In Limbo »
Honestly, that is not a euphemism. I’m literally in a limbo as I wait patiently for graduation to happen. Last week I made my final contribution to my course in an oral presentation and since then I’ve been prattling about wondering if there is anything I need to do. Unfortunately because of the recession finding a job has been like pulling teeth but I am staying in high spirits. We have not had our show yet and there is a couple of exhibitions in London to look forward to if all goes well. Not that I’m putting all my eggs in one basket but at least I can tell myself that I don’t need to resort to a blind panic just yet.
colourfeed: A study of colour phraseology — Visit project website »
With the internet growing exponentially through the use of social networks it is becoming harder to find relevant or interesting information through conventional semantic methods. Search terms provide a black and white interpretation of space within the realm of the internet, allowing users to navigate through the use of words. However, language is abstract and does not always convey the intended meaning. Let’s take colour as an example.
Colour is not just used to describe things on a visual basis. It carries its own connotations and meaning – red is the colour of blood and associated with violence but is also the colour for several charitable organisations. Purple was traditionally associated with opulence but it is also used to describe writing which is so embellished that it is completely out of context. As such, what can we expect by searching for colour terms? What can we expect from searching for blood, violence, charity, opulence or literature?
What I am demonstrating through these visualisations is how information can be displayed according to the colour terms used, and then according to the tags attributed to those colours. I have used Twitter to pull various tweets on the subject of colour – although this could be done with any information on any topic. It allows the user to browse information through the use of both semantic and visual tagging. It allows the opportunity to browse for something specific, or something random. It creates unique colour combinations and word connotations.
It shows that whilst data relies on semantic comprehension there are also other factors which could be included to deepen the meaning of the words attached. By colouring tweets with the colours mentioned within them, we are able to see what colours people are tweeting about right now. We can determine the visual narrative that is unfolding this very minute within the realm of colour – whether it be contempt socialists rebutting Gordon Brown, D&B lovers sharing a remix of a Pink Floyd classic or the occasional English slip in a Chinese tweet.
colourfeed is a commentary on contemporary uses of colour related language, as well as a bridge between visual and semantic tagging of data. It is a rainbow narrative, a concept for more meaningful browsing and oddly voyeuristic. To see live examples, visit colourfeed.me and explore the visualisations.
The Conspiracy of Type — Visit project website »
Consider the art of typography as an esoteric art in which secret knowledge and understandings are imposed on the viewer without conscious intervention on their part. Typography is everywhere, and this notion alone makes it susceptible to conspiracy. Just what is being communicated with type, when the typeface itself is screaming its own message?
Thus the conspiracy of type was born – a fictional narrative (or is it?) through which the protagonist has to make their way through a series of puzzles in order to uncover the truth. The first series of puzzles were flash based, telling the story of the narrative through a series of animations. Each animation somehow reflected the nature of conspiracy through enigma codes, hidden messages and a visible grid which is usually a hidden element in design.
Soon the conspiracy grew as new opportunities to expand its reach arose. Instead of having it as a black and white narrative which force-fed the story, why not abstract it? Soon the notion of a government investigation took shape, complete with evidence that supports the conspiracy of typography leaving the viewer to come to their own conclusions about what it could be.
The conspiracy is accompanied by an archive, reflective of browser games such as thisisnottom and not notpr0n. The answers are hidden in plain sight, alluding to the use of other online tools, decoders, and secret messages in the code itself. This concept of secret messages in plain sight is one commonly associated with typography.
For example, Helvetica is commonly perceived as a neutral typeface to which any meaning can be prescribed, but the reality is that it tells millions of stories. Whether it be directions to the nearest train station, the logo of a world famous brand or the opinions of designers in the documentary dedicated to the typeface, Helvetica is anything but neutral. This also made it an excellent candidate for the antagonist of the conspiracy narrative.
