The unseen correlation between grunge and skateboarding,

explained to the skate community.

some common keywords between grunge and skateboarding -

- self expression
- rebellion
- social alienation
- consumed
- appropriation by the mainstream (causal)
- DIY
- fuck the authoroties
- non-conformity

initial instruction (process)

A commemorative skateboard deck, retracing the grunge attitudes that influenced skateboarding in the 1990s and, still to this day, define its connotations. This will consist of an essay, discussing the common behaviours and stereotypes associated to the two cultures and their members, applied to the board.

I believe that this is one of the only ways to inform this specific audience, for two main reasons. Firstly, the choice of a new deck, except from its sizing and concaves, is also based on the appeal of the graphic on the back of it, which can range from a simple illustration to a political-satirical photographical message. The members of the skateboarding culture in fact want to 'represent' and stand for something or someone, and riding a piece of wood with wheels with a message printed on the back of it is the way to do this. Secondly, skateboarders care mostly about skatboarding.

There will also be a video showing the process of the creation of the board and another video showing the board being used.

The instruction will consist of the essay applied to the back of the board and a photo of the same board after being used.

During the making and the visualization of my previous idea (and thanks to the feedback sessions), I came to the conclusion that a skateboarding audience would not care enough to read a long essay on a skateboard deck. I realized that the essence of the two cultures (grunge and skateboarding) is self-expression, with a touch of rebellion as well. I did not want to sell a product end in itself, but something that could initiate a conversation. For this reason I decided to change the format of my instruction.

I decided to make a small instructional/informational leaflet which is sold with a white blank skateboard (the leaflet is inside the plastic wrap of the new skateboard). On one side of the leaflet, there is a breif informational essay on the history of grunge and how it influenced a whole generation of skateboarders, while on the other side there are some instructions regarding the use of the board. The instructions state that the user should write what he/she thinks about the world of skateboarding (positive and negative things) and then to ride the board as hard as possible. The board then becomes a canvas on which the user can express his/her views on and share them with his/her community and, ultimately, with the world.

improved interaction (final design)

personal reflections:

As I am deeply involved in the skateboarding community, I took this oppurtunity to test my grunge-inspired instructions on a good friend of mine, who happens to also enjoy skateboarding. After having translated the instructions on the leaflet to him, the first thing that came to his mind was the acronym A.C.A.B, a very popular concept which concerns both the grunge and the skateboarding mentality. This kind of tied my whole project together, proving the influence grunge has had on skateboarding.

Also, I really wanted to film a skate vid.