Given a box of found objects, we were instructed to create different marks by dipping our found object(s) of choice in black acrylic paint. We then used that found object as our “painting tool” to roll, drop, and drag our objects across white paper. This haphazard and vague mark-making assignment was phase one of our (Un)Common Object design project. By entering the first phase without a true ask left us to create without thinking of the actual deliverable and final application.

Once the paint was dry, we were asked to pair word choices with the marks we created. When pairing, the word choice had to have a distinct relationship to the marks made, either in visual similarity or attitude.

Ultimately, the deliverable was to iterate these marks within Photoshop to create a cohesive composition that had the word visible using the marks we scanned and/or photographed.

After making my marks, I quickly wrote down different words that I associated with each unique mark pulled from my pages of paint. Typing these words directly on the artboard next to my masked-out marks helped get as many iterations out as possible. I would begin with a simple word/phrase, such as “nail” which would lead me to the thesaurus for something more complex like “crucify”.

While there was no end-user/demographic for this project, I always work best thinking “what am I creating this for?” Once I honed my iterations down to “cancer”/“cancerous” with my unique marks, I imagined I was asked to create an illustration for the truth, a national public health organization against major tobacco companies. I envision this being used as a digital sticker for social media (i.e. Instagram Stories, Snapchat) or within an awareness campaign’s poster title of “fact: smoking causes cancer”. Thinking about a dream client when designing helps me create with a higher level of detail and importance.

The day before the deadline, I was sure of which marks I wanted to use, but torn on which word choice worked best. “Scan”, “Cancer”, and “Cancerous” were presented to a new group of peers for a final opinion. After careful consideration and tweaking, I used the eroding marks to form a very legible and stark “Cancer” composition. Printing on a 17”(W)x11”(H) paper with 2-3” margins, the piece was strong, disturbing, and ready for many possible applications. Again, I could see this being successful as a web, social, or print graphic element for an awareness campaign.