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Final individual assignment!
For this assignment, its all about COLORS! We learnt different things about colors and how to utilize them in design.
We had to make a postcard on musical festivals. So, I started brainstorming on the various musical festivals Im familiar with.
Brainstorming Process
I prefer coming up with a design on an event Im familiar with because I can relate to it and thus provide a more informative and relevant design. So, here are the few events I thought of: 1. Timbre Fest (Singapore) 2. Baybeats (Singapore) 3. Woodstock Festival (US). These events are basically festivals celebrating rock music throught the performances of indie bands.
I finally chose Baybeats because I actually went to the recent 2009 Baybeats. I got to soak in the atmosphere and understood what the musical festival was all about. I thus could incorporate this in my design.
Here is a link of baybeats to know more bout it: http://www.baybeats.com.sg/2009/.
Creative phase
I then searched for pictures I could use for the design and came up with rough ideas for the postcard.
I was inspired by this pic. on baybeats site.
Using this, I conceptualized my idea for the design (using Adobe Illustrator mostly). Here is the basic template for the postcard.
Utilizing what I have learnt from the past 2 lectures, I made the Baybeats 2009 text the largest as it is the main focus - the name of the event. The tagline: 'get ready to rock out' is smaller but still made big to attract people's attention to the event. For the background, I chose a simple gradient so that the fonts are clear but still at least the background is not too plain.
Executive phase
This is the part where I utilized what I have learnt from Lecture 7 (about colors) and create various color combinations of the same design.
*DISCLAIMER: The colors here changed a lil bit maybe due to copy and paste effects. Don't know why... But the actual colors are a bit different so hopefully the printing later comes out right for the colors.
The first color combi (cool-earthy):
I used what I learnt about colors - the 'cool scheme' - to create the above. Using the basic hue of blue, I developed other colors from it such as sea blue, sea green and turqoise. I experimented quite a bit with 'value' for this color combi. I increased the value of black for the text and increased value of white for the background. This is so that the text will pop out.
Color Combi 2 (Retro-spective):
This color combi plays a lot on bright colors using the split complementary scheme. Using the complements of blue with red and yellow, I made the background blue and red while the text yellow. This creates a sort of bright harmony among the colors. There is quite a bit of intensity in this design as it is bright and it creates a 'retro' feel due to the combi. of the split complementary colors.
Color combi 3 (Autumn in the sea):
This is called autumn in the sea because autumn influenced colors are used behind a blue backdrop. This is again split complementary. The colors being blue with red and yellow. However, how this differs from the above is the intensity and value. The background here is less bright and darker while the text is brighter and contrast more with the background. Above design is overall bright but this one is less bright as the emphasis is more on the text.
Color Combi 4 (Earth, sun and sea):
As the name suggests, Earth is the blue-green colors used. Sun - yellow colors. Sea - blue color. This uses somewhat analogus and triad colors. The analogus colors are yellow and green, behind a light blue backdrop. The intention of this color combi is to make a bright postcard that attracts attention to those who love bright colors.
Color Combi 5 (Purple fun):
Clearly, using a purplish tone, I tried to make this design 'fun'. The background is clearly darker then the text, with the intention of making the text and the guitar guy pop out. This is actually a triad scheme. They are far apart in the color wheel. The intensity and value of text is contrasted from the background so it will pop out more.
Color Combi 6 (FIRE!):
This color combi clearly uses the warm color scheme which is why I named it FIRE! It is thus the opposite of the first design which uses the cool scheme. It utilizes the basic colors of orange, pink and yellow to create a bright and warm effect. The colors are somewhat analogous to create a harmonious and consistent tone to the whole design.
Color Combi 7 (Emo Purple):
Color Combi 8 (Emo Contrast):
The last 2 designs I explored with are actually quite similar. Both uses contrast with the basic hues of red and blue. However, the key difference which I wanted to vary between the 2 is the color of the font and the guitar guy. Combi 7 uses purple for the biggest font while combi 8 uses blue for the biggest font. The guitar guy is more red for the combi 8. This is why I prefer combi 8 and thus decided to chooses combi 8 for my final postcard design.
