Crossing The Bridge - By Nicholas Goodly
Graphic Design I + Fall 2023 + Visualization + Poem
For my "Iteration" academic project, I selected the poem "Crossing the Bridge" by Nicholas Goodly. The challenge was to design something that fully communicates my idea, focusing on a subject that doesn’t have an existing visual representation. I needed to create a total of 5 visuals based on the same theme, and I had to develop and complete the concept in class.
The poem describes a reflective moment on a bridge, where the speaker is caught between the past and the present. They see a pile of clothes and a family gathering fallen luggage, symbolizing memories or events left behind. The bridge represents the connection between the speaker and these moments, but it also symbolizes the passage of time. The bridge, much like the speaker, becomes a part of this fleeting moment, now existing only in the past.
Visualization
Iterations
Illustration
Social media
Mockup
FIRST ITERATION
In my first iteration, I designed a book cover illustration inspired by the poem's themes of reflection and separation. Using a soft color palette, I aimed to evoke the poem's introspective and emotional tone. I believe this poem has the power to resonate with readers, offering multiple interpretations. For this cover, I chose to focus on the experience of leaving a relationship with a loved one. Although the person is left behind, they remain a part of you. I visually represented this concept by depicting a figure crossing a bridge, leaving their loved one behind. To symbolize the emotional impact, I portrayed the girl as an empty silhouette, indicating the parts of herself she left behind, represented by the clothes on the bridge.
SECOND ITERATION
For the second iteration, I created a bookmark with illustrations to further explore the themes of reflection and identity in the poem. I depicted a figure walking toward the ocean, with her shadow following closely behind. This shadow represents the idea that "the moment is looking back at you," symbolizing that no matter how far she goes, she remains connected to her past. The shadow, emphasizes that she is an inseparable part of the moment, even if she tries to leave it behind.
THIRD ITERATION
For the third iteration, I designed a simple phone case inspired by the imagery in the poem. The case features a white minivan crossing a bridge, with clothes hanging on a stand on the other side. This design captures the poem's themes of transition and the remnants of what is left behind as one moves forward. The minimalistic approach highlights the significance of these small yet powerful details in the narrative.
FOURTH ITERATION
For the fourth iteration, I created a simple animation that unfortunately I no longer have, but if I find it later, I plan to add it. The animation depicted a plane flying from Bangladesh to New York on a world map. This visual representation symbolizes my journey from my birth country to New York, emphasizing that while I have moved away, Bangladesh remains an integral part of who I am.
FIFTH (LAST) ITERATION
For the last iteration, I created an Instagram carousel, where I combined text and illustrations to tell a story. The concept was similar to my fourth iteration, focusing on the theme of moving from Bangladesh to New York. However, this time I presented it as a narrative, using the carousel format to engage the viewer through a visual and textual journey. This approach allowed me to explore the theme in a more detailed and storytelling manner.