Design III-A - Thesis Statement, Annotated Images and Readings Part 2

Thesis Focus Statement

My thesis focus is on the construction of Self. The construction of Self as dictated though others (friends and family). The construction of Self that evolves and changes through the passage of time.

Annotated Image Collection

"Dream Maker" Friends With You; Indianapolis Museum of Art; 2008

"Dream Maker represents a miniature solar system that directly relates to your fortune and dreams. As the mobile rotates on its axis, your luck and possibilities are constantly changing. Everyone can make his or her dreams come true just by experiencing this piece!"
Friends With You

This is an installation physically representing the changing of time and physical nature. Not only are you watching this 'universe' change but it is also changing your Self; your fortunes, dreams, and luck... things that cannot be seen or felt physically but are ever present and ever changing as you grow and change.

"Turn That Frown Upside Down" Jesse Mallon; Austrailia: 2010

"Being optimistic can be as easy as turning a frown into a smile. By flipping the letters upside down the audience is invited to take a second look at the poster to understand, and be inspired by, its message.
(“That’s a smile! Not an upside down frown!”)"
Positive Posters

This is but one of a series of posters involved in a movement that asks designers to be freely creative but strictly optimistic. The winning 2010 poster for this year's theme was executed simply but had a deep, meaningful impact. The intentions here were beautifully executed and something worth pursuing in my own thesis.

Tanya Davis wrote and composed this beautiful poem turned into song. Not only do I enjoy the peacefulness and meaning of this song, but the way she is telling the listener "how to..." is something I am interested in. I'd like my work to be able to guide my viewers in self-reflection.

 A inspirational video-gone-viral created by Michael Bungay Stanier, the co-creator of Box of Crayons. This is one of his tactics that is to pin-point self and bring out optimism in the person and therefore the workplace.

Hugh Macleod takes complex emotions and concepts that everyone deals with and simplifies them down to doodles that speak clearly and identifiably.

Annotated Bibliography

Box of Crayons 
A coaching organization that works with different organizations to try and reincorporate fun in the workplace by identifying the client's specific thoughts, feelings, and beliefs on what works, what doesn't and what would make them feel truly fulfilled.


Seize the Day
A simple chart/graph that completely changes our concept of time. This is a short writing that I stumbled upon but it was very eye-opening.

Five Minutes for You
This is a self-help blog of sorts. It's content is forcing you to take time 'five minutes' out for yourself as a priority for your over-all health.

The Change Blog
This is a blog documenting a man named Peter. He writes about his personal growth and over-coming depression, admitting that he is still growing and changing.

The Art of Non-Conformity: Peak Moment Post
This post in the blog "Art of Non-Conformity" asks readers to take 60 seconds and think of the peak moments in their life.