Masked: identity, singularity and equity. The connections between popular culture studies and character design practice.

Abstract

This article aims to present an experience in a discipline of language and
visual communication of the undergraduate course in Design in the Arts & Design
Department of PUC-Rio. The discipline participated in an international extension
project called Parla! – Character Design Exhibition. The briefing presented to the class
was the development of masked characters inspired by the popular culture of each
region with a focus on three concepts linked to cultural manifestations that use masks:
“identity, uniqueness and equity”. The show is a meeting of university students and
professors who are dedicated to character design and the research and development
process of the proposed works results in an exhibition of posters with the selected
works.
The methodology applied for the conceptual and practical development will be
described here, as well as the results presented over the period. These results culminated
in the construction of proposals for works formatted for the show.