UC San Diego

As an artist, I believe it’s important to allow many aspects of my life to be embodied inside my creative process. As an avid music lover of hip-hop, this has shaped my intellect and my comprehension of the art of storytelling. Hip-hop is one of the most highly intellectual storytelling genres. From complex metaphors, triple entendre, and the use of personification, it has proven over time that it has rooted its position in the platform of providing meaning to life. I believe this to be the sole purpose of storytelling. It provides clarity in the context of real-life scenarios to the spectator. In return, my belief is that it would build empathy in our

society. For the last two decades, many artists have influenced my creative process. Lupe Fiasco is an artist who I respect and admire for his contribution to the industry. He is one of the top-tier lyricists since his introduction in 2006. Through his music is how I first learned of the term ‘FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION’ (FFF). Studying those principles has given me the opportunity to apply them to my design process. The art of design gives strong visual support that connects with the context of the story being told, and I firmly believe that the form in which a story is being performed must connect with the ‘why’ – or its function. If there is no connection between form and function, then the beauty of this marriage is lost in the whirlwind of arbitrary aesthetics! In my thesis, you will discover how I can connect the principles of FFF in my creative process, and how that is influenced by my passion for storytelling, which is a direct connection to my aesthetic and comprehension of societal relationships.