Perception

Process & Prototypes

This project began with extensive research. I was fascinated by unveiling the different aspects of the human experience, and early abstract and experimental animation and film. The initial intention for the project was exploring the question: “How can I make someone feel something?” More specifically researching emotional associations with colors, sounds, etc. I then began prototypes that included sets of videos with differing visual and audio elements, alongside a survey for users to express how each video made them feel. This helped me gather my own research, from a small group of classmates, which continued to influence my project. Each prototype presented an experiment featuring different areas of focus, from curating the experience to try to trigger a specific feeling, to simply trying out a new analog or digital video creation technique of interest. I ended up learning that, although there are common connections we can make between certain stimulus and emotional reactions, ultimately, each individual’s experience is going to be influences by a culmination of their personal lived human experience. I decided to lean into that, and my final project evolved into what you see as the installation above.

While the goal of an installation or presentation of video work is often to curate the picture and surface in a way that makes it look the most “perfect,” I was attempting to create the most visually interesting and distorted version of my videos. I wanted the final installation to feel different than if you were to just watch the individual videos I created on a screen. This approach provided me with an exciting design challenge. I enjoyed seeing how each material changed the way that you experienced my videos; each one acting as a different window, or perspective that one could have, even though it is still the same input.