Category Archives: My Work

DR3005_04_Holiday Reading: Embodiment

Embodiment

The reading is Fukasawa, Naoto, and Jane Fulton Suri. Embodiment. Phaidon Press Limited, 2018.

Reading about embodiment, I do agree that design is not only about shape and form itself. It consist more than that what the eyes see and speaks to the hearts. It also make me realise that an artwork might actually not only consist of one single embodiment… There might be different embodiment throughout the different process, locations, lighting of which it is displayed. It might even changes over time and create an evolving embodiment of the design itself. Actually, maybe the embodiment of a design or artwork might never be constant forever (unless it never being moved and the environment never changes, maybe… But time does change…Well…. ).  A really eye-opening idea.

The topic is a really interesting topic that might not be understood by those who doesn’t really feel it. Not that I understand it the most but I believe it I do understand it more than some people. It happened sometime ago (I can’t remember) when I heard my friend’s comment on travelling artwork saying that the artwork would still be the same wherever it is while in my opinion it will be very different depending on the way the exhibition is held and curated. Well, it is indeed might not be the intention of the artist to have their artwork being displayed in various environment.

I hope more people will put effort to sense more of the embodiment of different things hence able to see things far beyond what the eyes actually see.

DR3005_01_Reflections

Design Noir: The Secret Life of Electronic Objects

The article tells me on the many other point of view of technology. How the common technological devices give more impact than simply serving as what it is. It unintentionally cause behavioural change in daily life that can lead to threatening or dangerous habit and activity. It can unintentionally creates attachment and affection that leads to over-obsession for the users. At the same time, it also literally caused biological danger like radiation. However, many portray such devices  only from it’s good side.

It also leads to the different type of function designs can be planned for and how the intention behind its creation will really affect the design and implementation. Despite the popular design, I am personally more interested in critical design, even though I am not sure about how will it goes.

The Infra-Ordinary

I like this article, it talks about the component of our little things in life, which I now feel ‘why do we even call it little in the first place?’. I feel that it’s not the little thing as it is the life itself. Nowadays, it is more common to hear about the big things that happens in the world, the extraordinary. I won’t go to the extreme of saying that the media is feeding us with lies, but I do feel that many times the thing shared is not what really matters in the readers’ life.

People share the so-called extraordinary to make it sensational and more interesting than what it actually is. But why would one do that? Or more likely, what is so wrong with sharing just the ordinary? Nothing is wrong from that, it just make me question the need of even sharing it in the first place. I have not really follow the news in Singapore but I read some Indonesian media who keep on sharing about others, usually famous people, personal life just for the sake of getting more click. Not more than often accompanied with catchy -sometimes misleading- title. And I just wonder, is that really necessary? Is it so important for a journalist to ‘waste’ their time covering such story and for those who watch or read it, do they not have anything better to do with their time?

Sometimes I feel that the extraordinary achievements share in media make a commoner, like me, to want to achieve big things in life, to go for the ambitions lies within. Starting as coming to Singapore in secondary school, that’s when the concept of meritocracy was firstly introduced to the young me. It made me believe that whatever lies ahead, as long as I have the will there will be a way. Overtime, I keep on looking up to be who I want to be. Yet sometime in the process I neglect the people and happiness around me. It was as if I have become a workaholic, one that does not want to stop to feel ‘busy’ in order to achieve the extraordinary. I feel that I feel restless even during the holiday as I feel the need to tidy up my portfolio, built up my resume and get ready for the next semester – which I didn’t do at the end. But, my mind was not at ease and I take the things in life for granted.

Conclusion

Reading those article, I remember two quotes from my secondary school teachers, back in Indonesia when life was less fast-paced and less-technological advancement. The first one: “Keep on looking up to guide you to what you want to be, but stay aware to where you are walking so that you won’t fall to holes or tripped.” (sorry, it was kind of literally translated). While another one was: “Stop walking, take a step back, look at the big picture and enjoy the scenery.”

These article reminds me that life consist not only the ‘big’ thing but the ordinary as well, of which does not only have one side but obviously a double-edged sword. And it has make me honestly wonder, with the attitude of media and techy lifestyle encouraging a society with high level of achievement, does this fast-pace race running for achievements really necessary for one to live a meaningful life? Will it be really worth it at the end? And yet, when one has been living that way, will there be any way out?

