Thesis Project
Abstract
There are different versions of yourself that exist in the minds of the people you've ever met. Sometimes, in just a short interaction, you leave a misguided impression on someone which results in them thinking of you differently. However, how people see you can affect how you think of yourself. Knowing that can cause one to question: “which version is my true self? How do I discover my true self?” In order to discover our true self—a sense of self based on spontaneous authentic experience—we need to examine the objective perceptions of ourselves others provide to us; as we may be confused as to how much we know ourselves, and unintentionally send conflicting impressions of ourselves to others. I hope to encourage people to open up and be more mindful about how they act around others, but only to some extent that they don't become overly confused and forget who they are.
Research Questions
1. Do people really know how others see them? How self-aware are they?
2. How can people’s perception of you inform your perception of yourself?
3. What is the value of understanding yourself?
Outcome
“me=?” exhibition is where the visitor can learn about different social styles and explore more about themselves. It demonstrates how someone can be perceived: through self-reflection, others’ perspectives, and studies. Based on the Merrill-Reid model, the 4 social styles (Driver, Analytical, Expressive, Amiable) are visualized as AR filters which make it more intriguing for the audience to learn about them and use them as a fun way to express their social styles to others. The exhibition lets people explore themselves and others through different ways and remind them about the person they are and the person they want to be.
I created these figures as a way to lead people to the exhibition. One side is solid with the information of the exhibition, another side is a mirror with questions: "how I see myself?" "how do others see me?" "what is my social style?", and "me=?"
One side is a mirror with keywords on it. The opposite wall has supporting words printed backward. When the visitors look at the mirror, they will see the reflection of the other wall and will see the full message: "There are different versions of you which exist in the minds of everyone you’ve ever met."
There are 6 identical pods. When the visitors stand in each, they will see themselves in 4 different social styles as filters.
There's a room for them to take the social style test. After getting the result and taking a photo of themselves with the filter, they can choose to have their photo shown in the exhibition. And it will be shown outside of the room along with other people’s photos.
A centerpiece where they can walk through, sit on, and see their reflections since the front and the back are mirrors.
This section has mirrors, tinted glass, and panels with questions which the visitors will ask themselves while reading others’ responses.
The visitors can pick the cards with a color corresponding to their social style and write a note to themselves. Then, they stick the card on the magnet wall along with others' notes.