Full view of the Say it with Shorthand instillation.
Thesis Statement
Most people who know of shorthand, if they know of it at all, will tell you that it's obsolete. Although it has been out of practice by most for nearly half a century, shorthand is hardly irrelevant. Say it with Shorthand served to create an awareness of this forgotten language and to give a platform to an understated art.
A birds-eye-view of the instillation.
Hand model Marena selecting a word to stamp.
Hand model Marena inking her stamp.
Stamping said stamp.
The shorthand mark for the selected word 'graphic' is revealed.
The back of the notecards showing the QR code and short description.
Introduction
I discovered the well-kept secret of shorthand two years ago when I picked up a 100-year-old copy of Pitman’s Shorthand in an antique shop in Boston. Once I discovered what was inside, I was intrigued, and that intrigue soon turned into fascination. I was so captivated by these mysterious marks even though I had no idea what they meant or what they were for. It wasn’t until months later that I realized that I had stumbled upon a secret language hidden in an antique store.
Lesson 6 of Course in Isaac Pitman Shorthand.
Goals & Audience
Starting out with my project I had two main goals in mind: To expose my audience to the existence of shorthand, and to elicit appreciation for a historical piece of visual communication that has become lost in this modern age. My target audience is my fellow graphic designers, although my thesis could be easily applicable to and understood by a wider range of people. Shorthand, much like design, is an artful combination of both form and function. In addition, as visual communicators we have a responsibility to understand the history of our craft, and written language is a part of that.
The alphabets of both Pitman and Gregg shorthand.
Exploration
I began my exploration by researching the different types of shorthand, where and how it was invented, who it was used by, etc. Pictured above we have the two most “modern” systems (the late 1800s is modern for shorthand). The one on the left was developed by Sir Isaac Pitman in 1837 and a mere 50 years later, a man named John Robert Gregg published a revised system. Gregg’s system is basically a simplified version of Pitman. It features much fewer rules, so it was more widely accepted by the public.I went to the university library to look for reading material, only to discover that most books about shorthand had been moved to the archives years ago. I extended the umbrella of my research to include any sort of abbreviated communication that exists in our world (and as you can imagine, that list got to be quite lengthy). I wanted to understand the importance of shorthand in the various of forms which it exists.
A collection of abbreviated communication systems including smoke signals, signs and blazes, proofreading symbols, semaphore flags, stenography, hobo signs, and emoticons.
Process
I began with the idea of creating an online word generator. I envisioned a sort of “slot machine” that would give you a random phrase in shorthand at the click of a button and then translate it for you underneath. That initial idea then developed into a series of rabbit trails as I tried to concoct some sort of interactive activity that would be successful in a web format. I also considered creating an online exhibition of various shorthand artifacts.
I stuck with the idea of curating an exhibit, but this time I focused on coming up with an experience that people could touch and interact with and take away something physical from it.
A mock-up of the online word generator concept.
A snapshot of the virtual tour of the National Gallery.
Results
What I ended up with was this: Say it with Shorthand. It involves a series of 100 half inch rubber stamps, each engraved with a different mark in shorthand, a pile of blank notecards, and a website. The instructions read:
1. Compose a message using the words provided.
2. Stamp your message onto a card and take it with you.
3. Give the card away.
Feel free to create as many as you would like.
Say anything you'd like, just say it with shorthand.
I drew inspiration from magnetic refrigerator poetry in order to come up with a collection of nouns, verbs, pronouns, conjunctions – everything you need in order to build a sentence. Through a series of case studies, I narrowed my extensive word list down to 100 words, which I then translated into shorthand, which I then translated into stamps. As you can see, the English word is identified on top, although once you stamp it, the shorthand mark for the word is revealed. I decided to go with Gregg’s method of shorthand because, like I mentioned, it is the most well-known and universal system. The stamps are organized in alphabetic order, which makes it easier to find specific words you may be looking for during the process of creating your message.
The goal of this instillation is to get people to compose their shorthand messages and distribute them among their peers. The notecard includes a QR code, which leads directly to the “Decode Your Message” page of the website. The website also includes an About section which includes my thesis statement, a history portion, and a list of reputable resources to encourage further exploration of the topic.
You can visit my website here.
Stamps, stamps, stamps...
Conclusion
This project taught me that there is no such thing as "over researching." Digging deeper into any vast topic can be overwhelming and intimidating, but you have to just begin. Brainstorm, let your mind run down rabbit trails, and keep records. You never know when you're going to revisit an odd idea that you thought of three weeks ago that could've just as easily been forgotten and erased from your memory.
If I were to continue researching this topic and developing it further, I would like to
a) Become more competent in my shorthand-transcribing ability
b) Collaborate with people like Mr. Tursi who know so much more than I about this topic, and whose experience and knowledge would elevate my end product, and
c) If I were to continue the development of my project, I would like to curate an exhibition at a larger scale. I would include more about the history of shorthand, it’s development and various uses throughout time, and offer a memorable, interactive experience for a broader audience.
My hope of this project was to use an interactive platform to showcase a piece of the history of visual communication, and to remind people of what is largely taken for granted.
Close up view of the shorthand stamp for 'graphic'.
Resources
Alphabet - Gregg Shorthand. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://gregg.angelfishy.net/analphbt.shtml
Blazes & Signs: Trail Signs, Trail Markers, Boy Scout. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/skills/seton/blazes.htm
Chart of Brief Forms - Gregg Shorthand. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://gregg.angelfishy.net/anbfs.shtml
Dull Tool Dim Bulb. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://dulltooldimbulb.blogspot.com/2011/04/texting-dull-tool-dim-bulb-way.html#.VyF9MmNieL8
Emojipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://emojipedia.org/
Eve Warren : A History of... (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://e-warren1114-aho.blogspot.com/2012/08/native-american-smoke-symbols.html
Flag | Wikiwand. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Flag
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://galleryofshorthand.org/
Kalamazoo Valley Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://www.kalamazoomuseum.org/
Laser Custom Stamps. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from https://learn.adafruit.com/laser-custom-stamps
Long Live Pitman's Shorthand! Devoted to New Era Shorthand. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://www.long-live-pitmans-shorthand.org.uk/downloads.htm
N. (2011). NCRA In-Person Interview - Dominick Tursi, CM - Part I. Retrieved April 27, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIzRocdFU2s
Pitman, I. (1912). Course in Isaac Pitman shorthand: An exposition of the author's system of phonography, designed for use in business colleges, high schools, and for self instruction. New York: Isaac Pitman & Sons.
Word List for Poetry Magnet. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://familycrafts.about.com/od/alteredartandcollage/ss/Poetry_Magnet_Words.html
Proofreading Symbols Every Proofreader Should Know - Online Editing and Proofreading Services. Affordable Editors and Proofreaders. (2010). Retrieved April, 2016, from http://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/proofreading-symbols/
QR Stuff. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://www.qrstuff.com/
Rubber Stamps | Rubber Stamp Champ. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://www.rubberstampchamp.com/
Shorthand Deathmatch – Pitman v. Gregg. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://pitmania.com/shorthand-deathmatch-pitman-v-gregg-2/
Take a virtual tour of the National Gallery - Art History News - by Bendor Grosvenor. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://www.arthistorynews.com/articles/570_Take_a_virtual_tour_of_the_National_Gallery
The Hobo Code. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2016, from http://nowiknow.com/the-hobo-code/
