Reflection

Problems encountered
a. In view that everyone can have their very own designing style, we had taken much time to adjust the colors and frames to make it coherent throughout the book.

b. Our team decided to use Adobe Illustrator due to the need for large number of vector drawings involved. While we often use Adobe Indesign for the designing of publications, this is the first time we use Adobe Illustrator for the design of a book.

Hence, we do not exactly know the requirements or guides required in our story frames for the printer. Our team had to check the different requirements from various printers and worked accordingly.

c. In the search for printers for our storybook, we realized that a good number of printers do not work on hard-cover or perfect binding. Some indicated that the number of pages for the storybook is too insignificant for perfect binding.

d. Our first printing effort was not successful. The printer failed to cut the paper along our specified guides. Hence, there are pages showing incomplete frames or come with white spaces at the bottom of the page. Fortunately, we had sent the book for printing early, thus allowing us to print another book on time for submission.

However, due to the time constraint, the second book comes without a hard cover, which would otherwise requires longer printing time.

Lesson Gained
a. We learnt the importance of time planning and having contingency plan. Fortunately, we had planned for time to allow checking and possible re-print in case of any misprint.

Hence, we were able to find time to work on our second printing after the first attempt which we were not satisfied with.

b. We learnt that when working as a team for design process, it is important for all members to be well-informed of the concept and design decisions in order to ensure the coherence of the storybook.

c. We also now appreciate that the production a storybook takes more than a storyline and a series of illustrations – it requires the synergy of both. Layout, framing, text organization, colors are all part of considerations in order to effectively deliver the story and its message

Problem in production

For our storybook to show substantial resemblance to the magical book, our team has intended hard cover and perfect-binding for our book, just as we requested for our first printing attempt. However, the printed quality was not within our expectation.

While we went for a second printing attempt, we also considered that hard cover printing will take more time than what we could afford to. Thus we resorted to printing the book at a different printing shop with soft cover in view of the time constraint. However, this is compensated with a quality heavy paper for the cover.
This is a lesson learnt though :)

Storybook Organization Exploration

Besides the usual coherent flow, our storybook also explores various representations and framing. This variety helps to break the monotonous one-frame-one-scene style and capture interest of the reader.

For instance, instead of putting the following two scenes as two separate frames, we link them through certain similarity eg. the environment.


In another example, our book takes the form of the magical book in some pages

Storybook Font Exploration

we explored several fonts for our main text in the storybook, the boy's handwriting in the magical book and the words on the magical book.

Considerations we had before our final choice: Relevance to context, Mood and Readability :))

Storybook Color Exploration

(The above two pictures are of the same composition but explored in different colors)

The final choice of colors is largely vibrant and cartoonish. Some of the main subjects are injected with the sense of 3D through simple shading and choice of color combination.

The sense of depth created also helps to bring forth the foreground and background relation, and aids in directing reader’s focus and flow of view.

Assignment 3 - New work, Final Submission

Decided to redo the assignment for submission as I realized that we are graded much on the quality of the photographs as well! I initially thought only the creative element, composition and angle would be graded as that was what we learnt during the week 4 lecture. But well, I had fun doing this again!

The series of photographs share the 'adventure' of the Cookie Monster, who escapes from his toy box to find his cookies (koko krunch here to be exact)!

I thought that taking pictures of still soft toy to tell the story is going to be relatively easier as they are easier to manipulate, I was proven so wrong! Faced so much difficulty along the way to inject life, actions and emotions into the lifeless creature!

The Cookie Monster soft toy was in fact inflexible and standing stiff! So, I had to explore angles and various perspectives to give the illusion that he is walking, climbing, bending and even hugging the box of cookie in the end when it was in fact all along in its upright position with hands wide spread.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the sense of satisfaction after that though :D

Assignment 3 - Angle and Shot Exploration Part 2

Here are some other exploration shots which put me into thoughts before finalizing what to put in the portfolio.

Assignment 3 - Angle and Shot Exploration Part 1

Tried various angles, perspectives and composition along the way in order to find the mood and feel that I wanted to portray.

While I have my storboard as my guide, I also tried other possible ways to present the actions and emotions by the Cookie Monster. For instance, to show him climbing out, i tried shooting him top-down which emphasizes the height and tried shooting bottom-up to highlight his action of climbing out instead.

As the toy is really stiff, I had tried various positions as well to suggest movements. Just for the scene showing him peeking out of the box, I took as many as 20 photos before deciding on which was more effective in conveying the emotion and the story.

Assignment 3 - Storyboard

Did a fast sketch of the storyboard before shooting. Helped me to pen down some general angles/composition which i have in mind.

