On my way into the city, I noticed a woman’s tattoo on the subway that resembled a band logo that I knew at one time but had since drifted away into the deep recesses of my brain. I tried searching on google and even drawing it for friends, but no one could help me figure out what it was.

I also looked for search engines that focused strictly on searching images, such as tineye, but unfortunately, my lo-fi drawing (see below) wouldn’t cut it.

Out of this desire to be able to use my visual memory, I started doing sketches for what I currently call a “Site and Sound Search”. This site will provide users the ability to draw within an allotted space as well as hum, sing, or speak into web-based recording that would allow them to search using visuals or sound.

It didn’t take me very long to remember whose logo it was, but In the reflection on this project, it was a good exercise in thinking through how I would best set up this alternative style of search. The question now is: do a need search functionality that will allow me to find this kind of image or do I just need new friends?