My experiments

M E N U

Sofia Nissila // Graphic Design + Visual Culture, WdKA
graduationproject.hotglue.me

*M Y_E X P E R I M E N T S

Text about theory and practice
and how these play out in my design process.

Also something about the role / importance of prototyping
and hands-on making.

- - - -

What is visual research?

For me, it refers to two (2) things:

1_firstly, it means finding visual examples of related projects: a collection of images I'm working with. Visual material is organised in categories, such as pop culture, historical events, fashion, religion, art and design. However, all the categories can be divided into subcategories, for example pop culture can be divided into movies, tv-series, music videos, comic books etc.

This kind of research is always the starting point of my project. The aim of this kind of research is to be the expert of a particular subject. It's about building the bigger picture, and grasping the idea of the topic at hand.

2_second, visual research means making experiments with the subject, using various techniques like video, collage, drawing, cultural probes, booklets etc.

The aim of prototyping is to immediately start producing ideas and to get started. I have noticed that ideas create more ideas.

C O L L A G E S

L O C A T I O N S

C O L L A G E S

ABOUT COLLAGES

AIM
For me, collaging = brainstorming.
Thoughts, concepts and notions emerge from non-abstract and figurative images. Hands-on making gets my creative juices flowing, because ideas generate more ideas. However, reflecting is 50% of the whole process, and meanings can only surface from reflection.

ACTION
By combining analog techniques and digital software, I get the most out of collage making. Old magazines, flyers, posters, printed photos and online catalogues are great sources for materials.

RESULT
The result is a series of collages (textual, abstract, nonabstract).

REFLECTION
The first collage looks the UFO phenomenon from a skeptics perspective. Rectangular shapes refer to videos and TV screens. I guess this collage reflects the mainstream approach to UFOs and E.T.s: it's something to make fun of, kind of an taboo.

What I find most fascinating is the collage with red background and a statue, deep in his thoughts, carrying the world on his shoulders. God is also there, watching the world.
This collage is about the philosophical attitude: being open minded, being able to put myself in other peoples' position, discovering the world from various perspectives. This is an approach I want to take in my project.

I N F O

C O L L A G E S

P O S T E R S

3 D > A R

H Y P N O S I S - A U D I O V I S U A L

C O L L A G E S

EXPLANATION ABOUT VIDEO

AIM

ACTION

RESULT

REFLECTION

EXPLANATION
ABOUT
COLLAGES

AIM
Collaging techniques and intuitive making is integral part of my design process. Sometimes I have the need to do something, and not wait for inspiration.

RESULT
I combined analog and digital methods to create these images.

REFLECTION
These collages serve as a moodboard and inspiration for my hypnosis video.

**CLICK THIS IMAGE TO EXPERIENCE
THE HYPNOSIS VIDEO ON VIMEO**

EXPLANATION ABOUT THE POSTER

AIM
Just like collages, making posters is another way of exploring topics and ideas. For this particular poster, I used a sentence that fascinated me. For visual inspiration, I used this image of a Scientology poster (left).

"Ancient Astronaut theorists say yes." This sentence emerged from Ancient Aliens TV show. For someone rational and scientific-oriented person, their claims can come across crazy and outrageous. This sentence was repeated in almost every trailer, and it stuck with me. Almost like a bad jingle.

ACTION

RESULT

REFLECTION

3D MODEL

AIM
My primary goal was to learn how to use the 3D printers at Material Station. To be familiar with the software (or at least, about the basics) gives me self-confidence to try out new things.

ACTION
I took part in a Station Skill course, and designed this object using Tinkercad, Thingverse, Meshmixer and Cura. I used Ultimaker 3 for printing.

RESULT
The result is a small, blue alien head.

REFLECTION
It was refreshing to try new materials and printing techniques. I see myself doing this in the future.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS

QLONE APP &
AUGMENTED REALITY

AIM
(no particular aim, I just wanted to try out 3D scanning, and a friend of mine told me about this app.)

ACTION
I used Qlone app to 3D scan my blue alien head.

RESULT
The result is a deformed, glitchy, spinning 3D model of my alien model. It doesn't look anything like the original.

REFLECTION
Digital aliens? Could aliens exist in digital realm? Or how could they exist in digital realm? What does it mean for them to exist digitally? What is an alien anyway?

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
I had the idea of making souveniers for aliens, using the 3D printer.

