Are You Starting Your Day with a Cup of Coffee?

2022

Speculative Project

Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate

“What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?”

Everybody has their routine in the morning. Some go to work, some go to school and some may lie on their bed doing nothing. While I was an intern during my last winter break, so many interesting things happened while I was on my way to work. Some people were chatting happily talking about their last night’s gossip and some people looked so tired. Also, some students were busy working with their laptops and some were studying with their summary notes.

At that time, I was proud of myself for going to work but felt pity for the people who looked so exhausted that they couldn’t even open their eyes.

However, let’s put ourselves in others’ shoes. What if they are exhausted but also proud of themselves for going to work every morning and doing their job? What if some people who look exhausted are concerned about their mistake last night because of their love and friendship? The story varies depending on who is the subject of the situation.

‘Are you starting your day with a cup of coffee’ is an experimental design work that reflects people’s experience while they are on their way to work or study. The work shows the subject’s feelings, and what the subject views or experiences on their way. This work is kind of their picture diary. In this project, you will indirectly read what is going on in other people’s minds in the morning. Experience their strange but beautiful life.

Design Process

01 Gather People’s Stories

Ask people to write an article of their way to work.

“Write me the things you see and feel while you are on your way to work. You can also add some things that come up in your mind. Also, you can tell me what you drink or eat! Please be specific with your feelings and thoughts: what made you think like that? what made you feel good or bad?”

02 Labeling System

While gathering people’s way-to-work short essays, I illustrated labels that show their feelings, and what they are doing. These are the labels that I designed.

watched something interesting or fun

walking or standing (when you are using legs)

liquid (drinking something or step on a wet floor)

white: ground black: underground

03 Template

Then, I designed the basic template to illustrate their way-to-work diary visually.

The page is divided into 4 sections based on the human figure. What the subject feels and experiences with their eyes, nose, and lips are going to be depicted in the area above where it’s labeled ‘eyes’. The same goes for other body parts.

Below ‘lower body’, it shows where the subject is. It shows whether the subject is walking on the street or taking a bus or subway.

Also, when they go somewhere, two sets of black and white rectangles are going to be there. It shows whether the subject is going upstairs or downstairs.

04 Short Essays

These are the short essays that I received from my friends.

After coming out of the house, walk for 11 minutes to enter Exit 10 of Dangsan Station Line 9. Before entering, I bought iced americano from Ediya Coffee. When I drink coffee, I can feel that I AM ALIVE!!!!! lol

Walk for 2 minutes to Dangsan Station Line 2.

There are so many advertisements going on in the subway! I’ll wait while watching a lot of advertisements and arrive at the subway. I waited for Line 2, and it took 6 minutes by subway to get to Sindorim Station. And then I transfer from line two to line one (it only takes about three minutes!)

Unfortunately, there are so many people in the train...They sell sunflowers and promote Brazilian samba festivals and things like that lol. It takes about 7 minutes to get to Doksan Station by station Line 1. Let’s walk to the bus stop after coming out to the ground from Doksan Station.

If you go to Doosan Elementary School, no kids are going to school because it’s too early...in the morning...The helpers for children sometimes come out to look for them, but they’re not here often because it’s too early...early!!!!!!!

It takes about 7 minutes by bus. Take Geumcheon 08, get off right in front of the company, cross the crosswalk, and walk into the building, I feel so tired at this time...Ughhhhhh...

Sometimes I buy breakfast at Starbucks before I walk into the building and this is it!

First, I got on the elevator from home and went straight into Yeokgok Station. I don’t have to go out to go there, I can just take an elevator and walk into the station. Good for me!

Go through Exit 1 of Yeokgok Station and the train usually comes two to three minutes before 8: This is the express. It’s going fast

I got on and kept dozing off like a sick chicken… I didn’t know what was going on on the train because I was super sleepy at the time, so I just unconsciously dozed off and got off at Guro Station lol.

After getting off at Guro Station, take the Line 1 train to Gasan Digital Station again. It’s right next to the one I took, so I don’t have to walk that much. Maybe like about 5 steps? Haha

I got on the train again, I should get off at Gasan Digital Complex Station. When I get off the train and go straight to exit 2, there’s a Starbucks right next to it. If I still have some time, I buy Lime Pizzio or Zahubble there and then go to the office. It takes about 7 minutes to walk from the station. It’s kind of close but there is a traffic light...If I’m unlucky, I have to wait for more than 10 minutes...It sucks.

But on the way today, it rained so much that the water in my shoes...

I went to the company with water and took off my shoes and put on my slippers. Okay, so this is the end of my way-to-work diary!

I left my house around 7:08 and walked for about 11 minutes to get to Guro Station on Line 1. I came to the train at 12 minutes and went in between the people I tend to wear a backpack, so when I get on the train, I carry a backpack and a tumbler in my hand Usually, I just don’t take a seat there...And then, I got off at Sindorim Station, which is the next station. When I get off at Sindorim Station I should walk for about 3 minutes, and then I can transfer to Line 2. Then I transfer to Sindorim Station on Line 2 and ride straight to Gangnam Station!

There are a lot of people getting off at Guro Digital Complex Station, and a lot of people seem so exhausted, and so do I. A lot of people are getting off at Sadang Station, but the people are quite coveted... There’s no use in standing all the way. And at Bangbae Seocho Gyobak Station...there are lots of students who seem to be going to retake the Korean SAT… When I get off at Gangnam Station and go up the stairs, you’ll see the entrance right in front of Exit 8 Before I go up, I’ll bring iced americano from the coffee bean. I get on line number one, but I got off right away, so I don’t think I’ve ever seen odd birds on the train. At least none for today, I mean.

When I take Line 2, I always go on Instagram or Twitter. I don’t care about others that much, actually lol.

I’ve been searching for good restaurants and hot places on Instagram, and I sometimes do window shopping on Naver. I use Twitter when I can’t get a ticket for a concert or a musical and find someone who sells it. I sometimes do that.

04 Design Outcome

Based on the article that my friend wrote, the final design for the project came out like this. The labeling system for each external stimulus is depicted based on the writing. The photos that are taken by the subject are on the back of the grid and graphics. Those that are connected with curved lines are the things that are in relationship with cause and effect.