LO3 - DEVELOPMENT
artificial intelligence (AI) faces
After feeling stuck with the concept of subconscious biases and not knowing how to take it further, while I was feeling defeated, I needed to remind myself that this is a common experience.
I was struggling to take my theoretical concept and turn it into a literal idea and concept. I recognised that addressing subconscious biases can be overwhelming and challenging, especially if they are deeply ingrained in someone's beliefs and behaviours. But despite this, the importance of
acknowledging personal bias is crucial to creating a more equitable society. And this is what I want to achieve throughout my project, it might not always be comfortable and I think for us to learn, we might need it to be uncomfortable as that will evoke us to really think about our actions as addressing our subconscious biases requires ongoing effort and self-reflection.
After seeking guidance from a tutor, we came up with the idea of creating a sort of Tinder-like bias test that the audience would participate in, using an AI programme to generate faces. For some of these faces, I wanted to create in-depth descriptions of specific stereotypes while for others I would just create generic descriptions.
I like the idea of using AI to generate the faces, as I think it will be interesting to consider the possible bias already integrated into the AI generating programmes.
At this time I wanted to create something interactive as I believe this is one of the best ways to educate ourselves about our own biases we hold. But I was concerned about there not necessarily being an outcome and ending with this idea if the audience partakes and 'swipes right' or 'swipes left' to vote on someone's face as whether they are a 'good' or 'bad' person, there still wouldn't be a conclusion that would make you question your biases.
I went ahead with generating faces and stereotypes in the hope that an idea for possible data collecting would come to me as I was working.
bibliography
- If you have a brain you have a bias, but why? (no date) Robert Walters - Global Specialist Professional Recruitment. Available at: https://www.robertwaltersgroup.com/news/expert-insight/careers-blog/if-you-have-a-brain-you-have-a-bias-but-why.html (Accessed: March 15, 2023).
- 6 traits that lead to criminal behavior (2015) Police1. Available at: https://www.police1.com/corrections/articles/6-traits-that-lead-to-criminal-behavior-QKg2lpUaZbdKL1ot/ (Accessed: March 22, 2023).
- Plant Based News (2020) 10 personality traits of vegans - do you have any of them?, Plant Based News. Available at: https://plantbasednews.org/opinion/10-personality-traits-ive-found-in-vegans/ (Accessed: March 22, 2023).
- Thomas Robinson Lecturer in Marketing at Cass Business School and Outi Lundahl Assistant Professor of Marketing (2022) Being vegan says so much more about you than just your ethics, The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/being-vegan-says-so-much-more-about-you-than-just-your-ethics-121586 (Accessed: March 22, 2023).
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 Midjourney 3rd outcome |
This was the prompt I put into Midjourney - A 52 year old woman, who is poor. She feels aimless, lost, lower class, grubby, sad, unfriendly, pitied and bitter about reality. She has no skills in financial discipline. She gives up easily, she's afraid of new beginnings. People think she is sponging and dependant on others money. She tends to dissociate from the world. Realistic portraits.
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 Midjourney 3rd outcome |
This was the prompt I put into Midjourney - A 40 year old male, whos is a criminal. He has high impulsivity, lower anxiety than most, an anti-social personailty. He came from a dysfunctional family, has experienced substance abuse and feels under-served by society. He struggles with hosility, negativism and feeling out of control. He experiences a lot of peer pressure which ahs lead to a lot of stealing, bad consequences, feeling greedy and has a lack of remorse for others. Realistic Portraits.
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 Midjourney 3rd outcome |
This was the prompt I put into Midjourney - A young female, ages 25, who is middle class and comes from a wealthy background. She has a high social value and is very disciplined in her life. She has enough money to sustain her vegan diet and healthy living, while also having enough free time to commit to the time commitments of making healthy food and going to the gym. She loves animals a lot. Is very planet friendly and aware of global warming and she believes every living thing has a right to live it's life and not be used by humanity for food. Realistic portraits.
Working with Discord - Midjourney was interesting. It was my first time experimenting with any sort of AI programme.
I first found websites that helped me come up with descriptions for each person. I wanted to make sure that the prompts I used weren't only from my personal biases so research was key.
Using Midjourney was fascinating with the images that it gave me relating to the persons, I was shocked that the prompt for the poor person gave me an image of a South Asian woman given that I gave no ethnic descriptions.