DD3006_13_Presentation of Kopi: The Evolution of Coffeeware

Here is the pdf of our creative project progress presentation so far.
PDF version: Kopi_ The Evolution of Coffeeware

Presentation reflection and take aways:
We are thankful for the positive feedback and working towards the details of our gallery guide. We will improve on the labelling and naming of the photos and articles to make it really like a newspaper. Also, we are changing the items   in other articles to be fully from ACM so that it is more relatable. Finally, in addition to include where the Singapore coffee come from, we will read again all the articles details. Thank you.

DD3006_01_Why you don’t like Art History!

Watching the video again, I couldn’t help but agree with its content.

Firstly,  I also feel that Art History is really not merely a linear timeline of artworks compilation but more of the interaction and influence and lives that are happening around those artworks. And the artworks, more than being prove that they really happened in the past, serve as some kind of message for the future.

It was also true that art tend to be biased and I personally feel that I remember and have tendency to be more interested into topics that I have known before. I agree that we might have been biased sometimes hence remembered incompletely.

In my opinion, a sad truth is that our current society, who statistically more illiterate and educated, might have the habit or tendency to be taking art for granted. The accessibility and convenience in finding art might have make our generation value art less. I am not talking about those who study or like art, it just based on my personal experience, I found that when I  share to others about Art History related (project-related or just interesting facts about some artwork), many of my friends will say that they have heard about it or something similar to that instead of being curious and wanting to know more.

A significant reason I could think of might be the internet that has enable everyone to know more about literally almost everything. Not saying that it is bad, I was just feeling that the access to art which was once a privilege for those of higher social status (esp in more indigenous group), or who were wealthy and more educated (esp in more modern context) has become something that is available for everyone and that might make it being taken for granted.

I don’t know, sometimes I wonder how will the civilisation in the year of, let’s say, 2500 AC see our generation. Will the only artworks left belong to those the very famous ones and those being documented and preserved properly while actually everything around us now are the works of art? How will our generation that has been saving their own records of art (i,e. life) through internet record be seen from the future? Will there be some kind of natural selection of art? Or will there be too much information that leads to some kind of ‘reset’ of art of the mankind? Or maybe… This kind of thoughts have been thought by those in the past as well… Maybe history really repeats……….

I don’t know… Well, I guess I don’t like art history because learning it somehow forces me to explore the ‘unknown’ and to face the things that is actually important-but-covered-by-daily-mundane-things-like-money,  and the messages within the artworks….. maybe sometimes it is better to not about know it. Sometimes.. (but keep learning about anything anywhere is a good thing, supposedly).

Video link: https://www.pbs.org/video/why-you-dont-like-art-history-y5lfur/

Thoughts on Product Design

Hi! Here are some thoughts on product design 🙂

  1. What is product design?
    For me, I think it is generating ideas to improve and benefit people’s lives by maximising the characteristics of tangible objects so that it will be able to fulfil its purpose effectively in aesthetic and ergonomics way.
  2. What kind of designer do you see yourself?
    I can’t really imagine how but I will be happy to be an online or technology-related designer.
  3. Why do you want to be that designer?
    I didn’t have any specific moment or incident to begin with the thought. but I want to explore more on technology and learn more on how the design of online product (e.g. display) is able to affect, influence and impact lives of the users. At the moment, having to work with online product interests me more than manufacturing a more tangible product. 
  4. What do you think product designers do?
    Mmm… I think product designers start by observing the world to find problems or opportunity to improve on a product. Then, they will do research and learn more on that product. After that, they will brainstorm and generate possibles ideas to solve the problem, choose how they want to do it and finally execute it. As follow up, there should be review, feedback and continuous improvement. Well, to summarise, product designers make the world a better place to live in.

I’m posting this for DR2004 Product Design II. But while typing it, it really made me thinking.. I wonder how will I be years from now, and whether anything I wrote above will still be relevant…

2D_002_Final: Zine

The Singapore Sports Hub LINKWAY BRIDGE at Kallang is a zine about the bridge introducing itself to the readers. Attempting to make itself more known than it currently is.


2D Project 2
2D_002_Zine_Research: Chosen Topics
2D_002_Zine_Research: The Kallang Journey
2D_002_Research: Zine References
2D_002_Research: The Linkway Bridge
2D_002_Process: Zine
2D_002_Final: Zine

2D_002_Process: Zine

Hi!

