Week 9

What I did

Monday: [1.5 hrs] spent sketching forms. I drew the Dirkon paper camera and the "Flutter in Pinhole" project to understand how the mechanisms worked. Then I continued to brainstorm my own.

Example of sketch designs: Pdf slide from grant application.

I do not want my form to be limited to the reference of a camera, so I will use panel sequencing to show prompts for the images I wish to see.

Tuesday: Had critique and got great feedback. I presented the idea of using film as a visual response material. After the midterm meeting, I also stated that I wasn't going to limit myself to thinking only of camera froms. The response from the group went well.

[4.5hrs] I began to "surround myself with crap" (aka make things without having too high of a standard for them). The media center had nice cardstock scraps that I found. From there, I just began to make templates and experiment without really thinking about much. I tried to fold them in to make them flat and see what creases caused which tension points.

Hand created templates, then built into illustrator.

Beginning ideas of swing arm mechanism

Wednesday: [5hrs] creating and developing the designs. Got suggestions from close-by peers. Continued to write my proposal and budget for the IP grant. Costs ended up being around $350-$400 dollars. The item listing was useful since I found exactly where and what I need to order. I also bought books on pinhole cameras and borrowed a book called "Paper Toys".

Thursday: [6 hrs] working on revising my grant application, and adjusting images. Below is my rewritten proposal, budget, and a few selected image slides from the image cd.

Let me see …

My goal is to create paper forms that prompt visual responses from their receivers. I am interested in the potential of communication through unfolding panels. Specifically, I am exploring and designing paper pinhole cameras that prompt the receiver to photograph their personal attachments. They act as the medium for understanding stories through the responding imagery. I envision the forms as flat folding and easily expanded by the user, requiring them to engage and establish a relationship with the object, feel an emotion, and then react to it.  The panels contain the text, “Let me see…”, that follows with a prompt, such as “where you go when you’re left alone.”  The forms encase a single slide of film that when exposed will be returned to me and the various images I accumulate will be displayed in a gallery.  I will promote the project and build a communal database to encourage participation.  The challenge is to find a way to incorporate interaction, interest and understanding, while keeping motivation to return the work.

Timeline:

November: Prototype designs, begin to use film to see results.

Begin to create a website for promotion and image sharing.

December: Decide on prototypes, test on case groups and see results.

Work out design flaws. Prepare for December consultation. Write thesis draft.

January: Finalize designs. Begin to send to participants, gather images.

Feb: Continue to send out, try to expand range with promotions.

March: Keep collecting imagery, decide how to display.

April: Final shown.

Item	Expense	Quantity	Total
Coronado Smooth 100c 8x12 paper	Bulk (250 sheets)	X2	$145.9
Sheet Film Efke 2.25x 3.25” B&W ISO 100 Negative film	14.50 (25 sheets)	X7	$101.50
Developing	B&W film developing items		$70
X-acto blades, glue, etc.	varies		$50
Postage	*varies with time of purchase .29-.44 c rolls Envelopes-bulk	Roll of 100 for .29c X500	$30 $40
Total Costs			$437.40

What I discovered
I've found something that I'm interested in and I am engaged in to create. I need to make, make, make and when I started to, it felt really good. I felt like I was making progress after all this time of being confused. I've shown people my images and since we've had the professional writer come in, I've been clearer about what my project is about. It seems many people are excited by the idea.

What to do next
I want to begin to order paper, film, etc. I am going to continue making forms and exploring different unfolding panels. I will continue to write prompts and make designs, even though they aren't as important as the form right now, they will both inform one another.