i aM My desktoP: tHIs whAT i cAll OrGanizeD meSs

This is a screenshot of my desktop – observe the mess (and the multiple screenshots)

In my defence, I have everything I need on my desktop itself, notes, reminders (on the memo pads) and screenshots I need for my OSS posts for other modules. Everything is readily accessible and I do not have to go back and forth my finder to search for the applications. Likewise, this shows that I am always ready for whatever I am doing, bringing with me more things than I actually need. I always find myself having more things than I actually need in my bag. (waterbottle, jacket, tissues, etc)

Everything is put against a pale yellow (my favourite colour) background to allow me to stay focused. I know how and when to be focused and when to have fun. So when it is time to focus, I know what gets me in the mood to be doing work.

The many Google Chromes at the bottom right is for different things that I am doing or researching. One on OSS and school research, the other is on YouTube and my personal stuff! I often categorize my things. Similar to my phone, I group my applications based on their functions. At home, my dresses are placed together, my T-shirts and shorts are placed together. Hence, I am a person who will categorize my things.

 

 

Daphne – An Image Making Through Type [Research & Process]

About Assignment 1

For assignment 1 for Graphic Form, we are to create typographic images related to our imaginary occupations. The use of typeface, style, size and the use of upper and lower case should be carefully thought through.

Concept Behind My Pieces

The pieces I created are expressions that hints at who I am. Each piece has a truth about me.

ONE – PROFESSIONAL CHICKEN WING TESTER

She is not fond of meat, but she likes chicken wings

And hence I am a Professional Chicken Wing Tester

ONE – RESEARCH

“Inside” print by Wesley Bird

When I came across Wesley Bird’s “Inside” print, I thought it was really adorable how he incorporated the bones, flesh and skin into his type! I especially love how he illustrated the bones.

“Rotten Food” illustrated by Alex Solis

As for the texture of the chicken wing itself, I was unsure which kind of texture I should go for. The grilled, bbq, or crispy. Then I came across Alex Solis’ “Rotten Food” series for reference for the texture and the shadow of the surface of the meat and the bones.

She likes donuts, since young.

I had initially wanted to be a donut tester too, but the idea was put away because there were many type that are of donuts. Below is just one out of the many examples.

Time Out Magazine: Don’t Worry Be Fatty by Tom Hislop

Houston Donut Glossary | taken from Pinterest

Although I put away the idea of a donut tester, I decided to incorporate it in my Professional Chicken Wing Tester type. As a Professional Tester and critic, they will usually be asked to taste new products. Hence, I decided to incorporate donut toppings onto the Chicken Wings, very similar to honey glazed chicken wings.

taken from: 4 Fingers Website | http://www.4fingers.com/Menu-Signature-Crispy-Chicken

I also went to 4 Finger’s Website to reference the types of chicken wings that they have.

ONE – PROCESS

I started out by sketching out the idea of it on my sketch book.

Self-drawn on sketch book

I scanned it onto Illustrator and added colours digitally.

The first few phases of the piece were my initials made up of similar Chicken Wing type with the same colours and textures. Also, it was without the use of shadow which made it look very flat.

I then researched a little about lighting conditions and added the highlights and shadows we learnt from Illustrator class.

Professional Chicken Wing Tester Final

Composition

Professional Chicken Wing Tester has the type placed in a way that it guides the eye from bottom to up, from the “d” to the “h”, creating a more interesting vision guide than if I had placed them merely straight on the platter.

Colours

For the colours, I used conventional donut topping colours, like the shade of chocolate, and the rainbow sprinkles and fruitloops. As for the colour of the “body” of the chicken wings itself, the colours used are analogous (red(“h”), orange(“a”, “p”) and dark purple(“d”)). The colours of the platter is merely shades of grey used.

Semiotics

Using the idea of the chicken wing and the toppings on donuts, I borrowed the bones and the texture of the chicken wings and the iconic element of the donut toppings which are the sprinkles and the sugar icing that goes on top of it.

Type shape, size choice

I choose the lower case because all alphabets has a tail I can work with to insert the bone, giving the type more consistency. The alphabets have an organic shape because the shape of a chicken wing is not always the same.

