Unit 1: Signs & Symbols
Lorenzo, the Italian opera singer, left his Medici apartment in Florence to visit his friend, Michelangelo the proof reader, who lived in a parallel street.
I designed the six images below off the above quote, hand drawn with ink. The final layout (will) be similar to stain glass windows, Similar to the ones seen in the era.
After copious amounts of research, I discovered the quote is in reference to the Italian renaissance, specifically Florence during the 16th century. With the rise of both the House of Medici and the artist Michelangelo, I decided to design the images to reference architecture from the era and invoke meaning to match the text.
Planning & sketching
6 Symbol Images
Image 1 (top left)
Designed to encompass the “Medici” and “Florence” elements of the quote, the dome has been shaped like a crown, symbolising the power held by the Medici family at the time (reference to living in a “Medici apartment” on a “parallel street”). The dome was broken down to core components to achieve the two ways of viewing it.
(Referencing the Medici Chapel dome. One of two buildings, built in honour to the Medici family, and hosting work by Michelangelo)
Image 2 (top right)
Using the 3-door balcony in the Basilica of San Lorenzo as reference, I referenced “friend” and both “Michelangelo” and “Lorenzo”. I zoomed in on one side of the 3-door balcony, designing the two doors to feel similar to the real life Lorenzo and Michelangelo, using the arc to bring the two closer together, implying the familiarness between them. This piece, designed by Michelangelo and hosted in the second of two buildings dedicated to the Medici family is also meant to reference the text as a whole.
(Referencing the internal façade, designed by Michelangelo in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.)
(Referencing the internal façade, designed by Michelangelo in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.)
Image 3 (middle left)
Pulling from the design of Italian opera houses, I referenced “Lorenzo” and “opera singer” by invoking an opera stage and rows of seats. The central stage is meant to invoke Lorenzo’s influence over the arts in Florence (by funding and giving a platform to artists (e.g. Michelangelo). The implication of space at the top of the “stage” is to reference the House of Medici’s coat of arms (what Lorenzo was under). The rows stretching out are to demonstrate his reach, and to later connect with the 4th image.
(Invoking an Italian opera house)
Image 4 (middle right)
Designed to be placed alongside Image 3 (the lines match up with the placement of the seat rows) to symbolise their relationship (“friend”-ship), this image is meant to invoke “Michelangelo” and “Proof-reader”. In real life, Lorenzo extended his patronage to the artist Michelangelo and provided financial support for his artistic education. I interpreted “proof-reader” to also mean “librettist” in reference to the connection between Lorenzo and Michelangelo, so designed the implication of the opposite end of the opera house (the smaller line being the auditorium). The lines not only demonstrate lines a proof-reader may read, but also the stave on a music sheet.
(Invoking the opposite end of an Italian opera house)
Image 5 (bottom left)
Designed to interpret the phase “parallel street” and to symbolise the difference in lives, e.g., compared to a Medici (essentially royalty) life, I deliberately placed the middle of the street off centre. This is also to present the difference between the lives of an “opera singer” compared to a “proof-reader”.
(Referencing the windows of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the house Lorenzo (and the Medici family) lived in.
Image 6 (bottom right)
To invoke the place and word “Florence”, I used the internal structure of the Florence cathedral to demonstrate this. It is in the heart of Florence and is one of its most famous landmarks and historic architecture. I stylised the design to invoke the decorative motifs found on Italian fabric patterns from the renaissance era.
(Referencing the inside of the Florence Cathedral Dome, the cathedral of Florence)
Final Image
Mock Ups
