Visual Communication – Week 9

Developing Final Project Concept

Last week’s feed back in class was really helpful.  For example, the large block color squares were deemed a little overwhelming.  Katherine suggested using one color for the square, for example, grey, and then adding an accent color.  Also, the class thought 6 boxes too much – it made me look too dispersed, and not focused enough.  I agree, so have cut the categories down to three, with an additional one for contact details and resume:

The sections are now:

• legal (incorporating legal work in London, policy work at Harvard)
• museums (work in PR dept at Tenement Museum, classes on museums)
• writing (creative and technical – possibly fitting in Noisy Idiots and thesis work?)
• contact/cv (I prefer cv rather than resume here, the two c’s look more pleasing).

I think in reality, work on online social networks could be abbreviated to research – and replacing the contact square, which -  can be a link at the bottom of the page.

So far though looking more like this:

Collective Storytelling – Week 9

Final Project Continued…

I presented my final project idea to class this week, and was given some great feedback.  In particular, fleshing out how exactly to get people to participate.  The method of participation changes how people may respond. Thomas and Marianne pointed out that people will respond differently if you actually ask them to go to the place where something significant happened rather than just asking them to write about the story.  Also, the questions you ask people are important.  Is it a smart idea to be quite broad or instead ask direction questions, for example ‘where were you first kissed?’

Other ideas included asking people to take pictures of a place they feel great fondness for, and upload to a website via their phone.  I was slightly concerned the story element would be lost though if that was the case.  It was also suggested people could send in audio recordings of their memories, but that smacked a little too much of the Tree Museum to me.

In the end, I’ve decided to ask people three questions via surveymonkey, anonymously (I’ve found from previous collaborative projects that people are more likely to open up and share if it is done anonymously).  Questions such as ‘when was the moment you realized your parents couldn’t do everything – where were you’ (me, 6 years old,  at home in the country, asking him to fix my doll, and he said he couldn’t do that, I was crushed.)  Or – another question, ‘first kiss – where?’ (At nightclub, with boy from school…  He was wearing a shrimp colored shirt.)

These snippets of people’s lives, will then be mapped onto a world map, using mapping software.  Getting there…

Cabinets of Wonder – Week 9

Making a Cabinet of Wonder (Midterm Assignment)

I’ve been given $1 million to create a museum or exhibit.  I’m usually very good at spending money, and can tell you that $1 million would buy you exactly 1398 pairs of these:

Manolo Sedaraby shoe (RRP $715)

Image: http://intheircloset.com

So, as you can imagine, I’ve been pondering extensively, re-reading the Museum Manifesto I drew up last week and pondering again.  Condensing all the information and thoughts and experiences of the semester so far, I came to the thing I wanted to achieve with the $1 million:

To get lots of people together,

showing each other things,

and for each person to listen,

and learn,

and empathize,

for there to be a discussion,

for people to understand other people

and to learn something about themselves.

So – here’s how I’m going to do it:

The August 12 Show and Tell

Next year, on August 12, 2010, there will be 10,000 gatherings of people all over the US.  Why 10,000?  Because $1 million split between 10,000 places gives them each $100 to buy some wine, cheese and soda – and cookies for the kids.

So on this day, 10,000 groups of people will gather somewhere – anywhere: a park, a community center, a school.  And sit in a circle – or not, if that seems a little naff.

They’ll each bring an object that means a lot to them, for whatever reason.  They’ll drink some wine, eat some cheese (or cookies).  Then one person, who will be quite brave for going first, will stand up for 2 minutes and explain their object to the group and why it is important to them.  Then the group will discuss this – ask questions, laugh, smile, be sad, or joke, eat more cookies. People will share their thoughts, and hopefully gain some insight into someone’s life – and empathize a little, or be horrified, or amazed, or just raise an eyebrow.

And then the next person will go and do the same thing.

And then the next.

Hopefully, there will be some connections made, people will listen, and communicate and recall things they might have forgotten, and remember.  And go to sleep that night wondering about the things they heard that day.

In getting people to share what is dear to them, they are often enthusiastic – and at their most receptive to other people, it’s exercise in reaching out and listening.  It gathers people together.

The August 12 Show and Tell is for just one day (unless we get another endowment for 2011).  Think of it as a limited time exhibit. It’s fanciful, and of course I’d have to think about organizing, and marketing, and fire regulations – but not today.  Today I am just thinking about Mr Smith showing Mr Jones his war medal and Mr Jones responding with his story of the war, or Joe the 6 year old freaking out Mimi the 5 year old with his wormery.  And the sound of her shrieking, and his big huge beaming grin.

Next week in class I’m doing the first Show and Tell, in preparation for the main event.  I’ll show you my object next week and tell you it’s story, together with those my classmates shared.  And let you know how the class responded, and I’ll also let you know which are the best cookies to buy based on which were eaten first.