Moment in Transience

Abstract:

Refining upon the idea of ‘Urban Magic’, I wanted this piece of work to capture the magic of everyday passing moments which we often miss in our busy lives. Our subconscious never forgets. Moment in Transience is a piece which draws focus on the magic of colors, smells, sounds that we take in everyday, bringing immersion to the walking audience with the movements of flow and stillness. Starting with the slow rise/fall of sunrise and sunset, to the ripples of rain, this piece of work is all about entering a state of ‘flow’ to lose sense of passing time, inspired from the Japanese concept of Ikigai.

Moodboard

Methodology:

It is my first time using Aftereffects and I am glad that I got to learn a new software! There were 2 methods that I used to create this piece, using Aftereffects:

1. Video editing

For this method, I used open-source videos found through the online site: pexels.com Through manipulating videos with color adjustments, overlays and effects, it helped me to obtain the effects I wanted which would have been otherwise a little more challenging to create through Aftereffects at a beginner level.

Links to videos:

https://www.pexels.com/video/the-sun-rising-on-the-horizon-2288346/

https://www.pexels.com/video/dropping-a-blue-liquid-on-a-clear-water-to-create-an-abstract-images-3024112/

2.  Shapes and plugin effects

Through drawing directly onto the canvas in Aftereffects, I experimented with  multiple effects to manipulate the shapes into the various forms:

Some effects I played with include:

  • Time Stretch
  • Time Reverse
  • RotoBrush
  • Flipping (Invert, Rotate)
  • Masking (Track Matte)
  • Wave Warp
  • 3D ripples – Turbulent Displacement, CC Radial Fast Blur, Caustics

Tutorials:

Final:

https://vimeo.com/user128208049/review/485542246/5e7356ee40

 

Typography 1 Submission

Submissions google drive link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wa8JQ9iNgNzSvLA3DmhU3uGJb5uE9AXv?usp=sharing

Drafts:

 

Final:

Some of my favourite font collection:

Display Type faces – I really love the experimental details of each lettering and thought these interesting!

I really enjoy the design of these fonts and their usage as main visuals. 🙂

Thanks Desmond for the great semester! Had fun in your class and thank you for all the crits and feedbacks!

Assignment 2 – Assigned Ex 4,5,6

For this project, I think it was a really interesting experience learning about the grid system and layouts. To begin, I started with researching on the fun facts about geckos, and coming up with some random names that resonate with the creature’s attributes:

Assigned Exercise #4 Mindmap

Eventually, after much ideation and brainstorming, I settled on the idea of “Geeky Geckos”, with the following 2 headlines as options:

1. Masters of Math & Science

  • Could be presented as day to educate young children about the joy of learning mathematics and science, using the Gecko as an example
  • Using angles and ions as graphic elements

2. Scientists of the Sticky World

  • Could be presented as a day to educate zoo visitors about animal conservation through the wonders of the Gecko physicality. — “Geeky Geckos”
  • Using electromagnetic waves as main graphic elements and suitable color to bring out technology feel
  • Abstract and visually intriguing

ElectroMagnetic Wave

Both of these headlines are crafted to reflect the sticky and quirky attributes of the gecko’s footpad, based off interesting facts like:

  • Geckos are unable to control the “stickiness” of their footpads
  • They do not churn out any sticky substances, yet able to cling well onto surfaces
  • The only material they can’t cling onto is Teflon
  • Geckos are able to stick onto surfaces due to the theory of electromagnetism!
  • Geckos use varied angles to ‘release’ from their positions, and cannot unstick themselves at a 90′ angle!
  • A gecko that dies sticky, will remain sticking after death. (This reminded me of Newton’s first law!)

Assigned Exercise #5 Moodboards

With the above research, I started putting together some moodboards based on what we learnt in class, in order to obtain the color feel, elements, and ideal composition for later conceptualisation:

Concept: Geckos – Mysterious little creatures that not many people really appreciate. Secretly science-y, intellectual little beings… welcome to their tiny worlds!