I think that the last design is apt in portraying the 'rockness' of the event. However the last design is better than combi 7 cos the text and pic colors stand out more.
Here is the overall product:
Reflection
Thanks all for the comments, really useful. After the forum comments (elearning week) that I obtained, here is what I have thought about:
1. Some liked my design for its simplicity and the fonts used for the text 'Baybeats 2009'. :) However, I was also suggested to make the design less plain by adding more things or getting the fonts and pic closer together. I wil definitely consider this and try to explore it.
2. Some like the final design I chose. :) However, one suggested that to improve the final piece that I should make the 'radius background' more obvious so that the background appears less plain. I will explore this area.
3. Some prefer the other color combis. I will definitely rethink this point but I prob. will go with the 'dark and cool' color tone because I belive tht Baybeats is all about 'rock' and edginess.
4. Quite alot of people mentioned they can't make out the text 'rock' and read it as 'book' or 'rook'. I will thus change the font for this text.
Other issues:
1. I might change the event to Woodstock festival considering that there are people doing on Baybeats and Timbre fest.
2. I will change the back of the postcard to make it more informative and have a consistent flow.
Thanks all for your contributions! - Tags:analogous, baybeats, brainstorming, colors, complementary, cool and warm tone, hues, postcard, split complementary, triad
- Location:Starbucks, Tanglin Mall
- Mood:busy
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This assignment requires us to create a poster to promote active aging. After learning about visual principles from lecture 6, I will try to use these principles in doing this assignment.
Brainstorming
First of all, I brainstormed on various ideas that can promote active aging. I narrowed them down to 'healthy lifestyle', 'economically independant', 'having activities/hobbies'. I had some ideas for each of them.
I then decided to choose healthy lifestyle as I think it will be easy to represent and is a very vital issue. I initially came up with the idea of a poster of an elderly exercising, staying healthy and happy with the family. Later on, I thought of another idea as I was inspired by some pics and personal experience. These are shown below:
In my new idea, I thought of showing the symbolic sign of elderly as shown above in this MRT sign. Elderly people are always symboled as old people with a cane. This was when I was able to link the concept of active aging to such signs. I thought, why not show a sign of the typical symbol of an old person and then contrast it with how it should change later in the future.
These are some symbols of elderly I found on the net:
Creative Phase
I then conceptualized my elderly symbol idea further by designing an old person on my own first.
Designing the typical elderly symbol (using mostly adobe illustrator), I came up with this:
I then thought of ways I could come up with a contrast of this. I had to think of how I could show an elderly as an active ager.
I thought of changing the symbol of the elderly by removing the cane and by showing the elderly exercises. This is seen by the elderly holding on to a racket and ball.
Executive phase
After coming up with ideas and basic designs, I could come up with the actual poster itself. Here, I can bring in what I learn about visual principles to design the poster. I will talk about them as I go along.
*I used adobe illustrator mostly for this assignment.
This is the basic of the poster.
Befor this, I came up with a draft where I put the sentence 'see this often in the mrt?' right at the top. The picutres then followed, positioned at the centre. I thought that this very centralised approach for my poster made it boring and also not very unified in terms of positioning. So, as shown above, I changed the position of the text and the pictures. I put the text on the left because people usually start reading from the left. I also tried to unify the elements in terms of colour (picutres are blue, texts are red and blue) and also used interaction where I tried to contrast the red words from the background.
I then went on to improve my poster by adding a background to it, else it will be dull.
In this draft, I added the background. I chose it because I thought the colors symbolises activeness as they are bright. They are also quite neutral so the colors can stand out. I changed the color of the other texts to dark blue as it can be seen better. I specifically chose blue because this will unify with the color of the picutres. As for the pictures, I used blue and white simply to follow the actual signs on the MRT.
I thought that my poster could look more poster-ish. I felt as tho somethin was missing.
