Defining Defaults is a spiral-bound catalog that takes a closer look at the aesthetics of standardization in sections titled The Generic, The Uncanny, and The Suburban.
The generic section of this project explores the significance of everyday objects that are designed to blend in, rather than stand out. A store-brand bottle of Ibuprofen in a supermarket, or a stack of milk crates used to prop a door open, are both examples of objects that possess no value beyond their function. The uncanny section highlights human physiology as the default in designing robots and investigates the way technology affects our understanding of what an ideal person might be. The suburban section examines the changing designs of neighborhoods worldwide and how the default for one neighborhood may look different from another.
The design of my project is inspired by ULine catalogs and generic branded products, with a very basic layout that is straightforward and easy to understand. At the end of each section, there is a secondary part that explores and presents each of the concepts in a more enticing way.