Making the invisible visible – Red Dot: Junior Prize for Sarah Müller
On 27 October, the winners of the Red Dot Award: Communication Design were celebrated. The award ceremony in the Konzerthaus Berlin in Germany guaranteed suspense right to the very end not only for established designers but also for creative newcomers. Multiple talents received a prize from the Red Dot Jury and were hoping to be awarded the Red Dot: Junior Prize in addition. All the more joyful was Sarah Müller from the School of Design Ravensburg, who received the distinction for the best work from an up-and-coming designer together with a prize money of 10,000 Euros were: “There is nothing better than being rewarded for your work like this.” She won the enthusiasm of the jury with her book “See Acoustics – Rhapsody in Blue” (“Akustik sehen – Rhapsody in Blue”).
Excellent visualisation of music
The book addresses the perception and effect of music as well as its visual interpretation. The aim of this diploma thesis was to dissect music into its structural components, examine it visually and thus offer the chance to consider music from an aesthetically different point of view. The “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin is the centre of this design experiment. “For quite some time, I’m dealing with the topic of music and what is happening to the listener, how he feels. I wanted to know how music looks like and that was the start of the idea to visualise it.”
The composition was analysed and translated into a variety of graphic illustrations. This way, the observer can visually trace the composition bar by bar while listening to the music in parallel. By means of a QR code and the minute information he or she gets further information. The staves, which were generated with computer technology, form the basis of the graphics and were modified according to the parameters dynamics, rhythm and dramatic theory. As intended by the composer, the reader of the publication immerses into the city of New York in the year 1924.
Red Dot: Junior Prize exhibited in the Museum for Communication Berlin
The jury appreciated the newcomer’s very analytical approach, which despite rigorous clarity created an emotional experience and used this to make the invisible visible. The award-winning work is currently on show in the Museum for Communication Berlin. It presents the studio exhibition “Best Communication Design – Red Dot Winners Selection 2017” until 14 January. On 5 December, Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award gives visitors a deeper insight. Under the title “Icons of brand design”, he invites visitors to participate in a guided tour of the exhibition (in German language).
“Best Communication Design – Red Dot Winners Selection 2017”
Exhibition in the Museum for Communication Berlin, Germany, until 14 January 2018
» Photo galleries of the Red Dot Gala 2017 in Berlin
» More information on the Red Dot Award: Communication Design
