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Visual Communication (MA)

Mariana Neves

The Short Big [podcast] is a collaborative project by Mariana Neves and Urjuan Toosy. Sponsored by The School of Commons (ZHdK).

Mariana Neves (b.2000, Lisbon) is a London based designer whose research-based practice is situated at the intersection between graphic design, cultural theory and facilitation. By challenging the boundaries and cross-pollinating these disciplines, she surveys into alternative modes of creating, presenting and democratising research within contemporary predicaments.

She graduated from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London in 2021 with a BA (Hons) Graphic Communication Design and has been involved in projects that rely on multi-disciplinary collaboration exploring new collective realities. Most recently having organised a series of transdisciplinary conversations around the future of communication practices at the Royal College of Art — counting with practitioners Mindy Seu, Donna the First, Kumbirai Makumbe and Mijke van der Drift.

Degree Details

School of CommunicationVisual Communication (MA)Experimental CommunicationRCA2023 at Truman Brewery

Truman Brewery, F Block, Second floor

Graphic with overlapping magenta, cyan, green, yellow and white lines.

I WANT A DESIGN:


THAT IS CARNAL.

THAT PULSATES WITH DESIRE. 

THAT SWEATS                         FOR IT RUNS. 

THAT DRIPS ON THE FLOOR AND REFUSES TO BE CLEANED. 

THAT IS A MESS. 

THAT IS A KISS.


ACROSS LIPS REDISTRIBUTING AFFECT AND DESIRE. 

A KISS AS A TERRITORY OF RISK. 

CREATING BODIES JOINED BY: MOVEMENT, PAIN & LOVE 

MULTIPLICITY AS A LOVE LANGUAGE. 

I WANT A DESIGN:


THAT NURTURES IDEAS.

THAT IS EXCHANGE & UNBOUND EXPLORATION.

THAT DOESN'T WAIT FOR CUES.

THAT DEFIES INTELLECTUAL SAFETY. 

THAT IS A BRIDGE.  


THAT JOINS BODIES.



The Short Big is a podcast series and interactive platform which aims to demystify academic language
[About] The Short Big
Diagram showing the approach and process in making the podcast series
[Diagram] Podcast series making approach and process
On Commons: Pedagogy as Medium. A roundtable discussion at Truman Brewery on 13th July 2023.
Launch Project
[Roundtable] On Commons: Pedagogy as Medium
Structurally Screwed? A roundtable discussion at Truman Brewery on 13th July 2023.
Launch Project
[Roundtable] Structurally Screwed?
Large graphic showcasing Workshop 1: Sonic Bath and Workshop 2: in(Site) Mapping.
Sonic Bath [workshop 1]
[Workshop 1] Sonic Bath
Sonic Bath [workshop 1]. Selection of workshop outcomes
[Workshop 1] Selection of workshop outcomes
in(Site) Mapping [workshop 2]
[Workshop 2] (in)Site Mapping
in(Site) Mapping [workshop 2]. Selection of workshop outcomes
[Workshop 2] Selection of workshop outcomes
Large graphic showcasing Workshop 3: Critical Digest and Workshop 4: Desire Lines
Critical Digest [workshop 3]
[Workshop 3] Critical Digest
Critical Digest [workshop 3]. Selection of workshop outcomes
[Workshop 3] Selection of workshop outcomes
Desire Lines [workshop 4]
[Workshop 4] Desire Lines
Desire Lines [workshop 4]. Selection of workshop outcomes
[Workshop 4] Selection of workshop outcomes
Diagram showing structure of the podcast
[Diagram] Structure of the podcast
Quote from Corinna Canali, "Power aims to surround the individual by systems where norms are fixated and incorporated."
Launch Project
[Quote] 1st episode Corinna Canali
Quote from Abbie Vickress, "Discipline is second – the individual in the room with you are the priority."
Launch Project
[Quote] Pilot episode Abbie Vickress
Diagram showing breakdown of content within pilot episode of the podcast
[Diagram] Content breakdown within episode


The Short Big is a podcast series bridging the gap between urgent academic research and disruptive practice, through a shared interrogation of language and the discourse it builds.

We seek to produce transferable and equitable academic dialogue by open-sourcing the process of knowledge production, allowing space to understand, question and contextualise theory in a caring, inclusive and additive way. 

Through workshopping contemporary research, we iteratively transcribe and edit material anew. A process by which niche research interests become more accessible — activated publicly, for public growth.

As part of RCA2023, The Short Big will be hosting a 3-day live transmission with roundtable discussions and talks on the urgent topics of The Commons: Pedagogy as Medium, Structurally Screwed: Political Configurations in Design Education and Neoliberal Mobilisation of Desire. 


With special thanks to: 

Abbie Vickress, Corinna Canali, Ayoto Ataraxia, Adrian Shaughnessy, Joshua Trees, Sheena Calvert, Ken Hollings, Jessica Sammut, Conor Moses and School of Commons, ZHdK




Gif flashing images of past digestive issues, collage, photographers with overlaying "oh crumbs!" text
Launch Project


Digestive born (2022) out of love of biscuits and chatting, is a monthly reflective publication from the Visual Communication BR13 studio at the Royal College of Art. We create content based on the collective theme of the month – designed, collected, and shared on a single piece of paper.

Previous issues of Digestive include Digestive, Tunnelling, Leftovers, Collective Mapping and Crusty Sunburn where we explore the gut, crumbs of conversation(s), parasites, tunnel-vision, pockets, the weather, rock pools, tubes, ideal holidays, nostalgia and revel in the sharing of nan’s recipes.

Find out more: https://digestive.site/


Posters for events RCA WIP 2023: speakers include Mijke van der Drift, Donna The first, Kumbirai Makumbe and Mindy Seu
Series of events organized during Work-in-Progress Show

A series of discussions between students work and four cross-disciplinary practitioners, curated under the frame of the WIP Show 2023 theme of Cosmic Lonel(y)ness. All responding to areas of emerging discussion around attention economies, new knowledge chains, ways of representation and the politics of cyber existence.

A coming together not to seek for answers but to navigate the cosmos of experience and plot the lines of relation — seeking an expanded dialogue on visual practices. 

School of Commons, Zurich University of the Arts

https://www.schoolofcommons.org
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About

Royal College of Art

Registered Office: Royal College of Art,
Kensington Gore, South Kensington,
London SW7 2EU