FIELD NOTES
Foreword
Engaging with our community can bring unity and harmony depending on how deep our conversations are, what questions we imply, and what we truly seek. Design revolves around other communities, elevating their ideas into actuality, and representing their ideas in a captivating way. Designers are influenced to respond to challenges of change, reacting in creative ways that foster growth and prosperity.
I believe, there is power in a story. We reflect our truths in the identities of others. Design is finding a place where we belong within each other. Joy can be found in the beautiful things we see and create for others.
. . .
CAGE
Cage was a preliminary typographic project. The standard definition of a cage is “a space surrounded or enclosed on all sides”. I developed the term by writing down everything related to the feeling and experience of confinement. Expanding on the idea of cage transitioned into a deep analysis of contemporary art, particularly modernist and performance artist John Cage. I read and examined Cage’s extraordinary pieces as the composition 4’33” heavily inspired my project. The concept of silencing being the very notion and power of music was fascinating to explore, which I attempted to convey in my piece.
The making of this piece required extreme precision of craft and creativity. I collected vinyl records from a local antique store and melted holes into vinyl using a soldering iron, engraining my bespoke typeface into the record. I photographed this piece in the studio, using lighting equipment and backdrops to stage the objects in a way that best visualized its concept.
Cage explores the beauty of music, sound, and silence. It echoes a world where sound cultivates our culture. It proposes underlying questions that provoke curiosity within a moment of silence. Who are we without the music within us? What would happen if silence overtook sound?
MEG
When Dance and Design Collide is a series of photographs originally captured to learn the camera's mechanics. During this exercise, I practiced lighting techniques, angles, positioning, and staging through various shots of Meg.
Once edited, the photographs were presented to Meg, a very talented dancer who generously agreed to pose and model for my shoot, and she was thrilled with the results. Later, she confessed that these photographs represented more to her, reflecting her love for dance and herself; allowing herself to develop the mindset of imperfection. In her own words, Meg shared, “We can simply work hard and find joy in the feeling of satisfaction that comes after stretching, turning, leaping, and breathing, We can thank God for giving us the ability to dance and the strength to move Because it is honestly such a gift to even be able to dance.”
Dance is a beautiful art of expression for those who can abstract their bodies and create something lyrical. When dance collides with design, we produce precision in the chaos of abstraction by giving rhythm and uniformity to unique forms. Dance and design both demonstrate how artists can find joy in simplicity.
HOPE
The Hope Behind a Story represents the authenticity, vulnerability, and beauty that fills a page with words. I found a world of hope within the stories we collected for ECHO, displaying how significant the voices from our community are. This impactful project, among many other reasons, prompted me to become involved and serve at Hope Missions. To the guests we serve, Hope Missions is a comforting place to receive a cup of coffee, a warm breakfast, and a kind smile. To me, Hope Missions is a community that exemplifies the love, compassion, and empathy of Christ. It is where diversity radiates and true kindness overcomes adversity.
We had the great opportunity to read stories displaying joy, fear, love, and sadness. The story becomes profoundly greater when the individual is someone you know and care about. Marlando is a kind friend of ours, willing to share his story. Through his words, we were able to see how his journey had truly shaped his identity— and the hope that he brings to Hope Missions.
Acknowledgments
Designing beautiful things with a talented and hardworking studio has created a classroom culture like none other, and it’s been the most uplifting undergraduate experience.
What’s next? To find hope in the complex and captivating wonders of our world.