Locale – Queenstown: Outcome

Back and Front Cover Page
Left: Back cover page. Right: Page 1
Page 2 & 3
Page 4 and back of back page

One of the changes I did from my previous post is that I added texture on it. As previously, it look too flat. I also did minimal edit such as the change of colours and added lines on the back front cover page.

Title of my Zine is Treasure. As this shop is one of Mdm Ker's treasure that contains memories of her husband, family and many more. And even though the shop is not doing well anymore, Mdm Ker does not want to stop running the shop.
Reflection 

I am pleased with the outcome although I had less than a week to do this. However, if I had more time, I would want to try on different papers. As what one of my classmate suggested that I could try using glossy paper to vibrant out the pastel colours.

And through this short period process, I am amazed at myself that I could do something similar to Malika Favre’s illustrations style. This makes me want to practice more on her style and move away from my original illustration style that focuses more on the details.

Lastly, I would like to say thank you to Mdm Ker, for helping me in this project and give me a new perspective in Queenstown. With your help, my zine would not come through!

Locale – Queenstown: Process

From my previous post, I was not satisfied with the mock ups. Hence I decided to change to something that I can inject my personality in to. So I decided to do illustrations instead of image manipulation, as I can do a lot of things in illustrations and explore different style.

So at this point of time, I had less than a week to complete my zine. Hence I did not want to take a lot of time illustrating the details. So I followed Malika Favre’s illustration style, that are flat and uses negative space. Something different then my usual illustration style, but I was very excited to try this! 

A glimpse of Malike Favre’s style

Other than changing the design direction, I also changed the narrative of my Zine. So I decided to go with a simple narrative. Starting from the history of the shop, to it blooming then to the current state of the shop.

Compiling all the research and interview of the first bookstore in Queenstown
Sketched out different layout can be use
Sketches

Sketches for cover page

Illustration

At the start, I drew it out according to my sketches. The I tried to manipulate and create pattern using it. However, it was not to my liking, different from Malika Favre’s style and does not show the place (Queenstown).

First try of illustration and manipulating it
Reference from the Naive Book

So I looked through the Naive book, that Mimi recommended me, and I found something very close to what i have discovered in Queenstown (Image on the left). That Image uses contrasting colours and patterns on it.  Hence, I decided to put in the patterns that I discovered in Queenstown, and used pastel colours in my Zine. So in my edited version, I kept my illustration to the simplest form and tone down the colours. I added patterns on the clothes as patterns was something I discovered in Queenstown.

Left: Original illustration. Right: Edited version
Left: Original illustration. Right: Edited version

Colour was one of the challenges I faced. Because I wanted to use pastel colour and pastel colours would not stand out on a white paper. Hence, through the process of of making the zine, I kept changing the colours so that each illustrations will flow smoothly throughout all the spread.

Coverpage was also the most challenging part of the zine, as a cover page should give a summary or a hint of the zine and it should also be able to capture the readers attention. So I started out by illustrating the the shop and its shop front. I added in the wavy lines in the background as Queenstown was a hill perviously. I kind of like the cube shape of shop, so I started to explore more it want manipulate it in the shop.

 

Out of all the illustrations I have in this Zine, I like the illustration of the aunty the most. So I added in the cube patterns into the aunty shirt. So the cube represents the shop and the aunty is the main character of my Zine. Then I play around with the colours.

That’s all for process post! Next will be the final outcome of the zine!

Locale – Queenstown: Process

From previous post, I realise that the design direction and the content of the zine does not fit each other. As the illustrations of the shapes are colourful and the content of has a nostalgic feel. Hence, I decided to think of a new design direction.

For this new design direction, the context will be about Mdm Ker Ah Kin’s perspective on her shop. When I met her for the first time, she mention that the business was not going too well because of  the change of generation.  Hence I though of a transition concept from how the shop started to where it is now. 

Reference Image of how I distort the image
Sketches of layout
Experimenting on the shop front, as I intended to use a picture of the shop front as my cover page.
Experimenting on one of the images fro the inside page.
Mock up #1
Cover Page

Mock up #2


I was not satisfied with the outcome of both mock ups. So I decided to change the whole concept. See my next post!