After doing my research for the zine, here is the process of the zine!

At first, I tried 2 color palette for the zine. The orange one is because I want to make the bridge feels cheerful and welcoming for the reader. While the pink and mint color is inspired by the Mindset zine, it gives me the sweet and calm feeling. However, the orange combination is not so nice and I decided to progress with the other one.

In general I use circles and geometrical shapes. I also use one color for each shape and restrict the color palette into 4 colors (other than black and white).

For the writing and content, I decided to play around the concept of the Linkway Bridge introducing itself to the readers. As such, the fist-person point of view (of the bridge) is used.

BACK AND FRONT COVER PAGE
For this cover page, I collage some photos of the patterns that has been edited and image traced. I arranged them into 4 groups of 4 in which 3 are arranged vertically and one horizontally.

The ones arranged vertically feels like a fence and preventing the eyes from looking too long at it, unconsciously directing it towards the ‘freer’ part which has the title. Also added is one big and one smaller circle in diagonal line to further guide the eye to the zine title. The most dominant color is the dark pink which is put around the title area to further focus the eye around.

Hierarchy: circle with title (1st), images of pattern (2nd), big circle (3rd)

First draft Feedback:
– Need to add the location of the bridge, my name and social media username.
Second draft Improvements:
– Added the missing information
– Reduce the transparency of the title circle
Feedback:
– Font size not consistent for the names
Final Improvements:
-Changed the typeface and size for some texts
-Readjust the all the font position


PAGE 2 AND 3
For the first two content pages, I want to start by  telling the basic introduction of ‘who’ (read: what) the bridge is on page 2. Then on page 3, I am putting brief introduction about how to get to the bridge from Kallang MRT.

As for the visual to support this, I put the walking map from Kallang MRT to the bridge. This serves as the start of how one’s meet the bridge: KNOW HOW TO GET THERE!

Attempted to lead the reader’s eye in this order:
–  title ‘Who Am I?’ (1st text hierarchy)
– the sub-title (2nd text  hierarchy)
– going down from the Kallang MRT diagonally up to the Singapore Sports Hub
– the body text on the right down side (3rd text hierarchy)

First draft Feedbacks:
– The typeface for sub-title is not suitable as it looks too futuristic which does not suit the concept of my zine and the other typeface.
– The illustration style as the visual is having different style from other pages which use photos.
– Should add dark green shape behind title to make it consistent like other pages as well as adding more green to the spread
Second draft Improvements:
– Changed the typeface for both the sub-title and body text
– Also changed the visuals by finding satellites photo taken by Google Map and edit it out
– Add the overprint effect on the visual to match it with the rest of the zine
– Changed the title color into white to make it more stand out
– Added the dark green shape behind title
Feedback:
– The logo is not clearly seen due to the dark green color
– Need to rephrase sub-title
-The leading of the body text paragraph is too wide and should try to change the alignment to left
– The drop cap is not suitable as the leading of the paragraph is too wide
Third draft Improvements:
– Changed the color of the sub-title into white to make it more visible than the body text
– Readjust the shape of the dark green shape behind title to fit the new 2 lines layout
– Balance the length of the sub-title in two lines to not making it to long
– Made the logo more visible
– Right align the body text and adjust it to be inverted triangle shape
Final Improvements:
– Edit and finalize the content of the body text
It took the slow me more than an hour to edit the Google map photo to make it be traced properly by AI :’)

PAGE 4 AND 5
For the next content part, I want the bridge to question the reader about their familiarity and knowledge on the bridge. It consist the two questions and the correct answers follows by facts about the answers.

As for the visuals, I put the bridge seen from outside to show the next step of knowing someone: KNOW HOW IT LOOKS!

