Mei-loong Ratz BFA Communication Design Thesis Spring 2014
Intangible City: This is Detroit
A thesis about systems, about the intangible city within a concrete one, the places we choose to live and fight for, and the communities that exist within systems. This is a project that includes a digital expressive map (the full expressive form is on a DVD in the PNCA library) two photo installations, and a conversation about our place within systems.
Map Detail of active blight fighting groups located in Detroit.
Detroit Map Detail of rent rising in areas of the city.
Detail of new (one year or newer) and older (10 years or older) existing in the same city block. Showing resilience.
Map Detail showing parks with at least 40% lighted areas. These areas are in only white neighborhoods and comment on the racial divides in the city of Detroit.
Hanging images installation for thesis. 150 4 x 4 in. images hanging from the ceiling. The intention was for the audience to move through them, interact with them, handle them, and cut down the ones they wanted to take with them.
Book of images made for panel.
16 large (11x17) images hung to provide context. All taken in Detroit by Mei Ratz.