 

Locale – Queenstown

Content

Hello! For my zine, I wanted to write about the first bookstore in Queenstown which is Long Wee Store. Currently Mdm Ker Ah Kin is managing the store alone as her husband has passed away.

Here are 2 different contents that I thought of, after talking to Mdm Ker Ah Kin: 

I am going for the content that is from a first person’s perspective, which is Mdm Ker Ah Kin. Perviously, her late husband managed the store and Mdm Ker Ah Kin was there to help out. So my intention is to write something personal, from Mdm Ker Ah Kin to her late husband.

Look and feel

So perviously during my presentation, I mention that wanted to have my zine colours to be mainly red and blue as it was inspired by the Chinese design. However I felt that the colours does not suit the content. Hence I went back to Queenstown to observe more things, and here are my findings:

  • I discovered that Queenstown Stadium has this pastel colour palette, which suits Mdm Ker Ah Kin’s personality as she is soft spoken and she always smiles and greet her customers.

  • Patterns from all over Queenstown, which I thought can be break down to simple shapes.

Hence, with my findings above, I thought of using pastel colours to represent Mdm Ker and also uses shapes to create memphis design.

Below are my references for Zine. On the left are references on how I can uses memphis design in black and white images as I wanted to keep the image true to itself and I want my zine to have the nostalgic feel. On the right are references on how I can use colours and shapes to create the layout.

 

Experimental design
1st Draft
2nd Draft:  Using pastel colours. However I felt that there was too many thing going on in 1 page.
3rd draft: I split the memphis design into 2 pages. Left: Front back cover. Right: Page 1
Experimenting how to memphis design can fit into my images
More experimentation
Still experimenting on how the cover page can look like.

My next step is to take more pictures, as I asked Mdm Ker Ah Kin to bring some of her old photos. And also with the feedback given, I will try to prepare a few pages of mock up for consultation.

Thank you!

 

Locale – Queenstown


Queenstown named after Queen Elizabeth, in commemoration of her coronation in 1953

Ridout tea garden

It used to be known as Queenstown Japanese Garden and brick wall was the only thing that lasted and belonged to the Japanese Garden.

Forfar Heights

Is a HDB estate and it has an English-theme-garden. It was known as Chap Si Lau in 1990s and it was once Singapore tallest public residential building with 14th story.

Queenstown Stadium

Opened on 15 August 1970 and it was Singapore’s first neighbourhood sport complex. Queenstown Stadium was a location for National Day Parade, Sports Competition in 1970 and many more.

Queenstown Polyclinic and Library

They are beside each other and both of them are the first community and social institute in Singapore.  However, this polyclinic is closed down and they have a new polyclinic at Stirling Road, which is within Queenstown. And the library still remains at its place.

SkyVille @ Dawson

A 46-storey high with roof garden, that enables you to see a paranomic view of Singapore. It has murals reflecting the past of Dawson road. Not a normal HDB flat, as it promotes social interactions and has a few sky garden to allow all ages to interaction with each other.

Blk 160

Located at Mei Ling Street. The first point blocks constructed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and it was a success, with leads the HDB to build more point blocks across the country.

Mei Ling Wet Market

As I was walking, I found out this place and took a look inside the building and the stores are mostly closed because I was there at 4pm

Long Hwee Store

Currently the store 49 years old. When I came to the store, the owner greeted with me with a huge smile and told me that this first bookstore in Queenstown. Currently, it sells toys, stationary, chinese books not many antique things except the cashier machine (image below)

Objects found

– A trishaw with a huge speaker on it.

– Antique cashier machine from the Long Hwee Store.

– A lot of construction building, especially near the MRT station.

– And wires that we don’t see as it is buried in the ground.


Look and feel of Zine

Colours are mainly red and blue. Inspired by Chinese design, as Queenstown was a town for Chinese people and feel of the zine should be old and nostalgic.