For this assignment, we were required to make a letterform with the first letter of our name. We began looking at text that had been altered significantly and were encouraged to think of ways we could modify text as well. The first part of the project was to be constructed solely with cardboard. As a class, we decided we could add wire after we created to our cardboard construction. The shape did not have to be a specific size, but it did have to stand on its own.
For my letterform, I used only cardboard I brought from home and wire I bought at Michaels. My cardboard creation stands alone and was turned in on time.
I wanted my letterform to embody some of my personality, so I chose to use flowers as my inspiration for the piece. I enjoy drawing flowers, so I thought it would be fitting if my “A” resembled that of a flower. First I created a circle to be the “bud” of the flower, and then the rounding of the letter was created by cardboard that resembled flower petals. I cut each piece of cardboard individually with an X-ACTO knife, and each one is a little different. Once I had all the pieces, I arranged them accordingly and hot glued them together. When Professor Morrow introduced wire for us to use, I wrapped it around the “bud” of my letter to emphasize the flower form. When I photographed it, I chose to have it sit in flowers to further enhance the connection.
I did not have to choose the materials I was working with, but I did have to decide how I wanted to design my letter. Once I decided on pursuing the flower theme, I had to determine how I could actually achieve it. Once I had to option of adding wire, I had to decide how I wanted to integrate in my design. I initially thought of creating texture to the cardboard petals by poking the wire through the top, but found it overpowered the piece. I then decided to emphasize the “bud” instead.
My design embodies a flower because of the cardboard petals surrounding the different colored circle of cardboard in the right corner. I also used sweet, swirly petals instead of bolder ones with harsher corners.
The design enhances the content of a flower because when flowers are not typically associated with text. If you were to construct an entire alphabet of these letters and surround them around flowers of the similar style, it would enhance the shape of the flowers themselves. Similarly, because the cardboard is a very dull color, the colorful flowers would be more pronounced against the background of the letterform.