Final Project - Exploration

Here are some of the main items we discussed and sketched to create the standardized style for our overall storybook.

Final Project - FInal Storybook

The final storybook we printed!

FInal Project - Storyboard

After all the brainstorming, doodling and sketching, we finally came up with our storyboard! It also includes the various perspectives and organization of frame we considered.

Assignment 5 - Refined for Submission

Made quite some edits to the final work - the colors, size, perspective and inclusion of the company's name at the top left to create a sense of balance (i find it too heavy on the bottom right initially)

In response to the feedback for the previous work that the electricity pole does not look like one, I adopted one of their ideas to make it red and white. Now the red seems to flow with my text and add 'loudness' to the piece :) Quite a serendipity.

Made the design more dynamic as well by exaggerating the perspective, making the distance relation more obvious.

Assignment 4 - Refined for Submission

Made some slight adjustments to the colors and font sizes to bring out more contrast for the words. The colors also create a greater flow for the audience now.

Assignment 2 - Refined before Submission

Final pick! Decided to choose the last frame instead ( the most abstract in the process). Was contemplating between the last two frames.

Finally made the decision based on the consideration that it is simple-to-understand when put into context.

Assignment 1 - Refined for Submission

Woo! Refined the colors before submission! The class feedbacked that the worm and hook doesnt stand out enough to highlight my name. So, da ta! Made it lighter (in contrast with the other colors in the picture and made them glow brighter!

Final Project - Main Character Development

A boy, by the name of Nat, is the main character of the story. I am in the process of experimenting with colors, style and features to portray Nat.

Above: I have drawn the outlines of the boy in the first try. And injected shading to give a sense of 3D in the 2nd.

Assignment 5 - Infographic

Tata! My first submission for the assignment after much research and multiple attempts. It shows the amount of CO2 emission from different sectors in US and the smaller text shows more detail on the statistic and what the people can do to help.

Tried a few designs which I just feel dissatisfied with. Hence, adjusted along the way before getting this

Following refinement to be done:
- It looks like a plane crash on first sight. So I gonna change the color of the smoke perhaps.
- With feedback from last tutorial, I shall make the smaller-to-larger perspective more significant.
- Gonna change the design for electric pole as it is not easily recognisable.

Assignment 5 - Infographic Research

I was really fascinated by this infographic while doing my research. Even though there is abundant (even excessive) information clumped into one, I like how the reader is able to "read" the danger and graveness of the information presented through the "skull"

I like this simplistic yet pretty design. I enjoy the comfortable composition and the good use of contrasting colors - black and red. More importantly, it brings across the impact and grave danger of the issue at hand very effectively through its simply presentation and strong words.

Assignment 4 - Initial Choice

Assignment 4 - Color Coliation Exploration

Was having fun exploring colors and finding colors to suit the mood and theme I would like to bring across :))

Am contemplating between the 1st and the 2nd design. The 1st design works more on harmony - I like the slight pastel feel that is really comfortable and its ability to blend and create depth for the drums. On the other hand, I like the strong contrast in the 2nd picture :))

Assignment 3 - Angle and Shot Exploration

One of the parts which i spent most time developing and experimenting is the slamming of the book. Tried various shots and positions to find out how to best suggest movement in action.

Assignment 3 - U C What I C

Class Exercise E

Size: A6 (per image)
• Pick 2 words from the list

• Use basic elements (dot, line, shape…) to create 2 abstract / semi‐abstract images conveying
meaning of these words (1 image per word)

I have picked disorder and clutter. Quite a fun challenge to pick these two as they seem close. So, i decided to try how I can differentiate one from the other. Mainly made use of shapes, lines and dots.

Disorder: It is slightly heavier on the top (with more subjects) to reinforce the sense of unbalance and disorder. Tried to inject different thickness and sizes to help create the sense of disorder. However, frankly, it doesn't look disorder enough for me, perhaps to the pattern that it seems to hold.

Clutter: Made it heavy and squeezy on one corner to bring across the feel of being cluttered. The overlapping of shapes and lines helps to reinforce the idea of clutter.

Assignment 2 - Less is More

PROCESS OF ABSTRACTION
Worked on the idea on of cow milking at an animal farm. Tried out several ways to abstract an idea/design :))

Photo-->Pic1

Pic1-->Pic2 -Took off the 3D effect by removing the shadow. Made the cow spots less defined. Removed the head of the man to bring focus on the act of milking instead.

Pic2-->Pic3 - Reduced it complexity. Removed Black. Removed 1 hand.

Pic3-->Pic4 - Less direct representation of the cow at this stage. To fit the idea of a fun animal farm, have made the cow look more "cartoon-like". Exaggerated certain porportions of the cow to bring emphasis.

