Project One. Postcard.

On the first day of class, each student was assigned a category from which to select a specific, tangible object. We were told to choose wisely as this object would be the subject of each assignment for the duration of the class. I was assigned "fruits and vegetables" and after much deliberation, I chose "The Orange". 

The first assignment was to create a 4x6 postcard that best reflected the essence of our object. My first step was to make a list of every attribute I believed was essential to an orange. I tried to ask myself, "What makes an orange an orange?" 

Project One. Postcard. By: Kathleen Clarke.

Next, I began to think about how I could visually convey the essence of an orange. I purposefully selected a dimpled orange paper to tactilely represent the textured of an orange peel. I then found an image of a dissected orange and decided to fill each section of the orange with the list of attributes I believed best represented an orange. I was left with a lot of bare space on the sides of the postcard. In order to "fill the space" I flanked the card with images of an orange tree to show the derivation of the fruit. 

In hindsight, I believe I could have better expressed the essence of an orange. Instead of verbally communicating the attributes of an orange, I see now that I could have explored visual means. My choice of dimpled paper was an attempt at not being literal but I stopped there.

This project was a great first exercise in design and I thought it was very helpful to be critiqued so early in the semester. I needed a little nudge to start thinking outside of the box.