Design Principles | Week 7-8 (Project 1)
Week 7-8
-6th October 2021 to 15th October 2021
NAME: Isaac Yaw Wai Zac
I.D: 0343197
COURSE: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechanical Engineering
SECTION: 02
Figure 1.1: Week 7's class session (5th October 2021)
In this week's class session, we started it off with a short briefing of the details about the current project (Project 1) and Miss Jinchi mentioned that this project will be due on Friday in week 8. Therefore, we would only have just under 2 weeks time to complete this project. Then, we proceeded with the consultation session to review all our blogs, and the feedbacks given on my blog/progress were documented in the 'Feedbacks from Lecturer' section down below.
Lectures:
In this lecture, we learnt about 'self-portraits. We as human beings are able to communicate in various forms such a by speaking, listening, reading, visualisation, singing, and etc. However, messages are not conveyed in a proper form sometimes such as during different situations or confronting different individuals. In short, how do we see ourselves? How do we define ourselves?
Figure 2.1: Overall visualisation of one's self in a broad manner
Self-representation is a visual depiction of that person which can be done in ways such as drawing, painting, sculpture, design. The self-portrait can represent the designer/artist in other words or how he/she sees themselves. There could be much hidden meanings or representations such as the feeling, message, and style. The self-portrait is not necessarily about creating a realistic image of yourself, but it is open for self-exploration.
In the development of a successful self-portrait, we can start off with developing a mind map to brainstorm and fill up the elements that could be used or enhanced in the self-portrait composition.
Figure 2.2: Simple demonstration of using a mind map to generate ideas for self-portrait
Figure 2.3: Example of a self-portrait by Ana Kahana (digital art)
Figure 2.4: Example of self-portrait - 'Ai-Da' (robotic/technonogical representation)
Figure 2.5: Example of self-portrait by Yayoi Kusama (digital art)
Figure 2.5: Example of self-portrait by Slew (multiple expressions of the same character)
Figure 2.6: Example of self-portrait (doodle art) (provided in lecture notes)
Figure 2.7: Example of self-portrait (provided in lecture notes)
Figure 2.8: Example of self-portrait (provided in lecture notes)
Figure 2.9: Example of self-portrait by Chuck Close (combination of smaller art pieces)
About Chuck Close:
He revolutionised the portrait painting industry in the photography aspect in 1960s. His art uses gridded photograpic skills, and uses pixelated theme to create a large scale monochrome or coloured paintings ranging from photorealist to midly psychedelic style.
Figure 2.10: Example of self-portrait - 'Suho' (oil paint)
Figure 2.11: Example of self-portrait (provided in lecture notes)
Project 1
- Task(s)
In this task (Project 1), we are assigned to create a self-portrait and we are free to use any kind of approach with our own creativity. The portrait of ourselves should reflect on various principles that we have learnt in the previous lectures. We should also tackle a few other aspects such as expressing ourselves in various aspects such as personalities, favourite items, hobbies, and characteristics in the self-portrait itself. Throughout and after completing this project, we should be able to learn how to apply design principles learned in the previous lectures and creating awareness of how materials and composition are critical to our communication.
- Visual Research
When undergoing the visual research for this project (self-portrait), I found out that there are so many different self-portrait types in which each of them has its own style and creativity. I went through all of them to slowly visualise, and choose which style of self-portrait that I will further develop for this project. All the visual research and their specific descriptions were documented down below.
Figure 3.1: Project 1 research ideas (Creative Photography)
Figure 3.2: Project 1 research ideas (Double Exposure)
Figure 3.3: Project 1 research ideas (Doodle Art)
Figure 3.4: Project 1 research ideas (Collage)
Figure 3.5: Project 1 research ideas (Creative Collage)
- Idea Exploration
After undergoing the visual research, I like the idea of using the doodle art style and I can merge it with some creative photography ideas to combine 2 different design styles in one composition. I would normally prefer to do physical drawing if I were to create a design in this particular style. However, I think that it would be better if I did a physical sketch and then lay it out in digital form to be traced. This way, I get to create a different kind of style in which I think would look great and I am looking forward to making progress with this idea. With the doodle art self-portrait examples as shown below, I think that I would mix around with different colours for the doodle so that it would bring out positive vibes instead of being dull or sad to be viewed. I had this idea of using colourful doodles also because I want to create a contrast between the portrait and the elements because the photograph of the portrait will be in black & white form (as for the current plan).