Attempted order of element read by the readers:
– title ‘How Well Do You Know Me?’ (1st text hierarchy)
– sub-title (2nd text hierarchy)
– the circle of questions on the left side
– follow the horizontal leading ‘line’ created by the bridge image from left to right
– the ‘ARE YOU SURE?’ in circle path
– finally the big circle of answers and facts (3rd text hierarchy)

First draft Feedback:
– The typeface for sub-title is not suitable
– The answers should be different for both questions
– The ‘ARE YOU SURE?’ is okay as it visually looks like part of the bridge
Second draft Improvements:
– Changed the typeface for both the sub-title and body text
– Changed the title color into white to make it more stand out
Feedback:
– Readers are drawn to the bigger circle on the right first before reading the question due to its big size
– The sub-title looks different from previous pages (look inconsistent)
– Leading is too wide for the answers and facts
Third draft Improvements:
– Changed the color of the three circles, making the big circle least dominant color of mint green and strengthen the circles color on the left side to the more dominant dark pink
– Adjust the sub-title font size
– Reduce the leading of the body texts
– Shifting the ‘ARE YOU SURE?’ more to the lft to shift the weight of the colour more to the left side in attempt to shift the reading order
– Changed the correct answers for question 2
Final Improvements:
– Changed the color of the sub-title to white to make it consistent throughout the zine
– Edit the content (questions and answers) and finalize it to be the correct ones based on primary and secondary research
Took the bridge out and edited the color in Photoshop for a clearer monochrome image trace

PAGE 6 AND 7
Finally, I want to end the zine with the bridge telling the reader its story and letting them to know more facts about it through his narrative.

As for the visuals, I put the details of staircases of the bridge. This is to serve as the next step of knowing one: KNOW HOW THE INSIDE! I chose staircase to represents the beginning of knowing the bridge as people will need to start go up the staircase (or lift) before start to exploring it.

Attempted to lead the reader’s eye in this order:
– tile ‘Hear My Story?’ which finalized to be ‘This Is My Story’ (1st text hierarchy)
– the big circle contains images of the bridge
– leading diagonally up to the smaller circle of ‘Lumitron’
– vertically up to the sub-title of the quote taken from the body text (wnd text hierarchy)
– Finally the narrative body text by the bridge (3rd text hierarchy)

First draft Feedback:
– The image should be bigger to occupy more space of the spread (two-third hopefully)
– The typeface for sub-title (quote) is not suitable
– The body text content is still filler text
Second draft Improvements:
– The image size is increased. Attempted to maintain one circle but the shape become not nice and tried to made it ellipse but it looks inconsistent compared to other pages of the zine. Hence, added a new smaller circle with the name of the designer company
– Changed the color of the title and sub-title to make it more stand out
– Changed the body text content into draft narrative from the bridge’s point of view
Feedback:
– Change the title from a question into a statement
– The sub-title font size should be increase to make it more obvious 2nd hierarchy instead of same size as the body text (3rd hierarchy)
– Change from two column into one column as the left column is too narrow
– Reduce the leading of the body text paragraph, to much empty spaces in between body text
– Remove drop cap if the leading remain too wide
-Try to avoid ‘widow’ (in the 2nd paragraph) by having at least two words on the last sentence of each paragraph
Third draft Improvements:
– Changed the title into a statement
– Increased the sub-title font size
– Changed the body text into one column
– Reduced the leading of the body text and keep the drop cap
– Made sure there is no more ‘widow’
Feedback:
– The narrative actually got cut off and the last paragraph is not included
Final Improvements:
-Finalize the content of the narration, rephrased and cut unnecessary information to make sure all apt info just fit nicely

 


DIFFICULTIES, TAKEAWAYS, ETC.

For this project, my greatest difficulty is to decide which style to use. Whether I wuld go photographic or more illustrative. I really love all the photos of the patterns (mostly monochrome I took) but I also love the baby pink-mint green color combination. But I cannot combine them nicely and end up having to choose either one. And finally I decided to go with the lovely color and ‘gave up’ the photos to image trace (ended up editing all of them for a clearer image trace).

Another difficulty is for me to keep everything simple and white. Being me, I have the tendency to add more and I am used to feel not satisfied until every single (especially white) space is filled! But this zine is very simple and I was so tempted to add more but I kept on telling myself ‘less is more’, ‘less is enough’, ‘give more breathing space’, ‘white is fine’, etc! So ya, I had to maintain, which I did by the end :’). So I guess maybe it is a takeaway for me, to learn to keep things simple 😀

I also learnt more on hierarchy and how to lead the viewer’s eyes more! They are unusually interesting and I really glad I know them more now 😀

In term of technicality, this project added me new knowledge of InDesign! YEAY!
I also learnt more in using AI, Photoshop, and Premier Pro (well, editing the documentation video was fun)! Oh, and I also enjoy photo-hunting more now 😀

So to conclude, although there are more things that can be improved, I am personally happy of all the progress and proud of the zine that I have! And I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Shirley for supporting and giving constructive feedback and opinion! Thank you!

