Lost & Found

Description

This is a folding canopy supported by metal ribs that are usually mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is designed to protect a person against rain or sunlight. This is also primarily hand-held portable devices sized for personal use. I bought this object from Ai Weiwei's exhibition souvenir shop. A middle finger picture was printed on this object, a significant work of Ai Weiwei and what I love. This object has a black and white middle finger picture print on a plain black background fabric. And the fabric is supported by metal ribs with black rubber handles. I lost this in the tube (London subway) while I was in a hurry to get out of the station. Clue: One of the famous song by Rihanna

Design Process

The statement above was provided by G Jiyeon Choi, describing an umbrella she lost that meant alot to her. Once I had the object visualized I made a rough sketch of the image I wanted to make using p5.js. I began experimenting with javascript to create the graphic above.

Once I translated my description into an image, I had to figure out how I could make that image using tools in javascript. I began by breaking the design down into its major components: the background, the umbrella shade, the umbrella stem, and the middle finger design. I organized my code by component, using pseudocode to keep my work clean and organized.

Reflection

I enjoyed the way my partner wrote their description of the umbrella, and I thought the different details of the story gave me a lot to work with in the design. I went with a pretty traditional visualization of an umbrella for my drawing, but I decided after reading the description that I would have to find a way to add in the middle finger pattern.

For my first time using p5.js, I found it fairly easy to understand and experiment with. During the sketching process I was conflicted on whether to have the umbrella open or closed for the final graphic. I decided to go with it open, even though I thought the closed umbrella would have been easier to make technically. I chose to do this because of the importance placed on the Ai Weiwei middle finger graphic in the description. If I had more time to work on the project I would like to find a better way to visualize the shade of the umbrella. I had some technical challenges making the arches at the bottom of the shade cooperate with the different layers of the design that are made when the code executes in p5.js, I want to find a more elegant solution to this without compromising on the middle finger graphic.

The final umbrella has likely changed drastically due to the different translations the object has gone through. It began as a memory of an umbrella, that was transcribed to a written description. Then it became my own interpretation and sketch, and finally it became 98 lines of javascript. There is likely going to be a loss of detail after being interpreted so many times.