Figure 4.1: Self-portrait inspiration #1
Source: https://ifunny.co/picture/a-self-portrait-doodle-comic-comics-cool-art-cartoon-ink-zmi8Spvx8
Figure 4.2: Self-portrait inspiration #2
Figure 4.3: Self-portrait inspiration #3
Figure 4.4: Self-portrait inspiration #4
Figure 4.5: Self-portrait inspiration #5
Figure 4.6: Self-portrait inspiration #6
Figure 4.7: Ideation/inspiration of using coloured doodle art for Project 1
- First Draft
Kicking off the progress for project 1, I started off by brainstorming different aspects to represent myself in the form of a mind map and shown in Figure 5.1 below. These points can allow me to relate to the type of doodling art that I would make.
Figure 5.1: My mind map for self-portrait (as of 3rd October 2021)
Then, a simple sketch was done as a draft to see how the composition would turn out. Even with the sketch itself before converting it to digital form, I am very happy with the overall composition because it has a good flow, visual hierarchy, and good use of negative spaces. Although the progress at this point is a very rough one, I believe that with good execution, the final outcome would turn out very nice.
Figure 5.2: My current idea layout (as of 3rd October 2021)
When taking the picture of myself (portrait), I thought of taking pictures in the dark because I want a full black background or black and white version of my portrait. Figure 5.3 below shows the outcome of my past project and I can use the same idea for this portrait shoot. In this photoshoot, I will utilise my dining table as a reflective platform whist all the lights are turned off for the darkened background effect.
Figure 5.3: Photography idea type (past photoshoot)
Figure 5.4: Finished sketch - First draft (as of 6th October 2021)
With the progress as shown in Figure 5.2 above, I had the green light to continue with this composition going into the class session in week 7. Then, I proceeded to finish up the physical sketch for the doodle art. The doodle art type that I did as shown in Figure 5.4 is my go-to design and I personally think that it enhances the meaning of my design title explained in the idea exploration section above. With that, I will name this design/artwork 'Exit Reality, Enter Your Imagination World'.
Other than that, I can easily relate a lot of aspects/features in this design composition with many design principles learnt in the previous weeks. With the colourful doodles done over the dark background, it really brings out the contrast between the artwork and the background. Not to forget, this colourful doodle art will also create a contrast between me (the subject). Furthermore, it can be seen that there are movement and harmony aspects because of the fluid-like flow of the doodle art towards and away from me (subject) that is soothing to be viewed because of the good use of positive and negative spaces, together with the sizing of each element which then obey good unity and also balance in the composition. With that, it also obeys the principle of continuation under the Gestalt theory. These are the design principles that I could extract for the full sketch composition and further design principles explanations will be documented in the design description under the final design.
- Feedback from lecturer (Week 7's class session)
In the consultation session in week 7, Miss Jinchi reviewed my blog and gave quite a lot of feedback for my progress in that week. Unfortunately, the task is due in week 8 which is a self-learning week/mid-semester break. Therefore, there will be limited time and also limited consultation sessions which means that I need to consult our lecturer personally through private messages.
In the feedback session, Miss Jinchi mentioned that I should give credits to the examples that I found from online sources because those artworks are created by other artists. Other than that, I should give some description of what I learnt from those inspirations and artists. Regarding my progress, miss Jinchi gave me the green light to move on with my idea, and a few suggestions were given along the way. She mentioned that I can try out different sitting postures/positions to be used in the composition because it could bring in more meaning even when visually shown with a better sitting/standing position. This comment gave me the motivation to take a lot of pictures to try out different portrait styles. Lastly, she also agreed to allow me to use the landscape orientation for my design as the overall composition of my idea fits that orientation better than in portrait orientation.
- Second Draft (Progress)
For the doodle art, I went with a digitised format because it would be of a higher quality and is easier to be modified and coloured. For the digital software, I used Adobe Illustrator to draw the outlines of the doodles and I can then colour it. Then, all the digitised artwork will be exported as png files to be used in the Adobe Photoshop software to allow the layering and erasing of elements to fit the final composition.
Figure 6.1: Progress #1 for self-portrait design (as of 6th October 2021)
Figure 6.2: Progress #2 for self-portrait design (as of 6th October 2021)
In the next stage, I needed to conduct the photoshoot alongside digitising it so that I am constantly on track with the design composition. As explained in the idea exploration and first draft sections above, I will switch off all the lights at night in my living room and use my dining table as a base or focus for the portrait shoot. Figure 6.3 below shows how I set up the equipment and behind the scenes of the photo shoot and then a few outcomes were selected as shown in Figures 6.4 & 6.5.
