One of the things I enjoy about these projects is that we are given multiple compositions: this means there is room to create patterns and links between the compositions. Four is also always a good number to work with, simply because many ideas are associated with four elements (Mendel’s law, temperaments, classical elements, etc.) Additionally, this means it’s easy to associate certain elements with one composition, then create contrast with the other.
Below are certain ways I’ve tried to approach the project, especially where I tend to get very easily confused by myself. Even if I’ve come up with something I like to re-evaluate it repeatedly and try to think of better alternatives.
(EVENTUALLY SELF-REJECTED) IDEA 1: CHOOSING JOBS BEFORE NAMES
I initially considered using a Punnett Square model to define two pairs of binary opposites, forming 4 resulting jobs.This would allow me to work with a variety of styles, as well as provide clear visual differences between the compositions. For example, this list:
- Optimism vs pessimism
- Tangible jobs (revenue provision) versus intangible jobs (human duty)
- High vs low income
- Skilled vs unskilled work
- Outdoor vs indoor
- Real vs fantastical
- Physically demanding vs mentally demanding
- Nature-related vs technological-related
- Male-oriented vs female-oriented
- Bizarre versus ordinary
- Stable versus unstable
As such, it might end up with something which looks like this:
| NATURE | TECHNOLOGY | |
| HIGH INCOME | Biologist | Programmer |
| LOW INCOME | Farmer | Plumber |
However, I had difficulty trying to come up with 2 pairs that could work with each other, especially where some of these pairs did not have very clear visual differences. Also, it doesn’t really provide any kind of overarching idea except for that of that diversity of jobs.
IDEA 2: CHOOSING NAMES BEFORE JOBS
Choosing jobs wasn’t going too well, so I opted to try to choose names first instead. Here’s a list of the initial thoughts:
- Full name as per NRIC (official, business-y)
- NRIC number (disparaging remark on society, rigidity and capitalism)
- Nicknames (until I realised I don’t really have any)
- Online names (game character names, forum handles)
- Titles (“ma’am” by my cadets, “xiao mei” by stall vendors)
The notion of online names stood out simply because Shirley suggested to have more quirky jobs, and it seemed like there’d be more “associated images” which I could use to make it easier for others to understand. (Also, it’s easier to change the names if I want, because online names can be anything!)
IDEA 2.1: ONLINE HANDLES
Here’s some online handles I’ve used before in different situations, to relate to the ideas of 1. the rise of jobs pertaining to the internet, and 2.the ability of a single person to take on various different personas through the net.
- Seichi: Name I used when I was doing webcomic translations
- Threar: Name I used for a healer class game character
- Ense: Name I used when I wrote stories, fanfictions, etc
Idea 2.2 involves the usage of ONLY game online handles, possibly to reinforce the idea of an alternate irreality? Which may reduce the difficulty in that many games, like MMORPGS, tend to have a job/class system which I could reference.
It would certainly reduce my ability to showcase ACTUAL jobs which are online, though, and visually it might be a little challenging.
IDEA 3: JUST DESIGN FIRST AND SEE HOW IT GOES
As the name suggests. I draft typefaces or compositions in my free time (or when I’m bored), and try to fit it to a concept which works.
CONCLUSION
To mix Idea 2.1 and Idea 3. While I WILL use names I’ve used before, I WON’T use the names in conjunction with the function they ACTUALLY served. I try to fit the typefaces I sketched to jobs which could work online.
The theme is that of the online world, namely that of the inconsequentiality of online identity, alongside the versatility of the digital.
Names are interchangeable, unworldly and simultaneous: I could change the names easily with no consequence simply because it is a fake name, I can name myself whatever I so wish because it’s not real anyway. I can even have multiple names, all associated with different things, all at once because I am allowed to have multiple existences.
And yet at the same time this is a rising platform on which one finds employment, one which provides many opportunities, as presented by the various implied jobs: they are all jobs which can exist both in analog and digital form, and which would easily be mistaken as analog if not for the bizarre names, the subtle hints pointing to its online nature.
Here’s a general finalised list. May be subject to changes.
- Photographer
- Implied: Photographer of cats
- Associated images: Cats, cameras
- Retailer
- Implied: Retailer of those glass terrarium things which are a surprisingly popular homemade handicraft to sell
- Associated images: Terrariums, shop displays
- Translator
- Implied: Translator between English and Japanese
- Associated images: Alphabets, books/editing softwares
- Blogger
- Implied: Blogger about food
- Associated images: Food, reports