The Major Project is a year-long, research-driven creative endeavor that marks the culmination of the MA Digital Arts program. It involves developing a substantial body of work that integrates theoretical and practical methodologies, supported by critical analysis and documentation. Through presentations, reviews, and independent research, students refine their concepts and demonstrate advanced project management, leading to a final public exhibition that showcases their ability to execute and present a professional-standard artistic research project.
Introduction
This portfolio presents the development of my Major Project, outlining the necessary steps from initial research to final execution. It includes critical reviews, research insights, sketches, experiments, and conceptual explorations that shape the project’s direction. Through ongoing reflection and iteration, I will refine my ideas, respond to feedback, and develop a cohesive body of work that aligns with my artistic and research objectives. This portfolio serves as both a record of my progress and a tool for analyzing the decisions and methodologies that lead to the final outcome.
First Crit: Between Dystopia and Utopia
For my Major Project, I began developing a futuristic city that exists between utopia and dystopia, using projection mapping to create a visual story. My initial approach focused on designing a cityscape that transforms from an idealized, technologically advanced environment into a decayed and oppressive one, highlighting the balance between progress and decline. I explored references from science fiction, architectural speculation, and urban evolution to shape the visual language of the project.
As I worked on the concept, key challenges appeared. The main one is the need to address the fundamental question: “What is our future?” in a deeper, more philosophical way. I needed to clearly define the concepts of utopia and dystopia, explaining not only how they look but also why they exist in this form. Additionally, I was encouraged to consider a smaller, more realistic scale rather than focusing solely on a grand, abstract vision. Another specific issue raised was my alteration of Big Ben since it has remained unchanged for centuries, I needed a stronger justification for modifying its appearance within my futuristic setting.
The Post-Digital Crit helped refine my approach by pushing me to think beyond aesthetics and ground my ideas in logic and philosophy. It encouraged me to explore the ideological and societal factors that shape urban evolution, ensuring my project is not just visually appealing but also conceptually strong. Moving forward, I will refine my definitions of utopia and dystopia, reconsider the scale of my project, and justify architectural changes within the context of my speculative future.
Incorporating the Post-Digital Approach
A key element I want to explore in my Major Project is the post-digital concept, the idea that digital and physical realities have become inseparable. This means moving beyond the traditional view of digital technology as a separate layer and instead integrating it as an organic part of the urban landscape. In the context of my futuristic city, this approach raises important questions: How does the digital world shape urban evolution? What happens when digital remnants become embedded in physical spaces? How does a city function when the boundaries between virtual and real dissolve?
A previous project that helped me think through these ideas was The Internet After Us. In that work, I explored what would remain of the internet if humanity disappeared, imagining decayed digital landscapes where abandoned data, obsolete networks, and forgotten algorithms became artifacts of a lost civilization. This project was made to understand how digital and physical ruins could coexist, shaping the way we interpret the past and future of technology.
For my Major Project, I want to apply a similar post-digital lens to the future of cities. Rather than simply presenting a utopian or dystopian vision, I aim to show how digital infrastructure, AI, automation, and data networks evolves over time. The challenge is to visually and conceptually represent this mixture, creating a city where digital remnants feel just as tangible as physical structures.