Pic4-->Pic5 - Zoomed in on the action of cow milking.

Pictogram Research

Pictures from: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-20475776/stock-vector-color-set.html

Was doing my research for my pictogram assignment when I came across this. Isn't it interesting how the same set of pictogram can be designed to bring different effects, themes and mood through the change of its colors, form and lines?

My decision to make my pictogram series set against green background was partly inspired by this :))

Class Exercise D - Photo Series

Making photo compositons
– Use your mobile phone, choose a subject and compose it in various shot sizes and camera angles
– State the purposes of using these techniques and how does it affect your audience who perceive your subject.

Left:

• Simple Close-Up. Top-down angle. Bring focus to snail, or more precisely, to the design of the shell. It is complemented by the sharp contour line of the shell brought to the foregound under the lighting effects.

Right:

• Long Shot to give more details on the environment the snail is in.
• Large porportion of the picture taken up by the mosses at the foreground. Coupled with brighter light on the foreground, attention first goes to the mosses before it leads the audience's eyes up to the snail.
• The spread of mosses in the picture suggests a large span of mosses that the snail is in.
• The shot is meant to make the snail appear small and lost amidst the large span of mosses.

• Long shot. Positioned the snail at the left with a large deal of distance in front of it. The shot reinforces the slowness of the snail, appearing only at the "start of the journey".
• Tried the desaturated--> masking effect which I learnt in Chris's tutorial today :) Only the snail in the picture is unsaturated, bringing focus to the snail.

Top-down shot. Makes the snail appear vulnerable and small.
The shot taken against the wall, coupled with the shadow, gives a sense of the snail being cornered. Intend to suggest the entrapment of the snail.

Class Exercise C - Semiotics

For Class Exercise C, we are to draw iconic and indexic representation of an object.
Jessie, chloe and I decided upon CAR.

We explored on drawing/suggesting CAR through the outline of the car body, moving wheels, steering wheel, driver with seatbelt, and even car from computer game.

Assignment 1 - Final

Tada! Final work for Assignment 1 - Me, myself and I! Finally managed to persuade myself to pick this idea out of the two as I thought I like the use of porportion for emphasis and the fun element here.

Further developed the monster to slight 3D to give a sense of depth and changed the look of the worm. Now, it looks so innocently cute! (or as i thought) More importantly, I have tried to give the worm more attention through exaggeration so as to bring focus to what is meant to be my letter M.

Added more details. Changed the color scheme too! Decided to go with cooler colors after experimenting. It better reflects my querky, mysterious nature :))

From the feedback last week, I decided to make the hook and the worm glow so as to bring focus to my name, MJ.

Assignment 1 - More Exploration

Further exploration after 1st critique lesson. Here, i am trying out the idea of "craft work" working on the same idea of worm and hook :))

Class Exercise B - Constructive Criticism Model

Descripton – A verbal account of WHAT is there
Analysis – A discussion of HOW things are presented with an emphasis on rela1onships
Interpretaton – A sense of the meaning, implicaton, or effect of the piece
Judgment – Evaluatng the successes and shortcomings of the piece

Picture from NM2208 Lecture

The picture depicts an “avatarized” figure amidst the jungle. The words, “James Cameron’s Avatar, Only in Cinema”, at the top left, further suggests a reference to the recent hot-selling movie, Avatar, while the McDonalds logo at the top right indicates McDonalds’ involvement in this project.

The focus of the picture lies on the Na’vi character in the foreground, right in the centre, before our eyes are guided to the lighter background with more small details. While it is known that this graphic has most likely been generated from the “avatarize yourself” widget sponsored by McDonalds Europe as part of its marketing campaign, the graphic by itself, standing as an art piece, does not relate to the audience sufficient information on the work. For one who does not know the availability of this McDonalds’ project, he is highly unlikely to decipher the artist’s intention or the intended message of this particular work, though it is not hard for him to point out the main reference to Avatar.

In addition, the graphic is not projected at a suitable resolution, hence resulting in its pixilation.

Assignment 1 - Roughs

After picking the idea of Worm and Hook, i developed these 2 roughs with rather different concepts.

Monster and Worm: Play around with proportion. Bright colours to establish my cheery and fun nature. Simple doodle style.

Craft, Fish and Worm: Got my inspiration from a recent H1N1 ad by Health Promotion Board. The subjects (eg.fish, worm, hook) in the graphic appears to be popping out like those of a craft work. Graphic composition works more on balance. Colors are less bright compared to the first, but help the subjects to stand out. Like the first, it works on the fun element :))