I then came up with this:
I made a few changes. I added two purple strips to the top and bottom of the poster to make it more like a poster. This also adds a sort of frame for the poster. It makes the audience know where to look at, in that sense. Also, I changed the font of the bottom text. I wanted to make it look more 'enouraging'. The top font with the percentage gives factual info so I selected a more 'serious' font for it. In terms of overall font, the red words are capital, bolded and the biggest to emphasize them because this is what I want to use to capture people's attention. The other fonts are smaller because once people's attention are captured, they might read the small fonts. Position: I centralised both blue fonts. I also put the pictures on the same side and on top of each other. (somehwat to bring symmetry). All these are done to bring unity to the poster. Space: some space given so not cluttered. I also gave equal amount of spaces for those fonts and pics that are 'symmetrical'.
Overall, I used mostly the principles of interaction and unity. (where I applied what is taught bout color, font, position, direction and space).
Reflection
Weaknesses: I think my design is too simplistic. Perhaps, I could arrange it so it looks more professional or change the background.
Strengths. I think my idea is creative. I've always been better at coming up with creative ideas and slogans rather than designing something itself.
*I will try to improve my design further, depending on the suggestions and comments from the tutorial.
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After the lecture, we are supposed to pair up. We then were given a word. From that word, we are supposed to create an image representing the word, by just using lines and dots.
The word we got was 'terrific'.
Me and my friend then brainstormed some ideas. We thought of the thumbs up sign or judges saying terrific to singers. However, we finally came up with a design that both of us agreed was simple and representative of terrific.
We thought of a student's paper being marked. The student scores 'terrific'!
This is the scanned image:
Through this exercise, we basically learn how to communicate meanings through visual design. We learnt visual principles for this lecture. We learn that by putting something in a frame, it can limit the form. In this case, the student's paper is the frame. Then, by using position, direction and space, we drew the curly lines, the tick, stars and smiley face. Position: the curly lines are at the top. Direction: the tick, stars and smiley are on the right. Space: there are some white space which represents the space not used by the student or teacher.
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For this assignment, we have to create a story using 8 pictures. So, we would have to create a rough storyboard sketch of our story idea. I have a few. Below are the pictures.
Brainstorm process
Sketch 1 (Old Versus New)
1: girl plays new guitar. 2: new guitar being put back. 3. old guitar tries suicide. 4: new guitar saves old. 5: old guitar cancels suicide. 6: old and new are friends.
Sketch 2 (NOISE)
1: person is singing and playing guitar loudly. 2: girl studying is angry. 3: girl confronts noisy person. 4: Girl snatches guitar. 5: girl raises guitar to smash it. 6: person is scared but girl raises hand and smiles. 7: girl shows how to sing and play well. 8: person joins in.
I then picked on the first sketch to work on. This is because I felt that the first sketch was more interesting and creative. However, it is a risky story to do because it might be hard to understand by others. I will just try and give a shot because if I can pull it off, then it would be good.
Creative Phase
I created the prototypes by first taking the photos of each frame. I used myself and two of my guitars as the 'models' of the photos. I added in more shots to make the story have more flow. Thus, now sketch 1 has 8 shots.
I took at least 20 over shots. I then selected 8 shots that makes the story look like there is flow. I then used photoshop to edit the photos. For this, I decided to edit my photos because of the story plot. I need to make it seem like there is a difference between the old and new guitar and to add drama and flavour to the story.
Below I will put up the pics and showed how I took the shots (angles etc.), why I edit them as such and how they relate to the story.
Executive Phase
 
| (1) I took a low angle shot. This to make myself and the new guitar look more intimidating and more special. Editing the pic, I made the old guitar more dull looking. The story thus begins where I play my new guitar and ignore the old one, dumping it on the ground. | (2) Again, I took a low angle shot. This is of course to make the new guitar intimidating and better than the old one. Editing the pic, I added more gloss and shine to this guitar to make it look extra new and special. The story then continues where I put my new guitar back on the stand. |
 
| (3) The story then shows the old guitar in comparison with the new one. For this, I took a bit of low angle shot focusing on the new guitar and since the old one is at a lower position, it seems like its taken from a high angle. So, the new seems intimidating while the old seems vulnerable and sad. I also edited the old guitar to make it look more dusty and grainy. | (4) This shot den just focuses on the old guitar. Basically, its dumped on the ground - sad and alone. I took it from a high angle to make it seem vulnerable. I also edited it to make it look older. |
 
| (5) This is where the climax of the story happens. The old guitar wants to kill itself. It thus stood on the window edge, wanting to jump. I used a bit of dutch angle here to show uneasiness. I edited the background to black&white to portray sadness and dullness. (this is my personal fave). | (6) This is where the 'action' or turning point of the story happens. The new guitar tries to save the old one. I shot this slightly dutch. I edited the background and the guitar to make them more dull and also make the new one seem heroic through shininess. |
 
| (7) This picture shows the anti-climax of the story. The old guitar decided not to kill itself and so went down from the window edge. I took the shot at a normal angle. I also did not edit it much. | (8) This is the typical ending and resolution of the story. The two guitars became friends because the old saved the new. I added some cheesy effects and took shot at a quite low angle. |
Reflection
Difficulties: 1. Taking the shots. (I keep having the fear that my guitar will actually fall down from the window edge. Taking different angle also prove to be a challenge).
