self-portrait

A self-portrait.Sarah CalandroCarnegie Mellon UniversityFall 2009

horizontal mind-mapping / time-based

vertical mind-m

apping / staticinfo collection and query

resulting dialogue

I sent a simple questionnaire out to a group of friends, co-

workers, family members, and acquaintances. The intenttion was

to obtain a well-rounded glimpse of who I am to me and who I am

to those that know me.

I received responses from twenty people, some who know me very well, some who don’t, some who

knew me in the past, and some who very recently met me.

If you had to decide what I would eat for lunch this afternoon, what would it consist of ?

What is my favorite color? Number? Day of the week? Outfit?

What is my favorite thing to do in my free time?

What was my favorite thing to do in my free time when I was 12 years old?

Give 3 words that are descriptive of my personality.

What is my life motto?


vertical mind-m


resulting dialogue

The responses looked something

like this.

If you had to decide what I would eat for lunch this afternoon, what would it consist of ?






For breakfast you might eat fat free yogurt

with seasonal berries and some granola

and a cup of coffee.

Color: Green or yellow. / Day: Sunday or

Saturday. Outfit: Tank top with a long, flowy

skirt and sandals.

Yoga. Duh.

Other than that, read, draw, and run.

This is easy. your favorite thing to do was

put on lots of make up with Kristy Anselmo.

hahaha. I’d also say you enjoyed putting on

skirts and twirling around.

Motivated. Passionate. Inspirational.

Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Work

hard to live healthy, but indulge once in a

while. Smile. Laugh. Work hard for what is

important and for what you love.


vertical mind-m


resulting dialogue

And this. If you had to decide what I would eat for lunch this afternoon, what would it consist of ?






Oatmeal and/or lots of tomatoes.

Color: Peach

Favorite day: Sunday.

Outfit: Yoga gear or CMU shorts.

Sit at Starbucks with a cup of coffee and

read about yoga or health.

Fidgeting with hairstyles. Bikeride.

Kind. Obsessive. In your own world.

Be kind. Be helpful. Be healthy. Be calm.

Smile.


vertical mind-m


resulting dialogue

And even this. If you had to decide what I would eat for lunch this afternoon, what would it consist of ?






Jazz Brunch.

Color: Red.

Favorite Day: Saturday.

Outfit: Hippie Skirt and tank top.

Explore your surroundings. Vegetate on

the couch.

Draw. Paint. Collage.

Thoughtful. Content. Self-centered.

Love others and yourself. Do what truly

satisfies you. Be loyal. Be honest. Be true

to yourself.

vertical mind-m


horizontal mind-mapping / time-basedresulting dialogue

I decided this information would best be presented in a time-based format. I came up with a network

system that relayed all of the information in consecutive order

from my birth to the present. It would organize the responses in

an intricate framework that would interconnect information about

each person and how they know me. It would all be organized along

a timeline connecting to major periods of my life.

vertical mind-m



I then began crafting a form for this information network. It would

essentially map my mind by re-creating the phenomena that

occurs when I think. I constantly shift between moments of aloof-

ness and extreme organization-ness. I came up with a metaphor for this

aloof-ness and organization-ness using the concept of thought-bots,

information energy, and organized information. The information

would travel horizontally across the page [along the timeline] with a

dividing line between the thought-bots and organized information.

The information energy would be the connecting element.

vertical mind-m



Although this concept very accurately represents the thought-space in my mind, it became too

complex for the end product to be an efficient and understandable

self-portrait. From here, I took all of the most pertinent information

that I had and moved towards simplicity. The self-portrait would

‘do’ the same as it would have done before, but it would be simpler,

clearer, and utilize only the necessary information needed to

convey the message. The thought-bots and information space had to

be reformatted to be understood by anyone outside of my mind.

[Name][Height][Weight]

[Age][Eyes]

Sarah Calandro5’ 7.5”13225

i look pr

ettier wi

th a

side pon

ytaili wonder if i'll be pretty

when i grow up

i will do anything in my power to never puke again

h eaven is a mix of licking

ch eeto fingers for all

eternity while never

seeing my brtoh er

againl.

