Graphic Form – G5

There are 11 posts filed in Graphic Form – G5 (this is page 1 of 2).

Zine for Kampong Glam – Final

This design of the zine is to feature the two different sides of Kampong Glam – the day scene and the night scene. The zine is titled “Day to Night to Day @ Kampong Glam” to explain how the events in the area happen in a cycle — one after the other — despite the entirely different scenes of day and night.

The idea is the showcase the different prominent elements that one would notice when he/she goes to Kampong Glam in the day and in the night. From my research, I found that both the day and night are entirely different scenes, and I would like to show these 2 differences and how both of them are connected and complements each other in the zine.

The Zine

Cover

The reader will be first introduced to the day scene, which is the front cover. What better way to introduce Kampong Glam then with a prominent feature of the place — the shophouses. So I represented that using the different styles of shophouse windows.

First Spread

For the day scene, it would show the happenings that would you see during the day. Groups or tourists and tour groups would roam the streets, which can be seen on the left side of the spread. The other feature that can be seen during the day would be the retail shops selling fabric, textiles and carpets, which can be seen on the right side of the spread.

The two rectangular patterns on the top of the spread are to represent the long corridors along the shophouses and the patterns on it are similar to those that can be found on the Sultan Mosque, which is the most prominent building in Kampong Glam.

Most tourists can be found coming to Kampong Glam during the day

The many rolls of fabrics and textiles, a common sight at the shops at Kampong Glam

The patterns on the Sultan Mosque which is used in the zine

Middle Spread

The middle spread would be the most important spread as it shows the transition from the day scene to the night scene. I tried to make both the design styles from both scenes to blend as seamlessly as possible together.

The two rows of shophouses, at the top and bottom, are to show the other prominent thing about Kampong Glam that can be seen in both the day and the night, which is the shophouses. In a way, it shows how the shophouses come in rows alongside each other at Kampong Glam.

Other than the colours, the elements in the picture also form a transition. It starts off with the palm trees, which is one of the elements at Kampong Glam that has become part of the place’s identity (normally complements the Sultan Mosque), which will transform to what looks like the shape of a lamppost, another element that would appear in both day (even though it is not used) and night, and transforms again into cutleries, showing that the food scene is more active at night and is one of the more major activities that happen at that time.

There is also a sense of symmetry in this spread to help support the idea of transition and balance.

The palm trees which almost always complements the Sultan Mosque

One of many shophouses that fill Kampong Glam in rows

The food scene is more active at night.

Last spread

The last spread is the night scene. I would try to make this scene different from the day scene. The illustrations are mainly a repetition of the same illustrations, just taking turns overlaying and switching of colours. They are illustrations of the prominent things at night, which is the food and drinking scene and the many exotic lanterns that come in both circular and rectangular shapes with many different patterns on them.

Other than the entirely different colour scheme, the illustrations here overlay each other but off centre by a bit to form like a double image, which is an element I discovered at night where the lights form double shadows, most of the time coloured, creating double coloured shadows.

The circular features in the background and the background itself has a gradient element to it to show the down-up lighting that can be found on some of the buildings at night. So here I make the gradient in a way that is lighter from the bottom to help express this.

The overlaying circles at the top and bottom, however, are the lights that I find lining some of the buildings and arches of some restaurants and shops.

Double coloured shadow formed on the wall at night

Down-up lighting on the buildings at night

The many different styles of exotic lanterns

The drinking culture, and the rows of lights lining the arcs at a bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back cover

So what comes next after the last spread? The reader would normally flip to the back cover, which is also the night scene. The back cover is similar to the front cover only with the elements of the night.

Wait a minute…

Something looks funny on the back cover. It looks like the design for the night scene decreases or lightens up towards the right.

If you open up the back and front cover into a spread you can see that it forms another transition…

There is another transition here, hidden if the reader does not open up the cover and back cover into a spread. The night scene transforms back to the day. This is how it goes back to the title and the idea of the day and night scene is in a cycle, how one comes after the other, even though both are of almost opposite styles.