I wanted something mysteriousdark yet intriguing, something abstract that represents the interesting physicalities of the gecko, that would also give a sense of curiosity to the viewers and invite them forth to take a closer look at the poster for the event.

In my head, I had the keywords: Abstract, Mysterious, Science-y, Graphical.

The main colours that I decided to use are:
#EF4CFF, #965CE5, #0027F9, #000099, 0F003D and #FFFFFF.

Color Moodboard:

While researching, the following typographic posters caught my eye:

While researching, I was also inspired by an artist called Neri Oxman.

I enjoy the bio-art concepts she produces, but most importantly, the organic shapes and geometrical aesthetics of her works seems quite suitable for the visual direction of the selected second concept pertaining to electromagnetism.

Overall inspiration and visual direction moodboard put together:

Assigned Exercise #6 Grid Layout

 

 

Assignment 2A Object & Craft Technique Studies – Task 2 (Object Studies)

For this assignment, I decided to draw a hairdryer.

I started with some rough sketches:

And then worked on the orthographic drawings in a 1:2 scale.

After coming up with the first version, I realised that it was wrong as the proportion was off and the side angle of it was in the wrong direction.

Hence, I re-drew it, this time with cleaner lines and better accuracy.

With that, I utilised the orthographic views to project into an axonometric drawing.

(Really sorry for the late submission!)

Project 1 – Blue Electric Gecko

This project was a really fun and interesting, and I really enjoyed the process of researching, ideating and refining the concepts for a logo form based off my chosen animal, the electric blue gecko! I chose this animal because of its striking color and adorable face. I felt the physical attributes and form of it was also interesting to work with, especially since not many people know about this unique little creature 🙂

Animal’s Visual Reference

To start off, I did some research into the chosen animal and found the following interesting facts:

    • It is also known as Lygodactylus Williamsi (Blue Electric Gecko).
    • This creature is diurnal.
    • The males striking are blue in color and the females are olive green.
    • During courtship, the male flattens its back and bobs its head in a little courtship dance to attract its mate.
    • Female geckos will stick its eggs with a glue-like substance onto any substrate surface to keep it well hidden in sight.
    • Each gecko footpad is made up of little skin creases that creates fantastic traction against surfaces. This gives them the illusion of being sticky, but it is in fact simply friction at work.
    • Slender and nimble, this gecko can climb trees and thread water well.
    • Consumes live insects and lives mainly on pandan plants, and is often associated with swamps and forest limestones.
    • This species of gecko is currently endangered as reptile enthusiasts and poachers have illegally removed 15% of the wildlife population.

With this information, I began brainstorming and churning out ideas for the potential graphic associations that came to mind:

(brainstorming paper)

After ideating, I realised that the graphic form could be used to associate with the following brands/industries due to its physical attributes and characteristics:

I also did some research on existing gecko logos, as well as other animal logos to see the type of designs that already exists on the market.

(animal logos)

I realised that among all, the color green was commonly used to depict the gecko icon, with majority of the forms being more feminine and organic in style. I was definitely drawn to this, but at the same time was inspired to create something more minimalistic in perhaps a different color, that could contrast the existing designs.

With that I started to work on the 20 sketches, building on the earlier physical sketches made of the animal earlier.

After consultation and feedback from Lisa and friends, I decided to select these 3 options to work upon for my refinement process:

The refinement process:

Assignment 2:

After another round of consultation and feedback once again by Lisa and peers, I continued to work on refining the visual depicting and proportion of the selected logo based on some of the ideas given. 🙂

Inspired by logotypes that utilise visual elements, I decided to combine the letter G with the second option (as seen above – bottom row).

More refinements…

Final refined forms, ready for color!

Between these 2, I really like the organic feel of the lizard body, but felt that it is too literal and does not portray the abstract idea of a “G”. The second concept seem to work better, as it not only presents the physicality of the animal, but also leaves room for interpretation especially with the influence of colors (see: color experimentation)

Color Research / General collection of brands that use the various color combinations.

Color Experimentation