Metagenome.club

A metagenome is an environmental sample of genetic information. It can be made up of anything from algae in a pond to the microbiome in your stomach. My goal in this project was to work out a language for visualization and naming of a metagenome. The challenge is that a metagenome is a constantly evolving, n-dimensionally complex culture. Similar to naming stars, but a if stars combined themselves with two new stars and turned into a planet and then became a comet a fraction of a second later.

At present the website generates a new name for every change in the state of the organism based on daylily names, in the future I propose that the viewer will be able to name the organism... much like you would be able to name a star.

Crime in the City

A primitive mashup of crime data from Los Angeles's "Open Data" initiative, merged with LA topography.

My goal was to explore manipulating accurate data in elementary ways. The space between data as a source of information and data as a compelling image has been a point of contention for me. This project became a space for me to investigate this conflict. Given more time I would have liked to work with this in a series to better communicate this tension. Due to the short time frame of this project I decided to focus on the process and use what I learned from it to further inform my practice.

Lack of Control

I wanted to create a compelling interaction that relied on the feeling of loss/lack of control. To illustrate this concept, I created two games that used "lack of control" as the central interaction.

I chose to make two quick games rather than iterate and improve one game because it took the pressure off of fine tuning, freeing me up to investigate "lack of control" as a broader topic.

The Lobby

The Lobby was designed to democratize one of the darkest parts of the American political system. It is a proposal for an online platform that gives users the opportunity to create and crowdfund a political lobby. The Lobby creates a counter balance for Main Street, making it possible for anyone to raise money and influence their legislators; it hedges on the vision of pushing the boundaries of what can be accomplished with “the crowd”. Awarded "The Allumonde Ring" by Design Academy Eindhoven.

MEM3D

This project is a critical exploration into the proliferation of 3D printing by means of encouraging interaction with products as memes. Formally known as MEM3D popularly known as Add-a-dick.com the project is a online 3D modeling platform that gives users tools to remix known products and shapes with 3D modeled penises and other humorous additions. Allowing users to create and 3D print new products as well as remix and alter the ideas of other users. By utilizing one of the oldest and most controversial memes in existence– drawing penises on things, and encouraging iteration, the output becomes a meme in itself.

This is a work in progress, the platform has been in beta for over a year (designers make terrible developers) but hopefully will be fully operational soon. (notice how I didn't give a date ; )

Moniker

Snor Magazine

Snor Magazine was created by an eclectic group of design students who were as tired with design as they were excited about it. It is the official unofficial magazine of the Design Academy Eindhoven, completely run by students from the back of a small dive bar on the west side of Eindhoven. I ran the (now defunct) website as well as writing, photographing and designing for several issues while still a student at the Design Academy.

Leather Crafted

Leather is valued for its versatility, strength, and character. This project was the final result of a six month research documentary. The research took place throughout the Netherlands and Istanbul, documenting the roll craftsmanship plays in the leather industry. The aim of this film narrative is to broaden the perception of craftsmanship.

Grote Beek

The Grote Beek is a psychiatric hospital that sits on a large estate on the outskirts of Eindhoven. We were given a brief to develop a new wayfinding system, that would be easier to navigate for outsiders. We developed a wayfinding system around the idea that the property should be approached like a small neighborhood. In a similar fashion to a Italian village we broke the property into districts and gave each district it's own flag and color making a efficient and colorful orientation system for the property.

Temporary Friendships

Research into the contexts under which temporary friendships and accidental meetings occur. Over the course of four months we conducted interviews, film elicitations and small experiments to better understand what inspires these interactions. This was part of my research minor.