It was a shock to find out that this AI programme which is supposedly able to generate something completely unbiased produced such a biased stereotype of global poverty.
It was also interesting with the Vegan description as I had to keep repeating my prompt with slight changes because I kept getting images of women with text, or social media-stylised images. I wondered if this is a bias or stereotype that vegans tend to share their life decisions. There is a very well-known stereotype that you'll always know when someone is a vegan as they can't stop talking about it or sharing their lifestyle with others. Despite the challenge, I persevered and kept repeating my prompt with slight variations until I found the right words that generated an image similar to Poor and Criminal. It was an interesting exercise, challenging me to describe unfamiliar concepts or experiences, through creativity and perseverance, as well as a reminder of the importance of careful word choices in effective writing.
artificial intelligence (AI) exhibition plans
I first started experimenting with my own Mark Rothko-inspired backgrounds to create a paradox between the face that you're seeing and the emotions you might be feeling.
I wanted to put the poor lady's image on a background that felt wealthy, rich and extravagant.
I then wanted to put the vegan lady's image on colours that are completely the opposite of veganism, so naturally, I went for a blood-like red.
With the criminal man's image, I wanted to use images that created suspicion, or wary-ness, colours that evoked thinking. I asked my peers firstly about what colours they would associate with suspicion and then used my own influence on colours. As most people's answers were green, purple or blue, I decided to go with a purple and teal/green background. This was initially just a small experiment to try and help me with my creative block.
Once I had completed this I realised I needed to do some colour theory research to learn about how we interact and interoperate colours.
colour theory
I also read and researched the 2015 film Inside Out as the animation uses colour to base the characteristics of each character, for example, Blue is Sad, Yellow is Joy, Red is Anger, Purple is Fear and Green is Disgust.
I found this interesting and topical to read about as I believe the use generally common assumptions of what colours make us feel as a society. I think this also aided me in my own assumptions that the combinations of green and purple (disgust & fear) would lead to a suspicious emotion.
Red is the colour of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.
Known as one of the sad colors, blue also creates negative feelings, feelings of melancholy, sadness, self-righteousness, and self-centeredness. Too little blue can also create negative feelings and evokes suspicion, depression, stubbornness, timidity, and unreliability. After all, don’t we say we’re “feeling blue” when we’re sad?
Yellow is the colour of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.
Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.
Although lighter shades of blue are associated with producing feelings of calmness and spirituality. Blue, or too much blue, can also come across as cold, uncaring, and can dampen spirits.
Green is one of those secondary colours that psychologically affects us in many different ways. Green can be soothing and relaxing. It can also help alleviate feelings of anxiety, depression, and nervousness.
However, too much green can cause us to become lazy, placid, moody, slow, depressed, and even lethargic.
Brown can sometimes be sad and wistful and evoke feelings of loneliness, sadness, and isolation.
Black is the hallmark colour of sadness. Black can make us feel intimidated and unapproachable since it’s closely linked with authority and power.
Describe your image
I then went ahead and did a vague exhibition plan on Adobe Fresco (which is the first time I have ever tried drawing on this app) for the layout if I wanted to go ahead with the Tinder-like computer test.
I incorporated a Rothko-like background, the Artificial Intelligence faces, and the computer for voting and I also wondered if it might be nice to use the answers people gave me during the Wearing experiment.
bibliography
- Criscuolo, I. (2021) What colors mean, with the characters from The film inside out: Blog, Domestika. DOMESTIKA. Available at: https://www.domestika.org/en/blog/4814-what-colors-mean-with-the-characters-from-the-film-inside-out (Accessed: March 23, 2023).
- Dinter, M.T., Guérin Charles and dos, S.M.M. (2020) “12 - Color Medius or the Colour of Suspicion,” in Reading roman declamation: Seneca the elder. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Inside out (2015 film) (2023) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Out_(2015_film) (Accessed: March 23, 2023).
- Namhpac (2022) 7 sad colors at home that affect your mental state, NAMHPAC. NAMHPAC. Available at: https://www.namhpac.org/7-sad-colors-at-home-that-affect-your-mental-state/ (Accessed: March 23, 2023).
- (no date) Home. Available at: http://www.personal.ceu.hu/students/11/Ekatherina_Zhukova/ (Accessed: March 23, 2023).
