Author: Yunze Si

Our group wanted to ask whether this symbol-based system is intuitive and multicultural? We each took individual positions and explored our different understandings of certain symbols in the system by translating them intuitively in order to compare our results. When comparing our different positions for each object we noticed there is one that stands out. When discussing Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir’s standardized road sign system we realized we do not all understand it the same way. We were particularly interested in the designer’s intent to create an intuitive and standardized system, built from visual-reduced symbols that aspire to communicate objects, situations, instructions and warnings effectively. We used other references we found about Colvert’s design process, symbol, and color research, meaning, and past creation of symbols and trademarks to form our survey. We therefore decided to focus on investigating and exploring the feasibility and readability of a road sign system and chose to use screen printing as a printing method to explore the multi-layered meanings of coexistence. People in different countries have different understandings of graphic symbols under different language and national cultural backgrounds. At the same time, standardized symbols will affect our understanding of situation, society, and hierarchy.

Critical Graphic Design: Critical of What?——By Francisco Laranjo

In the book The Reader (2009, cited in Francisco, 2014), the design researcher Ramia suggests that,

“The second form of criticality in design is the ‘building of a meta-level or disciplinary discourse.’…trying to challenge or change traditions and paradigms.” The critical plane is the constant emergence of changes over time and the evolution of design and development, so we decided to redesign the disabled graphic symbols in a critical way. The original disability symbol is incomplete, because disability is more than just a wheelchair. However, it is precisely because of this incompleteness that many misunderstandings and prejudices arise. A critical approach can help us to show more types of disabilities in more detail in the graphic symbol “disabled”, making it more inclusive.

Cultural Criticism and Transformation——By Bell Hooks

In cultural criticism and transformation, popular culture can reach the masses and be understood, and is more and more liked by the masses. As Bell (1997) states that, representation in popular culture has the power to influence our personal and social lives, and so popular culture has broad international influence. Graphic symbols are still improving after being criticized, however, it is still difficult to achieve global unity in the understanding of graphics, so this is what we decided to challenge graphic symbols.

Critical Wayfinding——By Ellan Luption

Likewise, the color and shape of road signs can affect our understanding and perception in different contexts. For example, green obviously gives people a sense of security that they can travel smoothly. Red gives people a sense of warning, and the red cross symbol gives the feeling of representing a hospital. As according to Ellen (1993), “The sign for “women’s toilet” in a Saudi Arabian university has been modified by the addition of the silhouette of a veil, since the long dress depicted could just as easily signify the traditional robes worn by Muslim men.” Different religious or cultural backgrounds will produce different interpretations. Therefore, we decided to challenge the redesign of the road sign “School”, which is intended for everyone to translate using understandings from different cultural contexts, and contrast and overlap to form a new culturally diverse road sign. In addition, for the “stop” road sign, it is designed in different national languages. The language background also has a great influence on the understanding of graphics. Overlapping different languages ​​in different colors, the most familiar native language is sure to be recognized first. Our idea is to try to redesign road signs in a language-differentiated way. On the one hand, different colors also highlight the diversity of languages, and on the other hand, the same font size means that there is no hierarchy of language.

This means this, this means that: Semiotics — the study of meaning.——By Mario Van der Meulen

Mario’s explanation of the scientific theory of semiotics helps us to explore and translate our own signposts better subjectively. When people see graphics or symbols, they will react to them immediately. Whether you understand its true meaning or not, you will make the most subjective understanding and judgment in a split second. These responses may be influenced by the mood of the moment, or by the inherent national language or cultural background. Semiotics are now influencing our social and cultural interactions. According to Mario (2019), “The fabric of a modern society comprises different cultures, with different perspectives on assigning meaning to what and how they perceive.” Therefore, different languages and cultural backgrounds will have different understandings of the same graphic symbol, and there are It helps to explore the feasibility and readability of the road sign system and explore the multiple meanings that road sign symbols may coexist. We are designing for systems that alter, transform, re-contextualize, and self-interpret their environments.

ISOTYOPE——By Gerd Arntz

Initially, our projects were interpreted and translated differently from their respective perspectives, and street signs represented different meanings in the eyes of different characters. We tried to translate five road sign graphics each, and in my first work, I had a different understanding of the cross symbol. In China, this red cross is frequently seen in medical-related places, so slow down to avoid accidents. This also makes us think about whether the understanding of symbols is also related to cultural background. Therefore, we try to verify this problem through games. We each did a symbol selection and comparison on the Isotype (1930) website for the same nouns. Fortunately, when we played on the word “noise,” everyone in the group understood it very differently. These include the sounds of crying children, musical instruments, clamoring in meeting rooms and car horns. We found that perhaps the international road sig system may not be as global as thought.