19832000

salad oatmeal tomatoes sushi seaweed salad thai sushi hummus vegetables chicken salad iced tea cereal vegetable tofu veggie patty frozen pineapple yogurt curry

4

1

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1

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1

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1

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4

1

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1

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4

1

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13

3


4

1

6

9

10

11

13

3

vertical mind-m



A coherent idea grew

out of this vertical, sim

pler form of

mind-m

apping. The inform

ation obtained from

others became

the background; the base. The

factual information in the

timeline becam

e the formal

structural element. T

he map of

my m

ind, that had previously been in the form

of thought-bots and inform

ation space became

a comm

entary coming straight

from m

y thoughts. Primarily, the

thoughts were brought out by the

ideas presented in the information

gathered from others.

vertical mind-m



watchlittlem

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irlpinkdressesplayinsarahlandplaywith

carolineplaymarioplaydollssw

imfallinlovew

ith-boysartscraftsbow

tiepastasmoothieoatm

ealturkeysandw

icheshoneyhamb

urgerfrench-

friescokebeansbeansonbreadpinkyellowpink

redlongflowyskirtm

ulticoloredskirtlongdresslong-skirtgauzyblousenecklacesreadspendtim

ewith

friendsmeticulousinm

yownw

orldunendinglysw

eetexcitableselfcenteredartsyguardedfunstubbornreservedshyrespectfullikeableifittw

irls-w

earitandspinoftenallboysarecutelifeisfullofcoloryounevergetw

hatyouexpectsomedayslife

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allswirlingandsplatteringilikeit

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imbikerideoatm

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predred-blueredcom

fortabletanktopsandalsshortstshirtbluejeansjeanstanktopsandalsjeanstanktopcasualtanktopvegetateonthecouchcom

pulsive-kindeasygoingthoughtfulhopefulgrow

ingfriendlycheerfulabsorbedcom

passionategetinvolved-sm

ilelaughsmilegotothem

oviesgotothemalldraw

swim

talkonthephonedrawcoffeesaladfruitw

hole-w

heatbreadsideofcoldgarnishedbowtiepasta

16ozmedium

rareprimeribsideoffruitjazzbrunch

gumboshrim

pveggiesricecakesstrawberries

hamburgerfrenchfriesgreenyellow

greenyellowyellow

fieryredswirlscom

fortablefunkytanktop-sandalsshortstshirtbluejeansjeanstanktoplistentom

usicsandalskneelengthskirtmakeart-

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timew

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ethingtodowith-

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eedsaladfreshlettucejazzbrunchgum

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comfysevenjeanshippychiqsw

eatersandalslong-hippyskirthippydressflow

yskirtreadrunvibrantm

otivatedartsydedicatedpassionateemotional

creativeskepticdeepsincereoutspokenheadstrongopinionatedthoughtfulopenm

indedsearching-hardw

orkingindependentsagaciousdriventosucceedaim

tobeatpeacewithotherslivelifetothe-

fullestandenjoyeverydayiyearntodiscovermyplace

andmypurposem

ylifeisajourneydowhatsatisfies

youbeloyalbehonestbetruetoyourselftakelifehead-ontrytolearnasm

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hatlightsmyfiregotothem

oviesclimbtreesdraw

paintdreamaboutboysw

riteplayinsarahlandeat-seasonalberriesoatm

ealandlotsoftomatoessea

weedsaladcurrydalgum

bosushitunasingaporeexpresssalm

ontofuburgersmokedsalm

onsuper-foodsfrozenpineapplecoconutw

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ushortsyogapantstomsshoesloosejackettank-

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fortabledresstoms

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ararun-readyogahealthm

arayogayogayogahikeyogaexercisem

aragraphicdesignyogaplaywithm

arahangw

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indedincrediblyhardheadedgroundedsagaciousengaginglam

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onceinawhilesm

ilelaughbekindbehealthybecalmlovepeopledosom

ethinggreatachieveharmony

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odbeatpeacew

ithotherstheearthandtheselfliveeatanddrinkhealthyG

odismyhopew

ithouthimm

yworld-

seemstoobigtoknow

myplacew

ithinitihaveasidekicknam

edmaraandtogetherw

eareherelivinginthepresentreadyfortom

orrowloveothersandyour

selftrytokeepanopenmindlivehealthybehappydo

goodidowhatiw

antitakecareofmyselfm

entallyandphysicallyiam

romanticaboutlifeitspossibilities

areendlessandthatintriguesmelivelearnand

tloveembracelifeutilizingallthreethew

ayiseefit 08 lately[nam

e][height][w

eight][age][eyes][color][food][day][outfit][w

ords][m

otto]


raw oatm

eal / salmon sashim

i / pineapplesunday

anything comfortable

creative / disciplined / contentBe healthy. L

ove people. Do w

hat you want, just be sure it’s great.

