I really enjoyed reading this chapter in parallel with working on our audio visualizers! Two concepts stood out to me in terms of designing technology: the first was interpolation and the second was merging the medium with the message. When I was reading the passages about interpolation, even though it is quite obvious that of course the different parts have to work together, it got me thinking about how difficult it actually is to make sure that sound, visuals and user interaction move seamlessly in unison. It requires the builder to have to think about their creation or design in multiple dimensions, and understand exactly how those dimensions look and feel. It absolutely reminded me of my live show when we have the lighting match the music, or use midi notes from my live electronics to trigger the visuals in sync. In this way, I was reflecting on how I do have some experience with interpolation, and how the reason we do it is to create a satisfying and immersive experience for the audience. Very similarly, making sure that the sound and visuals correspond to user input creates a satisfying experience that encourages the user to engage with the design for longer and more frequently.
The second concept of making the medium the message was another concept that both resonated with me and challenged me. I appreciated the examples of the pencil bag, artwork and Converge that were presented, but when I got to thinking about my own audio visualizer, I certainly saw from the designers perspective just how much care and consideration it takes to think about how to use the given parameters in the design to serve multiple purposes. It opened up another dimension of creative thinking for me where I was imagining more interesting ways to use the creative limitations of the visualizer I might end up making.
The other aspect of the reading that stood out to me on a more personal level was Design Principal 3.12 which talks about how precision is less important than making someone feel something. This resonated because often in my live performances, there might be mistakes or lack of technical prowess on my part, the band or the audio/lighting team, and yet it is the ability to connect directly with the audience that always makes it a great show. Sometimes when I have a show coming up, I will put a new band together to play the music. I often tell my band, “no matter what, I got you.” By that, I mean that even if there are mistakes here and there, I will always be leading them and connecting directly to the audience, which is what the audience will receive and focus on. The best feedback I get after my live shows is when people tell me they cried, they wanted to go home and journal, they reached out to a friend or family member whom they had not reached out to for a while, or that the music helped them journey back to themselves. In me standing on the stage and speaking my truth about gender liberation, joy and personal freedom, it models the behavior for those in my audience to go and find their voice, their bliss, their purpose, their passion. I have watched band members or collaborators stress out at the last minute around technical difficulties, changes to the setlist, a part they don’t know perfectly, or confusion around the lighting choices. And while I always do my best to ensure technical precision and interpolation, I truly have found that the reason people keep coming back to my show is because it makes them feel inspired, good, joyful, free and light-hearted.