John is a creative coder working mainly with the Java framework, Processing. His work on projects like La Luz Negra - where a flexible visual identity was created for the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona - reveals how creative coding is being taken up in many avenues of design, including brandking.
Creative coding of this nature could be something that I explore in my final project, and will definitely be something I stay in contact throughout my career in graphic design.
POTENTIAL DIRECTIONS
I began the project by revisiting past projects and mind mapping my known interests.
MANX TRADITIONS
Figure 2: Raymound DEARN. n.d. Cottage Near Sulby. [oil on canvas]
This project would aim to promote Manx traditions. This could be sharing of folk stories or cultural practices.
MINORITY LANGUAGES
Figure 3: Celtic tongue. [digital illustration by the author]
This project would aim to promote minority languages like the Celtic (Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton) languages, with potential for expansion to other languages. The output would likely be something that gets people speaking more.
SYNAESTHESIA
Figure 4: MacQuaire University. 2020. No title. [abtract digital illustration]
This project would look to expand on my previous mini-project investigating the lessons graphic design can learn from synaesthesia.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Figure 5: Marbella International University Centre. 2019. No title. [ditigal illustration]
This project would aim to bridge the gap between graphic design and social psychology, perhaps looking at how graphic design can influence social behaviour.
PRIMATE CONSERVATION
Figure 6: Anup SHAH. n.d. No title. [photograph]
This project would attempt to aid primates whose numbers are under threat in different parts of the world.
POLITICAL AWARENESS
Figure 7: International Monetary Fund. n.d. No title.
This project would encourage people to become more politically active.
MENTAL HEALTH
Figure 8: uCheck. 2019. No title. [digital illustration]
This project would seek to alleviate mental health issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Figure 9: Continental. 2022. No title. [photograph]
This project would aim to raise awareness of environmental issues, ultimately seeking to help bring about a change in society's attitudes and behavour.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
I created a spreadsheet to weigh up the pros and cons of my four favourite potential project direction.
The areas I looked at were project impact, my prior related experience, development opportunities,
creative scope, and project limitations.
PRIMATE CONSERVATION
Figure 10: IAR. 2022. [orangutan being rescued]
Based on my assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each project, I decided to go with the primate conservation angle.
I was very aware going into research in this area that anything I could offer would need to sensitive to the fact that I am outside the regions and cultures where conservation efforts are primarily focused.
The issues and solutions I would develop in this area would be best aimed at a Western audience, since this is the audience I could best best hope to understand enough in the six month timeframe.
