Malloy 25 Discussion
While defining what I felt are the most essential methods for adaptive communication, I began experimenting visually with theories. To be able to profess is one thing, but to be able to actually achieve is another. My visual thesis is simultaneously an experiment and an educational experience, applying my four methods of adaptive communication while educating and involving the exhibit attendees as creative participants. My hope is participants will enjoy the interactions and consider the concepts behind the experiments. For the visual communicators and educators who attend, I hope they will dig deeper, question, and join the dialogue. For non-designers, I hope they will think about their own creativity and what it means to be an active participant in their communications. The exhibit brings common materials and concepts together in unexpected ways, giving participants entry point but allowing for personal paths of interpretation. The series of experiments progress and combine concepts as participants move through them. The last portion of my exhibit involves participants in creating a badge of participation to take with them after the show. They are encouraged to look at my thesis website (www.AdaptiveDesignThesis.wordpress.com) to continue the dialogue. As participants enter the gallery, they are greeted by what looks like a giant poetry wall– Rows span across a 90 inch-long window with shelves full of cut out words below (fig. 2, 3). To the right of the window are five creative prompts that participants can choose from. Each prompt asks for a different level of engagement with other participants to achieve a requested goal. For example, the “Ambigrammar” prompt asks participants to pair up, one on each side of the window, and create a sentence or story that makes sense if read in both directions. For example, “You needed life,” also reads, “Life needed you.” The exercises range in challenge level; each is playful. Participants are already familiar with creating meaning by assembling words while