Lesson 6: Exploration on analogy metaphor

As what research I've done, here is the definition or description about analogy metaphor.

A metaphor is an analogy between two objects or ideas, conveyed by the use of a word instead of another. Moreover, metaphor also denotes rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via association, comparison and resemblance.

A metaphor is more forceful (active) than an analogy because metaphor asserts two things are the same, whereas analogy implies a difference.

I believe that in design field, metaphor has played a very important role. It can be an inspiration for our design. As a student of majoring in interface design, we always involve metaphor in designing products or interface for our assignment. Undeniable, metaphor make our design more interesting and not too boring. As a designer, we need to be innovative. Thus, choosing metaphor helps a lot. A metaphor doesn't need to be related to our design. In this case, our design will be more innovative and creative in such way.

For the most of my assignment, there is always the same treatment including progress of transforming metaphor into the new design. In this whole process, we need to be creative and innovative enough to transform metaphor into design no matter they are related or not. Our design need to be signature enough so that users still be able to identify the metaphor chosen.

With the understanding of metaphor, lecturer has given us some exercises during lecture period. It was the random association exercises. In this exercise, we were given a situation which is to make a person stop smoking in 6 months time and the random words given was traffic light.

characteristic of a traffic light: metal, dirty and sign.

Association 1: METAL

concept - make it tough to smoke

rationale - The element of metal might be added into the making of the cigarettes. This is to make smokers feel uncomfortable when holding the cigarettes because of the weight. When the smokers feel heavy, they will feel lazy to hold the cigarettes for long period as well. Besides, as the smokers light up the cigarettes, it will be heathen up as well. Hence, with this feature, smokers will feel hot when smoking or holding the cigarettes.

Association 2: DIRTY

concept - to create a "yucky" effect to the cigarette

rationale - To create this "yucky" effect to the cigarettes, the color on the cigarettes bud will faded out when it touches the lips, Hence, the lips of the smokers will be dirty as the color falls on their lips. Even the mouth will be dirty too. Color used would be dark color.

Association 3: SIGN

concept - create a weird and scary sign.

rationale - in this case, i will use the picture / image or sign of a bank note as the cover of the cigarette. This is to awake smokers that they are actually burning money on unhealthy item.

Lesson 5: Juxtaposition

According to the note has been given by lecturer...

Juxtaposition is clearly defined as placing two variable, side by side and their contrast or similarity are shown through comparison. Many creative processes rely on juxtaposition. By juxtaposing two objects or words next to each other, human brain will automatically associate or transfer their meaning. Usually 'turning' something familiar to something less familiar or vice-versa.

Juxtaposition is the arrangement of two or more ideas, characters, actions, settings, phrases, or words side-by side or in similar narrative moments for the purpose of comparison, contrast, rhetorical effect, suspense or character development.

In developing an idea, juxtaposition is believed to be one of the best solution for designers or thinker to solve problem when they are facing difficulties.

During lecture class, we were given some exercises to apply juxtaposition on our design. It was interesting. Things go this way. we were given 2 rows of words which consist 10 words for each row. Then, we were to pick 3 groups of 2 numbers randomly. Then, we were to combine one word from each row to juxtapose them and form a new words. In this task, we need to illustrate a creature telling and describing the new formed juxtaposed words. I found it is interesting where we could come out with many ideas playing with this juxtaposition. It is about picking items r words by random and to form or come out with new things and ideas. This is useful when we come to an end and lack of ideas. It isn't common or familiar, it's creative and innovative.

In this task, I've picked number 25, 99 and 53 which came out in my brain randomly. This number combines words of lighting and root, leaf and rain, fire and wind. Next, we were asked to form a sentence using the words. This is how I formed:

lighting, root - The lighting had just shocked on the root of a plant in my garden.

leaf, rain - The leaf is dancing when the rain drops on it.

fire, wind - The fire goes stronger when wind blows.

Those sentences don't need to be fact, but it must be logical. Emm... interesting~ Juxtaposition is often applied on creative stuff and progress. For instance, progress of making a movie. Making movie can be fantasy, it can be fake. Thus, juxtaposition is an innovative way to develop new ideas. For instance, movie like Avatar. The scenes in the movies are all fake. They don't exist in real world. Some how, they are logical. Some of the audience even believe that some of the scenes are actually exist in real world.

Juxtaposition is actually fun.

Though in certain ways, it doesn't make sense. However, creativity is about having fun, it doesn't matter whether it makes sense or not.

After forming sentences, we were asked to illustrate a picture that tells or describes each sentence.

Next, we create a new word by combining two words. Here are the images I've illustrated that describe or explain the new-formed words.

Later on, we moved to another section which is "How Mergers Go Wrong". Sometimes, we are brainwashed to think the typical way to merge two items together. Well, as a creator or a designer, this is not the attitude that required. We need to think differently than other people. Thus, in order to think that way, in order to create something new that is unfamiliar, here comes the juxtaposition which involve random images association. This is to merge two different items together as a development of ideas. In this task, we were given many animals images. We were required to merge two of the animals and create a new creature that is impossible. It has to be, two different animal that is impossible to survive together. For instance, fish and chicken. As known, fish lives in water whereas chicken lives on ground. If we merge them together how are they suppose to survive together? To place it in water or to place it on ground? Interesting, isn't it?

I'd chosen to merge...

fish and rabbit, one can survive in water only whereas another one lives on ground.

eagle and giraffe, one flying in sky whereas another one living on ground.

Hope I got it right.

Next, we were asked to make sentences describing love using chili. Here goes my sentence:

Love is like a chili, it spices up my life.

You will never know how spicy it would be until you've tasted it.

Then, the other one is describing the opposite gender using mortar and pastel:

Men are like mortal and pastel as they mess things up.

No offence.