Post 11: Final Report pt.1- What and Why?

For my main project, I chose to create a two-piece woodwork series for my bedroom back home in Beach Haven, New Jersey. As mentioned before, my goal with this project is to create some pieces to decorate my bedroom in a way that feels like me and provides comfort and inspiration. However, my parents insist it matches the house’s pristine, coastal aesthetic, which isn’t my style, and they’ve made it clear it can’t resemble a college dorm. So, I need to find a way to blend my personal style with their modest coastal design. 

My own personal aesthetic would definitely be inspired by the early 2000s, roxy surfer girl/ beach girl aesthetic, marked by tropical motifs, rounded/curvy lines and edges that mimic the flow of the ocean, and bubble-like typeface that mimics graphic design styles from the 90s and early 2000s. In terms of media, I would say movies such as Aquamarine (2006), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Blue Crush 2 (2011), Lilo & Stitch (2002), and Sharkboy & Lava Girl (2005), along with tv shows such as H20: Just Add Water (2006), iCarly (2007), That 70s Show (1998) have heavily inspired by own personal aesthetic. Surfer girl lifestyle and design style along with granola earthcore and 90s rave scene would probably be the three biggest influences on how I like to create, see, and be in the world around me. 

It’s difficult to describe where I’m from to an outsider because those who know, know. But basically, the town I live in– Beach Haven– is on an island in the Jersey Shore known as Long Beach Island (LBI). Our island is 18 miles long and only about 3-4 streets wide. Because of the small size of the island, all of the houses tend to take on a very similar style and aesthetic. Think old school, cape cod style homes, but built upwards instead of outwards, with a hint of modernism that naturally comes from being only 2 hours from major cities such as New York City and Philadelphia. My family’s house is definitely a hybrid of an old school beach cottage, with nautical undertones and a hind of modernism in regards to the interior. The colors are pretty minimal, with my parents utilizing a palette with navy blue, beige, white, and grey. Their interior design style also almost embodies farmhouse style meets vintage coastal meets clean and almost sterile. So, definitely different from my more maximalist, colorful and bubbly aesthetic. Despite the contrast, I am ready to take on the challenge of creating a space that feels like mine while respecting their vision for the house.

In creating a design solution to combat these issues at hand, I have created a small series of original woodwork pieces for my bedroom at home in Beach Haven, New Jersey. The aesthetic of the project will be a combination of my own personal aesthetic– early 2000s, roxy surfer girl/ beach girl aesthetic– along with that of my parents’ pristine, coastal aesthetic that they have created with the rest of the house’s interior design. 

The first piece I made as part of my series is called Hibiscus SVM. For this work, I chose to capitalize on hibiscus flower imagery as I feel it perfectly embodies my surfer girl aesthetic while fostering a calm and welcoming environment. Growing up, being able to go to the beach whether it be LBI, NJ or Hawaii, became a pivotal role in learning how to ground myself and my emotions at an early age. No matter what was happening in my life, as soon as I stepped onto the beach and was surrounded by a beautiful vastness of hibiscus flowers, suddenly everything would feel okay. On top of that, the symbolism behind a hibiscus flower is one that is well respected by my parents as it emulates characteristics of high class, elegance, and respect– dating back to its original roots in the Polynesian and Pacific Islands. My mom is originally from the Philippines, a tropical pacific island that is filled with hibiscus flowers, which are deeply ingrained in the country’s culture and visual identity. As I began my journey into adulthood, learning more about my culture and ancestors has been a truly fulfilling experience. And so, this hibiscus flower is paying homage to my surfer girl aesthetic, as well as the high status of my parents design style and my mother’s culture. As you can see with my initial sketches as well as the final design of my Hibiscus SVM woodwork piece, I chose to incorporate curvy and flowy edges along the outline of the flowers to give a more playful and whimsical impression. Hence, this motif of soft edges is one that was inspired by the early 2000s surfer/beach girl aesthetic as previously mentioned. 

Next, the second piece I have created for my series is called One Love. In this creation, I once again adopted an atmosphere that would evoke feelings of peace and tranquility. The term, coined by Bob Marely himself, at its core, is a call for unity across race, religion, class, and background. It expresses the idea that we’re all connected, and should treat each other with compassion and respect. I felt that using this message as decor in my bedroom would be especially fitting as it almost represents the journey of creating a space that unifies both my parents aesthetic and my own. Its call for spiritual unity and oneness as well as its brief yet powerful message combining elements of peace and togetherness as well as being visually minimal, positions itself at the crossroads of both my aesthetic and that of my parents. Once more, I chose to draw from the early 2000s surfer girl aesthetic and graphic design style by featuring curved edges along the typeface of the text. This work, being sleek in its visual elements yet compelling in its meaning, is one that I feel respectfully embodies the unity of two seemingly diverging aesthetics as one. 

In deciding to use wood as the primary material for my series, I wanted to make sure that this element specifically was in alignment with the rest of the message(s) embedded in the two works. Using wood as the central medium for beach decor typically sends a message of natural, rustic, and organic aesthetics. It evokes a sense of warmth, simplicity, and connection to nature, creating a cozy, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of coastal living. The use of wood also highlights sustainability and an appreciation for the environment, aligning with the beach’s natural, earthy elements like driftwood and sand. Moreover, Wood promotes a sense of quality in decor due to its timeless, durable, and authentic characteristics. Unlike synthetic or mass-produced materials, wood has a natural richness and texture that ages well, often becoming more beautiful over time. Its sturdiness and resilience suggest long-lasting value, making it a material associated with craftsmanship and attention to detail. The unique grain patterns and variations in wood add to its premium feel, conveying that each piece is distinct, thoughtfully chosen, and crafted, which enhances the perception of quality and exclusivity.

 Piece #1: “Hibiscus SVM”

Piece #2: “One Love”