Styling

Design Style

I chose to do flat illustration as it would allow me to create a clean style that would be easy and simple to understand. It would also allow me to do a clean overlaying of illustrations which is what I did for half of the zine to show the night scene.

There are also line works used in the design as it would help to lighten the spreads, in a way giving the reader a breather while flipping through the pages. It in a way prevents the spreads from looking too cluttered and filled.

Colour Scheme

I used the main colour blue which is consistent throughout the zine. I used blue as it is a cool and chill colour, in a way to represent the pretty chill culture and vibe the Kampong Glam has in both the day and night.

In the day I used its complementary colour — orange. It also helps to make the day scenes look bright like the day and also to represent the warmth during the day.

In the night, however, I used one of the blue’s triadic colours — a hue of purple. The other triadic colour was a hue of yellow which I did not find suitable to be used for a night scene. The hue of purple helped to support the night scene more. It gives a sort of mystery to the illustration too.

My Thoughts

The first challenge would definitely be trying not to make the zine look like a brochure for Singapore Tourism Board. The location I got is Kampong Glam. It IS a tourism spot. So no matter what I do at first, it would definitely look like a tourism brochure for the location. So it took me a while to find a direction that would be away from that. It took me 3 weeks actually and I was still unsure about my idea.

Closing in to the actual supposed production time, I finally got my idea for the zine. With not much time left, I got to the production and sketches as soon as possible. The next challenge for me was laying out of the zine. I found it hard to make the illustrations into a layout since most of the laying out that I am used to involves the use of images and photographs. I had to consider laying out and experimenting with design principles and colour theories. It took me a lot of sketches and ideation to get to the final one that ended up in the zine.

Then the illustrations took a long time to design and illustrate. When alot of my friends actually tested prints and are done with the layouts, I was still attempting and trying to complete my first spread. So I panicked abit but I still tried.

The end product is not my best. I know that. If there was more time I would definitely attempt other layouts. Maybe more detailed illustrations and experimentation. But I was definitely still happy with the comments and remarks that I got from my peers.

Zine for Kampong Glam (Part 6 – Developments)

(Disclaimer: Here are only the developments that went digital. Most of the other developments are in the Journal)

The feature image of this post is the mood board that I have created for the zine.

As we only have a limited number of spreads and pages to work with, I tried my best to compress a lot of the elements into those few pages. Also, I tried to connect and design the pages as a spread rather than individual pages so that I could show my understanding of spreads and in a way making use of the pages more.

First spread

This was actually the second-last spread that I worked on as I was finding it hard to attempt this and I actually left it last.

There were some main elements I plan to feature in the first spread. It being the day scene, I would definitely want to feature:

  • tourists
  • fabrics/textiles
  • shophouses
  • Sultan Mosque

So the following are the layouts I did for the first spread.

I wanted to have a balance between the tourists and the textiles, making them almost equal. So I tried putting them side by side or even on the same page.

As this was the last inner spread that I worked on, I have trouble trying to show shophouses here since I have already featured the shophouses in the middle spread. So, I decided to make it into the corridor arches instead.

For the colours and style, I was very much inspired my Malika Favre’s work. I realise I was following too closely to it that it is starting to look very much like it too. So I had to change things up abit and change the colours too.

Initial sketches

One of the first sketches I did

One of Malika Favre’s work that I was inspired by

One of my attempts on the spread. It started to look very close to Malika Favre’s work, especially the colours.

End result

I was not too satisfied with this spread as it still looked too solid and heavy despite my attempt to make it lighter by changing some of the illustrations into line works.

Middle spread

This was the second spread that I worked on. All this while I would know the importance of the middle spread as it is the transition spread and would balance out both sides of the zine.

Some elements that I would wanna feature in this spread is:

  • palm trees (for the day)
  • lampposts (as it can help to show the transition and looks close to cutleries and palm trees)
  • cutleries (for the night)
  • shophouses

I tried to make it more dynamic for this and this page was particularly important to show the transition from day to night. So I spend alot of time on this to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Initial sketches

An initial sketch for the middle spread

My first digitalised work for the middle spread. I realise that there were still too much space in it and it was not dynamic enough

I tried to make it more dynamic. Almost there…

End result

I settle down with this as I think there is a right balance and dynamic movement in the spread. I think that the transition from day to night is seamless too, like there is no sudden change.