**CLICK THIS IMAGE TO EXPERIENCE
THE HYPNOSIS VIDEO ON VIMEO**

HYPNOSIS VIDEO

AIM
My aim was to design a way to communicate with inner aliens. After initial reserch, I had the idea of using hypnosis or meditation. I found out that hypnosis is something that can be used to connect with subconscious mind. During the research phase I read about scripts and how to write your own hypnosis mantra.

RESULT
The result is a 4-minute-long hypnosis video (consisting of sound and visuals).

REFLECTION

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
*workshop, where I test out this hypnosis
(with some drawing or writing exercises?)
*taking this hypnosis a step furhter; arrange it in a space (room, not in outer space)
*think about the quality of the content, and the message > how can I develop this?

Breathe in
and set the intention to connect with your inner self
Breathe out
and release all tension in your body

Allow yourself to relax
take a deep breath in
Allow yourself to relax even more
a deep breath out
Allow yourself to relax completely
take a deep breath in

and a deep breath out.

As you breathe deeply,
let go
breathe out
and surrender completely

Allow my voice to access your subconscious mind
Allow my voice to guide you to your inner extraterrestrial
Allow yourself to be guided
Allow yourself to travel to unknown

Allow access to altered states of your mind
Allow access to other dimensions
Allow access to the alien inside you

You feel relaxed by every second
You feel excited to travel to altered state of mind

Let go, and surrender.

Let go, because
You are ready
You are fearless
You are courageous

You have the possibility to connect with your inner self
You have a beautiful opportunity to connect with you inner self

You feel excited, ecstatic, elevated
You feel grateful, pleased and thankful
You feel blessed, happy and fortunate

Now, as you are extremely relaxed, allow my voice to be your guide.

You are about to connect with your inner extraterrestrial
because
You are a divine being
You are holy
You are sublime

Now, you are standing on a beach
the sand feels warm under your toes
and the ocean breeze blows against your hair

Walk slowly away from the beach, toward the ocean horizon
Walk slowly and feel the water splash against your body
Walk slowly, keeping your soles on the bottom of the ocean

Your hands glide on the water’s surface,
as you walk away from the beach,
towards the ocean’s horizon

Take a deep breath
the deepest breath you have ever taken
and dive to the abyss
with one breath you can swim to the bottom of the ocean

how does it feel?
how does it feel to dive deep?
are you able to see the ocean floor?
are you able to reach it?

As you dive deeper
the water gets darker
but your intentions become clearer
Your desire to connect with your inner space being becomes stronger

remember to breath in
breath out

inhale
exhale

inhale
exhale

The darker the water
the clearer the intentions

the deeper the water
the deeper you dive into your subconscious

Your awareness lies below the surface
Below the surface lies your unlocked awareness

remember to breath in
breath out

inhale
exhale

inhale
exhale

As you dive even deeper, your connection grows stronger

Your awareness is yours to unlock
It is like a treasure chest, hidden away on the bottom of the ocean
A precious treasure chest that has been locked
and only you have the key

You have the key to unlock the treasure chest
a treasure chest that contains the connection to your inner space being

Now, open it
and embrace what you encounter
what you encounter is the most beautiful, enlightened version of you
you have discovered your inner space being

what do you see?
how do you feel?

what is it like to find another dimensional being?
what does it feel like being connected to oneness?

Tips for writing hypnosis scripts:

- avoid monotone voice
- pay attention to pace - soothing pace is most effective, but pacing is can be personal
- pay attention to the quality of language ; clear, simple
- use short and medium length sentences
- use powerful words that spark imagination
- use present tense!
- use exciting and visual language
- use positivity
- repeat! repeat! repeat!!
- ask questions!
- know your subject

Questions left unanswered:
- aim for hypnosis?
- duration?

H Y P N O S I S - II

3D PRINTS

HYPNOSIS VIDEO II

AIM
My aim was to improve the script and visuals, and try out more options for hypnosis videos.

ACTION
I started sketching the visuals in Photoshop, then moved on to work on them in After Effects.

As for script, I used a simple audio of inhaling/exhaling.

RESULT
The result is a 30-sec video, consisting of breathing sounds and abstract visuals.