TWO – CANDLE MAKER

She likes fragrances. Candles, perfumes…

Hence, I am a Candle Maker.

TWO – RESEARCH

 

I stumbled upon this melting effect on type on Pinterest which I thought was what I want to go for for my Candle Maker type.

Type by Andreas Pedersen | taken from: https://www.instagram.com/andycloned/

TWO – PROCESS

To add an additional touch to my take on the occupation, I added flames and droplets of wax on my type to make it more suggestive of the occupation.

Hand-drawn on sketchbook

Besides, the initial design had hard outlines which after consultation, I decided to line the type with a darker shade than a harsh black outline.

This is a snapshot of one of the initial stages

Also, to add an additional touch to it, I used a hot glue gun to give the final product a “melting” illusion and texture to the graphic. Below is a video of it!

The digital final piece is attached below:

Digital Final Piece for Candle Maker

Candle Maker Final (with hot glue texture and illusion)

Composition

The type “dap” is used instead of “daph” due to the number of candles the traditional candle maker can hold. The alphabets are places straight, side by side due to the placing and the nature of the candle holder. The play on the wax dripping gives the piece a slight touch to the otherwise boring line-up side by side alphabets.

Colour

The colours used are square (purple, green, orange and blue). The background goes dimmer away from the alphabets to give it an illusion that the type is placed in a dark room and the candles are lighting the place up.

Semiotics

I borrowed the element of wax dripping as a candle is lit to the texture of the alphabets. The flame from the candle makes up the flame seen at the top of the type.

Type shape, size choice

The alphabets has a non-rigid shape, mimicking the actual candle, which shape and size will change as it is lit.

THREE – POOL MERMAID

Her favourite Disney princess is Arial.

Hence, I am a pool mermaid.

THREE – RESEARCH

 

I thought being a mermaid will be too ordinary so I decided to spice things up and put things better into context, a mermaid in a pool.

Graphic of a mermaid tail | taken from: https://www.etsy.com/listing/541800432/mermaid-tail-svg-mermaid-svg-mermaid?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lp.d2.v1&share_time=1516587659000

Mermaid tail | taken from: https://www.instagram.com/p/8wfUazNk4E/

 

 

Shell | taken from: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSE_WmbDLWO/

Font usage and colour usage | taken from: https://www.etsy.com/listing/56809840/shell-shop-8×8-print?ref=v1_other_2

taken from: https://www.behance.net/gallery/38674217/The-Architectural-Sculpture-in-Warsaw

background research and emphasis on the shadow and highlights used | taken from: https://www.etsy.com/listing/56809840/shell-shop-8×8-print?ref=v1_other_2

THREE – PROCESS

Initial stages

This was the initial stage of this piece. With the use of opacity on Illustrator to bring out the water in the swimming pool.

After much considerations to want to improve on this piece, I decided to use a transparent coloured sheet as the water to give it more visual appeal. Though I acknowledge that the colour of the coloured sheet might be a little too dark, but these sheets only come in certain shades of colour, which left me to not much choices. Because of that I decided to not conceal the transparent sheet, but make the piece removable from the plastic sheet to see the details. IMG_0811

Digital Final piece

Pool Mermaid Final

Due to lighting and the fault in printing, the colours might differ.

Composition

The alphabets are placed in the lower two-third of the paper and the grid lines of the swimming pool leads our eyes to the corner in the middle where the alphabets “d” and “t” are.

Colour

A pastel colour palette was used for this piece.

Pastel Colour Palette

I chose this colour palette because I thought that the colours fit will with the theme underwater and mermaid. The colour choice is triadic of red, blue and green.

Semiotics

The alphabets are fluid, mimicking the nature of water. The mermaid tail is also used to hint at the occupation of a mermaid. Also, the lipstick and sunglasses hints that the figure has a human nature, yet at the left hand side of the piece, the clam suntanning mat hints at a not so human nature of the mermaid.

Type shape, size choice

The alphabets are fluid with organic sides.

FOUR – MEMPHIS CITY MAYOR

She is currently into memphis designs.

Hence, I am a Memphis city mayor.