Last spread

This was actually the first spread that I worked on as I really wanted to show the overlaying and the double shadow effect in the zine.

Some of the main elements that I wanted to show in this spread is:

  • exotic lanterns
  • down-up lighting
  • food scene (plates and drinks)
  • lights

Initial sketches

Can’t really see much here as I mostly worked out the shapes of the illustrations digitally

End result

I was satisfied with the layout of this spread as it was very close to what I had invisioned. The space on the left page of the spread was actually for text, but I decided not to put it in because i wouldn’t want it to affect the mood and feel the illustrations had conveyed.

The cover and back cover

This was actually the last page that I attempted as I was mainly focusing on the contents, and would leave this last so that I would know what the content is already like so that the cover page and back cover would be the design layout that holds all the contents together.

So what would be the better way to hold everything together and represent Kampong Glam? By using shophouses windows! (Since the shophouses have already been used by the middle spread)

Initial sketches

I wanted to make the windows of different sizes, but I decided not to as I think it would make the spread look too messy.

End result

I was pretty satisfied with the outcome of this spread as it also has a smooth transition as the middle spread.

Zine for Kampong Glam (Part 5 – Early Concepts)

To show the transition of the day to night in my zine, I would pick out elements that stand out during the day and the night so to narrow down on what to show in the zine before even actually deconstructing it into graphic forms.

Things that stand out during the day:

  • retail shops (fabrics, carpets, perfume shops)
  • eateries – not too many people except during lunchtime
  • more tourists & tour groups
  • graffiti (particularly stands out in the day, vibrant colours, tourist attractions
  • shophouse windows (colours and patterns)
  • palm trees

Things that stand out at night:

  • pubs & bar
  • eateries (more people compared to during the day)
  • signboards (colourful and bright, LED, alternating colours)
  • lamps (exotic patterns, middle-eastern look)
  • multiple coloured shadows on walls (see more here)
  • lights from surrounding buildings
  • ground-up lighting

Things that stand out throughout the day:

  • the Sultan Mosque (a prominent feature in the day, lit up through the night)

Moodboard & Artist Reference

Since we are not encouraged to do photography style, I figured that I could use illustrations for the graphic forms of the zine. As for the type of illustration style, I would think of flat vector-based illustration as it would help bring out the play with colours and would also allow me to do overlays and layerings without it being too messy.

Artist Reference

Malika Favre

One particular artist works that captured my attention as an inspiration for the zine is the works by Malika Favre. I loved how she used flat vector illustration and minimal use of colours and details but could create a variety of graphic shapes and forms.

La Documenta by Malika Favre (http://malikafavre.com/la-documenta)

I loved how even by using 2 colours (not including the white) the artist could form a crowd and many different people with minimal or very minor details.

The Traveller by Malika Favre (http://malikafavre.com/the-traveller)

Part of the 3 illustrations under The Traveller series, I liked how the artist has used a similar pattern for the floor tiles as the patterns I spotted on some of the exotic lamps during my night visit to Kampong Glam. I could attempt to do something similar for my zine maybe.

Part of the Christmas in Bologna series (http://malikafavre.com/christmas-in-bologna)

Part of the Christmas in Bologna series (http://malikafavre.com/christmas-in-bologna)

Part of the Christmas in Bologna series (http://malikafavre.com/christmas-in-bologna)

Part of the Christmas in Bologna series (http://malikafavre.com/christmas-in-bologna)

For this series, Christmas in Bologna, I could easily relate how the artist illustrated the windows, patterns and walkways with the many shophouses, walkways, and windows at Kampong Glam. I could possibly try a similar style for my zine for this.

