VANISHING POINTS
Class: Advanced Transmedia Studio,
Instructor: Brad Bartlett
Transmedia, Typography, Print, Book, 2015
Vanishing Points explores the relationship between traditional graphic design, conceptual artists who use digital design tools as their medium, and how having an awareness of both is essential for innovation.
The book utilizes nonlinear storytelling by carefully orchestrating a series of articles and texts to alternate back and forth between traditional graphic design and conceptual art. The traditional graphic design standard typeface, Helvetica, is juxtaposed with conceptual art and abstracted imagery to emphasize the stark contrast.
Although seemingly fragmented, this method engages the audience and creates a sense of awareness. What is written in the text, seen in the imagery, and experienced while reading the book are all contextualized as part of the message. The medium is the message.
Our perceptions of our surroundings are based solely on the environment that we were brought up in. Both traditional graphic design and conceptual art are equally important. Feeling too strongly about one or the other not only hinders our ability to understand our environment, but also blinds us from possibilities for innovation.
Knowledge informs innovation. The object is not the problem. "A gun is neither good or bad, it is the way it is used that determines it’s value."
