P.E.R.S.O.N. 1.0
Posted on December 3, 2010 | posted by:As part of our Design For The 21st Century class, we have small recitation groups. For mine, a group I love, we are required to write three papers, which are peppered throughout the semester. These assignments respond to one of the many eclectic topics that are discussed throughout the course (covering the likes of Martin Heidegger, Elaine Scarry, Herbert Simon, nanotechnology, critical design, social innovation or data visualiation just to name a few).
My first paper was inspired (albeit loosely) by our very own Jamer Hunt, who guest lectured, talking about Eames’ ‘Powers of Ten’. I felt this was a great topic to write about but initially was unsure about how to approach it. Luckily, our recitation leader, Ted Byfield, encourages us to experiment with different methods and interpretations in our writing. So, I decided to try something a little different. The result — a paper that is currently undergoing serious, mental alterations — is a way for me to start to re-contextualise what I am learning.
The following piece of writing (see attached) is a thought process about the structure of an event, the event being the essay itself, written to the power of ten. The paper expands on what constitutes as scaling by the inclusion of quantity, location and time. The journey ends where it seemingly begins: with an introduction to an essay followed by subsequent paragraphs which instead of revealing more about the topics discussed, instead retracts, using the means of scaling. The rest of the essay takes the reader on a journey that illuminates how a multitude of events led to the moment of the introduction’s conception.
Download full PDF here. P.E.R.S.O.N. Essay.