03 after[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]


salad / veggies / beersaturday

hiphugger jeans / funky collared shirtartistic / insecure / different

Architecture is everything. T

hink outside the box. Be expressive.

93 later[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

4’ 11”8410

spaghetti and meatballssunday

tshirt and shortsdram

atic / goofy / self-centeredAs long as I can play gam

es with m

y friends, I’m happy.

88 firstSarah C

alandro12.13.83

3’ 1”435

grits / kraft mac n cheese

anypink dress

goody / spoiled / pickyI live to tw

irl dresses. [name]

[dob][height][w


ords][m

otto]

98 next[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

5’ 4”10515

pizza / chips ahoy / french friesfriday

tshirt and jeanspassive / self-conscious / athletic

I’ll do anything for straight A’s, a boyfriend, and a car.

Present

gumbo

opinionatedsagacious

granola afraid

burntorange

paintclim

btreessarahland

orange

yoga

yogamara

mara

spiritualvisual

Godism

yhope

do

mara

greencm

ushorts

vegetate

swim

appletree life

blueyellow

color

coffee

primerib

music

starbucksponder

greenfieryred

artsyshy

hamb

urger

sarahlandtw

irlpinkdresseslove

09

watchlittlem

ermaidputonm




imfallinlovew



ealturkeysandw

icheshoneyhamb

urgerfrench-


redlongflowyskirtm


ewith


yownw

orldunendinglysw


irls-w



isyellowsom


-patternofthem


thatwaym



imbikerideoatm



predred-blueredcom







swim


hole-w


16ozmedium


gumboshrim



greenyellowyellow

fieryredswirlscom




timew





nindulgew

orkhardforwhatisim

portantandforwhat


ethingtodowith-


entcareforandsharew

ithothersnomatterw

hatcollagesw



boedamam

eblueberrieshugebow












andmypurposem






oviesclimbtreesdraw











fortabledresstoms





arahangw


ewith-


aratwitteryoga


arapaintplaywithm

arayogaw

ithmaraw


e w

ithfamilyyogam

arafamilykindm





onceinawhilesm




odbeatpeacew


odismyhopew

ithouthimm

yworld-

seemstoobigtoknow

myplacew


edmaraandtogetherw




goodidowhatiw







e][height][w


ords][m

otto]


raw oatm

eal / salmon sashim

i / pineapplesunday



ove people. Do w


03 after[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]






93 later[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

4’ 11”8410




es with m


88 firstSarah C

alandro12.13.83

3’ 1”435


anypink dress


irl dresses. [name]

[dob][height][w


ords][m

otto]

98 next[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

5’ 4”10515




Present

gumbo


granola afraid

burntorange

paintclim

btreessarahland

orange

yoga

yogamara

mara

spiritualvisual

Godism

yhope

do

mara

greencm

ushorts

vegetate

swim

appletree life

blueyellow

color

coffee

primerib

music

starbucksponder

greenfieryred

artsyshy

hamb

urger

sarahlandtw

irlpinkdresseslove

09

watchlittlem

ermaidputonm




imfallinlovew



ealturkeysandw

icheshoneyhamb

urgerfrench-


redlongflowyskirtm


ewith


yownw

orldunendinglysw


irls-w



isyellowsom


-patternofthem


thatwaym



imbikerideoatm



predred-blueredcom







swim


hole-w


16ozmedium


gumboshrim



greenyellowyellow

fieryredswirlscom




timew





nindulgew

orkhardforwhatisim

portantandforwhat


ethingtodowith-


entcareforandsharew

ithothersnomatterw

hatcollagesw



boedamam

eblueberrieshugebow












andmypurposem






oviesclimbtreesdraw











fortabledresstoms





arahangw


ewith-


aratwitteryoga


arapaintplaywithm

arayogaw

ithmaraw


e w

ithfamilyyogam

arafamilykindm





onceinawhilesm




odbeatpeacew


odismyhopew

ithouthimm

yworld-

seemstoobigtoknow

myplacew


edmaraandtogetherw




goodidowhatiw







e][height][w


ords][m

otto]


raw oatm

eal / salmon sashim

i / pineapplesunday



ove people. Do w


03 after[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]






