The design journey to address my objective will rely on a series of practical experiments to inform direction and crucial knowledge.
Experiment Phase 1/Part 1
Interactive Task- Recording Genitalia
(Sketching):
A series of random volunteers will be asked to take 30 seconds to sketch a penis and 30 seconds to sketch a vagina. I purposefully will not specify from what perspective or level of detail I wanted, purely to allow each individual to personify genitalia in their own way. Minimal information, direction and time should ensure the sketch responses are true and genuine. This task will shed several aspects of information; how younger/older aged people detail genitalia, how men/women detail genitalia, how an individual reacts to concept of the task and how individuals view each part differently (erect/pubic hair/size etc)
Experiment Phase 1/Part
Interactive Task- Recording Genitalia
(Clay Modeling):
Part 2 of the experiment follows the same task as Part 1, only with a different medium of expression. The same participants of Part 1 will be asked to form genitalia from clay within two minutes total (one minute per penis and vagina). The volunteers will have two equal sized portions of clay, no access to imagery or other clay models, and one minute to complete each part. The time limit is extreme to rid anyone of the chance to plan, think or analyse. This task will be interesting to observe results as an individual experiment and in consideration to the person's sketch. Is there a similar style in the sketch and the clay form? Or does one of the sexes/ages express more/less detail in 3 dimensional form? Do individuals find it easier/more difficult to sculpt a 3D (more realistic) taboo form? Is there less variety in 3D form?
Reading The Sense of Touch- with a subconscious influence of sight
(Interactive Survey):
The sensorial experience of touch is one of the five senses that allows us to comprehend the external environment. Biologically the nerve receptors (touch sensation) can only be accessed through some physical contact or interruption. This experiment will primarily explore the sensory response to touch, but will be combined with the subconscious sense of sight. The 'touch' experiment will consist of a series of cardboard boxes that contain various material samples that are hidden from sight and free from smell. Volunteers will reach inside each box and touch the material sample before answering the questions on the survey form. Each material sample will appear in two boxes, so there are double copies of each sensation possible. One of the same samples will be in a plain white cardboard box and the other sample in a coloured box. The experiment will be setup to appear completely void of any colour significance, the the material sample in random order and not labeled.
Touch Samples:
Chewing gum
Sandpaper
Leather
Ceramic
Condom
Experimental Phase 2/Part 2
Reading The Sense of Sight-with a subconscious influence of smell
(Interactive Survey):
Part 1 focused on analyzing the power of the subconscious response to colour, and how that then can effect the associated response to touch. Part 2 of the first experimental phase will utilize the sensory response and interrelationship of smell and sight. The experiment will consist of framed photographs/images of close-up objects, items and products. The image will only show the texture of the 'objects' surface, and not resemble anything specific. The picture frame will have a transparent acetate screen with small holes to allow for smell to penetrate. Each image will be black/white. Then one of each of the image pairs will be scented with a negative odour, and the other with a positive odour. The question is how much of a turn on or off is the power of smell. How unappealing does the image have to be to over-rule a positive smell?
Visual Samples:
Pubic hair
Skin irritation
Dried mud
Water drops
Soft light
Painted wall
Silver surface
Wax
Cervix
Sperm
Female backside
Tongue