‘Twenty-six Characters’ Nokia Pure——By Hugh Miller, Bradley Zimber, etc.

How to reflect the different positions and diversity of each person in the works has become a question that needs to be considered next. Fortunately, we found the font work “Nokia Pure” by Hugh (2021) in the works shared on social platforms. The font design work for the book cover gave us inspiration. The overlapping of letters of different colors not only shows their differences, but also reflects the diversity of content. Therefore, we will screen-print the logo graphics in an overlapping manner. On the one hand, screen-printing can present the effect of mixing different colors. On the other hand, the screen-printing pattern of split printing also echoes the fusion of different cultural backgrounds in our works.

Bibliography references：

Francisco, L., (2014), Critical Graphic Design: Critical of What? [online] Available at: https://modesofcriticism.org/critical-graphic-design/.

Bell, H., (1997), Cultural Criticism and Transformation, [online] Available at: https://arts.kanopy.com/node/41521/preview.

Ellen, L., (1993), Critical Wayfinding, [online] Available at: https://ellenlupton.com/Critical-Wayfinding.

Mario, V. M., (2019). This means this, this means that: Semiotics — the study of meaning. [online] Available at: https://uxdesign.cc/this-means-this-this-means-that-semiotics-the-study-of-meaning-84cd9e800214.

Gerd, A., (1930), Isotype, [online] Available at: http://www.gerdarntz.org/isotype/products.

Hugh, M., etc., (2012), ‘Twenty-six Characters’ Nokia Pure, [online] Available at:https://www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2012/typography/19505/twenty-six-characters/.

Through last week’s attempts, different cultural backgrounds are valid for different understandings of road signs, so we subjectively select symbols related to words and compare them. We wanted to see how our different positions affect our choice of images. We use the extended ISOTYPE file to select a symbol to mark the meaning of four words.

After the first week of exploration, we decided to focus our research and explore the feasibility and readability of a road sign system. We chose to use screen printing as a printing method in order to explore the multiple layers of meaning that coexist. We worked together to challenge three original logo designs and what they represent. Each new logo contains a different level of understanding in one view. All three were designed and printed together as a team.

What have we learned?
Standardised symbols can affect our understanding of situations, society and hierarchy.

Reducing ideas to symbols (the simplification of ideas) can have a cost for society.

Systems such as the road signs and ISOTYPE are claiming to be intuitive and therefore multicultural, but we believe they are not.

I used to think that graphics can transcend language and convey information across language barriers. Therefore, the road signs of the international standard specification may be completely applicable to anyone and any situation. However, through this group project I found that the idea that graphics can ignore language barriers is one-sided. People in different countries have different understanding of graphics under different language backgrounds and national cultural backgrounds, so some road signs may have problems of identification obstacles or ambiguity. 

Of course, there may be similarities in understanding in different cultural contexts, but there is also diversity.

Group members：Ella Krispel, Myoungae Kim, Xintong Wang, Yunze Si.

Our group visited the Rapid Response Collection exhibit at the V&A Museum together. And each chose the object of our initial interest.

After answering the questions in the brief, we found that each of us has a personal understanding of the project, our positions are not only different, but similar, so we decided to discuss the issues and background about the song project together.

When comparing the different positions of each object, we noticed a protrusion. While discussing Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir’s standardized road sign system, we realized that there is a stark difference in our understanding of road signs. We were particularly interested in the designer’s intent to create a standardized system constructed from visually simplified symbols aspired to effectively communicate objects, situations, instructions and warnings.

Our group’s initial investigation was to examine whether such a symbol-based system has intuitive/multicultural viability. We decided to explore our different understandings of certain symbols in the system by intuitively translating them in order to compare our results.

In my first work, I tried to translate the guide signs and warning signs with my own understanding. I have learned driving, but I have vaguely remembered the meaning of some road signs. So I have different understandings of the third, fifth and last road signs. For example, the third one looks like a hospital logo, which means driving more carefully to avoid traffic accidents. The fifth icon looks more like a reminder that you are about to encounter other vehicles and you should slow down. Last is watch out for the pedestrian icon. I tried to replace it with the graphics of people with mobility inconvenience， and the graphics of the Beatles crossing the road. It can enable drivers to receive pedestrian signals more clearly.