93 later[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

4’ 11”8410




es with m


88 firstSarah C

alandro12.13.83

3’ 1”435


anypink dress


irl dresses. [name]

[dob][height][w


ords][m

otto]

98 next[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

5’ 4”10515




Present

gumbo


granola afraid

burntorange

paintclim

btreessarahland

orange

yoga

yogamara

mara

spiritualvisual

Godism

yhope

do

mara

greencm

ushorts

vegetate

swim

appletree life

blueyellow

color

coffee

primerib

music

starbucksponder

greenfieryred

artsyshy

hamb

urger

sarahlandtw

irlpinkdresseslove

09

watchlittlem

ermaidputonm




imfallinlovew



ealturkeysandw

icheshoneyhamb

urgerfrench-


redlongflowyskirtm


ewith


yownw

orldunendinglysw


irls-w



isyellowsom


-patternofthem


thatwaym



imbikerideoatm



predred-blueredcom







swim


hole-w


16ozmedium


gumboshrim



greenyellowyellow

fieryredswirlscom




timew





nindulgew

orkhardforwhatisim

portantandforwhat


ethingtodowith-


entcareforandsharew

ithothersnomatterw

hatcollagesw



boedamam

eblueberrieshugebow












andmypurposem






oviesclimbtreesdraw











fortabledresstoms





arahangw


ewith-


aratwitteryoga


arapaintplaywithm

arayogaw

ithmaraw


e w

ithfamilyyogam

arafamilykindm





onceinawhilesm




odbeatpeacew


odismyhopew

ithouthimm

yworld-

seemstoobigtoknow

myplacew


edmaraandtogetherw




goodidowhatiw







e][height][w


ords][m

otto]


raw oatm

eal / salmon sashim

i / pineapplesunday



ove people. Do w


03 after[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]






93 later[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

4’ 11”8410




es with m


88 firstSarah C

alandro12.13.83

3’ 1”435


anypink dress


irl dresses. [name]

[dob][height][w


ords][m

otto]

98 next[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

5’ 4”10515




Present

gumbo


granola afraid

burntorange

paintclim

btreessarahland

orange

yoga

yogamara

mara

spiritualvisual

Godism

yhope

do

mara

greencm

ushorts

vegetate

swim

appletree life

blueyellow

color

coffee

primerib

music

starbucksponder

greenfieryred

artsyshy

hamb

urger

sarahlandtw

irlpinkdresseslove

09

watchlittlem

ermaidputonm




imfallinlovew



ealturkeysandw

icheshoneyhamb

urgerfrench-


redlongflowyskirtm


ewith


yownw

orldunendinglysw


irls-w



isyellowsom


-patternofthem


thatwaym



imbikerideoatm



predred-blueredcom







swim


hole-w


16ozmedium


gumboshrim



greenyellowyellow

fieryredswirlscom




timew





nindulgew

orkhardforwhatisim

portantandforwhat


ethingtodowith-


entcareforandsharew

ithothersnomatterw

hatcollagesw



boedamam

eblueberrieshugebow












andmypurposem






oviesclimbtreesdraw











fortabledresstoms





arahangw


ewith-


aratwitteryoga


arapaintplaywithm

arayogaw

ithmaraw


e w

ithfamilyyogam

arafamilykindm





onceinawhilesm




odbeatpeacew


odismyhopew

ithouthimm

yworld-

seemstoobigtoknow

myplacew


edmaraandtogetherw




goodidowhatiw







e][height][w


ords][m

otto]


raw oatm

eal / salmon sashim

i / pineapplesunday



ove people. Do w


03 after[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]






93 later[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

4’ 11”8410




es with m


88 firstSarah C

alandro12.13.83

3’ 1”435


anypink dress


irl dresses. [name]

[dob][height][w


ords][m

otto]

