Creating Your Aesthetic 1: The Language

Assignment:

Document and be ready to share your current aesthetic choices for a week, just like our fashion students photograph their daily outfits. The idea is to capture how you naturally arrange and create when you're not thinking about it. This includes:

• Screenshots of your digital spaces (desktop, phone layout, meme collage)
• Photos of spaces you create (desk arrangement, room layout, garden)
• Images of things you make (crafts, digital art, presentations)
• Your usual clothing choices (as a familiar reference point)

Why Be Aesthetic?

Why not just pure function? Star Trek future of minimalist interfaces and brutalist architecture, anyone? But before we beam ourselves into a world of purely functional design, let's appreciate that beauty has always existed in function. From military uniforms to corporate logos, hospital layouts to app interfaces - aesthetics are our first line of communication, silently speaking volumes before any other interaction occurs. Beauty is in your mind, and aesthetics are how you communicate that beauty.

The Proximity Model of Communication

Personal communication happens in several steps when you meet someone. When you first approach, you notice their aesthetic or vibe first. Coming closer, you can see their body language. Hearing them in conversation from afar, you pick up their voice tone. Finally you enter the conversation, and can hear their words.

Given this model, it’s important to make sure that each layer is communicating in synergy, or at least avoiding mixed messages. In these workshops we’ll covering the outermost aesthetic layer, see Body Language, Using Your Voice, and Context and Communication for the inner layers.

Communication happens in layers, moving from outer to inner as people engage:

This proximity model translates to other mediums of communication as well:

Digital:

1. Visual layout/theme
2. Interactive elements
3. Content structure
4. Actual content

Physical Spaces:

1. Room arrangement
2. Lighting/atmosphere
3. Comfort elements
4. Texture and feel

Successful Examples

Let's analyze success across different domains. For each example, answer:

• What does the overall look say?
• What does each element contribute?
• Which elements detract from the look?

Unsuccessful Example

Group Activity: Communication Audit

Aesthetic Analysis Worksheet

First Impressions

• What catches attention first?
• What feelings does it evoke?
• What seems to be the intended message?
• What is the actual message received?

Element Analysis

• Most prominent features
• Core functionality
• Key message carriers
• Secondary features
• Enhancement elements
• Supporting messages

Success Evaluation

• What works well?
• What creates confusion?
• What could be simplified?
• What could be enhanced?

Assignment for next meeting

Time to start your aesthetic journey! Create a digital collection (Pinterest, Miro board, folder) of things you find beautiful:

• Websites you love using
• Spaces you enjoy being in
• Objects that feel satisfying
• Systems that feel elegant
• Art that moves you
• Fashion that inspires you

Don't judge or analyze yet - just collect what resonates. Remember those preteen girls making fashion collages? They're doing the important work of training their eye. Now it's your turn, in whatever medium calls to you.