Transcript
How good is your face perception? Most people can't get it until around 80, but a few have managed as low as 30. Comment the number where it clicks for you, if it does. So over a year ago, I started working on designs for Distilled Science merch. But I don't like just having a logo, and no way do I want people walking around wearing my face. But I think we wear clothing to project a part of our identity onto the world. And the best clothing acts as a conversation starter by itself. And I think the essence of being a scientist is the ability to keenly observe the world, shift between different viewpoints, never getting too stuck on a single one. So, I first designed this as the upside-down version, and I loved watching my friends contort their faces trying to figure out what it was. And the look of wonder on their face when they finally get it is priceless. But I decided to make this easy mode version as well. I'll only be making 1,000 of these first edition designs, made from this super soft airloom ring spun cotton and starting on sale for the holidays, and hoodies with embroidered sleeves. Tasteful? Check it out at Stem Cell where I'll also be adding all sorts of other cool designs and nerdy products.
Additional notes
WHY this works: Your visual system processes images at multiple "resolutions" simultaneously. Up close, your eyes prioritize high spatial frequency information-edges, fine details, individual shapes. From a distance (or when blurred, squinted, or rotated), your brain shifts to low spatial frequency processing-broad shapes, shadows, overall structure. This design exploits that switch. The 100 circles are the high-frequency noise. But their size, placement, and shading were calculated to create the correct low-frequency pattern-the face-when your visual system averages them together. Why flipping it helps: Inverting an image disrupts your brain's facial recognition shortcuts (we're wired to see faces right-side-up). When upside-down, you stop "looking for a face" and just see circles. Flip it back, step away, and suddenly your fusiform face area kicks in: "Oh, that's a person." Don't ruin it for everyone else! Rather than commenting with WHO you see, instead comment the number at which you first saw it and a word that it very tangentially reminds you of. Check it out at STEMSells . store and make sure to use the code LAUNCH for 30% off! Who knows why I used that design for the "1st ed" emblem? Did anyone spot the subtle easter-egg in the design? #science #nerd #blackfriday #cybermonday #nerdtok #giftsfornerds
References
- Face perception / spatial-frequency explanation included in caption; study titles, DOI/PMID numbers, and source links not listed in workbook.
- STEMSells store mentioned in caption; direct source link not listed in workbook.