Instructions – Seeking What Sticks
“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti” —Sophia Loren
Time to follow directions.
“How do you make spaghetti?”
This was a question posed by design professor Mark Baskinger’s seven-year-old daughter. “In trying to explain all of the
steps to her, I struggled to remember what I would do first. Do I open the cabinet and decide which kind of pasta I’ll make?
Or do I first start the water boiling with a dash of salt? And at what point do I start the sauce for a slow simmer on the stove? In an effort to answer her question thoughtfully – and to avoid patronizing her with a response such as, ‘Well, daughter, you boil the pasta, add the sauce then eat’ —I realized she was asking to learn about a process that she had casually observed countless times before.”
Visual Narrative Challenge:
As we participate in activities that are part of our daily routine, behaviors so ingrained that we become less aware of the individual tasks, subtleties and events associated with the activity. Is there really any logical reason why many people throw spaghetti on the fridge to make sure it’s fully cooked when a simple taste would suffice? Behaviors or customs like this often go unnoticed – but from a designer’s perspective, these behaviors are extremely important in gaining an understanding of how people actually live.
In this challenge created by Mark, reflect on how you take part in the common activity of cooking pasta, making bread, baking cookies, making your favorite snack, making your bed, making coffee, changing a tire, etc.
Using your powers of design, visually depict the various actions, sequences, tasks and behaviors in a one-page visual narrative that allows you to analyze and explain how you make something.
Consider all the steps, including tools, equipment and ingredients. Represent the activity from a variety of perspectives, showing the various
stages, sequences and events. Focus directly on the process of the activity, thinking through all of the subtleties of behavior rather than
the expected outcome.
You can consider a visual narrative depicting sequence, transformation, or cycles.
Sequence: The following of one thing after another in an orderly or continuous way
Evolution: The process by which something develops gradually into a different form.
Transformation: To change in condition, nature, or character; convert.
Cycles: A series of events or operations that repeat regularly in the same order.
It is our goal to convey information in a clear and effective way to our audience.
“We can set a mood, generate tension, surprise, or calm; it can startle or seduce. We must communicate information through form, color, texture, and visual symbols.” — R. Brian Stone
Choose a graphic style including font choice that best communicates the sequence of events using photographs or illustrations.
Size: You choose the size and proportion. However, it must fit within 1 an 11×17 sheet size. The printed item must include .25” bleeds and be output as a Press Quality PDF with Trim/Crop Marks, using the document bleed settings.
“A graphic designer maintains a perspective based upon an awareness of fundamental principles, self-criticism, and a process-oriented approach to his or her work. From this vantage point, he or she understands the implications and connections between form, media, and information, and possesses the flexibility and inventiveness to address the ever expanding body of knowledge and complexity of our culture.”
— Paul Rand