she!la wong

The senior thesis project is a topic that I've been grappling with for quite some time. I’ve written a number of questions that I’ve asked myself: What do I feel passionately about? What message do I want to send about design? Where do I see myself in regards to being an advocate? What is my place in this world as a designer? Do I want to pursue something I’m comfortable with, or try something radically new? But this exercise only engendered more questions than answers. After a time, I came to realize that I'm not much of an advocate of anything. This realization was a sobering one. Like most people, I do care about the state of our environment, and the whole "green" movement, but I wouldn't go so far as to call myself passionate. Our readings in studio have definitely made more aware of issues that we as designers must also consider. The Adbuster article made me realize that we cannot always rely on the clients we work with to set ethical standards. Instead, we have to establish our own. However, as thought-provoking as this proved to be, I don't think I would work with it for an entire semester.
After graduating, I do hope to work with web and interactive graphics. I am deeply fascinated by the level of depth and interaction that can be achieved though flash interfaces, etc. But the coding languages behind it are something of interest as well. (Whether it’s CSS, Ajax, jQuery, simple HTML, Actionscript, etc.)
As a general starting point though, I am avidly interested in new technology and its effects on our design considerations. There are numerous concept platforms on the horizon, many of which could even radically change how we perceive screen-based graphics now. I’ve seen ideas that break past the simple horizontal screen format, and begin to explore more organic to circular forms. There are a lot of designers out there who have been wary how permeated with technology our lives have become. Now, when we design something, we often need to consider how it might appear on a screen as well. Some embrace this. Some run like hell.
But I don't see it as the end of print media. Rather, technology can help to augment our visual experiences. (I’ve often had this “print versus digital” discussion with friends and fellow designers. Discussion has often been heated, often to the point where the two could be likened to archetypal conflicts such as ninjas versus pirates or humans versus mutants.) I’m very hopeful of where we are in design and technology, as well as where this path will eventually lead us as visual artists.

Stylesheet with possible typeface combinations, color palettes, etc.

Need: Young antiquers looking for quality stores that don't sell low-quality, worn-out goods. (Unless that's what you're looking for.)

Solution: Rating system through which they can evaluate the stores they visited, vendors dealt with, satisfaction with purchase. Can upload images, comments, reviews, etc. Customer base. Unifying symbol system for online and analog usage - for identifying different attributes of the store.

Need: To connect with other collectors of like items, etc.

Solution: Local web. Search tags, self tagged so that other people can search for like minded people. Friends list?

Need: To learn more about the object that they find.

Solution: Collective source - similar to a Wikipedia type of information gathering/editing.

Need: Personal expression - to display their collection, allow other users to see what they've amassed, etc.

Solution: User online space where they can post purchases, finds, project, profile information. Online gallery space.

Need: To learn how to create new objects from what they've bought.

Solution: Outlet through which they can post tutorials, workshops, and the like. Step-by-step with photos, videos, etc. Live chats with more experienced artisans in the community.

1.) Place - Venice

1.) Physical boundaries

Vintage clothing, furniture, relics, glasses, records, decanter

s, etc etc. Sculpture, paintings, old medical, optometrists' equipment.

Our community is geared towards younger generations who are looking for an online community about antiques and the collecting of them.

2.) What's / who's involved

People from ages 16 to 25, anyone who is interested in antiques, vintage items, etc. Old furniture, clothing, etc. Pushing antiques as a alternative to new furniture.

3.) Equipment needs

Vintage, antique items. Camera to take quality pictures of goods/relics y

ou're selling. Pricing guides.

4.) Demographics

Enthusiasts ages 16 to 25, who care about antiques.

5.) Individual and community wants and needs

On the individual level, antique collectors are looking for a sense of quality assurance. Commonly used online outlets like Ebay or Craigslist often don't have pictures of the antiques they're selling, or have fees which drive potential buyers and sellers away from the site.

Also, they're looking for community suggestion outlets, a rating system, etc.

(Think Amazon/Ebay user stars, etc.)

• tutorials
• pick of the week/day/whatever
• local finds
• buyer's guide

6.) Symbols

Optometrist's lens.(?) Markers of the community could be icons of universally recognized antique items. (Gramophone, records, glasses, pocket watches, furniture, etc)

7.) Motivations

Antique enthusiasts are often motivated by different drives - for some it's the act of collecting objects that they're interested by (Buttons, vintage luggage, typewriters, etc) or just as some described it, "the thrill of the hunt," or "taking other people's treasures and making it your own."

Others seek out antiques because they hope to furnish their home/apartment with them. (Perhaps looking to achieve a certain look or feel.) So I guess this is a motivation for home decoration?

Possible hosts:

plastic playth!ngs

Revised my wireframes/layouts of the XHEIGHT webpage from Wednesday. Final site will be built in Flash. Go AS3.0!

Not quite final (there's always room for revisions), but pretty close, and up and running:

a simple dashboard countdown widget made for our XHEIGHT conference:

When the clock hits zero, the widget is programmed to detonate your laptop, therefore forcing the user to make hand-rendered typography.

Just kidding...it'll just throw some positive words your way about attending and whatnot.

Still need to figure how to code it to countdown hours, minutes, seconds.

You can download it here.

The EcoZoo. A cute interactive website that utilizes fun 3D graphics to educate viewers about energy conservation. The user is about to view things from all angles, and can sometimes reveal details they hadn't seen previously.

Still working on titles for my website.