 


2D Project 2
2D_002_Zine_Research: Chosen Topics
2D_002_Zine_Research: The Kallang Journey
2D_002_Research: Zine References
2D_002_Research: The Linkway Bridge
2D_002_Process: Zine
2D_002_Final: Zine

2D_002_Research: The Linkway Bridge

Hi!

So for the zine research, I went to the do a primary research on Kallang area, which I posted here. Initially I planned to have the zine on the Singapore Sports Hub but on the way I found the Linkway Bridge which finally become my main topic for the zine. Its geometrical pattern and environment enchanted me.

Then, I decided to do more secondary research on this Linkway Bridge.

The bridge is located for about 800 meters from Kallang MRT. It connects the Singapore Sports Hub from the Nicoll Highway. It was built together with the Singapore Sports Hub, the costruction was completed in June 2014 and were officially opened on July 26, 2015. It was a project done by The Lumitron, where they designed and planned the lighting.


I intended to put some survey questions and decided to went back for more detail primary information and then ask the survey around in the Singapore Sports Hub area.

For the first question, I decided to ask the number of entrance/exit to the bridge.
The results are 10, with the description:
– 1 main entrance from Nicoll Highway (consist 4 sets of staircase)
– 1 main exit which is the connection to the Singapore Sports Hub
– 4 staircases on one side of the bridge (2 exits to Stadium Drive & 2 exits to Nicoll Highway)
– 4 lifts on the other side of the bridge (2 exits to Stadium Drive & 2 exits to Nicoll Highway)

Secondly, I decided to ask the length of the bridge.
To check on this, I first use Google Maps and put two points at the two end of the bridge, roughly it measures between 140-160 meters.
Then, on my second visit I measure the time I took to walk normally from one end to the other end. It took me 2 minutes and 14 seconds.


Here is a 3 minutes video summarizing the walk from Kallang MRT to the Linkway Bridge!

And here is a 4 minutes video of the Linkway Bridge!

They were my first two ‘documentation’ videos. I really hope you enjoy it!
Thank you!


2D Project 2
2D_002_Zine_Research: Chosen Topics
2D_002_Zine_Research: The Kallang Journey
2D_002_Research: Zine References
2D_002_Research: The Linkway Bridge
2D_002_Process: Zine
2D_002_Final: Zine

2D_002_Research: Zine References

Hi!

So, for the Zine final project, we were asked to find 5 zines as references. I get them by browsing through many websites and the five I like are taken from Behance, the source link is linked to the title of each zine.

  1. Zine Risografia E Serigrafia
    From this zine, I like the idea of two analogous colors being combined together. Not necessarily having same proportion in every page and not necessarily one being more dominant either.
  2. An Experiment in Risograph
    From this zine, the idea of risograph attracts me, maybe it is the analogous color combination also. But from here, I learnt and researched more on the effect of overprint. And I hope I could implement this effect in my zine.

  3. The Art of the DJ Zine
    This zine inspired me to convert real photo into the illustration kind. I planned to do this by editing the photo in Photoshop then using the ‘image trace’ function in Adobe Illustrator.
  4. Mindset 
    The complementary colors of this zine really catch my eyes and I love how it gives me the feeling of strength yet sweet..? I sampled my zine theme color from this zine.
  5. Crime Zine
    For the proportion of my mainly 2 complementary colors, I decided to follow this zine. It looks balanced yet actually each spread has one more dominating color.

 

So I decided to implements those interesting elements for my zine.

  • Style and effect of pages uses a kind of risograph and overprint from Zine Risografia E Serigrafia and An Experiment in Risograph
  • Style of the photos uses image trace effect like The Art of the DJ Zine
  • Colors sampled from the Mindset
  • Proportion of colors inspired by the looks balance composition of Crime Zine

 


 

2D Project 2
2D_002_Zine_Research: Chosen Topics
2D_002_Zine_Research: The Kallang Journey
2D_002_Research: Zine References
2D_002_Research: The Linkway Bridge
2D_002_Process: Zine
2D_002_Final: Zine