The 6th Lesson

Today’s lecture is on “Visual Elements & Principles (Part 1)” This means that there will be a continuation of this topic in the next lesson. After going through a few slides, I basically think that the main focus is to how to design a “good poster” and how & what does a “good poster” have or looks like.

I feel that the concepts introduced in the slides are very technical. If there are no explanations & some examples for each concept, I think I will not be able to interpret correctly. The concepts are, “Visual Elements and its characteristics and interactions”, “Principles of Interaction”, which consists of “frame & visual interaction”, “emphasis, unity & contrast” and “Visual Harmony – balance & economy”. Err…. All texts….But…. Thanks, Julian, for explaining & for the hard work of finding the related posters. I think I understand the concepts better now but not very well. =)

Last but not least, to end the lesson proper, we are again given a “warm-up” classroom exercise to prepare for the upcoming assignment (Poster Design). The 2 words given to my group is “Premier” & “Authority” and we are restricted to use lines & dots in our design to convey the meaning of the 2 words.

"Visual Story" Critique Session!

This is my 4^th tutorial/critique lesson for NM2208. Attending the tutorial lessons to me means that I’m always learning to improve my drawings or designing concepts & to expose to many different ways of thinking & concepts from others. Today’s lesson is on “Visual Story”. To begin with, we were asked to display out our design/”story” so that every one of us will have the time to look through. “Feedbacks or Comments”, which have already become the main point or focus in our tutorial lessons, is still “surviving strong” Ha-ha!

As usual, my “Visual Story” is also “awarded” with some feedbacks. Such as, how to make the focus of a photograph becomes more prominent & outstanding. This is the main point that is lacking in mine. For example, the “key” in my 4^th photograph should be the main focus rather than taking a full photograph of that moment/instance. This way will give the audience a clearer view of the “story”.

Another point for me to take note is the layout of how the photographs should be taken. There should be a consistent layout throughout the whole “story”; i.e. all photographs should be in “Portrait” layout if 1 appears to be in that layout. Wow! This lesson really benefits me! He-he!

Thanks, everyone! I’m still working on the improvements. Please feel free to post any messages/comments in my “Drawing Lounge”. I really appreciate that.

Brainstorming 3!!!

Once again, the words “Brain-Storming” of ideas appeared before my eyes. This assignment is about “Visual Story”. This means that we are tasked to use a maximum of 10 photographs to tell a story; without using any wordings (words that play an important role in the story) in the photographs. Wow! That’s a very UNUSUAL assignment for me to tell a story using only pictures.
This means that I have to come out with a storyboard of the story. (Hmm….. This really reminds for an assignment that I had done before…..). Besides that, it gives me the feeling that this “Visual Story” is like a DREAM to me. He-he!
Actually, a lot of ideas came into my mind, but nothing seems to be that interesting to attract my attention. A “TWIST” ending is my main focus in my “story” for this assignment.
Finally, after hours of thinking & planning, I manage to come up with a rough idea of how my “visual story” should be. Hope that, my “story” will turn out well.
Actually, there’s something that really catches my attention when designing this assignment. How does a good “Visual Story” looks like? What elements or concepts must be incorporated? A simple & direct story is considered as one? Or is it one that when a person looks at it, they will understand the whole story? Or is it one that there are some “hidden” concepts for the audience to think/understand through? Hmm…. Very challenging…… =)

5th Lesson

Today’s lecture is a continuation of the previous lesson, “Representing Techniques”. This lesson is very different from the previous one, where we were exposed to signs, icons, & abstractions. For this lesson, we were exposed to the concept of “Constraints”, “Composition”, & “Storytelling”.
After going through the lesson, I basically feel that the concepts & techniques taught in this lesson can be classified into 2 main categories. They are “Perception of looking at things” & “How to take good photographs”. Ha-ha! =)
Because I feel that the terms used or found in the lecture is technically related to photo-taking. Actually, I have always thought of learning how to take good photographs, so this lesson really catches my attention. Maybe someone else will think that the concepts mentioned are very basic, but it really benefits me; especially the “Rule of thirds: Golden Mean”
Last but not least, as usual, we have a classroom activity to end with.

The 3rd Critique Session

It’s tutorial time for NM2208! Today, we will be having the next critique session. That’s on our 2nd assignment, “Making Images Talk”. As usual, most of us come up with many creative ideas. Throughout the lessons, there will definitely be some feedbacks. It looks as if our ideas won’t “run out of ammunitions”. Ha-ha! =) There are 2 drawings that leave me with a very deep impression. One of it is the windmill. Although the drawing/sign or abstract is very simple, it really portrays out what it really signifies. The other is on a type of flowers. Maybe someone may thinks that a simple representation of the flower using just simple drawing techniques doesn’t look good in the design point of view. But, I feel is that the abstract really portrays out what it really signifies. My design is also “awarded” with some comments. I only remember vaguely that my drawing is very simple and if there’s no outline casing given to the 2 simple shapes, a triangle & a square, no one is able to figure out that my abstract signifies or represents a remote controller. Hmm….. I think I can improve my drawing by drawing the outline or casing for the remote controller smaller in size, so that the abstract will look more proportional. I really hope to receive some more comments from anyone to improve my concept on what is really a “sign”. Thanks! =)

Brainstorming 2!!!