98 next[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

5’ 4”10515




Present

gumbo


granola afraid

burntorange

paintclim

btreessarahland

orange

yoga

yogamara

mara

spiritualvisual

Godism

yhope

do

mara

greencm

ushorts

vegetate

swim

appletree life

blueyellow

color

coffee

primerib

music

starbucksponder

greenfieryred

artsyshy

hamb

urger

sarahlandtw

irlpinkdresseslove

09

watchlittlem

ermaidputonm




imfallinlovew



ealturkeysandw

icheshoneyhamb

urgerfrench-


redlongflowyskirtm


ewith


yownw

orldunendinglysw


irls-w



isyellowsom


-patternofthem


thatwaym



imbikerideoatm



predred-blueredcom







swim


hole-w


16ozmedium


gumboshrim



greenyellowyellow

fieryredswirlscom




timew





nindulgew

orkhardforwhatisim

portantandforwhat


ethingtodowith-


entcareforandsharew

ithothersnomatterw

hatcollagesw



boedamam

eblueberrieshugebow












andmypurposem






oviesclimbtreesdraw











fortabledresstoms





arahangw


ewith-


aratwitteryoga


arapaintplaywithm

arayogaw

ithmaraw


e w

ithfamilyyogam

arafamilykindm





onceinawhilesm




odbeatpeacew


odismyhopew

ithouthimm

yworld-

seemstoobigtoknow

myplacew


edmaraandtogetherw




goodidowhatiw







e][height][w


ords][m

otto]


raw oatm

eal / salmon sashim

i / pineapplesunday



ove people. Do w


03 after[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]






93 later[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

4’ 11”8410




es with m


88 firstSarah C

alandro12.13.83

3’ 1”435


anypink dress


irl dresses. [name]

[dob][height][w


ords][m

otto]

98 next[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

5’ 4”10515




Present

gumbo


granola afraid

burntorange

paintclim

btreessarahland

orange

yoga

yogamara

mara

spiritualvisual

Godism

yhope

do

mara

greencm

ushorts

vegetate

swim

appletree life

blueyellow

color

coffee

primerib

music

starbucksponder

greenfieryred

artsyshy

hamb

urger

sarahlandtw

irlpinkdresseslove

09

vertical mind-m



watchlittlem

ermaidputonm




imfallinlovew



ealturkeysandw

icheshoneyhamb

urgerfrench-


redlongflowyskirtm


ewith


yownw

orldunendinglysw


irls-w

ear itandspinoftenallboysarecutelifeisfullofcoloryounevergetw


isyellowsom


-patternofthem


thatwaym



imbikerideoatm



predred-blueredcom







swim


hole-w


16ozmedium


gumboshrim



greenyellowyellow

fieryredswirlscom




timew





nindulgew

orkhardforwhatisim

portantandforwhat


ethingtodowith-


entcareforandsharew

ithothersnomatterw

hatcollagesw



boedamam

eblueberrieshugebow












andmypurposem






oviesclimbtreesdraw











fortabledresstoms





arahangw


ewith-


aratwitteryoga


arapaintplaywithm

arayogaw

ithmaraw


e w

ithfamilyyogam

arafamilykindm





onceinawhilesm




odbeatpeacew


odismyhopew

ithouthimm

yworld-

seemstoobigtoknow

myplacew


edmaraandtogetherw




goodidowhatiw







e][height][w


ords][m

otto]


raw oatm

eal / salmon sashim

i / pineapplesunday



ove people. Do w


03 after[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]






93 later[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

4’ 11”8410




es with m


88 firstSarah C

alandro12.13.83

3’ 1”435


anypink dress


irl dresses. [name]

[dob][height][w


ords][m

otto]

98 next[nam

e][height][w


ords][m

otto]

Sarah Calandro

5’ 4”10515




Present

gumbo


granola afraid

burntorange

paintclim

btreessarahland

orange

yoga

yogamara

mara

spiritualvisual

Godism

yhope

do

mara

greencm

ushorts

vegetate

swim

appletree life

blueyellow

color

coffee

primerib

music

starbucksponder

greenfieryred

artsyshy

hamb

urger

sarahlandtw

irlpinkdresseslove

09

self-portrait

Documents

majorvertical mind

free time

info collection

day of favorite number

organized information

information energy

free thing

favorite color