- Webmaster@stc.org (2018) Color matters: Color as trustworthiness cue in web sites, TechComm. Available at: https://www.stc.org/techcomm/2011/06/13/color-matters-color-as-trustworthiness-cue-in-web-sites/ (Accessed: March 23, 2023).
creating my own subconscious bias test
After having a conversation with a fellow student, we came up with the idea of trying to create my subconscious bias tests, similar to the Harvard Implicit test, that the audience participated in. After researching what entails a Bias Test, a biased test is a tool that is used to measure the presence of prejudice or bias in an individual's thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours. It is designed to identify implicit biases that people may not be aware of and can affect their decision-making process. Bias tests are often used
in academic research and workplace diversity training programs. The concept of bias test originated from social psychology research that showed how unconscious biases can influence our perceptions and actions towards different groups of people. The most commonly used bias test is the Implicit Association Test (IAT), which measures the strength of associations between concepts such as race, gender, or sexual orientation. Bias tests have been criticized for their reliability and validity, but they remain a valuable tool for raising awareness about implicit biases and promoting diversity and inclusion. By taking a bias test, individuals can gain insight into their own biases and work towards overcoming them, they provide an opportunity for self-reflection and promote greater awareness of diversity issues in society. I then brainstormed some potential topics to use in the tests.
As soon as I showed up to play the match, my team were disappointed. What was disappointing them?
The parents always leave me out of conversations at school drop off and pick up, why are they leaving me out?
The woman was overjoyed with her wealth but was still struggling to put food on the table. How can this be?
Between me and my partner, I am always the one to stop work and pick up our child if they're poorly. Am I the mother or father?
When I deliver people's packages, they are always wary of me at their front door. Why could this be?
While researching and brainstorming possible Bias Test subjects and themes, what I was aware of and wanted to make a hopeful note of is the fact that generations growing up nowadays are more likely to be aware of gender neutrals, especially in terms of language. With the rise of LGBTQ+ movements and increased awareness and education of gender identity, growing up in a world where many people are choosing to use gender-neutral pronouns such as "they/them" instead of traditional binary pronouns like "he/him" or "she/her". This shift towards inclusivity and acceptance is such a positive step towards creating a more equitable society. However, there is still much work to be done in terms of dismantling harmful gender stereotypes and supporting younger generations with their new language while also remembering to challenge those possibly older generations who haven't grown up in such an equitable society. It is important for future generations to continue this progress towards a more accepting and inclusive world. By chance, of what I would call an incredible coincidence while scrolling on TikTok this video came up on my For You Page. It gave me the feeling of complete joy and brought a subconscious giant smile to my face. I think it's important to highlight the jumps we have and are making with biases.
bibliography
After being inspired by the TikTok video and the children's purity with the fact they don't point out other obvious differences, I think many adults would point out first, even if subconsciously. I am thinking about refining my project and not-overcomplicating the exhibition as I think I can achieve my message with a more polished idea.
- If only our world was ruled by Children, their perspective can teach us a lot I'm sure?? (no date) TikTok. Available at: https://www.tiktok.com/@james.johnson50/video/7217868678891621659?_t=8bXdmS9gvSP&_r=1 (Accessed: March 27, 2023).
optical illusion test
Trying to refine my project and find a cleaner way to communicate my message about the subconscious biases we hold and how we can challenge them, I am taking inspiration from Lee Wagstaff's optical illusion faces.
I am hoping to create my own version of this and I think it would be a nice personalised touch if I used my 'subconscious' doodles, the scribbles that we draw when we're on the phone to the bank, or doodling while we're listening to something.
Firstly I used an automatic optical illusion generator online to see how I could manipulate it. I was also interested to see if the programme showed you how to take a photo and turn it into an OP illusion.
Unfortunately, it didn't show me how to change the image and therefore create the optical illusion, so I will need to break down how Wagstaff possibly creates his OI portraits to re-create this. But it was interesting to create an initial optical illusion.
bibliography
- (no date) Optical illusion generator. Available at: https://kurino.xii.jp/Gallery/Computer/TrickArt/index.html.en (Accessed: March 30, 2023).
a conversation with a friend about refining my concept
The concept of the subconscious has been a topic of discussion among philosophers, psychologists, and scientists for centuries. It is a term that refers to the part of our mind that operates below our conscious awareness. However, when I was discussing my final major project ideas with a good friend of mine our conversation resulted in us discussing the idea of refining the word subconscious and this is when I realised that what we all do subconsciously is breathe.
