Right now I'm feeling at a crossroads in the process of visually designing The 7 of 9. One mind-expanding idea that I've had has been to scrap the plan to make the system a double-sided card set, and instead have the whole thing one-sided. When I realized just how much more convenient this may be for people using it as a photo opportunity (taking photos of their mind maps to illustrate their stories) I became entranced with this idea. I always knew multiple photos were going to be a necessity, since piling cards on top of each other will be an option. So, you would take a few photos, ensuring that in each pile, all the cards got a chance to sit at the top to be photographed — and you would post a series of photos. However, it's always nice to lower the amount of effort needed with an activity like that. The information on the backs would be essential to the meaning of your mind map, requiring you to flip each card to photograph each twice — thus doubling all these photos.
Actually, the only reason I had felt so connected to the vision of double-sided cards was because my intention was to make the system as deluxe as possible, and I felt this would be visually stunning, making each card seem like a valuable coin. But when I thought of magnets as an idea, this changed my mind. I realized actually that the fridge is not the only way magnets could be practical as a format. Certainly, the game mat could be a metal tray which can be laid on a table or hung on the wall for decoration. Also, at the time I was thinking this, I was working on The KEYS ⨺ 16(32) Set which won't require much information on the backs (aside from perhaps numbering which is not that essential). As well, my plans are fairly well organized for the upcoming UNNAMED ⨺ 12(24) Set which I believe will also not require anything on the back except theoretically a number, which could be easily replaced by visual recognition of the card front. That leaves only The SOLVE ⨺ 18(36) and COAGULA ⨺ 27(54) Sets to carefully re-design so that complex information is clarified on the fronts.
My Design Challenge
It's crucial to retain the similarity between the current designs for The SOLVE et COAGULA and the classic and recognizable symbols associated with The 7 Stages of Laboratory Alchemy. As well, there's a much larger story behind the 4th SOLVE card face, associated with the stage of conjunction. This symbol here (( ⨺ )) which is used throughout The 7 of 9 and is the logo for the system, is actually tattooed on Jared Leto's forearms and on Marilyn Manson's hand, and the system was dedicated to them both in honour of their birthdays. Since this set is being promoted throughout their two fanbases, the Echelon and the Mansonites, it seems so important that everyone can see at a very quick glance that it relates to 30 Seconds to Mars based on their logo — and at least Mansonites may be sometimes be aware of Manson's hand tattoos and fascination with alchemy.
So, whatever I do to the card faces has to be subtle. The need is to clarify between 3 sets of 3 different items, for the COAGULA — and for the SOLVE there are only 3 different variations needed (rather than 9). The SOLVE designs are the most important to retain the design as is, at least recognizably. But I also need to show connection between all 7 card faces, including the COAGULA — since together they indicate the 7 stages of laboratory alchemy.
Approaching The Challenge with RGB Color Coding
My most exciting idea has spawned from The KEYS 16(32) Set. Throughout the process of creating it, I realized that I should change the color scheme from a full spectrum of rainbow colors to just red, green and blue — to symbolize the RGB color code of old fashioned television technology. This was based on not only the experience of having limited color options in cardstock, but made a lot of sense to match the media centred themes and focus of The 7 of 9.
I appreciate the rare chance to clarify that The 16 KEYS do relate powerfully to the media, since that's not immediately obvious whatsoever to its theme — a series of particularly fascinating types of miracles. The way it's connected to the media with these miracles really is something I can't wait to expand on more later as the writing develops. But the added convenience of this is that one solution for my challenge is obvious : Since the COAGULA 27(54) Set represents the mass media sector (as opposed to the others in the SOLVE 18(36) Set which represent other power institutions of society), using the RGB color coding as a visual language to set cards apart would be absolutely perfect.
Also, considering the way that red, green and blue are technologically combined by television sets to produce the full rainbow of colors, it doesn't make sense to use it as the symbolic language to signify the 3 card types of the SOLVE series. These 3 variations represent the types of relationship between cards — called Dynamics — from non-cooperative to cooperative. The goal is always to improve relationships and transcend negative dynamics and so it would not be meaningful to imply that negative relationships are somehow all part of the beautiful rainbow of life that makes us up. Therefore, it's perfect as a color coding that sets the COAGULA apart from the SOLVE as the media set.
