Fala NM2208 Weblog

2007-03-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

Assignment Five: Love Greeting Card

Exercise:
- Design a greeting card on given theme.
- Size of the artwork: A4 or less

Procedure:
1. Pick your favorite quote related to the theme (love, romance, tenderness, etc)
2. Design a inspirational poster (sponsored by cupid greeting card Pte ltd)
3. Poster should convey the theme primarily through colours with minimal use of photographs and other visual elements.
4. Take Colour print out.
5. Present them when we meet next week.

Objectives:
- Developing necessary skill in using colour palette
- Developing necessary techniques in communicating the message through colours
- Understanding process of colour scheme selection and usage

Alright. Here are my sketches. (will scan in soon!)

I divided the themes into Hearts, Scenery and Others.
And i found some love quotes.
1. I look upon every word in the dictionary but nothing comes close to how much you mean to me. - For this quote i thought of showing a Love Dictionary with this quote somewhere on it. But then im not maximizing the use of colours which is what this assignment is all about.
2. I love the way you are a part of my life everyday. I found this quote online. I just picked one. I think this quote can be applied to alot of different designs.
3. I love you. Simple and sweet and gets the message across easily. Since the focus of the assignment is on colours, i will portray the skills of using colour palette more to get the message across.

Theme Hearts.
I start on hearts because it is a clear and easy way of showing love. Like i said, i want to show colour skills so by having simple object to represent love it minus away the distraction.

Theme Scenery.
Simple scenery designs.

Others.

My chosen design is 9 patterned hearts of the same shape. In my view, everyone has the same shape of heart but our personality makes our heart different from anyone else. Thus, the pattern on each heart represent our personality.

Here it is: taa-dah!

I like this design alot. With the colours, it look really sweet and pleasing to the eyes, doesnt it? Im thinking whether i should just put three hearts instead. I chose 9 hearts because of indirect use of Fibonacci numbers,if i can say that. 3 x 3 = 9. Or should i just have 3 hearts? Hmmph...

Do comment.

Take care.

2007-03-07T23:01:00.000-08:00

Assigment Four: Save this/that Poster design

Exercise:
- Design a poster on given theme.
- Size of the artwork: A3

Procedure:
1. Pick a topic related to the theme (e.g.. save trees, stop coral destruction, stop pollution, save singlish, etc.)
2. Write a copy (text which goes on poster) of not more than 150 words
3. Design the poster such that it coveys the meaning through layout (placement of visual elements and their interaction- photos, text, graphics elements etc)
4. Take Colour print out.
5. Present them when we meet next week.

Objectives:
- Understanding the importance of basic visual elements and design principles
- Developing necessary techniques to communicate the message through form
- Using principles of design to control the message of the poster

Here are my sketches (will scan in soon!)

Save our Trees
I did alot of brainstorming on this one. Supposed to be my final design but it just doesnt look good on the computer compared to the sketches i made.

Save the Elephant

Save the Tiger

Save Money

My chosen theme is Save Money. Since living expenses are getting higher, we really should start of saving cash especially me, I should stop spree-ing and start saving money. Haha! (Hmm not sure whether im allowed to say all these and "Haha" in an academic blog. haha!)

So here it is. taa-dah!

Mainly the problem with it through the critique session that the colours remind them of bubble gum! Hmmm... isnt that a good thing? Pink = Bubble gum = Yummy. I guess what makes it look like a bubble gum is the pink outline of the pig. I think i should give it a drop shadow to make it look solid. Anyways, i thought of making the pig green so it somewhat related to money. Green notes. So any yes for a green pig? I also did pink pig with green coloured block instead of pink. The colours look erm awful together. I need the help of colour wheel! Anyways, i want to keep my poster simple and to have a clear message taking into consideration of visual balance and eye movement.

Do comment.

Take care.

P.S: My folder is corrupted. All my working files are gone except for the Final PDF which i have in my thumbdrive. Gosh... Reminder to all: Always do backup for your work. Copy and paste the folder everywhere in your computer!

2007-03-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

Assignment Three: U C what I C

Visual narrative – Telling a story with not more than 10 pictures.
This exercise is for understanding techniques of visual Representation.

