The feedback I received on the final iteration of work proved that I had not quite achieved my proposed goal. The collection of marks was closer in tone and purpose than the symbolic alphabet I had presented in an earlier version, but without context it remained too opaque and ambiguous.
To clarify the work it was suggested that I circle back to the typographical experiments of earlier iterations, and combine the gestural approach with typography. References were made to comic books, where typography often visually takes on the quality of the sound being communicated, and thus could serve as a guide to orient a new version of the project.
Another suggested approach was to create a timeline of the soundscape using the symbols, in order to paint a more complete picture of the aural space I was attempting to evoke. In this same vein, I was pointed towards the work of John Cage and encouraged to look to musical notation as a format that could anchor the development of the work.
However I decide to move forward, it was pointed out that I needed to think more critically about what each symbol or gesture was conveying, and ensure that a literal interpretation of the work was possible.
Going forward, this feedback will inform a further rendering of this project that I hope will synthesize the elements that work and clarify those that remain cryptic. The goal will be to bring specificity to the abstractions I have created, and in doing so design a legible visual language that evokes sound in a compelling manner.
In hindsight, I believe I could have chosen an investigation with more latitude to arrive at critical findings specific to my site. The work I have done thus far has been stimulating in that it has led me to reflect on the ways in which formal writing systems evolved, and just how difficult it is to visualize sound when the goal is an objective, literal interpretation rather than subjective, abstract sentiment. However, as a response to the specifics of the brief, I understand how it has fallen short of its intention and agree with the assessment of this iteration of the work.