Adam Koon

Another artist work that I was inspired by is the works by Adam Koon. I particularly liked how he used irregular shapes to make the works look more fun and not rigid. His use of colours even though is also minimal still manage to make some of the elements in the works stand out more, hence, visual hierarchy. He has also added some textures and minimal line works in the works, making it stand out more and have a more overall impact.

Moodboard

Adding on to the artist reference, I have also created a mood board for the zine. As mentioned earlier, I plan to use flat vector illustration + use of vibrant colours throughout, which are the colours that can be seen in the graffiti and the shophouses at Kampong Glam. For the night scene, I plan to use a similar style but with a darker background. The illustrations will also begin to overlap and overlay each other, the effect which I found on the walls which is the overlaying coloured shadows. The colours would be more saturated and bright to contrast with the dark background.

Laying It Out

Before I would actually deconstruct the content into graphic forms, I would lay out the content first.

Front and back cover

Since it will be a day and night zine, the front and back cover would be bright and dark respectively. So the readers would know that the book is about day and night, respectively. As for what is on the cover, I would plan to put what would be easily recognisable as something very Kampong Glam – the shophouse windows.

First spread

The first two pages would be to show what goes on in the day. So as mentioned earlier:

  • retail shops (fabrics, carpets, perfume shops)
  • eateries – not too many people except during lunchtime
  • more tourists & tour groups
  • graffiti (particularly stands out in the day, vibrant colours, tourist attractions
  • shophouse windows (colours and patterns)
  • palm trees

It would showcase what is prominent during the daytime.

Middle spread

The middle spread would be most important as it showcases how the place changes from day to night, which is the transition of Kampong Glam. The content would feature some of the elements from both day and night, in a way blending both together, hopefully seamlessly.

Last spread

In contrast to the first spread, the last spread would be showcasing what is prominent in the night. The pictures will be overlapped in a way to show the double imagery mentioned earlier.

  • pubs & bars
  • eateries (more people compared to during the day)
  • signboards (colourful and bright, LED, alternating colours)
  • lamps (exotic patterns, middle-eastern look)
  • multiple coloured shadows on walls (see more here)
  • lights from surrounding buildings
  • ground-up lighting

Comments on the first draft:

  • give a thought about pacing & breathing space
  • pages too cluttered and filled
  • allow the reader to stop & rest
  • front and back cover too minimal as compared to the inner pages
  • include some design principles for the layout of the pages (middle spread is a good example/attempt)
  • have direction and flow for the spreads
Links

Zine for Kampong Glam (Part 4 – Night Adventures and … More Ideas)

So my earlier ideas got rejected because it was too “touristic” as if its a promotion or publication for Singapore Tourism Board. So I decided to think it through again.

Idea 4: Silk Roads

For this idea is a play on the fact that previously Kampong Glam used to be a place where people do trade, selling different items to make a living. Another thing that stands out during my visits there is the number of streets there is, how they criss-cross each other and forms like a grid system for the area. So I could play with these 2 elements to create the zine.

However, I would think that the idea is not deep enough as a concept.

Idea 5: A Fictional Destination

So there is a palace. Many shops that sell different made things. Many shops that sell items needed to make stuff. A mosque. And food outlets, restaurants. An idea struck me in a way that it looks like the elements that can be found in a game. Castles, shops that sell items, a place of prayer, and food shops. So I could create a form of promotional content for a new in-game area that just opened. The design concept would be pixel art, like those Pokemon-top-view games.

However, I would feel like I’m just literally making the place into a game, and not really exploring much of the graphic forms and visuals.

Kampong Glam at Night

So after rejecting my own ideas, I decided to go back to Kampong Glam. but this time I decided to go at night, to see what is there, and what are the differences, and to my surprise, it was actually quite different.

(Sorry for the bad images! I have really unsteady hands)

Eating and chilling

At night, there seem to be more people there to eat, drink and chill, and more food shops open at this time too.

Neon lights and signboards

The things that would stand out the most would be the neon lights and the signboards that would only be switched on at night. In the day it would appear as just a plain signboard. Some signboards would even change colours!

