In my dream, I saw an exam question for my daughter’s art university entrance test. It featured about four works created using different media, displayed side by side. The task was to describe what could be interpreted from them. The question included both images and text, and there was no correct answer. However, there were connections, and a vast space for interpretation opened up. It wasn’t about finding the “right” response but about engaging in a dialogue between the examiner and the respondent. The test felt like a beautifully designed meeting place, where the response would determine whether they would spend time learning together at the university. It seemed like such an inspiring and thoughtful approach. When I woke up from this dream, I vividly recalled a course that had changed my life during my university days: Professor Kazuya Fukuda’s class on Representational Culture Theory. In that class, I learned that even when the subject is the same, the possibilities for expression change with the times and the media used. For example, we compared Stefan Zweig’s _Marie Antoinette_ with _The Rose of Versailles_. It was fascinating to see how the same subject could appear as such entirely different works. I realized that, in any era, it is deeply meaningful for people living in that time to create works. The thoughts of the era, the creator’s perspective, and the possibilities of expression are all inscribed in the work. In the end, I came to understand that what I want to explore through design is how to think about text and design within the context of today’s media landscape. 2025-01-28