(DE)COMPOSITION:
The Death of Graphic Design and the Rebirth of a New Practice
MFA Thesis 2023
ArtCenter College of Design
Advisors
Monica Schlaug, Michael Neal, Carolina Trigo
Print Production
Joshue Molina
Introduction
Design to nurtureDesign to care
Design to collaborate
Nature's cycles, such as life,
death, and decay, often conflict with the artificial practices of graphic
design. I, therefore, declare the death of graphic design to allow the rebirth
of a new methodology that embodies these cycles to strengthen the connection to
Land and the creation of meaningful communications.
The above images is the three poster developed and grown from bacteria, screen printed with decomposing ink, to later decompose into composte
Publication
Researching, interviewing, nurturing, growing and harvesting (DE)COMPOSITION is a glimmer of what a living practice could be. The publication is Perfect Bound using the bacteria sheet grown, and inside is the collection of vast experiments, recognitions, and reflection.
Birth:
Bacteria & Material
Bacteria & Material
When exploring the death of graphic design (DE)COMPOSITION focused first on one collateral—a poster. Asking the question, how is a poster born, live, and die? How does the production of the designer provide a cycle of reciprocity to its environment?
It begins with materiality, with a mixture of bacteria, heat, tea, sugar, yeast, patience, and care. Five bacteria sheets were born, then dried by the sun, and printed onto using biodegradable ink. All are to be decomposed in a matter of months.
A photographic series documenting the lifecycle of a poster from conception to completion. Beginning with the origin of the SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), the series explores how the bacteria is harnessed to cultivate a mold sheet for the poster. The final stage captures screen printing the poster, featuring the rounded serif typeface Kalice Regular by Margot Leveque.
Life:
Language
To live is to communicate, whether to other creatures or the body's own internal communication and reception of existing. Collaborating with Myxogastria, a slime mould, it built its own language. Providing a new Roman alphabet that communicates inter-species. The Romans used chisels to carve their alphabets, and I collaborated with slime.
While it may look like a simple, gooey blob, Myxogastria has some surprisingly sophisticated behaviors and abilities. It’s a key part of the microbial ecosystem, contributing to the decomposition of organic matter. Witnessed in the photographs taken, and also the video captured showcasing it’s cells developing a path way to feed itself.
Life:
Printing Matter
The sun is a printer! Chlorophyll is the ink, and leaves are the paper. Utilizing the UV rays, with shapes and transparencies placed on the leaves, creates a chlorophyll print. However, the exciting part is witnessing the change of colour in the leaves, bearing witness to the decay of the piece.
Death:
(De)Composters
Death is the most natural process in life; Designers should not fear death but rather embrace it, as it can lead to innovative strategies in sustainability. All waste produced was fed to the earthworms, producing rich compost for the surrounding environment. In this case, the compost was provided to my herb garden. In return, I consumed my design and became one with them.
The image to the left showcases the state of the (DE)COMPOSITION poster three months post-placement-in the worm composte. There are only remnants of what once was a living design.
Genesis of Thesis
The genesis of (DE)COMPOSITION began with a zine. Graphic design aims to be timeless, as seen in using anti-fungal inks and paper that does not allow for decay but also no after-thought of the life after the product. I introduce a new methodology that considers the designer's and Land's relationship. A process of nurture and healing, questioning the assumptions we make as designers. I learned to question everything in our practice, allowing me to expand my thinking and explore different ways of communication, from mycelium to bacteria, worms, and slime.
