Design Principles - Project 1

03/05/2022 - 24/05/2022 (Week 6-9)
Design Principles 

Yong Kai Yi (0352826)

Project 1

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Week 9 (24/05/2022)

Project 1 final outcome:

fig 9.01: self portrait final outcome

After the feedbacks with a few researches and sketches, I finally comes out with the final self-portrait which I think it's more decent compare to the previous ones. I remain the contrast elements, but reduced the busy visuals by removing the extra socks and also the glasses. I added a laughing image on it by creating a double exposure, instead of decomposing the image. 

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Reflection:

During week 9, we had a consultation session with Dr. P regarding the Project 1, I think it is very useful for me, and I can listen to more different perspective from others too. I am a quite indecisive person, so I always wanted to receive feedbacks and perspectives from others. Besides, we also had a briefing session for Project 2: Sense of Place, I think it will be a interesting project to work on.

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Week 8 (17/05/2022):

Project 1:

fig 8.01: self portrait draft 2

It shows the endless perspective and view people have, I think is what creates the world. Hence, the combination of both my friend's perspective and mine. 

Firstly, the top part which have a "universe" coming out from my head, it shows I am a imaginative person in my friend's perspective. Whereas the scribble on my head also shows the stress I have, and being so overthinking all the time. 

Next, the middle part I replaced my right eye to a buttercup flower, it represents hope and joy. It is always the message I wanted to deliver to people, I hope everyone can be happy and have hope, so that we can move on to a better world. The bungee jumping silhouette in the middle, is my to do activity since I was in kindergarten. I used to be a adventurous person when I was little and always wanted to try some extreme activities, but my parents being quite protective to me, so I didn't manage to try any of it. Hence, it drives me being more curious and desire to do so.

Moreover, I distanced my eyes to emphasize my physical trait. I also added different shapes of glasses on it, thus spectacles is a very important thing for me in my last 11 years, I can't live without it, without glasses I will immediately lost confidence and feels insecure. 

Last but not least, the socks on my shirt, shows contrast between the black & white image and the colorful socks. It is one of my favorite thing when comes to styling outfit, socks will always be my favorites. Besides, it also shows the contrast of the impression from my friends to me and how I think myself. I can be positive sometimes, but also often feels depressed.

Lecturer's feedbacks (in week 9):

It is quite interesting to do mix medium and also shows a lot of my own things. Need to work on the explanation in bridging the top part and lower part which one is about perspective from friends and one is how myself thinks, it will cause a bit contradiction. May be a little too much in the overall image , can try to reduce some unnecessary elements in order to prevent the busy visual.

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Reflection:

Week 8 is independent learning week, we have no lectures and consultation sessions in class, but we still need to continue work on the project.

During the week, I keep thinking on how to create a self-portrait that expresses me well. I been through a few visual research and sketch, then I came out the draft I prefer the most. During the week, I asked a lot of feedbacks from my friends and family. It seems the outcome is too chaotic, and it is not direct in a way. Most of them didn't receive the message I wanted to deliver in first glance. 

I was thinking to try another way to do the self-portrait instead of using mix medium which I never done it before. I did some visual research again but ended up the mix medium method is my preference and I decided to stick into it. Hope I can receive some comments from lecturer next week so I can improve more for the current outcome I have.

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Week 7 (10/05/2022):

During the lecture, Dr. P asked us to make a mind map about ourselves as a preparation of our own self portrait. 

fig 7.01: self portrait mind mapping

I included 4 main points in my mind map, which are my hobby, personality, dreams and facts. After mind mapping, I finally have a rough idea on my own self-portrait. I decided to include one of my personality- emotional, which will be using contrast to express it. Moreover, I will like to include my symbolic physical trait in it too. 

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Additional Visual Research for Project 1:

fig 7.02: self portrait reference from Pinterest

fig 7.03: self portrait reference from Pinterest

fig 7.04: self portrait reference from Pinterest

fig 7.05: self portrait reference from Pinterest

fig 7.06: self portrait reference from Pinterest

Based on my previous research, I will focus more on the collage and doodle style for my portrait. I love how the artists combining the small elements with the portrait image. 

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Project 1 drafts: 

fig 7.07: self portrait draft 1

My main idea /concept for this self-portrait is to mix with pictures and collage. I included some of my points from my mind map. Firstly, I inserted my own portrait photo as the base in black and white, then I added some colorful elements on it to create a contrast. I added colorful socks because I love it and it is one of my features. Besides, it shows contrast visually, and I also wanted to show that the colorful socks on me is like a "sticker", most of my friends may think I am a positive and happy person, but a happy person will also be sad, negative and depressed also. 

Unfortunately, I think the outcome is not that decent, thus I did another draft (in week 9) after receiving feedbacks from my friends and family.

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Reflection:

During week 7, the lecturer also explains more detail in how we can start our self-portrait. After mind mapping, I found out that self-portrait can be very interesting too instead of just drawing our own face in it. Including the elements and things that represents ourselves also can help our self-portrait more interesting and representative. 

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Week 6 (03/05/2022):

Lecture 6: Self- Portrait

fig 6.01: self portrait reference from Pinterest

The diagram above shows ways to visualize ourselves. We can start from knowing how others and ourselves see us in terms of physical traits and personality. 

The objective of this project is how we define ourselves in the self portrait.

fig 6.02: how students define "self portrait"

It is not necessary to include our faces in the self portrait, it meant to create an artwork that represents us. It can be any forms, can be in different shapes, colors and so on. 

Self- portrait is a self representation in the form of design. It is a visual depiction of the self. As per the video of how students define "self-portrait", we can know that it is not necessarily about creating a realistic image of yourself; instead, it's often an exercise in self- exploration.

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Visual Research: 

fig 6.03: self portrait reference from Pinterest

fig 6.04: self portrait reference from Pinterest

fig 6.05: self portrait reference from Pinterest

At first, I was looking for self-portrait reference in symmetry and contrast. Then, I discovered one of my favorite artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat's portrait done by other artist in Pinterest. I found it is quite interesting by combining collage with doodles, the portrait didn't show much of the face but still express well by doodling. I also like the contrast between the colorful doodles and the black & white image. 

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Project 1 Pre-Sketch:

fig 6.06: self portrait idea pre-sketch

This is an rough idea of my self-portrait, I was planning to colored my self in black and white whereas the strokes in the front of the image will be apply with colorful and vibrant colors, in order to create a contrast. It also represents a bit of my impressions from my friends, I may be looks like a optimistic and positive person but can sometimes be depressed also, I think it is normal as no one will be forever happy and positive.

fig 6.07: self portrait idea pre-sketch

This is another pre-sketch for applying symmetry in my self portrait. I emphasize my own physical trait that it's quite symbolic for who I am, which is the distance between my eyes. Thus, I kind of  exaggerated it to make it more symbolic.

Lecturer's feedback:

Need to include more what represents me myself besides the physical traits. Need to do more research and explore more.

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Reflection:

Week 6 is a public holiday, so we don't have any classes that day. Although it's holiday, we are assigned to do some preparations for the upcoming Project 1: Self Portrait. As per the module information booklet, the self portrait should be done by applying the design principles that we learned from previous lectures. Thus, I did some visual research and pre-sketch, was planning to apply contrast and symmetry in this project.