Lamps of all sorts

At night, the lamps that you normally see along the streets will be switched on, hence creating and displaying all these different patterns and colours that you won’t normally get to see in the day.

A barbershop that operates into the night

Bottoms up!

Not only referring to the drinking culture in Kampong Glam at night but the lights at some of the buildings at Kampong Glam also does it too. The lights shine upwards on the buildings creating a unique look and also making the buildings look different.

The lights on the minarets of the Sultan Mosque changes colours too!

Other findings

A friendly resident

Lights from the nearby buildings, such as this Duo offices and residence, has a unique look too!

The lights shining in between the window panels make it look like an opening book effect

The many different lights caused a layering effect on the walls, which is really interesting!

The lights also caused some of the seen patterns during the day to be hidden, creating an interesting look to it.

So after all these findings, I came out with another idea that hopefully works.

Idea 6: Day to Night to Day

After all the research and visits, I could see that there are different activities that would stand out during the day and also at night. In the day, most of the retail shops would be open, and the place would be crowded with tourists groups. In the night, however, the retail shops will be closed and the bars and pubs will open. The lights from different signboards and lamps will be switched on creating an entirely different vibe to the area. All these would be interesting to explore and put in the zine.

Zine for Kampong Glam (Part 3 – Further Research and Ideas)

After the site visit, I continued my research before I could finalise my idea and direction that I would go for.

Kampong Glam in the News

There’s quite a bit of news about Kampong Glam but I picked out 2 that are interesting to me.

Basically, this article mentions how despite the government’s efforts to conserve the architecture and the make it as close as to what it was before, which is an Arab/Malay community, many of the original residences and tenants are still unhappy as the culture is not the same. The place has become too commercialised and it has lost the original kampung spirit, which is the real culture of Kampong Glam.

However, this article by Today, as a National Day Special, focused on how Kampong Glam turned from a fishing village community to a modern tourist attraction. It also mentions, in contraction to the previous article, that eventhough it has lost some of the old cultures, it is still similar. In the past, people from different countries come together bringing in culture and trade. But in this modern times, people from different backgrounds still come to this location to do business. Kampung spirit is still there, with shop owners helping each other out. Even a mention of owners coming together during the fasting month to break their fast together. In a way, it is just a modern version of what was going on in the past.

Ideas for the Zine

Time to get some ideas going

Idea 1: Trades of Kampung Glam

As there are many trades in Kampung Glam, I could feature them in the Zine. Silk, fabric, rattan, fragrances, using the elements of those items of trade and creating designs in the zine.

Idea 2: Architecture of Kampung Glam

Knowing that the architecture could pretty much be the same in the past and present, I could maybe play with this idea, where it shows the transition and the differences over time.

Idea 3: No lost of culture, just modernisation

From the articles, there are mentions of Kampung Glam being too commercialised and lost the original culture of the place, and also that it is not lost but it is just a modernised version of the old. I could play with this idea of blending the old and the new cultures together to make it seem like it’s not lost, just different.

Zine for Kampong Glam (Part 2 – Site Visit)

So after doing the pre-search for Kampong Glam, I finally went there now having already mentally prepared myself.

When approaching Kampong Glam, you would definitely see the shophouses first as the whole perimeter of the area is lined by them. No matter where you come in to enter Kampong Glam, you will for sure be greeted with a row of shophouses.

Some of the shophouses that you find: As you go deeper into the area, you will come to this famous street, which aligns nicely with the Sultan Mosque. Both sides of the street are filled with eateries selling Middle Eastern cuisine and some other shops selling unique items like textiles and fragrances.

And of course, the main feature of Kampong Glam, the Sultan Mosque, with its shiny golden dome high above everything else in the area.

The Sultan Mosque. Probably the tallest structure in Kampong Glam

Moving into the right lane and you will spot something that is not a shophouse. It is the old Temenggung palace, now converted into the Malay Heritage Center.

The Malay Heritage Center, which used to be the palace.

The Architecture

As mentioned in the previous post, there are 4 main types of architecture found during my research. So I decided to look for these 4 different styles.