While chatting about this potentially refined concept, we discussed the fact that focusing just on breathing can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our connection to the world around us. Breathing is an essential function of life, yet it often goes unnoticed as we go about our daily routines. However, by focusing on our breath and becoming more aware of it, we can tap into the power of our subconscious mind.
Through practices such as meditation and mindfulness, we can learn to control our breathing and access the deeper parts of ourselves. This can lead to greater self-awareness, improved mental health, and a stronger connection to the world around us.
In conclusion, refining the word subconscious to its most basic element - breathing - reminds us of the importance of being present in each moment and connecting with ourselves on a deeper level.
The concept of using the breath as a representation of the subconscious mind got me thinking and sparked numerous creative ideas for my exhibition, incorporating the Lee Wagstaff-inspired portrait. It was comical, almost like a cartoon lightbulb moment.
(I've realised now while reflecting on my progress during this diploma and what I'd noticed was that with all my previous projects I've had the brief and fairly quickly developed a rough idea of what I wanted to do, whereas with this brief for our Final Major Project, I haven't experienced this
and it's taken me weeks to get to this 'lightbulb' moment).
As I delved deeper into the concept, I realised that breath is not just a physical process but also an emotional and spiritual one. It is something that we do unconsciously, yet it is essential to our survival. The way we breathe can reflect our innermost thoughts and feelings.
In my exhibition, I want to explore this connection between breath and the subconscious mind. I'm hoping to capture the essence of breath and its impact on our psyche.
I believe that by using the breath as a metaphor for the subconscious mind, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. I hope that my exhibition will inspire others to explore this fascinating concept further and encourage others to remind themselves that sometimes we need to step into our conscious mind, especially when communicating and engaging with other people, strangers or friends.
starting my Wagstaff-inspired portrait and combining it with my own subconscious doodles
Now that I had an idea that felt strong, I needed to find out how I could make it happen. As a novice with software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Adobe Capture, I knew that I had to learn them all quickly if I was going to have any chance of bringing my idea to life for my final exhibition. Unfortunately, during this stage of the project, I tested positive for Covid-19 and had to isolate. It was a challenging time for me as I was quite ill, but I tried to make the best of the situation. On a positive spin, it meant I had plenty of time to equip myself with Adobe Illustrator, and Google became my new best friend. It was a steep learning curve, but I was determined to make my idea a reality.
I had a clear vision in mind for my take on Wagstaff's portraits, and I was determined to incorporate my own subconscious doodles into the optical illusion portion. Initially, I attempted to draw the doodles one by one in Photoshop on an A3 canvas, but I quickly ran into the problem of pixelation when zooming in on the image. I realised that this approach wouldn't work for my exhibition, since I wanted to enlarge the portrait.
When I was first introduced to Illustrator, I was excited to learn that it could create vector layers. Despite being new software to me, I was able to grasp the basics fairly quickly. I decided to start again, this time with an A2 template. However, while drawing squiggles, I encountered multiple application malfunctions such as crashing and not saving the document. I persevered and tried to figure out why this was happening, but I couldn't come to a conclusion. When I reached a certain stage, I started to feel overwhelmed by how much time I had already spent on the project and how much space I still had left to fill.
At that moment, I had a sudden realisation - every single squiggle I had drawn on Illustrator had been saved as a unique vector shape! This happy accident turned out to be a game-changer as it allowed me to
manipulate and duplicate each squiggle with ease. Suddenly, the daunting task at hand seemed much more achievable. Of course, before moving forward, I had to tidy up my work. It was crucial to ensure that my drawings could be enlarged, whether through silk-screen printing or projection. I wanted the OI doodles to flow together seamlessly, creating a sense of harmony throughout the portrait.
I spent some time going through each squiggle on
the page and adjusting its size, direction, or angle so that it would flow seamlessly with the other lines. Once I had a collection of "finished" squiggles, I began to copy and paste them into the empty spaces on the page. By putting each pasted section on a separate layer, I was able to fill the entire page and erase any excess lines or overlapping sections. Now, I just need to connect all of the different sections together. To do this, I added in more squiggles where needed and removed any lines that didn't fit well. I even re-drew some of the squiggles to make everything look cohesive. I was thinking about adding my face to complete the portrait, but I started to worry that the A2 size wouldn't be big enough. So, I created an A1 document and used the same method of copying and pasting to complete the squiggles. It's coming together nicely!
combining my face with the subconscious doodles
At the beginning of this stage, I was unsure whose face to use. My focus was on the importance and message of stepping out of your subconscious mind to recognise a face, any face.