In the first iteration of the experiment, I chose several different food inks, including Coffee, Red wine, Ketchup, Egg yolk, Cream, Nutella (chocolate), Drinks (Coke, Juice)

Since the printing ink of choice is food, it is expected that the effect may iterate over time, producing physical or biological changes, such as drying out or mold. However, due to the small amount of ink required for the printing experiments, the food ink dried quickly and did not show mildew.

There are many interesting and unexpected results in the printing experiment.

First of all, there is randomness in food ink printing, and the printing effect of each printing is different.

Second, after egg yolks are printed as ink, the ink dries and takes on a glossy finish over time, similar to the UV printing process.

Third, increasing the amount of food ink creates a special build-up texture. For example: Ketchup will have a vein texture, Cream will have a letterpress effect, Coffee and Red wine will have a watercolor effect.

Of course, there are some uncontrollable problems. For example, when printing, I need to control the amount of ink used. If there is too much ink, the printed content may overflow the edge of the text.

Moreover, some drinks cannot be printed as ink, such as Coke and juice, perhaps because the color is too light to render on paper.

Through the printing experiment of food ink, I found that food ink will present more special textures and effects, which can be used as an additional printing process for artistic creation. However, this printing method is quite challenging, and the amount of ink is difficult to control, so this tool requires trial and error on the amount of ink used.

I also try to print ketchup as ink on a variety of different materials and mediums, simulating the common and uncommon printing processes in life. Although the printing process is more complicated, food ink does have the function of printing.

All in all, food ink printing is a tool that may be difficult to apply to general printing jobs, but can be used as an innovative form of printing.

Tutorial Feedback：

What’s working:

· Tried different types of food inks that worked

· Do a lot of iterative experimental research on food ink printing to analyze the unique effects of different foods

· The iterative process not only included various food inks, but also experimented with different effects of food on various printed materials

· Using food as a printing ink produces interesting effects

What’s no working:

· Limited to printing with the same logo pattern, you can choose patterns or content that are more related to food inks for printing experiments

· The way of iterative experiment is still relatively limited, you can try to explore a wider range and method related to the printing effect of food ink

· I missed two tutorials due to illness, so I missed a lot of opportunities to get feedback during the iteration process, so no further iterative experiments were produced in the printing iteration.

To development further/in future projects:

· If you combine food ink with more professional printing processes such as letterpress, screen printing, printmaking, etc., there may be more possibilities

· Need to continue to think and complete the next iteration of the way, thinking about the relationship and impact of the selected tools on graphic design

· It is possible to combine traditional printing methods with 3D or digital media to express the presentation effect or other unique features of food inks, and carry out the next iterative experiment.

·Try to combine the printing effect of food ink with food branding, and do some final work in brand direction

The material I choose is the MV of the song Lover, which comes from Taylor’s album. The video focuses on Taylor’s boyfriend and her musical music experience.

I have tried to translate the music video content by means of text paraphrasing and audience reaction. However, after my experiment, I found that there might be a better way to reproduce this MV, such as other people’s covers. Because many listeners record their own cover versions of their favorite songs.

What inspired me was Taylor’s new remake of two album that had been out of copyright. All the songs on the album are the same, just new arrangements and new recordings, and write the Taylor’s version at the back.

Therefore, I decided to translate this MV by paraphrasing the cover version of Lover by the fans.The video switches scenes in seven different colors to represent each of her seven albums. Because Taylor said that every album is a different phase and a different Taylor.

So，The cover versions of different styles are toned according to different scenes, and the scenes in the original MV are copied in the switching sequence, and then re-edited into another cover version of the MV.

Feedback：

Working:
-Collecting clips from fans-straight forward

Not working:
-too safe
-missing one week’s work

Further development
-Use shorter clips/more radical remix
-More experiments

In the preface, Michel Foucault questioned, analyzed and agreed with the classification of animals in Borges’s fictional Chinese Encyclopedia, that is ‘animals are divided into: (a) belonging to the Emperor, (b) embalmed, (c) tame, (d) sucking pigs, (e) sirens, (f) fabulous, (g) stray dogs, (h) included in the present classification, (i) frenzied, (j) innumerable, (k) drawn with a very fine camelhair brush, (l) et cetera, (m) having just broken the water pitcher, (n) that from a long way off look like flies’(Foucault, 2001, p. xvi), thus proving that there is an inherent order in human society.