2. Editing the pics. (trying to give each object the right effect is difficult.)
I will talk more about how I am going to improve on this and my strengths and weaknesses later (after tutorial).
After tutorial: I got alot of good inputs from Dr. Lin and my peers. Notable things include changing picture 1 to show that the new guitar has a price tag (as though just bought). Also, change the suicide scene to make it more clear, as tho its taken from the angle of the guitar. I will definitely improve on the issues noted by them. I am happy that at least people understood the story. I just have to present it in a clearer way by taking better shots.
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For assignment 2, we had to choose a place in Singapore and from there, make either an iconic or indexic representation of it. Then, we have to keep simplifying it - making it more abstract. 5 simplification process needs to be shown and 1 should be chosen as a final (where the image can still be identified as the place).
In the lecture, we learnt what are signs and the three type of signs available - iconic, indexic and symbolic. Iconic is the exact representation of an object. Indexic is something indirectly linked to the object. Symbolic is a sign that needs to be learnt in order to know the object. When dealing with the assignment and with design, we stop at the indexic level. Thus, I kept this in mind when I simplify the place I chose. I made sure that it does not become symbolic.
Before I began the project, I began the brainstorming process first. To do so, I searched google images for places in Singapore. I know of some places but I thought that searching on the net might give me inspiration as the pictures would help me see the shape and look of the place. After brainstorming, I came up with a few places - airport, fullerton hotel, Ion, flyer, Sultan mosque. The places I narrowed down to are of course places that are very popular in Singapore. I chose them because I thought that if I showed the most simplified version of it, people would still be able to identify it. However, I know that the setback would be that there would be clashes with people so mine wont be unique anymore. I still pushed on with the popular places as I thought the most important thing would be that people can identify it.
I finally chose Sultan Mosque because I like the design of it and that it is very significant and popular in Singapore. Most importantly, I felt that I could relate to it the most individually as I am a Muslim. I then chose to give the iconic representation of the place first.
Here are some of the photos I thought of using as the iconic representation of the place:
I chose the first picture as I thought it gives a good angle and view of the mosque. I then traced it onto a paper and scanned it onto my computer.
Here is the product:
Using Illustrator, I then live traced this scanned picture.
Here is the product:
I then begin my simplification process. There are 5 steps to this.
First step, I removed all the detailed designs on the walls of the building. This simplifies the mosque as the design of the building becomes less detailed and more simple. The walls of the mosque thus becomes more bare.
This is the product (Simplify 1):
Second step, I remove the detailed designs of the windows on the mosque. This simplifies the mosque as again the mosque starts to become more bare. The walls thus are more simple.
Here is the product (simplify 2):
Third step, I removed the additional and extra designs on the wall of the mosque. As can be seen below, the sharp fences coming out of the mosque are removed. The mosque again become more simplified based on its outerior design.
Here is the product (simplify 3):
Fourth step, I removed the walls on the building. The walls are actually unnecessary in identifying the mosque. Just by looking at the outline of the building, one can actually know that it is the mosque.