Although I thought about using my own face, I wasn't entirely convinced that this was the direction I wanted to take. I discussed my thoughts and concept with Pav, seeking some advice about the face to use. We had an interesting conversation that led to the idea of creating multiples of this OI portrait using the faces of people of importance in our world, for example, Trump, Putin, Boris Johnson or Andrew Tate.
Pav suggested that incorporating faces of influence and control would give my project a stronger creative direction and potentially lead to a higher grade. I took some time to consider this advice, as I had been putting my FMP on hold while focusing on editing and curating this year's Art Foundry magazine (more on this later).
I started by using a selfie and turning it into an SVG using the Shape tool which can turn photos into black and white and colour vector graphics so that I could then add them into my Photoshop version of the subconscious doodles and then by lowering the opacity on the layer with my face on, I can now use the eraser and pen to increase the width of the squiggles where there were details from my face. After examining Wagstaff's portraits I think this is how he has created the Optical Illusion with the final piece.
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However, after giving it some thought, I decided to stick with my initial idea of using my own face within the portrait. I think the idea of using someone famous' face made me feel as though, what felt like, a strong, clever and thought-provoking concept was being made 'topical' and losing its power. I believe it's important that the audience doesn't recognise the face as I think it'll draw away from the deeper meaning of the project which again, is about when we choose to be in our subconscious or conscious states of mind and the importance of this as it impacts so enormously on how we interact with others and this I believe is the underlying theme of my concept, judgement, forgiveness, kindness and humility - all things that I see less and less.
Overall, I want to create something clever, prominent, and thought-provoking that will inspire others.
In some sense, this is my first self-portrait. If you think back to Frida Khalo, Vincent Van Gough or Norman Rockwell their self-portraits have become iconic (now, this is not me saying mine will become iconic by any means!) because they've not only painted their faces but their stories. This is something that inspires me. I admire portraits that make you feel something; engaged and curious about the back story. This is what I want to try and encapsulate in my work.
bibliography
- Richman-Abdou, K. (2023) 28 iconic artists who have immortalized themselves through famous self-portraits, My Modern Met. Available at: https://mymodernmet.com/famous-self-portraits/#Vincent_van_Gogh (Accessed: 09 May 2023).
bringing sound into the installation
As I was combining the doodles and the face, I had an idea to make the installation more engaging by incorporating breathing as an important element, I decided to add the sound of someone breathing playing in the background, synced with the Optical Illusion rippling. To further enhance the experience, I am going to break down the final image into layers.
I plan on painting a canvas with my own Mark Rothko-inspired interpretation and projecting the rippling projection on top of it. Using my own artistic thumbprint, I'm taking this installation from just a 2D image to a 3D experience that encourages the audience to stop and take a closer look at the portrait. I hope that the Rothko-inspired background will evoke emotions of peace, curiosity, safety, and intrigue. I'm looking forward to seeing if people subconsciously hear the breath while searching for the face. While I had hoped to use the college facilities and work with the music department to record an ASMR version of my breathing, time and deadline constraints made this impossible. But I did record a 2-minute long sound note using Whatsapp that will play on a loop on surround sound speakers in the exhibition.
painting my Rothko-inspired canvas background
Acrylic
Emulsion
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Mark Rothko was an American painter known for his abstract expressionism style, characterised by large colour fields and a lack of recognisable forms. Inspired by his work, I began to experiment with this style of painting, using my own colours and interpretations.
As I worked on my canvas, I found myself drawn to the way Rothko's use of colour created a sense of depth and emotion. I wanted to capture that same feeling in my own work. But what I also really admired about Rothko's work was the textures he created, as I was unsure I had the painting skills to replicate this with brushes (especially as this was my first time painting on a canvas) I used the method of mono-printing to 'paint' with. Mono-printing is where you use special inks, that are tacky in feeling and instead of using brushed you use metal plates to transfer the colour to the paper. I started off doing some sketches and then experiments with colours and then followed by figuring out if the process of mono-printing worked better on Acrylic or Emulsion paint as I needed to prep my canvas.
I carefully considered the placement and intensity of each colour, striving to create a harmonious balance.
As the painting progressed, I found myself becoming more immersed in the process. The act of blending colours and creating new shades became almost meditative. In the end, my interpretation was not just a copy of Rothko's style but a unique expression of my own artistic vision.