REFLECTION

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
*Improve script once again. Try out what hypnosis can or cannot be, and the designer's role with this technique.
*the visuals are interesting, because it differs from hypnosis videos where geometric shapes are used.
*what is the difference between guided meditation and hypnosis? and is there are difference?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES

WORK TITLE

AIM

ACTION

RESULT

REFLECTION

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS

3D PRINT II

AIM
My aim was to design 3D objects to be used in/during the hypnosis.

ACTION
The triangle/pyramid shape refers to an arrow, facing up to the sky.

I used Tinkercad and Cura to make 3D prints.

RESULT

REFLECTION

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS

THEORETICAL REFERENCES

3D PRINT II

AIM
My aim was to design 3D objects to be used in/during the hypnosis.

ACTION
I used Tinkercad and Cura and Ultimaker 3 to make 3D prints.

RESULT
Neon-yellow 3D scribble. The bottom part was not printed correctly due to lack of support structure (whoops).

The pyramid-shaped objects turned out well, quality-wise. I experimented with scribbles, representing an alien language.

REFLECTION
The pyramid-shape refers to, well, pyramids, but vertical shapes always refer to reaching to the sky and to the God. And I'm not sure if that's something I want to communicate...

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS

THEORETICAL REFERENCES

3D > AR

H Y P N O S I S III

3 D > A R

I M A G E M A N I P U L A T I O N

D I G I T A L . C O L L A G E S

3D PRINT - HYPNOSIS PARAPHERNALIA

AIM
My aim was to design special paraphernalia to be used in hypnosis/meditation purposes.

ACTION
I used Ultimaker 3 to print these two pyramids, then glued them together.

Later, I used Qlone to 3D scan the final shape.

RESULT
The result is a duo-color shape.

REFLECTION
The shape itself is quite interesting,

Digitized paraphernalia for future generations.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Dive deeper into the meaning of paraphernalia ("equipment, apparatus, or furnishing used in or necessary for a particular activity") and shamanistic objects. What are their purposes and why? What qualities the object have? What do they signify? How to give meaning to objects?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES
Semiotics?

HYPNOSIS III VIDEO

AIM
My aim was to explore visually/visuals of hypnotic videos, and see how it influences my scripts for further hypnosis videos.

ACTION
I used After Effects to make the video.
As for material, I used collages I made before.
This time I incorporated my 3D printed objects to the compositions, to connect the video with the objects to the same realm, so that they would co-exist.

RESULT
The result: two short abstract video experiments with no sound on it.

Using the obejcts in this video is quite interesting, because it connects the video and the objects to the same realm.

REFLECTION
I do miss the guiding voice. I wonder what is the essence of hypnosis; the voice, or the visuals? Or both?

I also thought of brainwashing videos. That's a different take / position. Hypnosis and guided meditations are always optional, and brainwashing is connected to religions and politics and media.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Make a brainwashing video.
Look for examples in movies and pop culture. What is the purpose? What are the messages?

Also, how would I place this video in a space? Facing up to the ceiling?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES

IMAGE MANIPULATION

AIM

ACTION

RESULT

REFLECTION

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS

THEORETICAL REFERENCES

VERTICAL COLLAGES

AIM
My aim was to try out possible vertical compositions for future hypnosis videos. I was inspired by social media and the rise of vertical-format videos. I'm curious of the dominance of horizontal format, and how vertical position could influence surface, composition, storytelling, narrative.

ACTION
First, I did brief research about the history of vertical videos. I also found some examples, and Vertical Cinema.

RESULT
Vertical video is considered as experimental and off-the-wall, however, social media platforms have contributed to the rise of vertical format.

REFLECTION
These serve as moodboards, and collage as a technique is an ideation tool for next videos.

As for further reflection, I need to make actual videos, and see how I can be influenced by the format.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Make a video in vertical format
(story itself?)
Place it in school screens?
How to take my collages further?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES
Vertical line in art, and its connotations
Vertical video theory

**CLICK THIS IMAGE TO EXPERIENCE
THE HYPNOSIS VIDEO ON VIMEO**

I AM NOT AN ALIEN

AIM
My aim was to explore the social context of aliens, alienation, and how we define something as aliens. This photo and a short discussion with my classmate, I came to the conclusion that aliens can be defined as The Other, and linked to the concept of Otherness.

ACTION
I used my archives to find appropriate images.

RESULT
The result is a photo manipulation, an alien holding a sign stating I am not an alien.