FOUR – RESEARCH

taken from: https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Longhauser

The artist reference is Peter Judson and I am in love with his Memphis graphic designs. I looked at many of his art works on his website.

taken from: http://www.beatpie.com/2014/04/sunday-blip.html

taken from: http://peterjudson.com/iai7zfzs05nmtxpj3g3k53cb59myha

 

taken from: http://peterjudson.com/2016/5/23/tribute

taken from: https://designshack.net/articles/graphics/designing-with-an-80s-trend-memphis-design-101/

FOUR – PROCESS

I wanted my alphabets to be blockish although the Memphis font type uses block or bubble fonts because the previous 3 pieces are rather fluid in nature.

Initial stages

The buildings looked a little empty and not as apparent that it is a Memphis City. Hence, I decided to add more random patterns to the alphabets.

Memphis City Mayor Final

Composition

The “D” and “T” are placed in the two-third of the piece, making use of the rule of third. The perspective guides the eye of the viewers, with the add of the concrete floor and the grids, as well as the line-up by the trees and mountains at the back. This piece has a clear background and foreground.

Colours

Similar to Pool Mermaid, the pastel colour palette was used for this piece and the use of millennial pink (research). Analogous colours of yellow, green and blue are used to a large extent.

Pastel Colour Palette

Semiotics

I went to research on the characteristics of memphis designs to give myself a better picture of what the style of this piece will be. (research) Also, a city has residential buildings, cafes, stores, streets, hence I gave the alphabets characteristics of a residential building for “D”, with the carpark gantry and the parking sign in an ordinary carpark of a HDB in Singapore. Also, older shop houses in Singapore has the iconic spiral stairs outside of the building, with I had incorporated in “T” as well as a traffic light.

Type shape, size choices

The buildings are placed roughly the same size as the trees and the mountains, the play of scale used in this piece for the alphabets.


OVERALL CHALLENGES AND TAKE AWAYS

I have explored various possibilities for my occupations and went back and forth, changing them to make them more imaginary than they are. Also, I thought creating jobs that are related to me will spice things up a little, rather than randomly choosing them. This way, I can better interpret them. I had many difficulties making sure my pieces spoke to the audience about the occupation at first glance. For all pieces, it went through consultations with my friends around me. Also, it was tough to incorporate elements of the occupation onto the alphabets itself, especially the one for Memphis City Mayor and Pool Mermaid. For the both aforementioned, I leeched onto the background to emphasize on the occupation, which I thought worked.

I enjoyed the process of illustrating them, and considering the colours I wanted to work with. Of which the last two consist of colours from the pastel palette which I am fond of. I thought through the way I wanted to place the alphabets in such a way that it matches the background and still gave an interesting visual. Overall, it was a fulfilling process and one of the projects that I really love. Thank you for viewing!

Do view my final products here!

Project 1: Picture Story — Curating Self

Some test shots taken for Project 1: Picture Story — Curating Self

 Artist Inspiration:

1.

This image under Task 1: Me is inspired by Lee Friedlander and his style of photography. The way he subtly inserts shadows or reflections of himself in his images urges me to experiment with taking my shadows and reflections.

taken from: http://www.atgetphotography.com/The-Photographers/Lee-Friedlander.html

taken from:https://joshuabwakley.wordpress.com/tag/lee-friedlander/

2.

This image is also from Task 1: Me and I got inspired by Shirin Neshat’s portraits to do an up close picture of myself, except to add a little twist to it by showing a more fun side of myself rather than a serious side, which Shirin Neshat usually does.

taken from: http://signsjournal.org/shirin-neshat/

 Do not forget to view my final work here!

Project 1: Picture Story — Curating Self (final product)

hMy Presentation on 31 August overview

Task 1: Me

Pictures used:

Sequence on presentation day 

Write up:

As viewed in a somewhat circular motion, the first image that should catch your eyes first should be the only landscape photo, followed by the other 2 portraits.

This series shows the outer and the inner me as a whole.

Shot at eye-level, this picture of my close up face, as seen from shoulders up portrayed a very open truth about me as everyone will view or first notice on the outside. Having my face in the centre of the picture shows no hidden part of me. Just like what is shown, I am someone bubbly, cheerful, all smiles, positive. And if people know me well enough, I can sometimes be quirky!

