FoU rapport for 2009

Fokusområde

Rubbish reflections

An experiment using pictograms to investigate objects and attitudes

This project aims to develop a visual examination into the variety of perception. Using pictogrammatic language as a visual tool I wish to examine the classification of value in a cultural, social, philosophical or political context, be it an evaluation of what is worthless, nonsensical or rubbish or what is appreciated as precious and not rubbish. My intention is to use pictograms as an open-ended language that acts as a catalyst to provoke interpretation.
Research question: “How can symbols and pictograms as a visual examination of the various perceptions of rubbish encourage philosophical reflections on what really is trash, or not trash?”
My aim as a designer and visual communicator in this project is to explore the possibilities to use symbols and pictograms that we all accept as simple and inflexible visual messages, to express abstractions and more sophisticated messages. I have chosen the theme of rubbish for my investigation into how to use accepted visual symbolic norms in a context and expression that is unexpected.