1. DIPLOMA PROJECT PROPOSAL 2010
DEVASHISH GURUJI
VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN
OPENING STATEMENT
This project aims at exploring the ideas and role of science fiction and myth as an analogical
tool to construct scenarios that are a social critique on the way our lives unfold in relation to
Technology and Nature. In a situation that almost says, “What came first, the chicken or the
egg?”
The scenario comprises of two characters, namely Man and “Box” and their relation to one
another. Box is presented as an (automotive, automated) force that is triggered by man,
who later results as the sole driver of Man.
Using basic level interaction and new media, my idea is to illustrate and install a space for
the viewer within a “planned” scenario where a dialogue is set up between the viewer and
an artefact.
A fore written scenario is presented through a non linear fashion using triggers and images
that would allow the viewer to explore the space.
BACKGROUND
Today, in a world of fast developing technology, where one can’t decide whether a phone is
a camera, a compass or a gardening tool one begins to question the origin of objects,
products, tools that feed and manipulate everyday routines, lifestyles that of basic human
living.
Are we creating a near artificial army of products that is making life so easy that it stunts the
basic natural evolutionary processes of man?
What is the basic need for development? What is the basic need for
consumption/consumerism? What drives competition? And how will all this play out?
More importantly, what drives us, as individuals? What is the core reason for being today?
These are questions I wish to use to direct the viewer through the scenario.
As an illustrator, I would like to use image building to create a space and an image that is
relevant and that resonates with our everyday lives, our routines, our goals, our aspirations
and talk about the loss of simplicity in the face of it.
On the other hand juxtapose this idea to a fictionalised character, namely “Box” and its
evolutionary process alongside us and how he/it may attain a certain spiritual side that we
have nearly lost.
Augment to simplify
Simplify to create comfort
Comfort to ensure efficiency
Efficiency to work and optimise output
Output to Create and Sustain
Create and sustain to Add
Add to Complicate…

2. PRELIMINARY NARRATIVE (to be explored and reworked further)
Versus
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Creation
Box fell from the sky. Back then box didn’t look like a box. It was rusted and crude. It didn’t
know what it was meant to do. Box was new when it met man. Man looked curious. Box
looked curious.
Man knew what to do with box hence box knew what box had to do and they both began
working.
Box was bigger than man. Heavier, stronger so man told box what to do and box would
comply. Man told box what to do and box would comply. Man told box what to do and box
would comply.
Care
Box knew what to do. Man had told it a long time ago. Box had learned a lot from man. It
had learned about creation / care / destruction.
Big box made small box. Small box made big box. Big box made bigger box. Small box made
smaller box. Bigger box made even bigger box and the small box made even smaller box. Box
after box. Box had become good at what it did.
Box had become efficient and sharp. It looked better as well. Man liked box too. He liked
what he had taught it. Box was easy to make / store / stack / duplicate / disguise / draw /
modify. Box could do all these things and man? Man had made Box. Man had taught Box.
Man had found Box.
Man needed box. Box needed Man.
Destruction
Need / Need.
Man / Box
Box / Man
It / He
He / He
Box was everywhere and Man realized that he was inside Box. Box didn’t know whether that
was good or bad but Man? Man had made box. Man had taught box. Man had found Box.
Box was confused. Box was limited. Man was not. Time had taught box of the ways of man.
Box knew of people, relationships and care and it knew of Man. It knew how families
worked. Box had provided home. Sanctuary. Didn’t Man need that as well? Box had
understood most things now. It was the facilitator of most things and Man? Not any more.
Who was box and who was man? Box remembered the day Man first met it.
INQUIRY
Concepts and ideas that need exploring
1. Mythology
Fiction
A brief insight into image and symbolism within myths
Box as “motif”
2. Simplification – of form, of language, “dumbing down”
Logos
Biomimicry
“Text messaging”

3. Technological interface and interactions
Abstraction
3. Trends in science.
Bionics and Biomimicry
Swarm theory / hive minds
4. Conformity and Institutions
Belief structures
Norms
Institutions
Family : nuclear families, fragmented settlements
Social divides
Religion
5. Personal identity
Projected identity
Social networking clusters
6.Editorial illustration
Surrealism
QUESTIONS
How does one create relevant fiction?
What is the need to create fiction?
Why did man create myths?
‐“Kalyug”
‐ Understanding the basis of science fiction and values and beliefs attached to it.
‐The importance of spirituality and to address the lack of it today?
(Coming back to ‐ what do you live for? What do you aspire to be? what is aspiration
today?”)
How can I explore, under this overarching theme, simplicity as an idea, a way of life and as
form?
What is the current trend within visual and technological culture today?
What is the role of these in our environment?
What roles do abstraction and simplicity play in the process of their development?
What are the theories within past movements that speak of future thought and myth
making?
Eg: “The Futurists admired all that represented the technological triumph of humanity over
nature and they were passionate nationalists.
“They repudiated the cult of the past and all imitation, praised originality”

4.
APPROACH AND PROCESS
To create solid touch points (streamline) that articulate the base of the scenario.
Based on the above, ideate in the form of concept sketches to help me visualise and become
familiar with the translation of form from text to visual and then experiential.
Explore narrative construct. Play with the dissemination of the content. Sequence
Experimentation with:
Illustration
Simplistic Video / animated loops
Basic technology
Sound
MATERIAL AND RESOURCES
For research:
‐ A Short History of Myth – Karen Armstrong
‐ Ars Electronica
‐ Shakuntala Kulkarni, Mumbai based installation artist
‐ Research on :
Futurism
the Situationists
Fluxus
Surrealism
Equipment:
Laptop, Micro computer, Sensors, Speakers
Projector, Screens, printer, scanner
Various art materials
LEARNING OUTCOMES
‐ To be able to identify and filter evolving data.
‐ To explore mediums and technology and make appropriate choices.
‐ To create effective visual forms, enhance communication
‐ To experiment with a series of images and triggers that create a visual scenario
under the realm of illustration.
‐ To experiment with non linear narrative construction.