A Spoiler About The Upcoming UNNAMED ⨺ 12(24) Set
So (continuing from the previous section) that leaves 2 possibilities : Strategies or Pathways. It's possible the RGB could work for either. Pathways is one element which I've been thinking about possibly changing to suit connection between The COAGULA ⨺ 27(54) Set and The UNNAMED ⨺ 12(24) Set. Now, this set been held as a surprise so far to release later — but for now I'll reveal that it is going to be a series of powers which can be gained through a special type of interaction between COAGULA cards. At least, that's the current plan (and that could be tweaked a bit). Although the COAGULA is considered its own body and therefore cooperation is the core of how it functions, there can sometimes be a little something resembling family feuds. You know, when a family has a feud, that's within a much more cooperative and unified group — a fairly inescapable one in which strategizing cooperatively together is the foundation of any dispute. These types of fights have a totally different quality than regular ones, which is why it's often termed a "feud" instead of a fight. It's about internal politics so it's very different.
So, when in your story there is a non-cooperative Dynamic chosen between two COAGULA cards, I think what will happen is that then, a type of Pathway has to be chosen — which will relate to what kinds of powers are gained from the UNNAMED ⨺ 12(24) Set through this feud. In other words, these family feuds only happen when absolutely necessary in order to gain these very special powers. I will probably keep Pathways very similar conceptually, but if I find it needs to shift in order to accomodate this, no problem. Right now Pathways (filtering, exposure and rendering) seems to want to indicate a process of development. It already does work well with the media because it's using media metaphors in the language. However, this process of development is sequential and like Dynamics, it increases in quality. At least that's how I have it seemingly so far. As I mentioned before, I don't believe red, green and blue are developmental — they are all equal colors. So I have to either remove that "process of development" notion from Pathways or I have to apply RGB to Strategies instead of Pathways.
Approaching The Challenge With New Mediums
At this point, it seems to me that I'll need one set of 3 design variations for the SOLVE faces and 3 sets of 3 for the COAGULA. One of those 3 is taken by COAGULA — the RGB color coding. So I need one for the SOLVE et COAGULA and another for the COAGULA only. For the SOLVE et COAGULA, the 3 variations to represent the 3 types of Dynamics from non-cooperative to co-operative seem best dealt with using another 3 tiered color scheme — particularly of metal.
So far, the color scheme of the 6 SOLVE faces has been distinguished as silver as opposed to the COAGULA which is in gold. That needs to remain the same to preserve the theme of alchemy which is known as the transformation of lower metals into gold — which finalizes at the 7th coagulation stage aka "The Philosopher's Stone". But it would be fine to just have these 3 Dynamics represented differently in both sets. In the case of the SOLVE faces, anything that resembles a lower metal than gold will be just fine, so as long as I'm using vinyl. There seems to be just barely enough options for metals in the category of different shades of holoprismatic, rainbow hued metal-ish colors.
For that to work, I will need to use black, grey and white to ensure enough visual contrast between the top layer, and the holoprismatic layer, as some lower metals like chrome are a dark shade. This will look better, so it's crucial. As well, the use of white for the worst Dynamic and black for the best would make a great statement against racism which I'd love to do. I wouldn't be saying that the caucasian race is bad, but that this is a black and white symbolism just about light and the human visual anatomy alone such as the black pupil, which contradicts racist theories that black skin should symbolize evil.
I'm also planning to further my writings on the 9 Strategies of the COAGULA (unique to the COAGULA alone) by using metaphors of visual anatomy as a series of 9 — meaning that Dynamics which are more cooperative with the COAGULA are better as black like the pupil and the visual anatomy of the COAGULA. But I'll have to experiment (visually that is) with these mediums before I can be certain it's an option.
On the other hand, figuring out what to do with the gold for the COAGULA, in order to provide 3 distinct variations of it, does seem like a challenge if I will use shades or types of gold. So far, I only have one idea for a different type of gold, but I need 2. There is a transparent type of holoprimsatic vinyl which can be added on top of the existing gold I'm working with, to create a double prismatic effect with different hues. Then, there's always sparkly materials but I must say, I don't like sparkly stuff really. I think it looks tacky. So I'm thinking about it.
Approaching The Challenge With Symbol Design
One more way that variations on the cards could be done is through altering the glyphs of the design themselves. As mentioned earlier, there is a need to maintain the symbols I'm already using in order to align with the philosophically relevant symbols of alchemy which correspond to each of these 7 stages of transformation. However — continuing from the previous section — it just so happens that if I can't find enough variations of the holoprismatic gold I'm using for the COAGULA 27(54) Set, I could simply create 3 versions of the COAGULA symbol. The reason this is an option is because the symbol for the COAGULA is already extremely stylized and very different from the philosophical alchemy symbol. In fact, only the first 4 of the 6 SOLVE faces are literal to the alchemical symbols. The other 3 that were stylized had to be changed so that everything could be triangular like the first 4 which are so well known and popular. But the lack of options to represent the 3 Dynamics is not the only need that could be met with this method. I could also represent the 3 Pathways (which it will likely be) or the 3 Strategies with this technique.