Here is the product (simplify 4):
This then brings me to the next and final simplification. I decided to remove the left side of the building, leaving the top rounded part of the mosque, the centre rectangle and the cylindrical shaped pole on the right. I feel that by just showing these, people can identify that it is the Sultan mosque because these are the distinctive design features of the mosque. The top rounded part with its crescent and star is common with all mosques. However, I did not simplify it to this extent because it would seem like its just another mosque. Thus, I decided to keep the right side of the building as well as the cylindrical pole is a distinctive feature of the Sultan mosque.
Here is the product (simplify 5):
These are thus my prototypes after going through the brainstorming and creative phases of design. The executive phase thus makes me put the design pieces following the requirements of the project. As required, I put the actual picture of the design, followed by the 5 simplified designs. Also, I picked one design and put it on A4. Here is the final:
I decided to choose the last design as the one that people can still identify despite being so simplified. I was contemplating this with the fourth design as the fourth one looks more complete. However, the main point is that a design can still be identified despite being abstract and the last one proves this.
Reflection
Comments given during tutorial class: People in my class could straight away identify the last design as Sultan Mosque. Dr. Lin also gave positive comments. I was thus happy and satisfied with my work and effort for this project.
Difficulties faced: 1. Trying to think how to simplify it. I had to think how to simplify the mosque but at the same time people could still identify it. 2. Picking a good place in Singapore. Places here are really limited. They are either too well known or unknown. So, I picked the mosque as I believe it is popular but not to popular. Also, the most important thing is to follow your interest. I can relate to the mosque so much better rather than if I were to do a church or temple. This made me interested constantly by this project. 3. Doubts about the project itself. I was scared that I would make a mistake for this project. I tried my best to understand what simplification means but I was afraid I had understand it wronly. I thus asked my friend and she helped me with it. Also, I read through my lecture notes thoroughly. I was afraid that removing parts of the building wasn't simplifying. However, I should be correct since my design was commented to be ok.
Improvements to be made: I still feel that my design could be improved in terms of the graphics and superficial look of it. I will make the lines of the buildings more straight and perhaps color in more parts of it. Also, maybe add a background to it. It would make the design more interesting. The improved versions will be displayed in my portfolio.
- Tags:abstraction, assignment 2, brainstorming, creative phase, executive phase, iconic indexic symbolic, inspiration, reflection, simplification, singapore place, sultan mosque
- Location:Home
- Mood:tired
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For the lecture on Representational Techniques (in week 4), we had an in-class activity. As a group, we are supposed to think of iconic and indexic obejcts. We learnt of the various types of representation (signs) - Iconic, Indexic and Symbolic. In design, we only work with the first two. Iconic is the exact representation of the obejct. If the object is a tree, then iconic sign of it would be a picture of the tree. Indexic means something that links to the object indirectly. Indexic of a tree would be leaves, for e.g. When we see leaves, we think of trees.
Thus, we thought of various objects on a iconic level first. Our theme is clearly: Writing Letters.
The first object is an envelope. So, we drew a picture of an envelope. The indexic is a postbox. Because when we think of a postbox, we will immediately relate it to envelopes since in a postbox, there are envelopes of letters.
Other objects we thought of relate to the above. Such as, letter relating to the hole of a letter box. When we look at the hole, we think of letters since we slot in letters through it. The last one is the same concept as the above except it uses the head of a postbox as the indexic.
This lecture and the activity taught me the various signs available and how useful it is to visual communications. Also, I learnt how to differentiate between each sign.
In relation to this is the next assignment we are supposed to do. Assignment 2 involves selecting a place in Singapore and simplifying it further to as minimum as possible yet people could still understand it. Using the concepts above, this assignment will be done in 5 simplifying processes.I already have a place in mind and the process of me in developing this project will be shown in my next post.
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Executive Phase and Reflection
After creating the prototypes (rough sketches) of the Cat and Sugar Treats idea, I will then move on to the executive phase. We are required to edit and recreate our designs using computer tools such as Adobe photoshop and illustrator. Basically, this is the final creation of design where we have to produce the digital generated design. So, we have to upload the design on computer and make it computerised.
These are the steps I took in making the 2 sketches computerised:
1st step - Upload the images onto Illustrator and live trace it. Below are the outcome of this.
