Brainstorming & Moodboards

Hope is….

• Sun
• Rainbow
• Praying
• Peace
• Bright
• Joy
• Seaweed
• Water
• Waves
• Dolphin
• Dream
• Trust
• Freedom
• Gentle
• Koi
• Religion
• Dove
• Mountain

Initial sketches/drawings

I struggled with knocking out the negative spaces from the positive spaces. Hence, most of my initial sketches consists of line drawings and more towards illustrations.

Based on peers’ feedbacks, I realized that the designs above are too complicated and it should be simplify as one could not see the tiny details from afar. 

Above is the first few drafts of the designs. Some of the designs are not ‘balance’ and should be simplify further. Especially the dragon and koi design. The design intent was to make the koi transforms into a dragon. However, it gives off the wrong concept and it looks like as if the dragon was chasing the koi instead.  Also the designs need a ‘closure’ so that it could be cut out efficiently.

Below are the final designs.

Legendary

Koi are a legendary fish. They are well-loved and respected. Often associated with Japan, koi actually originated from Central Asia in China.

One particular legend of an ancient tale which tells of a huge school of golden koi swimming upstream the Yellow River in China. Gaining strength by fighting against the current, the school glimmered as they swam together through the river. They reached a waterfall at the end of the river but they refused to give up.

Leaping from the depths of the river, they attempted to reach the top of the waterfall to no avail. One lone koi finally reached the top of the waterfall. Since then, koi was recognized for its perseverance and determination. They turned into a dragon — the image of power and strength — when faced obstacles in their path.

Based on the above legendary, I decided to portray hope through the visuals of this story. And I also used colors that are symbolic to hope as well as incorporating gestalt shapes.

Symbolism and meaning

Black koi – Represent masculinity. It also signifies a patriarchal role.

Gold koi – Symbolize prosperity and wellbeing in business.

Blue koi – Often associated with the role of the son, represents tranquility.

Red koi – Represent hope, strength and power.

Koi fish are associated with positive imagery. Because of the dragon legend, they are known as symbols of strength and perseverance, as seen in their determinative struggle upstream.

Since the theme of the hanging mobile is hope, I decided to use complementary colors of orange and light blue and their respective analogous color scheme.  The warm and cool colors mixed well together to hold a balance in the design.

“Gestalt shapes“

YIN YANG – The idea of incorporating yin yang came about when I tried to portray a school of koi fish swims in a circular motion. Hence, I looked up for the meaning of Yin Yang to make sure that the design makes sense. Yin Yang is perhaps the most known and documented concept used within Taoism.

Definition: Two halves that together complete wholeness. Yin and yang are also the starting point for change. They are inseparable.

The element of water with koi are inseparable, in which, koi displays its utmost competency in its element – water. This is the most important point of my design. I wanted to portray the perfect balance and harmony of koi & water. The circular movement of the koi fish also represents the belief that all things in life are connected.

INFINITY  –  For this symbol, I wanted to integrate the body of the koi tranforming into the “Dragon Koi” in its battle against the current. Again, the element of water is present. Hence, I decided to combine the infinity symbol within the transformation of the koi fish.

Definition: It symbolizes eternity, empowerment and duality.

This duality between koi and the element of water encompasses the idea of being ‘together forever’, – with the two circles inter-connecting, each representing a side of the relationship.

Final Outcome