To make 3 disctintly unique versions of the COAGULA design doesn't seem impossible, but it could be pretty difficult. I'd hate to have to double how many versions of the symbol I need to design from 3 to 6, considering the constraints being pretty demanding to require that it somehow literally express the meaning of the COAGULATION stage and reflect off the SOLVE series accordingly.
One solution to that which I've even mentioned in another post is that i could add a stylistic border around the central design which uses a visual code to convey itself. Now, if I do that, it will require another layer of triangles. So far, the numerology of how many triangles there are in the grid of design possibilities I'm working with for each symbol was very deliberate — and the entire set is using this same layout. But since the SOLVE et COAGULA is mainly appearing with strong, solid borders (in gold or silver) around the edge of the layout, this creates the optical illusion to impress that it seems the SOLVE et COAGULA is far less dense and complex than the KEYS 16(32) Set.
Approaching The Challenge With Tight Triangular Lattices
To continue directly from the last section : Even just my use of denser grids of triangles in some parts of the KEYS has also taken it to a next level which makes it seem so much more expansive than the SOLVE et COAGULA visually. But as I've been exploring these options while developing the KEYS, I've found that the sizing is too small to realistically accomodate all the density I'd like to pack into it. I can only just barely get away with it in the size I'm using. I'm pulling it off but it would be too hard to always make these. So, I'm thinking about increasing the size of the whole system.
Now, using vinyl instead of cardstock which I'm currently using, would allow for much more precision, so the size may not be that important here. But with that thought in my mind, my question has been : Would I increase the volume of the foundational design grid to add a border, or would I just start exploring similar types of grid-like density in the COAGULA as I have been in the KEYS? The latter sounds best of the two options to me, but either way this leaves only one concern : Would that make the COAGULA too visually dissimilar from the SOLVE to provide for a sense of connection between all 7 cards? It really is so important that the SOLVE and COAGULA look alike.
I could slowly increase the complexity of the designs for each card face, starting with an extremely simple design at the first SOLVE and ending so complex by the COAGULA that it's easier to create multiple versions of it thanks to the diversity of that dense grids allow for. This could speak of the transformational process of alchemy, but might morph the 4th SOLVE card, the conjunction stage, to look too unrecognizable from the philosophical alchemy symbol for my taste — considering the importance of that symbol being the most easy to identify as alchemy related.
Approaching The Challenge With Separate, One-Color Border Pieces
One thought I had was to expand the size of all cards except for the SOLVE et COAGULA, and for them, having a separate one-color border piece without any cut-out design elements — and you would place the appropriate piece around the card yourself by hand. These could be in all different colors to offer a wide variety of meanings. Adding this border to the SOLVE et COAGULA would increase the card size to match the other sets. The fact that it would need to be placed onto the card would seem to forgive the oversized margin space of that border. The alternate color of it would shift the effect, making it look like it's supposed to be there, instead of just a ridiculous amount of margin.
With that approach, I could address the Dynamics and the Pathways using the same method, and scrap the idea for various types of metals. But I'm not as fond of that idea though, if I feel that takes away too much from the numerology of how many cards there are in each set — since that's an important part of the system symbolically. I mean technically the numerology is the same, but not as tactile and physically experienced if all you have is 6 SOLVE cards and 1 COAGULA, to add borders to in possibilities that add up to SOLVE 18(36) and COAGULA 27(54). That's the only reason why I was thinking of just doing geometrically designed borders which are fully intrinsically a part of the design — not a separate one-color piece without any patterns of shapes.
Conclusion
I know I've made it sound perhaps like of all the millions of ideas I've had, nothing will work. But since I'm so creatively inventive, I just have no doubt that I'll come to a decision which works amazingly well. It seems I've made a lot of progress on thinking all this through just even by writing this entry. With all this in mind, I'm sure I'll expand beyond this platform and find the next level. Some of the solutions I've been thinking about do take the making of the prototypes to a more time consuming and expensive dimension, making it seem as though they are getting less practical to sell from The UNITY LIFE Shop — as the price would be too high. It's not the end of the world if I have to sit around just in the hopes of investment towards simply outsourcing the production or starting my own small factory. To create a home-scale made prototype for factory production has its value, but I'd hate to leave people hanging without a way to purchase the system. So let's see what's next.
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