I try to deconstruct the argument about order in Michel Foucault’s preface, so that I have a better understanding of its content. On the one hand, the fundamental codes of a culture establishes the order of language, values, and the hierarchical structure of practice, from which people can obtain specific rules and orders. On the other hand, there are scientific theories or philosophy that explain the existence, universal laws, and principles of order. However, there is an area between the two that is vague and difficult to analyze. In this area, culture has begun to deviate from the order established by the fundamental codes, and people can critically realize what the real order is, ‘maybe these orders are not the best order’((Foucault, 2001, p. xxii, ). In short, they are questioning whether these orders are still suitable for the current society and cultural environment. Therefore, Michel Foucault’s point of view is that the fuzzy area between the two is an extremely important part. This area is full of infinite possibilities and can establish new system structures and explore more orderly relations.

This preface is to break people’s inherent ideas, through the deconstruction of order, to separate humans from the original state of order, and to encourage people to think about and explore other orders. It may be a continuous, hierarchical order, or it may be a discontinuous or fragmentary order. The order relationship between language and things described in the article makes people begin to reflect on how we will interpret our world by creating a new order through language, perception and practice when the order we are accustomed to is broken.

Bibliography reference:

Foucault, M. (2001). In The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences. United Kingdom: preface, Routledge. 

Choose the top 20 songs that I have played the most on the music platform.

First of all, I conducted a research on the 20 songs according to the number of times they were played, and collected data from different directions such as music type, transmission source, release time, length, amount of comments and amount of bullets.

In addition, I tried to compare the wave frequency of the songs, hoping to show the mood of different songs by the change of wave frequency, but obviously their differences are very small, I can only classify them according to the rhythm of the song expressed by wave frequency. For example, the song on the left has a large variation in wave frequency, and most of them are lyrical and slow songs about expressing family affection and love. The song on the right has a high frequency for a long time, indicating that this part is full of energy and dynamic songs or high mood music.

I have tried to find interesting information in the comment area, but through the collection and research from the comment area of the song, I found that most of the comments are feedback on the singer, rather than the emotions conveyed by the song itself in the melody. The song consists of two parts: lyrics and melody, but the lyrics will be restricted by language, but the melody can convey emotions across languages, and may better reflect the different emotions that the song itself brings to people. I wish I could catalog each song by its ability to empathize. Of course, the truest feedback is the reaction to the song. So, I searched for participants in different native languages for the songs in my playlist to conduct experiments. When they hear the song, they can truly feel the emotional brought by the song without understanding the content of the lyrics at all.

The purpose of this catalog is to show that in different languages, songs can still convey emotions through melody and still have the ability to empathize.

Feedback:

To develop:
• The set is the reaction video
• At which point did you take the screenshots – was there a system for choosing the image from the video?
• How did you decide it was the best image?
• Expressing emotions through colour and the face
• Once you find the set, you look at it in detail and break it down to understand the grammar – that thinking is missing from the presentation
• Similarities and differences of the songs
• Find a system that represents the video itself – think more about this
• Spend more time breaking down the songs themselves
• How can the emojis be developed more
• Is this enough to help you understand the reaction
• Like that the images contrast the reaction image – no relation, exaggeration
• Is there a system behind the pixilation
• These are professional reaction givers – make money – material
• Explore this for the translation project

A relationship of trust hidden under protection

By chance, I discovered the location of this research project. The project took place in a Rock Climbing Centre, which is open only on weekends and is popular with Climbing enthusiasts.

The research methodology and process used in this project are related to Perec (1974). According to Perec (1974), I described and recorded all the details that caught my eye through notebooks, pens and lenses. Especially for the rock climbers and their partners in this space to observe and record all-round, including their climbing trajectory, the tacit understanding between each other and the interaction and emotions between them. On the one hand, there are physical protective relationships, which are connected by ropes and equipment to protect each other. On the other hand, there is the intangible relationship of trust. together to achieve complete trust. This relationship is invisible and fragile, and it needs to be maintained together to achieve complete trust. Through photographing and recording, the project further investigated the delicate relationship between people and made experiments.

In my attempt to visualize the trust relationship between people, Carlo Di Salvo (2012, p116) ‘s view that “the process of exploration gives form to problematic situations” inspired and guided me. As Salvo (2012, p116) States, “The process of inquiry makes problematic situations able to be perceived and experienced.” This project can present the exploration process of fragile trust relationship between people through experimental experience. In response, the project made simple links from a variety of materials, wristbands linking wrists. Combine a sturdy connection device with a fragile paper wristband. It is intended to show that people must work together to maintain a fragile trust relationship between each other, otherwise it will easily break like a paper wristband.

Bibliography reference:

Perec, G., (1974) ‘Species of Spaces and Other Pieces’ London: Penguin.

Salvo, C. D., (2012) ‘Adversarial Design as Inquiry and Practice’ Cambridge: MIT Press