Art Deco Shophouse Style

It took me a while to look for this one as the main features are hidden behind the signboard, but what gave it away is the “striped” pillars.

Late Shophouse Style

This one was not hard to find as it was the most decorated and detailed amongst all the shophouses.

First Transitional Shophouse Style

This was quite hard to find as it was across North Bridge Road and I would not expect it to be there, at the famous Zam Zam store!

Early Shophouse Style

These few shophouses, eventhough colourful, was a little out of the way and was furthest from the center.

Trades of Kampong Glam

So based on the research that I found, I tried to look for the different trades in Kampong Glam. There were a lot of different kinds of trades that can be found around Kampong Glam, but most of them are located along Arab Street. There you can find mostly carpet traders and tailors who also sell different kinds of fabrics.

There were a few shops selling carpets of different designs and shapes

On one side of Arab Street, you can literally find a whole row of fabric shops.

Alot of the fabric shops also offers tailoring and can be seen having mannequins outside

Another type of shop that you can find are perfume shops.

Modernisation of Haji Lane

Most of the things you see in Kampong Glam would seem old and dated, very traditional. However, if you go towards the famous Haji Lane and Bali Lane, you will find more modern shops such as boutiques, hipster cafes and bars.

The sign that you see at the entrance of Haji Lane

Towards the other end of Haji Lane, there are more pubs, tattoo parlours and more graffiti works on the walls, which have been an attraction by itself for tourists and occasionally for locals too, making it a photo spot.

Some of the photos of pubs. It’s considered empty as I went there on a weekday lunchtime. It would be more crowded in the evening and weekends.

And some of the graffiti works that you can find filling up the walls of this section of Kampung Glam:

Zine for Kampong Glam (Part 1 – Early Research)

So the brief of the project is to design and do up a brief based on an assigned location

After getting the brief for the project, I was pretty thrilled with the project as I get to do one of my favourite pass times – exploring. I also thought that I could do photography. Then we got to know that we cannot focus too much on the photography side, but that is fine too.

After a random draw lots from my group, I got assigned Kampong Glam as a location for the Zine. Despite going there before and quite often, I would start the project with some research.

Where is Kampong Glam?

It is the area of shophouses between Bugis and Lavender MRT stations. It’s not hard to spot as it is the only shophouses in the area surrounded by high rise buildings.

Research of Kampong Glam

Before going to the site itself, I would definitely want to know more about the place first.

The History

Kampong Glam (originally spelt “Campong Gelam” when it was named around 1830) is one of 10 subzones of the Rochor area located in the central region. The road names in Kampong Glam such as Bussorah, Muscat and Kandahar streets – named after places in the Muslim world.

Kampong Glam was land set aside for the Sultan and 600 family members after he signed the treaty to the East India Company. The Sultan also instructed the Temenggong, a governor to the Sultan, to build his palace there.

Aside from the royal family, there were many other ethnicities living there too, such as the Bugis, Arabs, Boyanese, Javanese and Muslim immigrants. All these different groups set up their own mini-kampungs, which created Kampong Bugis, Kampong Melaka & Kampong Java.

Temenggong’s Palace now the Malay Heritage Centre (https://thoughtmoments.me/tag/kampong-glam/)

Further research

Many would think that Kampung Glam is just a place full of hipster cafes, boutiques and filled with Arab and Malay influence. So knowing this, I would try to avoid doing up something based on that,  … but what?

I started asking what people know about Kampong Glam, aside from the mentioned above.

The trades of Kampong Glam

Before it is known for its hipster cafes and graffiti walls, Kampong Glam is known for its different trades. From the old days, many cultures live amongst each other bringing in culture and items for trade to make a living.

Some of the trades that are frequently mentioned in my research include fabrics, carpets, and fragrances. Some of the shops that you see at Kampong Glam now has been there for a long time.

Other crafts are also available, such as rattan and cane furniture, and also other intricate handicrafts.

