The New A.B.C.'s
2010
Description
Inspired by the Chinese ideographic principle of associative compounds and the use of the modular system of the square, I want to capture memories of growing up triggered by visual imagery. Using the game as an interactive medium, the user discovers the visual relationship of ideas, individual or communal, that can be applied to their local context. If we delve into this pool of ideas, expound upon them, embody them, and embed them into wherever we may be, we can cultivate our environments and create identities that are based more upon our unique dichotomies than the existing globalized culture.
Fields
Exhibition Design, Graphic Design, Multimedia
  • The New A.B.C.'s
    An Interactive Puzzle Exploring Personal Narrative
  • Inspired by the Chinese ideographic principle of associative compounds and the use of the modular system of the square, I want to capture memories of growing up triggered by visual imagery. Using the game as an interactive medium, the user discovers the visual relationship of ideas, individual or communal, that can be applied to their local context. If we delve into this pool of ideas, expound upon them, embody them, and embed them into wherever we may be, we can cultivate our environments and create identities that are based more upon our unique dichotomies than the existing globalized culture.
  • Excerpts from Research and Work in Progress
  • A structure of the system, influenced by the formations inherent in the Chinese language and how words are formed. Experimentation was done with placement, syntax and idea structure.
  • A brief explanation of linguistics found in Chinese that was used as a learning tool for this project
  • Brainstorming ideas of what to create words for. Words made were based on personal experiences from growing up as a Chinese-American. I wanted to bring this to the table to show people alternative ways to express their personal stories, issues in the community, and ideas that are more universal and shared amongst us as people.
  • A sample of a direction for the final presentation, eventually scrapped
  • First round of sketches for words
  • Diagram explaining how the tiles would display information and how they should be created, along with breaking down information and the structure behind it.
  • A breakdown of the tile's design, how it would move and interact in space. Inspiration was derived from using sliding tile puzzles often found as children's toys.
  • Tile moving acorss the platform, and suggested designs for the puzzle's frame.
  • Finalized designs of the words, 13 rounds of revisions later.
  • Underlying writing found under tiles when revealed
  • Detail of some tiles. Name for the tile along with an accompanying story that explains the structure of the word in progress. Further explanation is applied at the bottom of the tile, to further educate the audience on cultural or colloquial ideas/aspects.
  • Detail Photos of Final Piece on Display at the 2010 BFA CD+DT Thesis Exhibition
  • Detail of Chair with Words Created
  • An overview of the table, with a chair provided to sit upon and interact with table
  • Detail of Puzzle pieces, inspired and derived from a sliding tile puzzle, often found in children's toys
  • A Tile for my Chinese name, ChiuKeat, which translates to "heroic tide." The idea is as follows: pencil (creativity) describes the quality of the owl (leadership and wisdom), which is over the tide, describing the tide. This "heroic tide" is in turn a description of what type of personality one has (personality radical on the left, an adaptation of the word for brain in Chinese.)
  • These were the takeaways given at the BFA CD+DT 2010 Thesis Show. The twelve basic compound grids can be found underneath, that were used to create the 35 words of this puzzle.