Static

The idea of interruptions made me think of disturbances. I looked at static on television and how although a distraction from the normal vision it encourages this hypnotism which I find relates with the 'in the zone' feeling.  Your thoughts?

These are just a few graphic experiments that I've done. Reading is the most universal and common state of Flow. I wanted to represent being distracted and disturbed when in the state of Flow. 

A Friend of Mine

There seems to be alot of really interesting work coming out of graphic design studios in Australia. Not really on my radar until I saw this identity for the Skin + Bones exhibition at Somerset House, designed Melbourne studio, A Friend of Mine.  It was about the fusion of fashion and architecture. The pin and thread typeface mimics the concept of structure yet still holds on to the craft of fashion. The repetitive nature and the obvious creative process of constructing this sign-age echos that of  the process of activities to achieve the state of Flow............ I also love the identity and print work for The Modern Flower Co.

Noriko Ambe Amazing

Noriko Ambe work has the repetitive nature, and you can imagine the constant need of concentration and detail. By executing an obviously intensive workload in the final design I could showcase the need of Flow. 

Nina Jua Klein: 'A project exploring the spatial and rhythmical qualities of ornaments. Two-dimensional shapes derived from three-dimensional objects become the basis for translating an ornament's surface area into sound." The packaging is slick for this project. The use of a system is something that I can relate to while constructing my flip books

Alice Wang's Peer Pressure Project is a really unique way of commentating about a social situation. She concentrates on the pressure we feel in the need to conform. The earphones play out different music t the embarrassing stuff you're listening to. Popular Mobile is a service that randomly sends messages to make you look popular. Fast Typing Keyboards will give the impression that you're a whizz kid and the Positive Printer prints out all your positive emails that your colleagues will accidentally see when they go to get their prints. I think that this project is double edged as although it helps give confidence to the user is may raise the standard of what success is. 

How can I demonstrate Flow without intimidation and incorporate it into everyday occurances?

Warning! Moods Are Contagious!

Random as.. Purgatory pack

Random website

Although a random as product I think that there lies an interesting concept. Purgatory is a place of state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are repaying for their sins before going to heaven.  I feel that happiness is a state that everyone is struggling to achieve and it would be quite an interesting concept to produce a 'Happiness Package'.  Also wishing for others to achieve happiness too.  

When to the Design Museum and saw Hussein Chalayan's exhibition 'From fashion and back'. 

I am a lover of fashion but I would recommend this exhibition to anyone. Although renowned for his innovative use in technology, I was pleasantly surprised that his collections are driven through strong concepts. 

One collection related quite strongly to my research. In the 'Kinship Journays (A/W 03) runway show, a trampoline, confessional and a coffin shaped boat occupied the space. Each of the elements represented a narrative of sin, hope, redemption and salvation, inspired by Roman Catholic religion. A model bounced up and down attempting to reach the Divine. This abstract representation of the strive for attaining could help with the concept of attaining positivity. 

His website is worth a look at too.

 

At the theatre

Security Blanket

Magic Moving Images

This was a little bit cool, found it really hypnotizing. Looking at movement across the page maybe a technique that could be used to attract and hold attention. To encourage a state of Flow I need to gain the concentration from the viewer.

Rose Tinted Glasses

Jasmin Raznahan noted that January 23rd is the most depressing day of the year. I recreated 'The Guardian' from this date in two colours so that when viewed through a pair of rose-tinted glasses, the only news that remains is the good. This outcome brings to light how everyday occurrences like reading the newspaper can be manipulated to alter perceptions and increase awareness. This simple solution of complicated commentary is something that I am trying to attain with my EMP.  Simple but effective ideas are shown throughout, the Post It stamp is pretty cool too! 

Black on Black

I've just finished a short course in screen printing and now have become far more aware of different printing techniques. I found this black on black set of covers that are bound with an black elastic band. The same colour printed over encourages the need for more close attention in order to see the image.  I believe this is similar to that of the magic eye.

Magic Eyes

I believe that magic eyes are a quick demonstration of Flow. The task is clear, you have to find the hidden image, you concentrate real hard, you zone out, lose all self consciousness and your sense of time is distorted. Was going to concentrate on making my own magic eyes, but the problem was already solved... 

