Design Preview Report: Minimalist Interchangable Photo Collage

Design Preview Report: Minimalist Interchangable Photo Collage

By: Michael Gray

Project Vision

For my project, I will be designing and manufacturing an art piece: The Minimalist Interchangable Photo Collage. This project is inspired by various iterations of the photo collage frames seen below.

The Minimalist Interchangable Photo Collage will include eleven ‘mini-frame’ assemblies and one ‘backing’ which nine mini-frames will magnetically attach to the backing, nine at a time, with two left over, allowing photos to be swapped in and out of the piece without the need to disassemble a frame.

Below are some of my project vision sketches, and some preliminary dimensioning. I hope to make the overall size of the piece approximately 18″ wide, 18″ tall, and 2″ deep.

Aesthetic

My previous post describes the industrial aesthetic that I previously planned to take on for this project. I have since decided to transition to a minimalist aesthetic. I made this decision for two reasons:

1. I want the aesthetic of this project to sit nicely within any aesethetic of any home that I live in. An art piece with an industrial aesthetic is not ‘flexible’ in that it may not cooperate aesthetically with the various other pieces that I own.
2. Making this project out of metal would prove mounting the piece to a wall very difficult.

The minimalist aesthetic embraces simplicity, emphasizing clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and a focus on essential elements. It champions the idea of “less is more,” striving to convey a sense of calm and tranquility through its deliberate reduction of unnecessary adornments and distractions. This aesthetic often relies on a limited color palette, with an emphasis on neutral tones, such as white, black, and shades of gray, and utilizes natural materials like wood, stone, and metal to add warmth and texture while maintaining a sense of understated elegance.

In applying the minimalist aesthetic to square, white picture frames with flat faces, 90-degree angles, and a pristine white color, the focus is on purity and simplicity. These frames embody the essence of minimalist design with their clean lines and geometric precision, free from any embellishments or unnecessary details. The white hue further enhances the minimalist feel, evoking a sense of purity and clarity. Hung on a wall, these frames will create a sense of serene cohesion, allowing the artwork they contain to take center stage without distraction. Their understated elegance and precise form serve as a testament to the power of simplicity in design, demonstrating that beauty can be found in the most unassuming of forms.

The minimalist aesthetic also pairs well with the spiritual theme of the photos that will be inside the picture frames. As previously mentioned, the white color scheme promotes purity, or perhaps, holiness. These themes accomodate the Biblical metaphors for God that will be on display through this piece.

Specifications:

In order for this to be a successful project, I have developed the folowing specifications. If all of these are true at the end of the project, it was a success.

1. The art piece holds a minimalist aesthetic, utilizing the shape and color of traditionally minimalist pieces.
2. The mini-frames hold photos well and resemble traditional picture frames.
3. The piece can easily be mounted on a wall.
4. The mini-frames are easily attached and detached from the backing, using magnets.

Refrences:

1. Amazon.com – Melannco 18 x 18 Inch 9 Opening Photo Collage Frame, Displays Four 4×6 and Five 6×4 Inch Photos, Black. Link
2. Amazon.com – School Years Photo Collage Mat – 1 Pre-K to 12th Grade (15 Photos, No Frame, Black). Link

Co-Author: Open AI ChatGPT 3.5