This project was birthed from my desire to merge handwork with graphic design.  I've always been inspired by street art, and throughout my thesis exploration I was looking to define the term 'master' for myself.  I disagree with Malcom Gladwell's theory on becoming an expert, but how is master a separate term?

I wanted to explore the difference in doing the same design by hand, or by machine.  I did a few modifications as possible to the machine version, allowing the digitzing software to use default settings to keep human manipulation down.

Both pieces were displayed in clear glass frames hanging from the ceiling so the viewer could choose to see it from the front or the back. Many of my classmates and visiting professors felt the back was less controlled and therefore more dynamic and interesting than the front.

And control was the last part of this.  I was experimenting with my need for control, and perfection when I create things.  Throughout my time at Pratt I've been critiqued to working too hard to be perfect.  Trying to make things as perfect as I can, to me, is one of my goals.  But I learned through this, that allowing yourself to be messy and more free, can lead to beautiful things.

Hand: process images

Machine: process images