Jason Dong
My thesis aims to explore negative space not as a lack of something, but rather in the context of humor, function, and the mundane. Negative space is inherently humorous to me because while it is necessary in design for effective communication, it can simultaneously appear odd given how it can be argued as wasted space. Along similar lines, negative space serves as both a functional technique but also as an aesthetic choice. As an aesthetic employment, negative space can also subvert function. Lastly, my exploration of negative space as the mundane is mostly where my methodology will manifest itself. To do so, I’m interested in giving dimensionality to negative space through the exploration of objects and phenomena that have become banalized through everyday interaction. Essentially, I am defining negative space as the mundane or what has been overlooked. The result of this thesis is not just an exploration of the linkage between negative space and the mundane, but also a reconsideration and recontextualization of the two. The broader significance of this thesis is hopefully an investigation of what design is and how it can manifest visually. Perhaps subconsciously my goal is to show that design is not about extravagance but more about subtleties.
1899, 2024.
Acrylic poster, 24 × 12 in.
Taxonomy, 2024.
Poster, 24 × 18 in.
Extreme Scale, 2024.
Newspaper, 20 × 12 in.
Beautiful World, 2024.
Poster, 52 × 34 in.