Now into the brainstorming stage for assignment 2 – “Making images Talk”. How to make images talk? He-he! What am I suppose to draw? This is the question that I have been asking myself ever since the 1st assignment. To find something that looks simple? If that’s the case, am I able to come up with 5 levels of abstraction for it? To find something that looks complicated, which has many details in it? Then won’t it be too complicated to draw or to understand?
I think a sign or symbol should be something that is simple to draw & anyone is able to figure out what it is without much difficulty. This is the focus point for me. I hope this is the “right track” for me. After looking around, there are a lot of things that I think is considerable for me. Discman player, watch, clock, hand phone, pager, remote controller, TV set, or even a shoe, etc.

A SYMOBL/ABSRTACT REPRESENTATION

After much consideration & draft drawing, I decide to pick remote controller to be my focus topic. I feel that the design of a remote controller can be a one that has many details in it or on the other hand, can be as simple as having only 2 buttons, the “play” & the “stop” buttons. My “route of advancement” is to come up with a sign that is simple and can be easily identified or understood by anyone.
I hope that this design has achieved that. But I don’t know if I’m on the right track or not. Hope to have some feedback during the upcoming tutorial lesson.

5-LEVELS OF ABSTRACTIONS

The 4th Lesson

Today’s lecture is about representations. There are 3 types of representations which are iconic sign, indexical sign, and symbolic sign. Each type has its own characteristics. For example, a photograph is a type of iconic sign, smoke is an example of indexical sign, while symbolic sign, the signifier does not resemble the signified.
Besides that, I have also leant that in each representation, there are different degrees of abstraction. Phew! Even a simple sign has so many details embedded or hidden in it.
Then we are given a classroom exercise, which is to come up with an iconic & indexic representation of an object.
Follow by that, we are given the 2nd assignment. That is to select an object and to draw out 5 levels of abstraction for that object, from realistic view to abstract view.

CLASSROOM ASSGINMENT 1

Please feel free to give commands as I'm not sure whether this drawing portrays the 2 representations correctly. Thanks.

A very unlucky tutorial (2nd)

Today is my 2nd tutorial. However, something bad happened to me! I am attacked by the ULTIAMTE FLU virus. As a result, I’m unable to attend this lesson. Why me? Why is me? No choice…… Hope everything will turn out fine for me. Also hope that every one will stay HEALTHY!

A Short Lesson 3

As usual, I reached the class 15 minutes before the lessons starts. After finding a place to sit, I took out my laptop and began to look through the lecture slides for today’s lesson. This lesson is about graphic applications, like image types, colour, resolution, and input and output. The lesson begins as usual where Julian starts to go through the slides for the day.
After going through a few slides, I feel that today’s lesson is very “dry”. It’s full of facts. Well, actually, I already know most of the facts but I still try to keep my focus on. However, when I gazed around the class, I can find some of us losing focus. Even I did. Ha-ha! (Because I started to look around)
The lesson goes on for about half an hour before Julian says that today’s lesson has ended. This lesson is a short one as there are only very few slides to go through. It is before 5.30pm that the lesson has ended. But before releasing us, we are told to come out with the final 2 designs by next week tutorial lesson. The final designs has to be done using Illustrator or hand-drawn.

My 1st NM2208 Tutorial

Today is the 1st tutorial lesson. At first, I thought the tutorial lesson will be held in a studio-like environment, something like an art studio. But to my astonishment, it is held in a computer-based environment.
Today’s lesson is a critique session whereby everyone will be given a chance to present their ideas and to get some feedback from students and the lecturer. At first, I thought this session will be a very “nasty” one as I feel that “critique” session means everyone will criticize badly or harshly and will not “give face” to anyone. But, after a few minutes of lesson, it turned out to be another way. Everyone is so nice and creative in giving solutions & ideas to each one’s design and even my lecturer, Julian joined in the conversation. It turned out to be an enjoyable one. It is also then that I found out my tutorial classmates are very creative in their own ways.
I also managed to get some feedback after I had presented mine. I still remember someone giving me the idea of adding some form of cash to my gambling design as listing out the games doesn’t portray much of gambling at all. There is also someone who pointed out that it doesn’t seems that I hate gambling as I am able to list out quite a few gambling games in my designs. Ha-ha!
Well, I really appreciate all the ideas that everyone suggests and I will try my best to change my designs. Last but not least, I also appreciate my lecturer, Julian, giving me some ideas for improvements of my designs after the lesson. Thanks, everyone! =)

THE FINAL VERSIONS

Brainstorming!!!