The architecture

Through my research, I also found out that Kampong Glam has been gazetted into a conservation area in 1989, where the buildings in the area have to stick to certain guidelines, like retaining and restoring the exterior of the buildings.

Meaning to say, the buildings that you see today at Kampong Glam could have possibly looked like that ever since it was built! With the exception of the colours and modern pipes of course.

And the shophouses all come in 4 different types of shophouses:

Sources:

Image Making Through Type (Part 4 – Final Outcome)

The Interior Designer

For this design, I stuck with the elements and design similar to the ones used in making the floorplans of houses and spaces. I used the shapes for the types of furniture and the variations of thickness used for the walls and windows.

The Confectioner

For this, I joined all the 4 letters together as if they are made from the same base. Then I “overlayed” or “layered” each of the different letters with a different coating.

  • Bubblegum for the “S”
  • Chocolate and nuts for the “Y”
  • Glazed doughnut and strawberry icing with rainbow sprinkles for the “A”
  • Candy coating for the “M”

Art direction wise I tried to stick with the more detailed illustration but the outlines and generally all the same thickness.

The Radiographer

I tried to make it look like a real X-ray scan with the bones and things in the body being the more prominent part of the design, while the skin and outer layers of the “body” being more to the faded side, almost not visible.

I added grainy texture and blurred it overall so that is it not too clear and more like a real x-ray scan. I also added more textures and erased off some parts of the bones to make it more realistic.

Also, I have added a little humour into the work, like a fractured bone and a mouse running in the skull.

The Contractor

Seeing that it is a flat design approach, I tried to get as many details into the design as I can. I used the bright colours yellow, orange and red because these are the colours that are commonly used in construction sites. I have also added shadow in the back so as to make the type stand out.

Image Making Through Type (Part 3 – Art Direction and Colour Scheme)

With further remarks from peers and others based on my first drafts, further changes are made, mainly in the art direction and the colour scheme.

The Interior Designer

Art Direction

For the art direction, I plan to follow as closely to a real floor plan as possible to make it look like it is real. The thick borders on the outside, followed by a thinner inner wall and also the really thin furniture and doors. I also will try to stick to the style used for the windows and doors.

Colour Scheme

I will make the design black and white as most of the floor plans I found are in black and white. I have decided to not go for the blueprint design as I was told that that direction is overused.

The Confectioner

Art Direction

Illustration by Julian Burford (http://www.julianburford.com/client/)

Illustration by Mackenzie Child (https://www.mackenziechild.me/)

Since this will be the more colourful works among the 4, I have decided to go for something more fun and friendly, so I will be doing illustration based. As seen above, it looks very quirky with thick outlines, and details include the highlight and shades in close colours. I will also try my best to get as many details into the illustrations as possible to make it look more interesting.

Colour Scheme

This colour scheme is most important as it involves a lot of colours. So I had to look at the different individual sections of the type for colours, but I have decided to stick to the pastel colour scheme as it will appear most friendly and pleasing for the candy-like theme.

The Radiographer

Art Direction

The art direction for this is pretty straightforward – the x-ray. Again, I try to stick as closely as possible to the original x-ray so that it is clearly represented. As mentioned in the previous post, the x-ray concept has 2 layers – the inner and outer layer. The outer layer is more faded as compared the inner layer that is much brighter, almost neon-like.

Colour Scheme

For the colour scheme, I will stick to the blue-ish colours of the x-ray. The thicker areas would appear whiter while the outer layer will be more faded and dark. Anything that I would want to stand-out would be among the brightest.

The Contractor

Art Direction

I would want to attempt a flat illustration style for this, as compared to The Confectioner, which is more detailed. At the same time, flat illustration should try to capture as much detail as possible.

Colour Scheme

Black and yellow used on a toy crane (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caterpillar/pages/1656735031)

Yellow and black used on a construction website (https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/excavator)

For the colour scheme, I thought of using the black and yellows as they are common colours used in construction sites. It is also contrasting and striking.

