Making the invisible be seen.

“The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others„ (Jonathan Swift)

The Topic

Images have always determined our perception. What cannot be depicted usually disappears on the horizon of our attention; it remains unknown. What there is no image of, supposedly does not exist. But the many invisible things also make up our lives and the world around us and drive us forward.

Technology makes it possible to make the most minuscule particles visible and the most distant solar systems tangible. Through it, we come to better understand and appreciate our lives and our living world.

Poetry can describe the indescribable, like feelings of being in love, for example. Angels are invisible, but you can find countless depictions in paintings. Albrecht Dürer's famous woodcut shows a rhinoceros, cut in wood only from a heard description and a sketch by an eyewitness. Dürer himself had never seen the animal with his own eyes. We also do not see radioactivity or global warming, but we do see their life-changing effects.

As designers, our profession not only requires us to observe closely, but also the ability to translate into a visual language. Designers can be seen as visual storytellers. As a result, we often discover things, problems, and processes others do not see or notice. Things that are actually invisible, too small, too big, or unimaginable. Like time, music, thoughts, the wind, or the future. As designers, we can make invisible things and processes visible, understandable and explainable.

The Task

Why is it relevant for you to make the invisible visible? First, find an individual theme, explore it and then give the invisible a face.

We first research, find our way into the topic, and look for examples and subject areas. Then, with short, playful exercises, we explore initial approaches. Finally, we deal with methods for finding and developing ideas.

Find an approach from the topic area that is exciting and relevant for you, and create a communication strategy. You are free to choose the type of visual communication, the medium and the creative implementation, depending on the approach, your desire, and your focus of study (e.g., book, campaign, moving image, typographic, illustrative).

Outcome

Semester documentation (project book): Research, texts, playful exercises and sketches during the semester; conception and design process on your particular topic.

Workpiece (project work): The realization of your idea or concept (e.g. book, campaign).

At the end of the semester, there is the possibility of an exhibition of the results. We document the course progress on the incom workspace.

I look forward to your curiosity. Welcome!

If you need any clarification or have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me: juergen.hefele@hs-augsburg.de

The course will be held in English.