presentation
. core question + concept
. impetus + domains + precedents (props, women bags, kits)
. research + observations
. fall semester process
. objects sketches
. character back-story
. user walk-through
. tested prototypes
. storyboard
. popgadget
. production plan + next steps
Objects
. The butt-crack suspender
. The cleavage hider
. It’s written on my forehead hat
. Book Stand with stick and magnifying glass
. The intelligent book cover
Character Backstory
Leah she was born a fat baby, as she grew, the baby fat never came off. When she started school she was bigger than her classmates, even teachers treated her as though she was older and were sticker with her. Her height and her body developed earlier than the other in the class, she was always an outcast. She developed skills to amuse herself without the need of company, it took a lot intelligence and creativity, which were both very strong assets in her personality. Her father left when she was young, and her mother, in spite of her persistence, has not been able to find another great love. A man would walk out on her mom every two to three months, and with every heartbreak came the need to start a new life in a new town. So Leah had to go through the painful first day of school almost every semester. Every time she moved to a new town she would have her a new doll friend and she would dress her with postcards from that town. She finally separated from her mom when she got a scholarship to go Columbia University to study Chemistry, and ended working as a researcher in the laboratory of the school.
Although she grew up to be a decent looking woman, she never acquired the ability to socialize with others or to live by the norms of society. She dressed differently and responded bizarrely to advances, she was simply content on her own. The scars of being made fun of in her childhood and adolescent years, made her distrustful of others. She’s paranoid of gaining weight and avoids the possibility of overeating in her apartment. She then developed her own kit that she uses when eats alone in a public place. This kit became crucial to her and she cherishes it like any woman cherishes her purse.
Thesis Concept
I am exploring the state of mental unease when eating alone in public setting. My project is a single-channel short video depicting a survival-kit of items designed by an eccentric female character and is used while she’s dining alone.
I am making a commentary on social anxiety, the faulty perception of being watched and judged and on the vulnerability that women feel as they are thought to be more approachable. Today, the average urban woman already carries around a form of survival-kit that she believes she needs to make it through the day. She goes from the basics of wallet-keys-cell phone to carrying around her make-up, perfume, breath mints etc…
Through my observation, I have concluded that most people use distracters when they are eating alone. The most common props are books, magazines, cell phone, and music players. These distracters help create a shell that makes a person feel protected when eating alone. They isolate themselves by looking busy and unapproachable.
Hat experiment
This week end I attended a paper computing workshop where we had to create paper electronic jewelry, instead I decided to include the paper and LED in a hat.
I decided to wear it for a night, I had dinner and then went to a bar wearing it.
Many approached me with questions, others smiled. One person asked for my card.
it got me thinking, how can I make props that, like this hat, grab attention and is a conversation starter? How can props do exactly what a person who dislikes eating by themselves fear; really being the center of attention. The faultily perception now becomes a reality.
Peer Reviews
I presented my thesis idea and process on Friday night for peer reviews. There wasn’t a large attendance in the section I was in, still the reviews were beneficial to me.
I wanted to present not just my concept and topic, but also the process that I am going through and the way my thesis idea is being formed. I wanted to share both forms I have been experimenting with in regards to the state of mental unease when dining alone. I only had seven minutes to present and I was rushing through my slides. I divided my presentation into two sections. The first section covered the iterations within the realm of critical design and the second section covered the narrative approach. I couldn’t get into the details of the second section because of time constraints, but overall, my presentation was clear.
Most of my peers related to the topic of eating alone, and I felt that they were relating more to the idea of the kits, they became more attentive and amused by the irony of the form. As for the second part, they reacted to the idea of perception versus the reality and suggested that I should experiment more with that. The discussion that started in the room was not feedback but rather personal opinions on eating alone, and being alone; which is exactly what I want my project to evoke as a final piece. Another suggestion was thinking of ways where my project could be shown, for example putting it in a public space where people do eat alone. One person pointed out that I should be aware that I was leaning to the negative side of eating alone, it made me realize that as a person who finds it very hard to eat alone, my piece should not reflect pejoratively.
As a designer, I don’t want to spoon-feed my audience, I don’t want my project to help people in a straightforward manner, I want to spark a discussion and I want my audience to think. It leaves me thinking, how can I find the intersection between critical design and linear storytelling?
Bartender/waiter
I asked a bartender/waiter: As someone who worked in various ‘fancy’ restaurants in NYC, do you encounter many women who dine by themselves? How would you describe their behavior? How is it different from the behavior of men dining alone? What do you think makes someone dine alone comfortably or not? Do you think age affects it? Do you think it is a representation of loneliness?
Tolga: As far as the women who eat alone are concerned. Age is a notable factor. Youngest I have served was about 35 and mostly about over 40. I believe the main factor is self-confidence. Yes most women who eat alone are lonely but they are the ones who are secure enough to be able neglect public opinion. Most of them seek attention from bartenders though some of them would prefer to be left alone with a book (mostly intellectuals). As far as the behavior is concerned most women who dine alone belong to a intellectually enriched and financially eminent part of the society, they are not always rich but at least upper middle class as far as the men are concerned the financial and especially the intellectual levels are quite variable.
Even in NYC it is more common and publicly acceptable for men to eat alone than women.
Women also become regulars at places that they dine alone that way they feel some comfort in the company of people they are familiar with. They also happen to be drinkers as in they know what they want and it is obvious that they drink on regular basis (people who walk in and order something by name at a particular style are obvious drinkers).
Older women who eat alone are considered to be there to look for a guy by many.
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