TV-B-Gone

This key-ring is a device which switches off any TV! An annoyance spurred the design by Mitch Altman. It allows you to switch off a TV set whenever you need to.... Imagine if you could turn off all distractions? Would you still do it? Or would it be best if someone had the choice for you? 

Guilt

Right, I've been struggling to find my own state of Flow when is has come to EMP so I decided to get rid of my biggest distraction for a bit... Facebook. 'Are you sure?'  'Yes'.... then Facebook pulled on the heart strings 'Dan will miss you' 'Bryony will miss you'..... Who heard of being made feel guilty by an interface!? This notion came in hand when thinking about distractions and the lure of activities that need no thinking. 

Geoffrey Mann

Geoffrey Mann, a product artist, explores the possibilities and impacts on the physical form of digital media and digital manufacturing. He materializes the motion of animals through space and time. The images depict in a solid object the shape created by the erratic movement. This work highlights and opens up the question of how can I record an activity. By observing people in a state of flow will I see a similarity between the activities? Is there a secret ingredient to creating the state of Flow?

Although placing positive mantras in public space isn't new the execution from Keetra Dixon shows a pleasant subtle integration into the environment. This subtlety is something that i am going to try and achieve through the finishings of my final piece. The work has to be in- obtrusive so that people are not intimidated to touch or use. Also the state shuld ot be forced upon but should be encouraged.

While looking at Flow I came across the SlowLab. It showcases design that is a counterbalance to the fastness of current design. Time in Textiles is a the work of Marie lise Bourlanges. Donning a carbon fibre suit over a white blouse, Bourlanges captured gestures of the body bending, stretching, scratching and rubbing. The transfer imprint on the blouse was then translated into a pattern, resulting in intricate collections of lines that ebb and flower across the textile. This is a interestig way of recording an activity. This coincides with the concept of flow and the concentration of a task.

A photograph mounted into the interior of the Foam Museum, beholding a piece of dust that once appeared in the exact location of the photograph. It is an interesting piece and reminds me of my clapped hands. This however does coincide with my approach to the state of flow. My imposing an activity/image of flow would people notice? Would people care?? Dust by Anne de Vries. 

Visors

After those experiments it made me think of the idea of narrowing your field of vision. The concept of visor seems to represent the idea of blocking out distractions as well as some humorous images on the net.  

Own little world

Did a little experiment. Went up to people in the supermarket, got as close as you normally would and saw if they noticed that I took a photo. People were s engrosses in thier choice making no one turned to look up. 

Amazing: Isophone

Auger-Loizeau combine a range of disciplines including engineering, fine art and product design to build products offering services that contrast and question current design ideology. The Isophone project relates to an extreme concept of the state of flow. The user wears a helmet that blocks out all distractions whilst keeping the head above the surface of the water. The water is heated to body temperature blurring the physical boundaries of the users body. Floating in this manner frees up to 90% of the brains workload normally engaged . In combination, a space is created for providing a pure, distraction free environment for making a telephone call.

Distractions : Safari History

I looked at documenting where people lose concentration by recalling peoples history lists on the internet for the day. 

It shows the obvious distraction of my course mates from research is Facebook :s

Quite cool how it easily shows how we flick our attention back and forth.

After continuing my research into positive psychology I have come across the theory work of Csikszentmihalyl. Flow is considered the 'optimal experience'. This is when a person is so engrossed in a task/activity that they achieve a control of their self consciousness.  Csikszentmihalyl commented that there is no such thing as happiness. However gratification comes from the state of being - the feeling of complete engagement in a creative or playful activity.  By having a sense of participation in determining the content comes close to what is usually meant by happiness. Therefore this optimal experience is something we can make happen. With my EMP I want to see if there is a way of mimicking this state of Flow. Maybe create activities that encourage Flow.

Social Constellations

  After looking how moods can spread across friends and family, I thought of how you could represent links between  people across a distance. Stars were gathered and collated into groups and random clusters gained significance. Lelsie K Wok has used the notion of star constellations to add meaning to her personal social circles and recounting how they met certain famous people and some no-so-famous. These have been represented through stylised sociograms.