Making the Abstract Concrete | Cloning
Designers are often called upon to engage in speculative work that is situated in the context of unknown futures. Thus, the brainstorming of concepts and the communication of ideas frequently require the visualization of experiences and objects that do not yet exist and are abstract. As a result, designers must learn how to engage audiences in stories that utilize and weave together visual, aural, and temporal modes of communication as a means of effectively conveying visionary ideas.
This article documents the process of the second project in the Communication Design Studio class at CMU’s MDes/MPS program.
Sep 25 | Topic Introduction
Given my assigned topic cloning, I started to do some early research in this area.
What it is:
Cloning refers to the process of creating a genetically identical copy of an organism, cell, or DNA sequence. It involves replicating the exact genetic material of an original source to produce a new organism or cell that is a perfect genetic match. Cloning can be natural, as seen in certain plants and animals, or artificial, achieved through scientific techniques.
How it works:
The primary method of cloning in scientific research is called “Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer” (SCNT). In SCNT, the nucleus of a somatic (body) cell, which contains the organism’s DNA, is extracted and inserted into an enucleated egg cell (an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed). This egg cell is then stimulated to begin dividing and developing as if it were a naturally fertilized egg. The result is an embryo that has the same DNA as the donor organism. The embryo can then be implanted into a surrogate mother to develop into a full organism.
Why it is important:
Cloning has significant implications in medicine, agriculture, and conservation. It allows for the production of genetically identical animals for research, which can help in understanding genetic diseases and developing new treatments. Cloning endangered species could aid in conservation efforts. In agriculture, cloning can be used to reproduce animals with desirable traits, such as disease resistance or high milk production. Despite its potential, cloning also raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding animal welfare and the potential implications of human cloning.
Sep 28 | Sketching from Explicit Objects to Ambiguous Concepts, Deeper Dive into the Topic
In this week’s class activity, we were prompted to draw various subjects: a cat, happiness, transport, tranquility, and how to make a toast quickly. By observing, categorizing, and discussing these sketches, I realized that the more ambiguous the topic, the more room there is for interpretation. For instance, the sketches of cats varied in details like differences in body parts, while the sketches representing tranquility differed in terms of objects, forms, movements, and concepts.
We also reviewed previous students’ communication design works, which led me to the realization that a good communication design piece should be as simple as possible while clearly conveying the concept. Even without the use of text or explicit visual cues, a story can still be told in an engaging way. I also learned that using a real-life scenario as the beginning of a story can be an effective strategy to relate the narrative to the audience.
In this week’s reading, Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud, I explored the idea of “closure,” where we use our imagination to perceive the whole while only observing the parts — similar to Gestalt psychology. I also learned about the five different transition styles: moment-to-moment, action-to-action, subject-to-subject, scene-to-scene, aspect-to-aspect, and non-sequitur, as well as the cultural differences in storytelling. Moreover, finding the balance between too much and too little information is crucial for creators.
After some further research into my topic “cloning”. I believe the crucial elements in the process of cloning mainly belong to the realm of biology, including:
- DNA: The genetic blueprint from the donor organism.
- Donor Cell: The cell taken from the organism to be cloned.
- Nucleus: The part of the donor cell containing DNA.
- Enucleated Egg Cell: An egg cell with its nucleus removed.
- Embryo: The developing clone after the egg cell starts dividing.
- Surrogate Mother: Carries and gives birth to the clone.
The critical actions and sequence of events in my story are as follows:
- Collect Donor Cell: Take a cell from the organism to be cloned.
- Extract Nucleus: Remove the DNA-containing nucleus from the donor cell.
- Prepare Egg Cell: Remove the nucleus from an egg cell (enucleation).
- Insert Nucleus: Transfer the donor nucleus into the empty egg cell.
- Activate Egg: Stimulate the egg to start dividing and forming an embryo.
- Develop Embryo: Allow the embryo to grow and divide.
- Implant Embryo: Place the embryo into a surrogate mother.
- Birth of Clone: Surrogate mother gives birth to the cloned organism.
Oct 7 | Concept Visualization
There are a few concepts I believe are necessary and appropriate to provide visual explanations for. These concepts are challenging to imagine or understand by simply listening to the narration. They include:
- The interaction between somatic cells, eggs, and the nucleus, such as nucleus removal and replacement
- The division and development of an egg into an embryo
- The involvement of 3 different sheep — the somatic cell donor, the egg donor, and the surrogate mother
- The difference between a somatic cell and an egg cell
These concepts are complex but crucial because they connect the key actors through specific actions, as identified earlier. They also help the audience understand the differences between the actors and their sources. I am mainly using visual elements to clarify the relationships and differences between the actors and using motion transitions to imply the actions and interactions.
Before creating the visual elements, I made a mood board as the foundation for my visual styles. I believe my topic can be better explained using:
- A cut-out style for important objects, like Dolly
- Simple shapes of the actors, like somatic cell, egg, and nucleus
- Archive footage of cloning news
- A dark background with objects without strokes
These are the key elements and actors I identified earlier, and I believe they are sufficient to tell my story without distracting the audience with unrelated objects. I plan to add granular effects to the background and objects to create a more animated feel in the future.
Oct 9 | Progress Speed Dating
After defining the visual elements and styles, I recorded the narration and combined the visuals with the voiceover in After Effects. I also created simple animations for the parts I thought would be the most difficult to visualize. Then, I conducted three rounds of design speed dating to gather feedback from my peers.
The feedback I received covered various aspects. Mia suggested I consider showing the significance of cloning. Sanjali mentioned that the visuals would feel more coherent if I found a way to connect the cut-out and illustration styles. She also recommended adding humor to the story. Jay advised me to include the three types of cloning in the visuals, in addition to the voiceover. I found all of their feedback solid and straightforward.
My current challenge is figuring out how to create the desired visual effects, such as granular and glowing effects, to make my story feel more animated. I plan to search for After Effects tutorials to learn how to achieve these effects and integrate them effectively into my project.
I want to focus on crafting a compelling story and refining the visual effects and transitions. In my previous animation project for Visual Communication Fundamentals in the MA program, I didn’t have much time to explore transitions and effects. My next steps include listing the transitions between scenes, creating the animations, finding voiceover actors, and fine-tuning the visual styles.
Oct 28 | Crafting the Video and Reflections
This project taught me how to simplify complex concepts like cloning through visual storytelling, and using storyboarding and animation to create clear narratives. I also developed technical skills in After Effects, refining transitions and effects to enhance the viewing experience. Feedback from peers emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency in visual style and tone.
The skills I’ve gained will be valuable for future projects involving abstract or speculative topics, such as AI and health communication, where making complex ideas accessible is essential. I also see the potential for using these techniques to design content that bridges complex systems and design through engaging visual narratives.
I’d like to further explore how different sound effects and music selections can enhance the emotional impact and pacing of my animations.
Bibliography
- McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding Comics. United States: HarperPerennial.
