Oct Week 2.5 → Visual Research
Bare Minimum 最低限度
Technical Support
Size
Paper
Colour
Exposure time
This is my first silkscreen test print after a long break since June. I did not plan or set goals, I simply wanted to reconnect with the feeling of printing again. The poster concept is based on the phrase “bare minimum”. If I were the one who could decide when a work is finished, I would say it ends when I feel “I’m done, it’s done.”
“Done” here could mean my emotional limit , or literally the completion of the work, that’s my bare minimum. No need to overthink or overdo it.
Process, Results & Observations
- Gerard forgot to add registration marks on my film. It became a small twist at the beginning, I didn’t ask for reprinting it since there’s no need to waste it. I had to align the two print layers by my instinct.
- For the first few prints, I put some extra silver ink in the middle of the black ink, which unexpectedly created a visual effect, it looks like the black layer is ripped apart partially.
- Later, different small errors happened. I didn’t fix them, instead, I considered them as part of the process. For example, the legibility of “minimum” on the bottom was inconsistent, but perhaps that was very relatable to the bare minimum: readability at its minimum level.
This experiment made me question the autonomy in graphic design. Not only to accept constructive feedback, but also to leave space for openness and chance simultaneously. Some might think this print is already finished or unfinished, while others might find beauty in its imperfections and printing traces. The key is that, we, as the designers, are we be able to stay connected to our work and decide when to stop.