As shown above, the cat sketches did not come out as well even though I increased the threshold. And through the gaps option, I still could not fix the lines though I increased the gap option to the maximum. What I learnt from this: I should outline the sketches with a black marker first before scanning it in so that live tracing it will be ok. (i will write more on this under the reflection phase).
Step 2 - Creating more drafts for each design.
In this picture, I added sprinkles to the ice cream, using photoshop. (making shapes and coloring them).
From this, I then coloured in the photos and copy and paste cake, fudge and cream onto the picture. Here is the output:
After Tutorial 3, my peers and Dr Lin gave comments on this. 1. The chocolate cake does not look like a cake to them. 2. We are not supposed to get pictures from the internet but we have to draw the sketch ourselves and from there, develop them. I will thus reflect on this further and will refine the pics for my portfolio.
The cat design was easier to do as compared to the sugar treats one. Using photoshop, I just colored in the cats using paintbucket.
I picked the colors according to those that I liked. As for the lines that did not come out in the first scanned pic, I actually used paintbrush to fill in the line gaps. Thus, paintbucket could be used.
Here are the comments for this after tutorial 3 - 1. The first cat should have a carpet under it to make it look like its lying down rather than jumping on its tail.
Step 3 - The following pics below are the 'final product' of this assignment. This is what I showed during Tutorial 3, which is the same as above except for the sentences added in. According to presentation in the executive phase, I am supposed to follow the constraints of the project. (A5 size, color/bnw).
When I printed these two out, I have to remember to change the resolution settings to 300 pixels because as said in Lecture 3, that is the standard pixel to use for print graphic.
Reflections
Strengths: 1. It does look like FAH. people made no comments about it not looking like my name. so i think i have achieved this aspect of the project. 2. It reflects who I am. I love both these things so I have done a good job in this aspect.
Weaknesses: 1. Not individualistic enough. It does not really say who I am and reflect me. So, I was thinking of making the designs more me perhaps through adding some 'rock' elements into it. The cats could wear spiky chokers or wristbands to make them look more rock. 2. No background. I need to make the designs more interesting by adding a background or a place the design is seen at etc. 3. Not so professional and internet pics used. For this, I have to re-sketch my drawing and this time use a marker pen to outline it. And for the sugar treats, draw the cherry and stuff and not use net pics. 4. Sentences. Change sugar treats to sweet treats?
I will improve my designs and finalize them in my portfolio as that will be the place where designs are judged.
Overall, the process of creating assignement 1 has been fruitful. I have learnt what it means to create a design. It is a tough yet rewarding process. When your design is displayed for show to others, it can either break or make you. In my case, I wanted to keep improving on my design.
- Tags:adobe, cat, constraints, executive phase, final creation, lectures, live trace, portfolio, presentation, reflection, resolution settings, rough sketches, sugar treats, tutorials
- Location:Home
- Mood:tired
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Creative Phase
After presenting my rough sketch of the TV and Cats in tutorial 1, I have obtained constructive criticisms from both Dr. Lin and my peers. From there, I have tried to improve on my designs. One thing I did was researched thoroughly on the internet for inspiration and tried to find any object that I thought looked like any letters of my name. I found that the letters 'f' and 'h' were the toughest. However, I did not give up and tried my best to find good designs.
From there, I did the basic level of copying and pasting pictures from the internet that looks like the letters in my name to form the designs. This is part of the creative phase as well. Through conceptualization, I have brainstormed creative ideas on making the things I like to look my name. I have thus produced the thumbnails below.
Here are the designs that I have created, showing that I did an extensive search (I will sketch and refine them in my portfolio):
Sugar Treats (new one I came up with):
Cats (body positions look like the letters):
Cooking:
Nature:
After coming up with these, I presented them to Dr. Lin. I am happy to get good feedback from him. I am definitely on the right track compared to last week. According to him, in terms of the time constraint we have, the designs on sugar treats and cats are the easiest to do. He also linked this to the stopping rule taught in lecture 1 and 2, where design has no stopping rule but a designer should stop when he have time or other kinds of limitations. So, I decided to choose the sugar treats and cats design for this. I also based my decision on what I really liked and what really relates to me well. Both these themes are good for me as I love them very much and that is the main idea of the assignment. For the cats design, I chose the first one shown above as the design that I am going to work on.