Exercise:
Buy, Beg, borrow a camera. Even 8$ disposable camera would do
Load it with a colour negative film/Memory Flashcard
Write/Select a short story and
try to communicate the story using only visuals (not more than 10 pictures)
Get it processed and printed (size 6x4 inches)
Mount them neatly on A5 size paper

Objectives:
Understanding and overcoming constrains/ problems of representation
Using various representation techniques to communicate your ideas effectively

Alright, i brainstorm a few stories but not many of it are interesting especially when you need THE twist in the end. It all comes down to two scenarios.

First, is about a boy who wakes up late for school. Captured his journey to school, how he rushes to get in time and the bad luck that falls on him along the way. And when he finally get to class, it was cancelled! actually i was thinking whether to make it cancelled or to make it as a public holiday! Haha! So all his hardwork to reach school in time was useless. Perhaps can add in he was late for a test. Because if any student is late for school then can simply take MC and not put in the effort to reach school on time.

Anyways, this idea seems like the typical story anyone can come out with. So im thinking of another idea taking in consideration of the actors, place and time of taking the pictures for the story.

Second story is chosen one. I hope you will get the story.

I had fun doing this assignment. But it was tough when you need to think of the background of your picture to make it look pleasing. There are so many factors to think about when taking the pictures. The background, the colours, the lighting etc. I tried using Rule of Thirds: Golden Mean but it is not as easy as it looks. Who would ever know that taking 10 pictures to create a story needs lots of time and effort! I guess once you enrolled in Visual Comm NM2208 you will know all! Haha! Another major tough point is my actors! Tsk... Well cookie monster and elmo coorporate well enough but not my cat. She is so difficult to work with. I had to trick and lure her with her biscuits to make her work with me. Also, i have to keep reminding myself not to change the layout of the picture so i just stick to potrait layout to create the invisibility of it. I hope the flow of the story is just right.

So do leave a comment.

Take care.

2007-03-05T21:56:00.000-08:00

Assignment Two: Making images talk

This exercise is for developing skills in controlling visual message

Exercise:
Select an object or activity or location (telephone, running, bus stop, car, cooking etc). Try not to select an existing subject (eg. Toilet or well known sports symbols)
Create a representative image of the object (you may choose either iconic or indexic representation)
Distill the image through process of abstraction. (atleast 5 levels of abstraction from realistic to abstract) Indicate at what point in the abstraction process the object looses its specific identity and communicates generic meaning. Select that image and develop it into a symbol.
Print level of abstraction on A3 size paper and final symbol on A4 paper

Details:
The process of abstraction is one of distillation, the reduction of multiple visual factors to only the essential and most typical features of what is being represented.
Abstraction toward symbolism requires ultimate simplicity, the reduction of visual detail to the irreducible minimum. A symbol, in order to be effective, must not only be seen and recognized but also remembered and even reproduced.

Objectives:
Understanding and overcoming constrains/ problems of representation
Developing skills in controlling visual message

For my sketches, i had drawn... (images will be scanned soon!)

Fan.

Handphone.

Flower.

For my finalized design, i chose a flower! The fan icon looks like radioactive icon found in science lab! and for the handphone, i guess there will be a couple of people doing handphone so i had to ditch the idea. Since the given example in the lecture was a cat. I kept on brainstorming on icons for animals. So i tried to move away from doing animals icon. So since valentines day was coming while im doing this assignment, so lets do on flowers instead. =)

So i need to reduce a complicated form of a flower into something general and simple which people can identify it with. And also with just one look, they will know that it is a flower. So here is my design! taa-dah!

For this assignment im doing an indexic repesentation instead of iconic representation so i do not need a picture of a flower to start off the abstraction method.

My chosen general icon for the flower is coloured in red. During the critique session, comments were that the flower without its leaf is a better option for an icon. I chose the flower with the leaf still attached because i think what is a flower without its leaf right? The levels of abstraction for the flower i think is quite simple. At first, it was tough to come up with an object that can be abstracted through 6 or 7 levels. Thus, i had to brainstorm alot and finally decided to draw on my sketchbook firstly with the fan. Firstly, i pictured the object's first and last image. Then i filled in the in-betweens. It seems like im forcing in the in-betweens and it does not give the "flow" feeling but it helps me to get started on the sketches. Along the way, i brainstorm and see what fits best for me.

