Catalog entry

Artists and designers throughout history have explored the idea of identity in many ways through their subjects, concepts, and techniques. My exploration of identity takes the State Identification Card, an object that is already used to identify people, and re-imagines it in a more effective and personable way in both design and function. My design concept is based off of the unique print of the finger, which is something that develops on all humans before birth and remains the same throughout life. The print formation on each finger is a special combination of about twelve different ridges that if examined, can be matched to the actual hand of the person. There can be over one hundred marks found on a single print, so for my new design of the ID I have collected that data found on the thumb print of the participant's dominant hand and symbolically represented the data on the ID card among other essential information. Ideally, the pattern that appears on the card would work much like a barcode, a machine readable representation of data, and allow a more effective way to identify that person. My new design not only celebrates the beauty of this natural pattern formation, the fingerprint, but also advances the methods used in state issued licenses.

opportunity list

1. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GRAPHIC DESIGN - Albany, NY (http://tinyurl.com/ydyrg3g)

2. Lecturer - Graphic Design - Princeton, NJ (http://tinyurl.com/yfpq27l)

3. Graphic Design Intern - Johnston, RI (http://tinyurl.com/ykdxpbf)

4. PSWM Graphic Design Intern - Jacksonville, FL (http://tinyurl.com/yztbrs3)

5. Researcher Internship - Graphic Desig... - Cincinnati, OH (http://tinyurl.com/ylnamzm)

6. Marketing Coordinator/Graphic Design - Boca Raton, FL (http://tinyurl.com/yhrhx29)

7. Graphic Design and E-Communications - Ridgefield, CT (http://tinyurl.com/y8my9ww)

8. Assistant Professor of Graphic Design - Albany, NY (http://tinyurl.com/yftk5ob)

9. Manager, Graphic Design - New Jersey (http://tinyurl.com/yzvgtbb)

10. Director of Marketing - Graphic Design/N... - Houston, TX (http://tinyurl.com/ykpybut)

11. Director, eCommerce - Graphic Design/Ne... - New York, NY (http://tinyurl.com/y95yqut)

12. Graphic Design Intern - Cambridge, MA (http://tinyurl.com/yg9lyz3)

13. Multimedia Producer - Graphic Design/Ne... - New York, NY (http://tinyurl.com/ygh734l)

Crit 2 and 3

I have been involved in two critiques and received feedback this past Friday. The critique before that was shown in the computer lab projector where we saw work from Ariana, Katie, and Justin among others. It was still early in the semester, but everyone could give a clear description with examples of where their work will be heading for exhibition. I particularly remember Ariana's photographs because of her lighting technique when capturing flesh scars of different body parts. She crops the photographs very well as to conceal the person's identity, but not their spirit. She also plans to use soft sculptures to accompany her photographs and suggestions were to experiment with more flesh like fabrics, techniques, and forms that will work best as a whole. There was some self-portrait photography that was shown, as well as portraiture plans that will develop into a series of paintings. The crit was all together successful, i enjoyed the feedback from our group teacher.

This last Friday I presented my work to the thesis crit group and it was rather interesting to hear what other people had to say when i described my project plan. I'm a designer and there were other designers from my third level course that know my work from the start, and then there were the other students that aren't familiar with design and are hearing my project for the first time ever. I didn't get to explain my work that well, but eventually people started to catch on. I am basically designing a system that will translate your fingerprint into a unique pattern based on the multiple characteristics that make up your fingerprint. The project intends for the participant to analyze the line patterns made by ink prints of their ten fingerprints on paper using my project (a book would be its main form) that will help them identify and then use the materials to create one of a kind patterns. Essentially it will be designed so that the pattern builds with the more dissections of your fingerprints. I am currently researching all the characteristics that are used for print recognition, and then coming up with a list of all the other aspects that i can use to develop a pattern. I got some feedback as to how i should approach the project to come up with the process book, and will be trying all the ways and then posting some idea sketches. I will have the sketches that were brought to class posted later today as well. The rest of the critique was productive as we saw 3 or 4 more students and was pleased and interested in what they have planned to develop. Everyone seemed more involved since we critiqued from 11:30-1pm instead of 10am. lol. Check back for updates!! gnight, and happy valentine's day -<3-thesis! will u be my valentine?-<3- yesss!

7 days in the Art World- Quotes and Commentary

The Crit:

(p 45) "Although Asher has a steady museum career, the real importance of his art lies in the way it has inspired a dynamic oral culture."

-I was able to relate to the work of Michael Asher because it makes valid statements about the art world. He points out the importance of critiques and communication with his marathon crits, and the overlooked business aspects of galleries when he removed the wall that separated the office from the actual gallery.

(p 69) "'for art students, the people who matter most are the peer group." Artists need 'friendships with an inbuilt critique' as a context for the development of their work"

- I find this to be true among my peers. I find that a lot of students like talking about their work with friends and get a lot from what they have to say. There are formal critiques with teachers involved but there are also several "inbuilt critiques" that happen before this.


(p 48)"Each student has set up camp, staked out some territory, and distinguished him- or herself with a pet, pose, or some signature activity."

-It might just be because these students are from California, but I really hated the way she described the students that attended the critique. I was eager to hear what would be said in the crit, but unfortunately the few quotes that she included lacked depth and I was disappointed that Michael Asher didn't speak much. I know that he strategically doesn't give input and it did add to his character, but I would have liked to have read about a more eventful crit instead it seemed like everyone was asleep or doing something else. I just hope that's not the reality of all graduate critiques.

