The Leave Behind is a product given to the interviewer for a dream job as a way to give contact information in a creative, memorable way. I created metal coasters, backed with cork that spell "coffee" and "type." This is also the start of exploration into marrying my graphic design and sculptural work.
Here's how I found this solution:
Ideation is always always always the starting point and I find the best results with pencil to paper. The physicality of drawing engages the brain in important ways. Using the word-cloud method, I threw my net far, finding as many solutions as possible.
Next, twenty thumbnail sketches, as quickly as possible expanding upon the ideas of the word cloud and sprouting from each other. I aimed to use my new found skills of metal working and sculpture into this project, so my sketches focused on that goal. This process is messy, and that's okay! The brain fills in what the pencil does not convey (coffee and travel stains included!)
Then, boil the mess down to what ideas stuck out.
My professor recommended applying verbs such as "flip, stretch, and combine" to some of the solutions we were interested in exploring.
Deciding to go with a metal alphabet coaster, I played with fitting the letters together like a puzzle.
And then, before I knew it, it was time to fabricate! Using scrap metal and found cork, I was proud of the results, and at zero cost, an added bonus!