As you continue to know me in a deeper level, we continue the series in a clockwise direction. This shot is taken in an eye-level, mid-shot. I can be someone who does not share my life that openly to the people around me and would not be an open book. The warm hue in the second picture depicts me in my comfort zone, taken during a golden hour. The bun was kept in the picture as seen in the shadow to still keep the elements of me that most people will know on the outside, positive, bright, quirky. However, a silhouette shot gave a sense of mystery in who I actually am on the inside. Yes, people do know me, but there will be a part of me that they will try to pry open but fail to succeed.

Moving along, the third picture is taken strategically to only include half of my face in the focal point. As I am staring right into the camera, it shows that the outer me is also the real me, no jokes, no kid. Yet, the inner me is another side that will not yet be shown. Also, there are times when I am alone, things might not always be that happy and positive for me, hence the expression. I am not exactly a social butterfly because I crave my alone time to think, reflect and feed my soul.

Task 2: Object

Sequence on presentation day 

Write up:

The attention should be put on the middle picture in this series that depicts how I truly enjoy eating corn. In fact, I can eat it for any meal, I will not complain. Taken in a top down angle (high angle), close-up shot, it can clearly show the act of me consuming the cup of corn, using the rule of third.

It is significant to me not because it is my favourite food, but also because it reminds me of the people whom I love and also love me.

So a little back story, the number one snack my parents always get for me is a cup corn be it in Pasar Malam or when we are overseas and it continued till today. It has slowly become my favourite food. Even thinking and talking about it now makes me salivate! I receive it out of the love they have for me. And as it slowly becomes my favourite food, yellow also slowly became one of my favourite colours. Like its colour, it makes me happy and positive and I think this can explain my positive front as a person as well.

Why I choose to include the picture with the packaging and the plastic bag is because I often receive it this way, in this packaging whenever someone buys a cup of corn for me. It is how I see and receive it.

As for the picture of the full cup of corn, this is the sight that will never fail to make my day as I get ready to eat it.

The two shadowed background for the first and third image strives to tone down the lighting in the surrounding to put more emphasis on the brightly coloured corn in the cup. Also, it directs the audience attention first to the process of me eating the cup of corn, which was the effect I wanted.

Task 3: Place

Sequence on presentation day 

Write up:

The place I chose is my neighbourhood, my void deck. I have lived in Ang Mo Kio for as long as I can remember and it is a place where my family members always gather during special occasions as I have many relatives living around me in Ang Mo Kio as well. It is significant to me because it means “home” to me, a place I am very familiar with, a place I know at the back of my hand. This series of shots are taken at eye-level to show accurately the exact site I would see as I am on my way home.

This series shows my usual route home. It aims to guide its audience how it is like for me to go home, a place of comfort, love, familiarity.

This stairway guides me home, and is where my family members will meet whenever we retrieve the car or want to get a drink from the mama shop nearby.

The second picture has dark hues of colour, yet shows a bright vanishing point shows how it is like for me when I finally get closer to home, to comfort. The day might be long, tiring, but I know once I walk this stretch, it means home gets closer and closer, comfort gets closer and closer. The vanishing point created in the frame gave the result I wanted as the diagonal lines of the concrete floor and the ceiling directs the audience’s attention to the direction where I am heading, very much like I am taking my audience on a journey back to my home. However, this shot is taken with a slight tilt to mimic the motion of me walking back home. This effect shows a much clearer idea of how I am bringing my audience through the pathway home and gave the effect of me walking towards home.

The last picture shows a top-down angle of what my view will be like when home is closer than it is. The level I stay on, and the sight of familiarity. The level eight is where I live on.

Conclusion:

Overall, the journey of curating the three series has allowed me to reflect on what are significant to me in life and discovering my identity in the process. Besides, I got to experiment with different angles, framing and shots and realise how each image, when carefully thought through, can each tell a story. In a nutshell, it was a very fun process in creating the images and using them to tell a story about me.

I hope you had fun viewing them and got to know me a little better thought the images I have created!

Process