Background Stories envisions a world where consumers can easily access detailed information about the social and environmental sustainability of the products they buy.

To encourage awareness about how people’s purchases influence global environment and society, as well as them individually, consumers need to feel a connection with the context and greater impact of their foods. Communicating a product by describing the context of its background can become a learning tool. As evident in the food-labeling cases of Nutrition Facts and dolphin-safe tuna -over time- educational communication can change consumer purchasing patterns.

Statement

I am fascinated by the idea that we are endlessly tied to the world through the objects that we consume. Small, seemingly inconsequential objects populate our every-day, and yet the intricate life-stories of these objects are hidden from the eyes of their present consumer.

I refer to my work as ‘visual storytelling’ because I seek to visualize the narratives behind the seemingly ubiquitous everyday objects that we interact with as consumers; focusing on the larger influence that these interactions hold on the world. By bringing the attention of the viewer to the detailed, factual and sometimes even fantastical background narratives of objects and ideas, my intent is to inspire people to understand how their everyday choices impact global environment and society.

I aim to visually explain the significance of the every-day within the context of the big picture in order to engage people in their role as consumers. I am driven by the idea that when people become engaged with –and can interact with– the stories behind their purchases, they can create a personal connection, from which they can understand their own role in social and environmental sustainability. This theme has emerged from my own varied background: work and study in art, journalism, advertising, sustainability, graphic and interactive design. All of which have provided me with experiences that have greatly informed my artistic process; including sorting through complex information, and working through multiple visual iterations and applications of a project.

The work itself emerges from a choreographed interplay of visual technique, objective commentary, content and interactivity. My process deals with collecting and mapping information, more so than personal commentary on the situation. Each project begins with in-depth research on a particular topic; collecting information, interviewing people knowledgeable about the topic, partnering with community organizations to gather statistics. Subsequently, I filter through this collected information to see what stories surface, in order to begin experimenting with multiple visual storytelling approaches. My work is developed on the computer, then the resulting graphics/interactions are ‘output’ to context-specific objects/media. Past ‘outputs’ include such varied methods as engraved dishware, installations in public space, laser-cut adhesive, molded chocolate, packaged food products, carved ceramics, screen print & embroidered clothing, online interactions and upholstered household articles.

The boundaries between art, design, commerce, and technology blur and intersect in my work: real-world static data plays out into more emotionally charged, collectively visual, stories.

Background

Background Stories began as a thesis project at Design Academy Eindhoven. See more info on this prototype website.

Download Thesis Documents:

• Thesis Text (500 kb)
• Visual Info (4.1 mb)
• Process Book (3.3 mb)

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