Through this experience, I learned that art is not just about technique or skill but about finding your own voice and expressing it through your work.
I considered the colours I was using and chose to follow a triadic colour concept for my guidelines.
Although I enjoyed the textures that the mono-printing created on canvas, this was a slow process as I had to manually press the canvas onto the metal plates. When doing mono-printing with paper you tend to use a pressing machine which gives you a nice heavy hand to transfer the inks onto your paper, but as the canvas was far too big to be mechanically pressed, this meant it was very time-consuming but I was determined to continue with the method of hand pressing as it was the texture I was really enjoying while creating this background for my projection.
I preferred the texture and patterns left when printing on top of the acrylic paint whereas on top of the emulsion, the inks bled too much and I was worried that on my canvas, this would build up to such large chunks of solid colour that it might look as if the canvas was un-finished rather than it being a style choice.
When I finished creating three A1 prototypes where I played around with colours, textures, and layering using different mediums. After taking a step back and looking at all three of them, I found that each had elements that I admire.
In particular, I love how the orange/teal one had just the right amount of white showing through. It feels like you can peel away bits of it. But what drew me in are the colours of the lilac/blue one. I asked a few peers and tutors what emotions the colours evoked, and I got such positive feedback. They found it serene yet mystifying, which for me was like hitting the jackpot, especially as I felt the same way.
As I experimented with Rothko's boxes and the use of shadows and layers, I found that although I plan to use some of these elements in my final canvas, the overall look was too busy to serve as a background for the projection.
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I am happy with the outcome of my canvas. I am pleased with the colours I have used, the texture the mono-printing has created and the layering of the colours. I hope that this will serve as a background for the portrait as I hope.
I am really pleased I was able to complete the triadic element of my canvas as planned. When adding the mustard acrylic paint on top of the mono-printed elements, I wanted to add a soft line separating some of the colour blocking. I chose to pull the paint with a spatula as I was hoping it would produce inconsistency and I worried that using a paintbrush wouldn't play to my strengths.
The addition of the gold leaf, a small element in comparison with the rest of the canvas was a last-minute, almost lightbulb-like moment representing a 'heartbeat' or 'sound wave' visual, connecting the physiological to the visual and aural, using the power of three - another emerging theme in the piece. I find it fascinating how sometimes those "lightbulb moments" can bring new dimensions to artwork. I think it defines the canvas as its own, hopefully, captivating piece of art but supports the emotion of curiosity that I want to evoke in the audience.
As an art student, the outcome of a canvas is always a moment of pride and satisfaction. It is a culmination of hard work, creativity, and passion that has been poured into the artwork. As this is the first canvas I have painted, especially it's size of it, I feel very proud with the end result.
art foundry magazine 2023
Curating the Art Foundry 2023 Magazine on top of my final major project was a daunting task, but one that I was excited to take on. As an art student, I know the importance of showcasing and promoting the work of emerging artists. The Art Foundry Magazine provided me with the perfect platform to do just that. This year's magazine was all about Fin De Siècle which I believe aided me to better understand this term for my final major project.
The process of curating involved selecting and organising artwork, writing articles, and designing layouts. Although it required a lot of time and effort, it was worth it. The time required to make this magazine was something that wasn't pitched to me with the understanding of how much time it would take from our final major projects, this is something that I think should be better explained to next year's students who take on the project. Luckily I was curating the magazine with a fellow student and good friend of mine and we worked together really well as a team.
We had to learn skills in project management, we also had fellow students designing the front and back covers, communication as we offered interviews to people who might've struggled with the written questions that we were asking everyone to complete and time management.
I think initially for me, it was an intimidating task taking this project on with someone else as we needed to time manage together, design cohesive pages, and accept each other's feedback; all of which can potentially become fractious but luckily we were a really good team together.
In addition to promoting artists' work, curating Art Foundry also allowed me to develop my own skills in writing and design. It taught me how to effectively communicate ideas through visual mediums and I had to learn a lot about Photoshop and InDesign quickly.
Overall, taking on this project was a valuable experience that allowed me to contribute to the art community while also enhancing my own abilities as an artist, while also giving me the experience that has lead to me potentially considering a job in graphic design or marketing. Most importantly, at the end of this task I can't wait to see the finished product, hold it in my hands and say that I've made that!
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