The IKEA Project is a conceptual self portrait that is born of translation. 

Students begin the process by picking a piece of furniture that most speaks to their personal aesthetic, taste or desire not knowing what they will do with it. They choose from a selection of PDF printouts of the parallel projection drawings that are included with the assembly instructions of IKEA furniture. They are prompted to translate these drawings into 2pt. perspective drawings.

Next, they are to spend time thinking about what goes on the furniture and in what context this furniture will be found in. What will be on and around the furniture? Will it be in a room? What room will it be in? Working in the sketchbook students answer these questions by coming up with some initial drawings of these objects as a sort of visual brainstorming. Students are prompted but have free reign to choose items that represent their interests, background, family heritage, some political issue they’re interested in etc. I even encourage students to include images of objects that they actually own.

Next, they are to create a drawing with their chosen furniture, their additional added items and all other appropriate narrative context clues adhering to their chosen 2pt perspectival system. The goal is to be creative, consistent and cohesive and for all of the pictorial elements to make sense logically, visually and in terms of scale and proportion. 

Additionally they must think about the time of day and any light sources adding form shadows, cast shadows and light sources accordingly. The lighting scheme in each drawing must be continuous and must make sense within the overall constructed pictorial logic.