MISTAKES_WERE_MADE is a project that embraces the mistakes we make in the creative process. As we experiment, try new things, and push our work further, errors are not just inevitable, they are essential.
In the pursuit of perfection, it's easy to overlook the mistakes that happen along the way. But it's not about getting things right the first time. Mistakes and failures are integral to the process, and often, it's in these unexpected errors that we discover another side to beauty and creativity.
Where the ‘final product’ is often the most polished piece as a result of all the trials and errors, it brings us to consider a new perspective: is the art the polished final piece, or is the art actually found in the process leading to what most define as the ‘final product’?
Keeping this at the heart of our work, we created a series that deliberately showcases errors with works that have flawed elements, error messages, and appear seemingly broken. Within this chaos, however, lies the true narrative and beauty.
Celebrating the errors and imperfections in code, we explored various "mistakes" across TouchDesigner and p5js, using them as a starting point for creative exploration. Each visual flickered, moved, and staggered in different ways - among the three of us, we discovered unique patterns and behaviors that emerged from these intentional errors.
Slowly, these took shape in digital visuals, GIFs, and videos that we compiled into a series of works. Each piece is a testament to the beauty that can arise from mistakes, and a reminder that creativity often thrives in the unexpected and imperfect. Afterwards, we compiled these visuals into a book, where the pages are filled with the glitches and errors that we found.
The project website features a series of visuals that are deliberately distorted, revealed in five experiments. The design is meant to evoke a sense of unease and unpredictability, and reflection over the imperfections in code. The overall look is intentionally glitchy and chaotic, reflecting the theme of mistakes and imperfections.
The project was done together with my lovely teammates, Jared and Omar. We had a lot of fun making this project, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore the beauty of mistakes (and code) with them.