 

Image Making Through Type (Part 2 – First Attempt)

So I have to narrow down to 4 different jobs to proceed on with the project:

  1. Interior Designer
  2. Confectioner
  3. Radiographer
  4. Contractor

The Interior Designer

The first job that I decided to proceed with is an architect. So I started to look at what are the factors and elements that I could use for the design.

Blueprints & Floorplans

The first thing that comes to mind would be that architects use blueprints in their work. Sometimes it shows the side views of the structure or like a perspective view. In other times it shows the interior floorplan of the structure.

But if to decide between the floorplan or the blueprint designs, I think it would be better to use the floorplan design because it is more flexible in a sense that the floorplan can make out more shapes than a vertical structure/a side view of a building.

Interior Designer tools

Another way to attempt based on the interior designer is through the tools used by an architect. They have different tools used to form different shapes and to create different drawings.

Architect tools – such as the t-rule, compass, protractor (https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/144324-vector-architect-tools)

The tools are already in odd shapes, which can be used to form the different letters of my name already.

First draft

First draft for The Interior Designer

I tried to implement the concept of a floorplan into the letters. Still exploring the different forms, whether or not to make it angular or has more curvature.

Comments from peers & lecturer:

  • Floorplan design has been used too much by seniors, especially by using blueprints. So I have to stick to more of the interior design floor plan concept, which includes more of the interior contents of the structure so as to differentiate it from previous samples.

The Confectioner

I thought of food, but the idea of using food as a chef cooking has already been taken and used. So I branched out from food to candy.

Types of candy

I guess the first step is to find out what sort of candy there is, and from there I can pick out the elements and work with them.

Patterns & Textures from candy

From the types of candy, I can try and pick out the different patterns formed and the textures from the different candy.

Bubblegum texture, can consider the art style too! (https://www.emaze.com/@AWRCLIRT/untitled)

And the list of textures goes on, but the idea is to maybe form the basic structure with the candy and at the same time have the textures in mind and implement them into the design.

First draft

First draft for The Confectioner

So I tried to join all 4 letters of my name to show that the design is interconnected rather than separate units and I tried to make it seamless and flowy as if it is made from one line.

I implemented the different textures and patterns of confectioneries, starting from bubbly bubblegum on the “S” connecting to droopy and nutty chocolate for the “Y’, glossy doughnut with rainbow sprinkles for the “A”, and candy cane patterns and churros texture for the “M”

Comments from peers & lecturer:

  • I have to make sure that the connection is obvious and it flows seamlessly through all 4 letters
  • Try to get as many details on the texture to make it more realistic
  • Colours have to be attractive (Pastel? Cannot use dark colours)

The Radiographer

I thought of doing something based on the human body but seems a bit too normal or complicated. So I decided to stick to the human form but more of x-ray style.

X-ray design

The idea of the x-ray is like thin neon lights but shows a faint outer layer while showing the inner object.

Body parts internal structure study

Another step to do is to look at how the internal structure of the body looks like so that it would look more realistic.

A possible concept that I thought of when doing this is that the inner layer could be just the type, while the outer layer shows something else. Or the outer layer could be the type, while the internal is showing something different.

First draft

First draft for The Radiographer

For my attempt at this layout, I tried to implement the x-ray studies into the letters so that it looks like real bones and tissue in the x-ray. I also tried to make the outer layer of the letters look a bit different from the inner layers.

Comments from peers & lecturer

  • I could include bone fractures

Funny or dangerous objects inside the x-ray scans. See if I would want to convey a more serious tone or humorous tone

The Contractor

I wanted to do more of using real objects for this since I have already tried other styles for the other.

Contractor tools

So elements that I could pick up from the job of a technician is the tools that they use.

So the idea is to create the letters using the different tools of a technician.

First draft

First draft for The Contractor

I tried to implement the tools into the formation of the letters, and I used wires to in a way join the letters together and also to form more of the curvy letters.

Comments from peers & lecturer:

  • The approach is too direct in a sense that the tools are used directly as the shape forms – like pareidolia
  • Lack of manipulation should have more
  • Combination of different equipment to form each letter, rather than using just one tool to form a letter.