Figure 6.3: Behind the scenes of portrait photoshoot (as of 7th October 2021)
Figure 6.4: Selected outcomes from portrait photoshoot (as of 7th October 2021)
Figure 6.5: Selected outcomes from portrait photoshoot (as of 7th October 2021)
Figure 6.6: Progress #3 for self-portrait design - tracing sketch (as of 8th October 2021)
Figure 6.7: Progress #4 for self-portrait design - preparing to convert to Adobe Photoshop
(as of 8th October 2021)
Figure 6.8: Progress #5 for self-portrait design - using Adobe Photoshop
(as of 8th October 2021)
Figure 6.9: Second draft layouts #1, #2, #3
(as of 8th October 2021)
Figure 6.10: Second draft layout #4
(as of 8th October 2021)
- Feedback from lecturer (Week 8)
I have consulted Miss Jinchi through private message to get her feedback regarding my second draft on week 8 so that I could decide and finalise one of the compositions as shown in the second draft layouts. From the feedback obtained, Miss Jinchi suggested me to use the landscape orientation layout #4 but to use the portrait of me in #1. This is because this way would fit my theme and title better whilst maintaining a good visual hierarchy and design principles. Other than this comment, she mentioned that this composition is good to go and I am approaching closer to the submission deadline. So, the only changes/addition to this second draft is that I change the portrait of me in layout #4 and I can proceed with colouring the doodle art to further enhance the meaning of my design.
- Final Draft and Submission
Figure 7.1: Progress #1 of colouring the doodle art (as of 10th October 2021)
Figure 7.2: Progress #2 of colouring the doodle art (as of 10th October 2021)
Figure 7.3: Comparison between B&W and coloured version of self-portrait (as of 10th October 2021)
Figure 7.4: Final draft of Self-portrait design (as of 10th October 2021)
With the final draft of the Self-Portrait design as shown in Figure 7.4, Miss Jinchi gave a positive feedback and it is ready to be submitted. With that, I made a few final touch ups and small changes and the final submission in jpg and pdf formats are attached down below.
Figure 7.5: Final submission for Self-Portrait Design in JPG (Project 1)
Figure 7.6: Final submission for Self-Portrait Design in PDF (Project 1)
In this final self-portrait design, there are a lot of meanings and stories behind the elements used in the composition. This design is entitled 'Exit Reality, Enter You Imagination World'. To explain the elements in this composition, it can be divided into 3 main parts, mainly the portrait (subject), doodle elements, and background. In the portrait, I took a picture of me sitting on this marble surface, and all the unnecessary parts were cut out to make the subject feel like it is floating, or in an imaginary space. This is because I want to express the thoughts and all the imagination going through my mind in this 'magical' space. The reason why the background is fully darkened in black colour is to create a very nice depth effect and also to create a contrast between the background and the foreground subjects (portrait and doodles). As for the doodle art, I went with a fluid-like design that flows smoothly throughout the design and also to give the effect of harmonious flow and movement going into or out of the portrait/subject. With that, it creates a very unconventional flow of visual hierarchy because I showed this design to a few of my friends to obtain a variety of opinions. Some say they view the portrait first because it is relatively big and is placed in the middle and then followed by the doodle designs because they seemed to be flowing from the portrait in an irregular radial effect. Some of them view the doodle designs first because of their vibrant and striking colours that pop out more than the portrait and then followed by the portrait because the doodles create a soothing flow to direct attention onto the portrait. Of course, the colourful doodles were done because they create a very nice harmonious effect, and enhance the meaning behind it. Those are the personalities I would like to tell/deliver to my viewers as shown in the mind map above. The colourful doodles bring out the extroverted, positive, hyperactive, overachieving side of me in a good way.
- Reflection
As a reflection and experience that I learnt from this task are that design creativity is endless and brings in a lot of meaning no matter how it is composed. With this project/task, I get to understand the importance of brainstorming ideas and self-representation such as in the form of a mind map so that we are more bound to creating an artwork that best represents ourselves through many different media or forms of self-portrait. Although the doodle art style of self-portrait is one of the more challenging type, I definitely learnt a lot about managing and using the trial and error method to play around with positioning elements, resizing, selection of colours, and most importantly, learning to be more creative and versatile in the process of developing a design. Lastly, I learnt a lot and felt very touched because of how meaningful this self-portrait design is and how it expresses many stories, characteristics, and messages all in one design composition.
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