Inspiration Totem: The Process Book

Inspiration Totem

Process Book

Foundation

Conceptual Design

Product Delivery

Sculpture

Distribution

Foundation

im·ag·i·na·tion

·The faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.

·The faculty of producing ideal creations consistent with reality, as in literature, as distinct from the power of creating illustrative or decorative imagery.

I define my own perception of my imagination as “that voice” in the back of my mind, telling you descriptions, inspiring feeling, giving you differing perspectives on what you see. The instance where you create something out of nothing.

I for one wanted to give this “voice” a physical form that I would be able to interact with.

“imagination.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 10 Apr. 2011. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imagination>.

As a designer one’s occupation revolves around taking visual forms and giving them function of clear communication.

We ourselves opperate around the function of grading certain graphical styles and elements in a way that would be conducive to particular messages.

An ever constant conversation of values.

I decided that I would base my documentary on the creation of my inspiration/imagination totem.

I decided to use a Munny

doll for the foundation

of my totem. These

vinyl vessels were made

for the sole purpose of

customization. It’s mal-

leable form seemed like

a conceptually sound

object to influence.

Inspiration Totem

Conceptual Design

I began with a very viseral apporach. I thought of animals attributes that inspire my perception of my imagination. Later on i began to list the attributes and functional concepts that I wanted to convey and interact with regarding my imagination.

The main element I wanted to

interact with where the eyes of my

“imagination”.

I gathered that my imagination had to be a persona that lacks visual focus. If I am to be the ever scrutinizing specialist shouldn’t my oppsite be something that constantly absorbs.

The plauge doctors of the middle ages who did not know enough about their craft yet still rose to the challenge of being public servants. As design can be applied to all man made items the question their in lies will we ever know enough about our craft.

I used the ears as metaphors to call and response. Listening to music is one essential thing I indulge during my creative bouts. The cat like ears are filled and come forward, encasing sound while the ears of the munny are indicative to speaker systems.

Attentive Melancholy

In naming my imagination I was inspired by the quintessential Japanese design asthetic of wabi sabi . Taken from the Japanese words wabi, which translates to less is more, and sabi, which means attentive melancholy. Wabi sabi refers to an awareness of the transient nature of earthly things and a corresponding pleasure in the things that bear the mark of this impermanence.

I believe that in being a creative individual one works in a state akin to melancholy. In that we are unsatisfied with what is and strive to make the best possible creative product for our ideas. Yet, as we beauty like perfection is in the eye of the beholder.

Sculpture

Fleshing out the concept

through sculpture was

the most difficult.

Through research and

experimentation I

learned how to:

soften old polymere clay

use tools to cut into a vinyl figure

create an aluminum armature

create spining doorknob eyeballs

properly heat-cure clay

Product Delivery

While indulging in some of my technological habits I come across things that influence me. During the span of Sabi’s creation, I selected bits of literature and art that I related to. I found that I was able to come across certain artworks through a social blogging site called tumbler.

Images, quotes, and music were my main influencers. By featuring the documentary online I would be able to compile my three main influencers. I feel that if the audience is able to emerse themselves into the project they too can emerge with their own relative perception of what their own imagination could look like.

I decided to filter back into the social stream by featuring the documentary online. In hopes that someone would be interact with the documentary by adding to it themselves. Visitors are able to submit their own inspiration totems by way of photos, text, and links back to their own designs.

Distribution

Hosting this entire

process and acumulation

of sources through

tumblr allows for a

wider viewing audience.

Participating viewers

would be able to interact

with the webpage

and catalog their own

creative process.

Sydney Wallace