“getawayexperiment.net” proposes a dialogue between the virtual and physical processes of sign and site design and perception. Stern and Neustetter have transformed several information-based web pages into collaboratively constructed communication sites; they commissioned local sign-makers in Johannesburg, South Africa to “re-mix” five websites (Fox News, Google Images, joburg.org.za, Solidarity and Turbulence) by painting stylized versions of each image on their main pages. The hand-painted signs were then scanned, prepared for the web, and uploaded.

Each of the five sites can be seen in three ways:

1) the original site (on its original server); 2) the “getaway” site in edit mode; and 3) the “getaway” site in non-edit mode. In edit mode, participants from anywhere in the world can click on an image in any one of the “getaway” pages and upload their own replacement images. In non-edit mode each individual image is randomly pulled from the site’s database, thereby transforming the “getaways” into dynamic collages that signify something completely new.

Concept, Artists/Designers: Nathaniel Stern, Marcus Neustetter

Information Architecture: Templar Wales

Programming/Scripting: BlinkNewMedia

Core Sign-Writers: Mduduzi Manyoni, Tebogo Phafudi, Bongani Nkou, Kasa Thamae, and Nkosana.