After the conceptualization above, we are required to go about with concept evaluation. I have picked two designs to work on. Thus, I create rough sketches of them and refined them to present to people.
Here are the rough sketches of Cats and Sugar Treats (as drawn on paper and scanned):
Using these two designs, I then created the prototypes of each for me to present during Tutorial 2. This process will be shown in my next post.
- Tags:brainstorming, cat, concept evaluation, conceptualization, cooking, creative phase, dr julian lin, lectures, nature, rough sketches, stopping rule, sugar treats, tutorials, tv
- Location:Home
- Mood:listless
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Analytical Phase
During the 2nd lecture in week 2 of this semester, Dr Julian Lin assigned us with our very first task for this module. The first assignment is entitled Me, Myself and I. The assignment basically requires us to create 2 designs of things in their natural form that looks like our name. The things could be things that describe us or things that we like/hate.
During the lecture itself, we had to think of 2 words that best describe our character or things that we like/hate. I thought of more than 2 things during the lecture itself. Here are some of the things that I thought of, that I like: stars, butterflies, rock, music, guitars, cats, media. It was quite difficult to create a design from scratch and on the spot itself during the lecture without any basis of reference. So, I thought of ideas first and planned that later on at home, I shall search pics of the things I like on Google image, as suggested by Dr Lin during the 2nd lecture.
I find that this is the analytical phase in designing. As taught during Lecture 2, there are 4 phases in the conceptual process of creating designs. The first phase, being analytical is like a brainstorm of the design project. It requires the designer to realise the project objectives, audience, constraints and data collection. Using what I have learnt here about this phase, I incorporated these elements when brainstorming for this assignment.
First, I find that this project objective is to learn the basic design process and basic production techniques (by having objects in its natural form to look like your name). Thus, I would have to know how to design (e.g. through the adobe workshops provided) and slowly review my design each time I have created one. The audience would most importantly be the judges of my final portfolio but also inclusive of my peers and my tutor as they would review my designs during the tutorial sessions. I would then have to carefully design it to make it really look like my name - that it is identifiable by not only me, but by the audience I stated above. The constraints of the project is mentioned in the lecture, where I have to print out the design on an A5 paper. As for data collection, as I have said, I went home to research (through Google and Google image) more on the things that I like and from there, I started sketching out the things that I thought looked like my name.
Here is my first draft (sketched on my sketchbook):
In this sketch, I thought of two designs, namely TV and Cat, which are two things I love very much. I showed this design in Tutorial 1 and received useful feedback and comments from my peer and tutor, Dr Lin. Dr Lin mentioned that my design is too simple as I did not fulfill the task of obtaining things that are in their natural state. Rather, I manipulated and arranged the things to make it look like my name. This was not the objective of assignment 1 thus I did not fulfill the objective. However, my peers did like the idea of the cats as they thought it was cute and gave some comments on the positions of the cats.
After this review during the tutorial, I asked Dr. Lin for a consult. I wanted to know what was wrong with my designs and what could further be improved. It turns out that I did not fully understand the requirements of this assignment and was confused on what explained during the lecture. Finally, Dr Lin made me realise that I have to find things that in their natural form, look like my name. I then told him that I will create new sketches and present it to him on another day.
I then reviewed my design and started the analytical phase process again where I brainstormed and researched on what things would be good to use that looks like my name. The process was difficult and tedious but I always remembered what the assignement required and this helped me find good things to use according to what I like. For example, I thought of 'cat' and thus came up (with the help of Dr. Lin) with the cat's body positions that could look like my name. I also thought of other things like 'sugar treats' such as the candy cane that looks like the letter 'f'. With all these brainstorming on my part and help from Dr. Lin, I finally came up with a few ideas that I thought meet the requirements of the assignement. This will be explored in my next blog post.
- Tags:adobe, analytical phase, assignement 1, brainstorming, cat, design process, dr julian lin, lectures, me myself and i, sugar treats, things i like, things that describe me, tutorials, tv
- Location:Home
- Mood:artistic
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Hi. This is my learning and reflection page for NM2208. Do look forward to my posts and designs.  - Location:Home
- Mood:blah
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