Launch Sessions:
Workshops
OVERVIEW
Launch Sessions was an intensive series of workshops over a three week period. Participants engaged with different ideas and ways of working as a form of introduction – or re-introduction – to the community and culture of the Media Design Practices program. In particular, this involved values key to design in the 21st Century: adaptability, criticality, relevancy, and experimentation. Workshops were led by a range of inspiring teachers and practitioners.
At the conclusion of the workshops, the outputs were displayed in each participants designated area on the Wind Tunnel gallery walls.
WORKSHOPS
Experimental Alphabets
In this workshop participants we designed and created their own alphabet/typeface and compose them into a piece. The workshop was focused on experimentation and composition. I particularly enjoyed this session as it helped demystify typography a bit, and allowed me to connect in a unique way to my passion for the outdoors. I plan to further refine the typeface and map it to be used as a computer font and potentially for t-shirt design.
Platforms
This workshop was an introduction and exploration into the global variety of social media platforms. We researched what makes them unique, and what purposes do they serve. As an outcome of the workshop, we partnered with another session member and mashed-up different applications into a prototype of a unique concept. My partner and I combined the messaging app Line, and physical activity tracking app Strava to create a location based accountability challenge game.
Working With People
This workshop involved field research and best practices around the ethics of researching and documenting people for projects. It began with a deep and intimate look into designated areas of historic Los Angeles neighborhood, Highland Park. Later the session evolved into discussion and activities to look at how we define our individual design practice.
How to Write About Stuff
This workshop explored the act of writing about ideas and objects. Exercises focused on narrative and research-based texts, with the goal of producing a short piece for exhibition. My stories ranged from reminiscing about an experience in the mountains of southern Utah with friends, to the surprisingly interesting history of chip clips.
Sewing Lab
I attended a workshop and earned certification to use the machines in the ArtCenter Sewing Lab. This also resulted in my making a simple pen/marker pouch.
REFLECTION
Launch Sessions was a great opportunity to engage in a variety of diverse activities while getting to know the incoming cohort and gearing up up for the semester. There were a handful of other sessions running concurrently that I was interested in attending from city-building to augmented reality.
below: a sample of process pictures from Launch Sessions
MATERIALS AND TOOLS
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Omnigraffle
Sewing machines
INSTRUCTORS
Tim Durfee - Coordinator, Launch Sessions
Jeremiah Chiu - Experimental Alphabets
Sean Donahue - Platforms
Elizabeth Chin - Working With People
Mimi Zeiger - How to Write About Stuff
Justine Parish - Sewing Lab