REFLECTION
Indeed, this image links to the social concepts of alien, and how we see others.

However, this is not the direction I want to take in my project. I'm more interested in the spiritual aspect.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
-

THEORETICAL REFERENCES
Otherness

IMAGE MANIPULATION II

AIM
My aim was to explore alien sightings, and how to bring the alien to our world. This image is otherworldly, because of the quality of image manipulation. Also, the idea of finding something in nature of this color is absurd.

It's about mixing reality and imagination.

Would a foreign object be worshipped?

ACTION
I photoshopped the 3D model of my yellow pyramid to a Google Earth photo.

RESULT
A digital photo.

REFLECTION
The Ultimaker machine is the mediator?
The one that has the ability to materialise ideas into the material reality.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Next, I could make more of these?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES

VERTICAL HYPNOSIS VIDEO

Why this is interesting?
- I've been engaged with video editing a lot lately, since my first internship placement.
Altough I dont consider myself as a videomaker or audiovisual designer, this is a medium I enjoy doing. I like how content influences editing, and vice versa. For me, the workflow is a bit chaotic, still.

Horizontal format is the standard, the norm.

There is a rise of vertical format videos, thanks to social media. There is also a whole film festival build around it. It is considered as experimental, due to its lack of usage. I can see why: QuickTime player doesnt display it like I want it to - now it's vertical inside the horizontal shape.

AIM
My aim was to explore the vertical video format; how can I organise the narrative, how does vertical format influence storytelling (and possibly content), how does it differ from horizontal format.

ACTION
I recorded a two-minute hypnosis script, and edited the video around that.

(the script was a mix of my previously written script, and intuitive writing)

RESULT
The result is a 2-minute video, consisting of abstract visuals and "performative" clips.

Further questions for me to answer:
*What makes a hypnosis video a hypnosis vieo, and nothing else?
*Does it have to be a complete abstraction? Does it have to consist of mathematical forms?

So far, I havent found anything special in this format... same things could be expressed with horizontal videos... It's about cutting the surface, and playing with time and story and narrative.

REFLECTION
I feel like my "performative" clips break the magic...

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Try out more!
*Why should we use this format?
*How does it differ from horizontal?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES

H Y P N O S I S 5

P H O T O G R A P H S

HYPNOSIS(?) V VIDEO

AIM
My aim was to add a performative element to the hypnosis video. I don't know what to call this, because there is no sound or audio... I was hoping that it would give me more insights on what hypnosis videos can look like, and how the content is organised.

ACTION
I rented a projector from school rental, then used my Mac Book's built-in webcam to record material for video editing. I used After Effects for that.

RESULT
Video 0:26
It feels more like visual exploration.

REFLECTION
For me, the actual performing part felt uncomfortable, because I am someone who likes to observe others, rather than being the subject of observation. What I like about design/being a designer is that I'm not putting myself and my body for the world to see (like actors, singers, dancers).
Manual labor performed with bodies (like in assembly lines) is missing from this profession. Then again, would dancing be a way to achieve a trance-like state..?

Sound and audio are missing, so I'm not sure what to call this video. It doesn't seem like a hypnosis or guided meditation.

To be honest, I'm not sure if I gained any epiphanies from this exercise (pun intended).

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Advice for me: Be more mindful beforehand of what I want to make and achieve. Ask WHY, WHY, WHY!

THEORETICAL REFERENCES
If I'd pursue this, I'd look into the works of The Rodina, and performance as a tool for design.

H Y P N O S I S 6

A L I E N AS...T H E O T H E R

(scroll down for images)

AIM
My aim was to explore the idea of aliens from a social context: aliens as the Other / Otherness.
By doing this, I'd create distance from my research so far, which has been focused on aliens as the Inaccessible / the Unknown, in the context of psychology.

ACTION
I spend a few hours for theoretical and visual research. I looked briefly into philosophy, phenomenology, social sciences and psychology and see how they deal with the idea of the Other.

I looked for characteristics that "alienate" people from majority, from society, such as sexuality, gender, religion, music genre.

RESULT
The result is this mapping of different types of Otherness. There might be something missing, but it includes major themes in Otherness, and what could be called as alien.