I really like the outcome of the flower icon.

Do comment on my work so i can improve it further for the portfolio.

Take care.

2007-03-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

Assignment One: Me Myself and I

This is an introductory exercise to help you learn basic tools and process of designing and presenting.

Select 2 words which best describes your character.
Come up with 8 design concepts based on this example.
Select 2 concepts which you like most.
Produce and present your selected designs on A5 size papers.

So these are my thumbnail sketches (will scan in soon!)

First Word: Chocolates - My name is Fala and I love chocolates.
Yes, i love chocolates. Alot.

First thumbnail: Shows a block of chocolate bar, i selected cubes from the bar to form my name. Well, my drawing skills failed me! but i get the picture, i hope you did too.

Second thumnail: This is a "MARS" bar. But i changed the "MARS" into "FALA" since "MARS" has four alphabet just like my name and also it is one of my favourite chocolate. This is my favourite thumbnail, to me it looks creative and interesting. Personally, i do not think it will affect the copyright issue because i made changes to the original.

Third thumbnail: Tracing my name using melted chocolate with strawberry at the end. This is my second favourite thumbnail. I personally like the strawberry.

Fourth thumbnail: Pouring out of hot chocolate which flows and form my name. Im beginning to run out of rational and sensible ideas. So this sums up my thumbnail designs.

Second Word: Lizard - My name is Fala and I hate lizards.
Oh dear, lizard. I really hate lizards. But the thing is, i cannot even look at one so how am i going to make a design out of it. Hmph...

First Thumbnail: Shows a group of lizards stucks on a wall forming up my name. Haha! Does not look like i really hate lizards right?

Second Thumbnail: Presenting the longest tongue award! This lizard has really super long tongue! And it forms up my name while trying to catch a poor fly as dinner. I like this thumbnail the most. I think it shows that lizard are nasty! especially with that long ugly tongue and fly as dinner?! Yuck.

Third Thumbnail: Ok, this lizard ate my name! Nothing special about this design. This does not show any effort in the design but it has meaning. When you cannot accept something, you usually says that you cannot stomach it. So this is it.

Fourth Thumbnail: Another longest award... Longest Tail. The lizard drops its long tail which forms up my name! and it is still wiggling. Ew! I think this is disgusting enough for me. The picture in my head is horrible.

After the critique session, hmm... seems like no one likes my designs! Gosh. Commented that it does not look like i like or hate. Alright... Im pretty shocked at first and i defended myself because i think my ideas are okie, only that my drawing is not that great compared to some in the class. But arent we suppose to critique on the ideas? The drawing skill plays a part too cause if you cant draw it well, people wont get the picture. Due to the feedback, i changed everything.

So my finalized design for the word, chocolate, is this: taa-dah!

I decided to do something simple and safe. It is chocolate bar text. Later, i found out that you are not suppose to use this type of design. But then again, i changed and modified the simple font and created a chocolate bar look out of it. So is it still wrong? Need some help here.

I threw away my lizard design and start on a new word. France! - My name is Fala and I love France. Im excited to go there! Amazing place. So i chose items that are related to france to form up my name.

F, just like the first letter of France too. So i had it made up with France's flag colours.
A, the shape of A is like the eiffel tower.
L, is a lady walking her dog. People have the idea of france being laid back with all the talk about french woman being one of the gorgeous woman on earth. Hah!
A, another famous monuments/places to visit in france is the museum. France is closely related to great museum. This is the shape of Louvre Musuem where Mona Lisa painting is.

Do leave feedback. Thanks. I hope you enjoy reading about my assignment one. I had fun doing it especially on france!

Take care.

2007-03-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

welcome

Hi. This blog is for NM2208 Visual Communication Assignments.

I am really lagged behind in my blog post. Apologise.

I hope through all the exercises i have done, i will improve my design skills further and be a better and wiser designer, perhaps.

So let's start!