What We Know, What We See

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Typographic Installation

Through this installation, I wanted to depict the difference between ‘what we see’ and ‘what we know’—two thought-provoking phrases—which I have considered since I began visual communication as a graphic designer.

The projected phrase ‘what we know’ disappears at sunrise as the daylight shines onto the projection. In contrast, the phrase ‘what we see’ is attached on a white wall that is revealed as the projection screen retracts and is clearly defined until the end of the video.

Typeset in Adobe Illustrator

Blurred in Adobe Photoshop

From my experiences, ideas for design outcomes in my mind are always ambiguous, deceptive, and ephemeral unless I visualize them. However, when I start visualizing my thoughts on paper or in digital format, they become clear so that I can see how they will be shown or interpreted by viewers objectively.

I believe that visualization should be regarded as an important phase to proceed and complete a visual work. That is not to say planning and considering ideas aren’t also important at initial stages. However, the crucial juncture that helps us to recognize the final goal will be through what we see rather than what we know.

I decided to install these phrases in one of the school buildings. The RISD Sol Koffler Gallery was the space where students and passerbys could see the installation not only at the gallery, but also through the window.