarn to crochet red, orange, orange-yellow and yellow sections. I wanted to create the beams on larger scale, as the diorama is smaller. I began by creating a template for the size of each beam and to divide the colours.

Warmth Research Book — Results & Discussion

Worked on written content for the results of the diorama and crochet beams. Discussed aspects of the deliverables, changes I would make, etc.

Crochet — Work in Progress

At this point, I crocheted the first beam and a little bit of the second. I decided to make 3 beams, as 5 wouldn’t be do-able in the timeframe.

Warmth Research Book — Finalization of Written Content

At this stage I finalized the written content of the reseach book. Reviewed the content for errors, and wrote the abstract.

Warmth Research Book — Design (1)

I then improved the written content into inDesign, and started working on the first few spreads. I wanted the design to have a warm appeal with a retro twist. So I used the font Bogam to help achieve this effect, and paired it with flattened graphics.

Lighting Tools Creation

Knowing that I wanted to create a light beam from the centre of my sculpture, I carved a hole out of the top of the box to be able to shine a light through. I then made cones for my lamp, and other screens to test out the light.

Needle Felting — Clouds (2)

Remade and attached the clouds as the first set was too small, and not realistic enough. Added wool around the sun to mimick clouds also.

Warmth Research Book — Design (2)

Common elements I repeated throughout book was the use of colour: red, orange and mustard yellow. As well as a “circle” as it represents the sun, the earth, unity, etc.

Warmth Research Book — Final

Once I finalized the book, I quickly mocked up a physical version using a photoshop template.

April

Crochet — Work in Progress

Working on the second beam, at the second last colour, the “orange-yellow.”

“Lightbox” creation + more light tests

Using tracing paper, hot glue and a cardboard box I made a light box to soften the lamp light for the photoshoot. I also conducted more light tests.

Final Photoshoot Setup for “Warmth Diorama”

Attempted to photograph the sculpture doing and indoor and outdoor shoot.

Final Photoshoot for “Warmth Beams”

For the presentation, I photographed what I had so far, and then photographed the remaining beams together.

Photoshop Cleanup

My lighting setup wasn’t ideal, so I had to photoshop the installation as best as I could. I took out the background, added light beams and a person for scale.

Warmth Diorama (Needle Felting) — Final

Warmth Sunbeams (Crochet) — Final