week 01
week 03
Categories
GCD_Year 01
Author: Kanghui Zhang
Categories
Written Response
Categories
Methods of Translating
Poems, as written expressions, encapsulate myriad emotions, offering an open-ended canvas for diverse interpretations. In this audio-visualization video, each verse corresponds to a shifting image, providing a window into the poet’s thoughts. The beauty lies in the subjective nature of these interpretations, with individuals forming unique opinions about the same poem.
In this design methodology study, I discovered the efficacy of combining investigating and cataloguing methods. I aim to enhance my proficiency by systematically using this combination in future projects.
This poem, written by the famous Chinese poet Hai Zi, left a lasting impression on me. I read it a long time ago and instantly fell in love with its beauty. The poem resonated strongly with me, and I believe that each reader, experiencing the same verses, will have unique insights and emotions.
Through my translation, I aim to convey my understanding and the emotions evoked by this poignant piece.
WEEK 1, 31 OCT – 1st NOV
01 _ Pronunciation translation
As there’s no official English translation for this Chinese poem, I find that its original romantic and free tones are lost in translation. To convey its essence, I focus on teaching Chinese reading, emphasizing the importance of mastering correct pronunciation, akin to learning any language.
I recorded my reading of the entire poem, pronouncing each word, and read with 212 words to explore various nuances in pronunciation.
I substituted the words in the poem with corresponding mouth positions.
02 _ Illustration
I illustrated my mental imagery for each paragraph of the poem, employing shapes and lines to create a concrete poem.
03 _ Audio-visualization
I altered the medium to convey a distinct interpretation of the poem through a combination of audio and visuals.
I integrated the sound into TouchDesigner to generate the initial animation and subsequently employed After Effects for effect editing.
Feedback
To enhance the understanding of non-Mandarin speakers, valuable suggestions have been offered on integrating sound visualization graphics and illustrations. The primary goal of my next step is to effectively convey the emotions of the Chinese poem through this combination.
WEEK 2, 7 Nov – 14 Nov
In order to give the non-mandarin audience a better understanding of what I’m talking about, I’ve taken the suggestion you all gave me last week, and I’ve made a combination of sound visualisation and illustrations.
Each changing image corresponds to each verse, and you can read what I’m thinking through these images. Also, based on last week, I changed the background of the video, as you can see, the background is sometimes white and sometimes black. These are my interpretations of the poem. When the black collar background appears, I read despondency and loneliness in the poem. And when white appears, it is seeing hope.
Categories
Written Response
Reference list
Maurer, L. and Paulus, E. et al. (2013) Conditional design workbook. Amsterdam: Valiz.
Rocjk M. (1996) Designer as Author. Available at: https://2×4.org/ideas/1996/designer-as-author/ (Accessed: 10 Nov 2023).
Categories
Methods of Cataloguing
WEEK 1, 17 OCT – 23 OCT
01 _ Representing
The first method I used was representing. The original page used a list of downloads of the window models. I wanted to present this relationship in a different visual language. I made an archive. Firstly, I numbered each model according to the number of downloads counted on the site, and then I showed the number of downloads in different sizes. The most popular window models are the largest, and as the numbering increases, the models get smaller.
02 _ Redrawing
The second method I used was redrawing. Firstly, I observed and recorded how many sides and faces each window had, and then used a uniform visual symbol to represent the information about each window. I chose a circle as the symbol because, at first, I wanted to search the internet for the shape of the world’s first window. Suddenly, I realized that an eye is a window. So I extracted the circle as the main graphic.
03 _ Classifying
The third one is the classifying style. As I was browsing the page, I realized that these window models can be broadly classified into two main categories. One is the modern style. The other is court style. I just use the folders to list them.
WEEK 2, 24 OCT – 30 OCT
After last week’s initial experiment, I chose the method of cataloging as classification. Since I missed some original website information last week, I re-analyzed this set after class. I observed that a model collection website, it has detailed classification, such as material, style, model render, format, shape, model size, color, and so on.
To me, windows are a way of connecting one space to another, and can also be a channel between the private and the public. In China, due to the huge population， most people live in apartments. Our windows basically all look the same and are in the modern style. When I came to London, I noticed how many different windows there were. People open their windows in different directions.
This model website collects different windows, and I’ve divided them into 7 types of window openings. I also did some experiments to change how the set is presented, circulated, or accessed.
During the experiment, I found that these window models became my landscape and I observed them through an invisible window. Therefore, I used tracing paper as the special window. and also wanted to use it to better present the way different windows open.
I think these posters are like a window guideline, so I wrote a brief description of each one. There is also some line element base in the poster. The elements are extracted from the basic shapes of the windows in this category or from the tracings of the opening window actions.
Categories
Written Response
Reference List
Perec, G. (1974) Species of Spaces and Other Places. London: Penguin.
Categories
Methods of Investigating
Week 1, 26 Sep – 3 Oct
Week 2, 4 Oct – 10 Oct
Week 2, 5 Oct – 17 Oct
From the moment I first laid eyes on this large traffic island, to the point where I began observing it in detail, and eventually, as I deeply investigated its entire surroundings and the composition of its elements, I realized that it’s all a process of deconstruction and reorganization of this space. Through this method of cutting and rearranging images, I aim to introduce a fresh perspective on perceiving the world.
In fact, people’s perception of the world is continually shaped by the process of constant deconstruction and reorganization.
Categories
Written Response
The traffic island beneath my apartment is a fascinating subject for investigation. It feels like an isolated world with its own inhabitants—pigeons.
Reading 1: ‘Species of Spaces and Other Places‘ by Georges Perec
Inspired by Georges Perec (1974, p. 50) I chose this physical site. According to the part of Street, he mentions that when you observe the street, you must set about it more slowly, almost stupidly. Force yourself to record even the uninteresting, the most obvious, the most common, and the most mundane details. I started to observe and identify the street with which I am familiar, noting down various details such as the location, time, date, and weather conditions.
In addition to taking photographs at different times and from various positions to conduct the investigation, I also considered exploring this site from different identity perspectives. For example, when I look down at the island from my apartment or observe it from across the road, I take on the role of an ordinary observer or pedestrian. In this identity, I seek to discover what can be observed. However, when I enter the island, I temporarily become a part of its local community. This shift in identity led to different discoveries.
I realized that there was a narrative thread running through the filming process, moving from observing the island to approaching it, and eventually becoming a part of its local life. All of these insights were made possible by slowing down the pace of life and emptying one’s mind.
Reading 2: ‘The Gleaners and I‘ by Angès Varda
According to Gleaner and I (Varda, 2000), I found a truly enlightening idea: “Pick things up so there’s no waste.” It’s not just rubbish or scrap; it’s people’s meals, a source of livelihood, fun, a work of art, even a masterpiece.
Initially, my goal was to find something new for myself. The traffic island is a commonplace in society that I often ignored. Following her advice to find something seemingly ‘useless’ and become a gleaner, I viewed the traffic island under my apartment as a seemingly independent country. This experience made me realize the importance of observing ordinary things in everyday life. There is always an aspect of the ordinary that is worth discovering.
Reference list
Perec, G. (1974) Species of Spaces and Other Places. London: Penguin.
Varada, A (2020) The Gleaners and I. Available at: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Qr4y1M7iT/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=d3403bd0cb5133726f4942c0f87eb348 (Accessed: 29 September 2023).