(p 55-56)"'We all contradict each other,' says Leslie Dick- but the prevailing belief is that any artist whose work fails to display some conceptual rigor is little more than a pretender, illustrator, or designer."

"up to the wrist" "down to the wrist"

- I like the 'up and down to the wrist' analogy for conceptual and fine art, but Leslie Dick's comment was a little insulting to me. A pretender? that's harsh to say and then to put illustrators and designers in that same category is pretty bold. I agree that no concept rigor falls under a pretender, but how does she figure that illustrators and designers don't include concept as an artist?


(p54-55) "'Never go to the wall text. Never ask the artist. Learn to read the work.'" -Mary Kelly

-Learning to read work is so important, which is what crits are for. I like Kelly's idea on how critiques should be run with the artist speaking after everyone else, so that the artist can get unbiased opinions and comments.

The Fair

(p 91) "'A collection is more than the sum of its parts. It creates something unique,' says Logsdail. The worst collections are scrambled, disjointed, and "fickle. The best have 'a driving force.'"

-It was interesting to hear what collectors had to say about what makes a good collection.

(p 92-93) "More and more collectors are opening their own exhibition spaces."




(p 98) "Poe believes that an art fair can be a tough environment for an artist. 'If they are any good, they make art because they have to... They don't do it to please the market. So for some artists, hanging out here can mess with their heads. Also, let's face it, this is not the optimum place to exhibit work. The subtle notes in artworks are drowned out by the cacophony.'"

- I honestly did not even realize as an artist that these fairs existed, and I was getting a little troubled when reading about it, so I thought that this was a good quote. I was unaware that this was what it takes to be an artist that sells work, and would not want to attend one of these fairs unless I decide to work in the gallery business. I was relieved to read that artists don't really have to see this part of the art world and it is more the dealers responsibility to fill the void between the two, but it is definitely something to be aware of now.

The studio visit

(p 188) "Murakami is a stickler for documenting every layer of a painting, so that he can follow the process even when he is out of town and look back on the layers to reproduce similar effects in future works."

(p 196-197)

"'Every morning I upset people... I used to think that my staff were motivated by money, but the most important thing for creative people is the sense that they are learning. It's like video game. The have frustration with my high expectations, so when they get my 'yes' for their work, the feel like they've won a level'"

-Murakami doesn't seem that bad, and I would completely value working as an artist assistant. It is definitely worth the learning experience and if it pays to allow you to be an artist, which it does for his assistants, than that is all the better. Being an assistant can be really rewarding, and the painting director, Sugimoto-san, who has worked for 10 years for Murakami has a lot of respect and talent which is just as good as fame.

"Vector art software like illustrator, which allows the user to stretch, contort, and scale up images without any degradation, has transformed the design industry, but relatively few fine artists use it."

-This quote wasn't too surprising to read, but design programs are really transforming the way artists work and it's become more important to know in this generation of artists

(p 199)"A studio is supposed to be a site of intense contemplation. Murakami does not have a preferred thinking space or somewhere that he feels is the heart of his studio."

-Wherever the work gets done is a studio in my eyes.

Web Authoring Portfolio

Ive been working a lot more on my website for web authoring. It is a portfolio site that is still in progress. I plan to work on the design and information and then I need better pictures of my work add more work. Give me suggestions and if anyone wants to help me with my work documentation, let me know :)

eden.rutgers.edu/~rsepst/425/midterm/home.htm

Matt Soar- “Fail Again, Fail Better”

Design Observer Review

The idea of failure is always scary, but if you learn to embrace failure as a learning experience then you are guaranteed to get more from the failure than if you just dwell upon it. This idea is what Matt Soar writes about in his article “Fail Again, Fail Better.” He explores the mistakes made from several designers and their reaction and way of dealing with a potential failure. Some of the accidents occurred with a malfunctioning program that distorted the image they were working on, but in the end was a more perfect connection to the project goal. Other mistake happened out of the designer’s control, but was taken light heartedly and helped the designer with ideas for future projects. Being a design student, I feel that failures, accidents, and mistakes are the only way to really grow as a designer. There will always be something that is overlooked, but with every mistake that gets pointed out you gain the knowledge of looking for that mistake in future projects. I also find that keeping failed projects or rough drafts/sketches become useful for future inspiration or used in other art projects. This was really positive article to read since it reinforces the idea that everyone makes mistakes, even famous designers.

MFA show

This might have been one of the more memorable shows that I've seen in the Mason Gross gallery. Even though the addition of the wall was not a huge change, it definitely effected the way I navigated through the show. Usually I would walk through the biggest room before any other rooms, but with the wall there, I viewed the artwork to the right of the entrance and then continued through the right rooms and eventually made it around. I can't say that the wall was strictly the reason I was attracted to the right first since I was particularly attracted to the photographs and thought that they were reminiscent of avant gard fashion. They reminded me of Lady Gaga though, which is 'so in right now.'

In response to the artwork on the added wall, I think that it might want to be reconsidered. the space that faced the doors are the first works that will be seen and yet were least impressive. They were small paintings that appeared to be sloppy. On the other hand on the inside of the wall was a favorite piece of mine. The white sculptures that hung on the wall were painted in color on the back which cast a colored shadow on the wall. I thought that these were impressive work so that its location might want to be rethought since its placement might not utilize the lighting as well since it is on a wall with a corner.