After days of brainstorming of ideas & drawings & re-drawings, I finally come out with 2 designs, each for something that I like/love & hate. The idea for something that I love comes more easily than the idea for something that I hate. Thus, I basically spend more time thinking of ideas for something that I hate. Actually, I didn’t have anything that I hate. At first, I wanted to present all 4 designs on something that I love, but in the end, I give up the idea. The reason is because I feel that designs for something that one loves is very different from something that one hates. The way of portraying & design would be quite different in nature too. Thus, I have decided to take up the challenge to design something that I didn’t quite like or oppose to.
After hours of brainstorming & considerations, I finally come out with the idea of gambling for something that I hate. Why gambling? The reason is that I personally didn’t like to gamble and I even have not bought 4D or TOTO before as I believe that anything must be earned through one’s hard work. If something comes by too easily, we will not learn to cherish it as much as when we earn through hard work.
As for something that I love, that’s definitely basketball. I have used the idea of stickman to portray my idea of basketball where there are 5 stick-men doing stunts found in basketball. Why 5 stick-men? Because in a basketball match, there are 5 persons in a team. The stunts or moves are shooting, passing ball, jumping for ball, etc. This idea didn’t come by so easily. I have done some research through the Internet trying to find some ideas related to basketball that I could use in my designs. As for the other idea, the gambling, I have decided to focus on the different types of games that can be used to gamble or found in a casino.

My 2nd Lesson

Today is my 2nd lesson of NM2208. As usual, the seminar room is already packed with students even though the lesson will only commence in another 10 minutes time. I think the reason is that everyone thinks that this is a very interesting course where we are allowed to express ourselves through drawing & to express our creativity, but at least, this applies to me.
This lesson is about what are some of the problems that a designer may face during the process of designing. First of all, one must be able to know or identify the problem and then to apply the most effective answer or solution to the problem. Despite all the theories that are taught in this lecture, I feel that there’s a point that I think it’s a very valid & important point to take note, but at least, to me. That is “Early solution concepts are often found to be less than satisfactory. (it is often more productive to ditch unsatisfactory concept solutions and start new)” and “Don’t fall in love with you first/early concept. Early solution concepts are often found to be less than satisfactory.”
After about half an hour of lecture, we are given our 1st assignment. The title of the assignment is “Me Myself and I”. We are asked to come out with 4 different types of designs for something that we like & hate. That’s 8 different designs altogether, 4 for something we like and the others are on something that we hate. However, there’s a small condition to take note and that is one should communicate the concept through manipulation of the letter in our name. Once all the instructions are given, all of us begin to brainstorm for ideas. It has been a long time since I saw so many of us focusing on doing something. He-he!
It is not long that I realized that I have not come out with anything after about half an hour or so. My brain just seems to run out of ideas and I am unable portray what I really feels. Everything seems so OUT for me. Then I began to gaze around, seeing that most of them have at least come out with some designs. Phew! Why am I still stuck with nothing? No matter how hard I try to think of something to draw, not even a stroke or so can been seen on my paper. It is then that I realized that I am done for the day. Maybe my ideas will come back soon or maybe tonight.
Well, I really admire those who are able to come out with some designs in this short 2 periods of lesson. Maybe I sill lacked the creativity to design & draw. Or maybe I am a slow thinker? Well, no matter what, I will still try my best even if I have to spend days to think of ideas. Just hope that I will have my ideas by tonight.

My 1st NM2208 Lesson

Today is my 1st lesson of NM2208. It’s a very sunny Friday late afternoon where most people had already gone out to enjoy their early weekend break. Just like any other modules, the lesson begins 5 minutes past 4. At first, I thought that this module is all about drawing well & creativity.
However, after a few minutes of introduction by the lecturer, Julian, I found out that this module is not all about how good one’s drawing is. It is about how well you can portray what you have drawn & the user or anyone is able to understand what you really want to portray. Moreover, I’m also quite surprised when Julian, the lecturer, asks us to come out with our own blog & to upload it to the module website. His explanation is that in this way, we are able to share our ideas with our friends and he is also able to know our progress in terms of work & personality. This is the 1st time I heard from a lecturer who encouraged us to come out with our own blog. Ha-ha!
After going through the necessary administrative parts, Julian begins with the introduction lesson by first giving us to look at 4 different types/angles of illustrations/pictures. Then after, he explains to us what his purpose of this exercise is. That is, once a person had already set his/her mind of a picture, no matter when or what type of perspective angles one is given later, he or she will tend to believe or place their judgment based on their past experience. I agree with this statement but it’s not always true, as for me, it does.
Last but not least, just about 1 hour before school ends for me, we are given a so called warm-up exercise to prepare for next week’s 1st assignment. That is to come out with a drawing that best describe yourself and personality. This is the 1st time that I have come across this type of exercise by using drawing to portray out one’s character & personality. But, I still try my best to accomplish it. In the end, I come out with a character with a pig head representing myself & is wearing a basketball jersey & a pair of Nike shoes as I like to play basketball & to jog. Then we are asked to present our ideas to Julian before leaving the class. It’s the 1st time after so many years that I once again saw a long queue. I still remember the last time when I queued up when I was still in secondary school. Wow!!! That’s a long time ago. I still miss those carefree days with my group of friends. I hope that I am able to pick-up some skills from this module so that it will aid me not only in terms of work but also how I looked at things. This is because there are times when I tend to overlook or find it hard to change my perspective of looking at things. Through this module, I hope to broaden my perspective views & ways of looking at things.