REFLECTION
In this context, I guess alien could be dubbed as "non-conformed" and unfamiliar. One doesnt have enough knowledge or experience in these different groups, thus they are labelled as alien or Other. The spectator does the labelling. The Other has a negative connotation.
I guess I got confused with Otherness and alienation in this mapping.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
-

THEORETICAL REFERENCES AND KEYWORDS
Otherness
Orientalism
Gender theory
(Marx and alienation)

A L I E N AS...T H E O T H E R - D R A W I N G S

**CLICK THIS IMAGE TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO ON VIMEO**

T A P E S T R Y

AIM
My aim was to explore the idea of aliens from a social context: aliens and alienation. Who is the alien and in what (cultural/societal) situations?

ACTION
I made line drawings with Illustrator.

RESULT
The result is a series of drawings.

REFLECTION
This is social approach for my topic, playing with the words alien and alienation, and also exploring the stereotypical depiction of aliens.

I feel a bit like an alien in Dutch culture, however, I think I have adapted well. For me the language is still something I'd like to learn.

Foreign cultures can feel alien, too. Traveling has made me aware of this.

In this drawings, the alien is a metaphor for foreign, the unexplored, the awkwardness of not knowing how to behave in a foreign culture.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Search for stereotypical depictions of aliens. Why are they like that?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES AND KEYWORDS
-

AIM
My aim was to explore the topic of alien via my chosen medium. Without any specific story in mind, I wanted to explore the possibility of the story emerging from tapestry. I did, however, apply the Model of Mind I created for this experiment.

ACTION
First, I did some research about tapestry: its history, usage, functions, and how it has evolved from Middle Ages to Modernity.

RESULT
The result is a series of tapestry (1–3), and another sketch for tapestry (below).

Here, I explored further the Model of Mind.

REFLECTION
1-3 present a series, revealing the hidden processes and models we have in our mind.

Below: I was inspired by the horizon point and its reflection. For example where lake and sky meet and create one harmonious landscape. The reflection corresponds to reality. However, this is not what happens in nature.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
Obviously, I'd like to try knitting machines or embroidery to create material, tangible experiments. I could also create further experiments by using cotton fabric and fabric dye to get more organic results.

WHY TAPESTRY?
Classic tapestry covered secular and religious topics, mythical creatures, ancient kings and heroes. Besides storytelling, it had other functions: temperature and sound proof, hiding a wall. Architecht Le Corbusier called them portable murals.

Tapestry is connected to architecture, to physical space. Aliens are the modern-day mythological creatures.

I'm interested in medium is the message - what does tapestry tell?

THEORETICAL REFERENCES AND KEYWORDS
* Book about classic and contemporary tapestry

OTHER
* visit textile museum in Tilburg

M O D E L O F M I N D

As I was exploring the topic of alienation and otherness, I created this image of Model of Mind. Basically I fused Freud's structure of mind (middle) with the concept of space (right). The result is a new model (left): the dark colour represents the unknown, the Final Frontier, the unconsciousness.
The model also shows the borders of different levels of consciousness are not that clear. Ego, Superego and Id are one, and there are no internal forces fighting inside our minds.

For this image, I was inspired by the book How to See the World by N. Mirzoeff. In the third chapter of the book, How We Think About Seeing, he argues that human brains are like computers. This is something I disagree with. Computers are machines, capable of intelligent processes and automated tasks. However, they lack great characteristics of brains: intuition, consciousness / awareness. Mind doesn't equal brains, but the mind resides in the brains. The mind is the brain. We cannot exclude the question of mind when we talk about brains.

RESULT
The result is an image I created to visualise the Model of Mind. The darker colour represents the unknown, the unconsciousness.
This model opposes Mirzoeff's views on what we think of the human mind.

REFLECTION
The image is simple in its form and colour. I hope it communicates clearly.

(Disclaimer: I do not have background is psychology and I'm not aware of the discourse in that field.)

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER EXPERIMENTS
With this image, I wanted to apply this idea to something, and develop it further.

THEORETICAL REFERENCES AND KEYWORDS
* Freud and psychoanalysis
* Carl Jung and his views on psychoanalysis
* Russian cosmonaut stories

T A P E S T R Y II

T A P E S T R Y III

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T H E_P O O R _I M A G E - D E T E R I O R A T I O N _T E S T S

Click here to visit a deterioration test I made, inspired by Hito Steyerl's essay In Defence of the Poor Image.

I N F O

PROJECT MONOCEROS