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Permanent Temporality

*COMING SOON*

Inspired by in-life events, this project centres around the journey of moving homes. Informed by extensive visual, demographic, statistical and psychological research. The wayfinding narrative is conceptually driven by the paradoxical binary of permanent temporality, whereby the central theme of contrast has informed contrasting yet complementary visual communication style; pairing manual and digital practice, through a back and forth process of scanning and photoshop. The typographically driven design system utilises an instructional publication and sensor activated graphic installations on boxes, doors and lampposts to create a night-time exclusive wayfinding route.

Macro-Concept
‍With so many different homes encapsulating so many different lives intersecting, it creates thousands of irreplaceable circumstances, coexisting at one time. The fleeting glimpse-like nature of these circumstances is captured within the temporary means of viewing the wayfinding system, at night, via sensor lights and determinations of riddles.

‍Micro-Concept
My own housing journey is riddled with unexpected change, fleeting moments and chance. It is this fervent energy essence of the system captures, as the binary of temporality in permanence exemplifies the exciting dominance of change and wonder. Thus, paradoxically binary of temporary and permanent is instilled within the strong visual expression. Through equating temporary to transparency and obscurity and permanent to opaque and bold, the concept can be directly represented and interpreted.

‍Narrative
The narrative is nuanced and multi-layered, with the depth of interpretation depending on the audience’s state of mind. Inspired by the covid-induced solitary and ‘secret’ move, an allusive tone of voice is mobilised. through the use of riddle like clues, a multi-element system that must be used in conjunction with one another and temporary night-time viewing. All generating an air of mystery and intrigue.
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At its most simple level, the narrative replicates the real-life occurrence of moving homes in a turbulent time. Meaning, the property has been vacated without informing others, and the wayfinding system guides those originally unaware, towards the new home, answering questions of how far, and where. Further, the narrative of moving is more overarchingly expressed through the interactive elements of the journey. As they invite the user into the more philosophical and practical consideration of what is precious and useful to take with you in life.

A narrative of friendship is implied, through the target audience and copy. Further, the temporary existence of the wayfinding system itself creates a philosophical and existential narrative about the fleeting nature of life, memories and moments. This is ironically a permanently inescapable fact of life. The primary features of this idea is visually manifested through temporary and permanent design styles and installation access.

Audience
The wayfinding system is technically open to all but only accessible to some. It is only accessible at night, to those who visit the original home, and have the means to decipher the poetic clues. The target audience is thus the close friends of the occupants of my original home. The audience’s behaviour of visiting another’s home is the ritualistic premise that the wayfinding system relies upon. The orientating point is found at the original home, and the means to entice them on the journey to the new home, is based upon the understanding that their purpose is to see the occupants. The allusive copy and grungy fading visual language intends to evoke curiosity. Whereby the riddle-like clues and temporary means of interaction with the system, encourage urgency and secrecy. Depending on the state of the audience’s mind at the time the allusive and fleeting nature of the system can evoke either confusion or curiosity, frustration or excitement.

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This project centres around the journey of moving homes. My home at the beginning of this project was in Kingsford, the research conducted about this suburb and home formed the foundational ideas of this project. Particularly of interest was the **suburb characterisation of frequent movement**.

Halfway through this project I abruptly had to move homes, the stressful nature of this move informed the projects grungy tone of voice, as it created a turbulent journey, defined by the almost aggressive speed and physical mobility required. Further the government Covid restrictions also generated a unique set of restraints that meant the move was almost a secret and conducted in isolation, further informing the allusive tone of voice.

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The visual language is defined by its grungy tactical feel, achieved through scanning, collaging and photoshop distortion. The visual system mobilises key items associated with moving and have more symbolic meanings.

The tyre marks: A temporary means marking ones journey, a tangible fading fingerprint of ones identity.

**The scissors:** Alludes to the idea of severing ties.

**The packing tape:** Alludes to the secretive masking of the move.

**The measuring tape:** Symbolic of the time and distance between the audience and occupant.

**The plastic wrap and packing symbols:** The binary of temporary and permanent is exemplified through the transparent material and bold markings.

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Colour Palette:
‍By choosing a simple black and white, creating a striking and dramatic language. The colours are also reflective of the analogue scanning process of making as well as the temporary night time access.

**Typography:**
The project is heavily typographically driven. The typefaces are chosen from the lease agreement and vacating notice letters, thus emulating the physical language of the real estate world. However in conjunction with the scanning and photoshop distortion the grungy, collage style contrasts and challenges the mundane structures of the traditional typeface.

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The wayfinding route begins in Kingsford and ends in Chippendale, with six encounter spots that navigate you along five streets. The route which mobilises street lamps as a primary form of wayfinding, can thus only be followed at night. The route is designed to be followed on foot.

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The doors are utilised at the beginning and end of the wayfinding system, the repeated use of which creates a cyclical feeling. Further, the symbolism of function as an opening and closing, emulates a binary of being welcomed and farewelled. The graphic treatment is projected on to the door via the sensor light. Meaning it is only viewable in the evening upon approach.

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The book, which is found at the beginning of the system, acts as an accompanying guide to the physical interventions. The poetic instructions assist the means of navigation. Signalled by the letter title pages, the allusive, riddle like cues, correspond to each other doors and boxes.

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The designed boxes harness the symbolism of moving to create graphic interventions at decision points. The use of a single letter and obscure word entice curiousity towards where to go next. Further they function as an interactive element. The open lids invite inspection, allowing those who are curious enough to discover objects within. Inspired by the concept of public book exchanges, the boxes function as a public exchange of items, people can either take or contribute too. It alludes to the idea of objects left behind when moving. Prompting the thoughts of what is important and what is not.

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Harnessing the existing features of the street, the trail is projected via street lamps.The light trail functions along the streets in between the boxes and doors. Acting as a guide, a trail of tire marks line the streets, the more defined the trail becomes, the closer the audience knows they are. Further, they are sensor operated, however instead of turning on when under, they turn off, meaning the audience is always in constant end pursuit of the light.

**Some aspects of this project may be subject to confidentially agreements. Further details and my role in them are available upon request.**

So mysterious right... Is she playing hard to get? Trying not to get sued? who knows... contact me to find out more :)