Context Project

Caution: Deadline Approaching

2010-03-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, this is your countdown reminder. I have pushed the deadline back by one day (April 2, 2010) due to it just seems more final to end this project on a Friday. Submissions are accepted up until midnight.

P.S. As some inspiration here's a great example of a submitted photo

How To Submit

2010-02-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

After fielding a few questions from those having trouble sending work to me, I have set up a Dropbox account which will allow those who are participating to upload their work to a shared server. The instructions are as follows:

1)Set up a free Dropbox account (at www.dropbox.com)

2)Send me your email address that you used to set up the Dropbox account. In return you'll recieve an invite to a shared folder that we can both access the contents of

3)Upload your picture into the folder!

An Update

2010-01-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

A few glaring oversights have occurred on my part and their corrections are below:

Due to the similarity in photographs, artist Paul Richard will be credited as an inspiration for this project (if he responds in like fashion to an email I have sent him discussing possible infringement). If Mr. Richard sees fit to deny this project in its present form, then it will proceed without the didactic pieces and will focus more on the "exit interviews' that will be given to the submitters.

A Project Due Date: April 1, 2010

What to do if your subject is very large (yes architecture is permitted): Take a wide shot, and then a tight one of the card.

After reading your comments I have decided to conduct the research on the "Unknown" designers my self and intend to incorporate it into the text portions of the book that will accompany your photographs. In addition to this I will need whatever information you, as the photographer, wish to be credited with.

Also, PDF and AI templates are now available at the bottom of the page

Thank you for your comments and "follows", Keep'em coming!

-Adam LeNaire

What It Is

2010-01-24T12:26:00.002-08:00

The Context Project is an Independent Study Project through the University of Central Oklahoma created to explore the contextual relationship between examples of Industrial Design and their surroundings.

In short: What if everyday items had museum tags next to them? Are they now a piece of Art?

I am writing a book to attempt to address, or perhaps just ask, these questions with the hope of providing a different viewpoint to both industrial design and works of 'found' art. This blog was set up to increase the spread of objects in the book to global proportions instead of only local works.

How It Works

2010-01-24T12:26:00.001-08:00

I am going around and taking photos of visually interesting works of Industrial Design. Each of the pieces will have posted next to them a didactic card similar to those found in museums. Below is a photo shopped example of my intention:

Here is a detail of the card:

Now again, this is just an example. I wish for these to be real printed cards photographed next to pieces of design not photo manipulations. Each card will only be in place long enough to take the photograph and perhaps document the reaction of passersby then removed. It is not my intention to be a vandal or to promote vandalism.

What I Need From You

2010-01-24T12:25:00.001-08:00

To go out into your city, town, cow pasture and take amazing photographs of things with little cards next to them this includes: fences, sewer grates, metro cars, train tracks, anything that is manufactured. It is my opinion that pieces of industrial design can be as visually pleasing as a work of fine art so let's give them their day in the sun.

The photos need to be fairly large and high resolution (minimum 300 dpi) to even be considered for publication. Unfortunately this is all going to be out of pocket for me so other than a photo credit and an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards contributors I can offer no other recompense (however, if you're in town I'll buy you a beer).

How To Create The Cards

2010-01-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

The cards themselves are very institutional and easy to create.

The paper size is 5.5in. wide by 3.25" high. It is to always be on a white paper stock preferably card stock or thicker.

The typeface is 16pt Arial.

The margins are set to 3/8ths of an inch (.375in.) on all sides.

The content is as follows in this order:

Name of manufacturer or designer it's probably on the piece (if unknown simply put Unknown)
Title of Work (what the piece is i.e. Lamp Post)

(double space)

Year

(Double Space)

Description of materials used and size of piece Height X Width
Location of Piece (City, Region State or Province, Country)

I am in the process of creating an editable PDF where can just plug in the information until then you can follow the above format or just email me (contextproject2010@gmail.com) and I'll create a PDF specific to your intended piece.

Once these are printed and they will need to be affixed to a rigid surface before being photographed. Quarter-inch foam core trimmed to size works well but you can use any material that does not extend beyond the edge of the printed material.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at contextproject2010@gmail.com and thank you in advance for all the help.

Sincerely,

Adam LeNaire

P.S. Here's a link to a site where I've uploaded didactic card templates.