PROCESS – STUDY BLOCK ONE
25TH SEPT'23 - 20TH OCT'23
WEEK 1: 25th – 29th Sept’23
25th September’23 - Process Brief and Introduction
25th September’23 - Process Brief and Introduction
Enrolled in a graphic design degree, I aimed to explore my horizons within the field. Coming to this course wanted me to explore the world of communication design. Although transitioning to a new town posed initial challenges, I found solace in its surroundings. This phrase marked a new chapter of my life that I wanted to explore.
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I was nervous about my first day of the course, especially concerning the uncertainty of my presentation's accuracy. But it was the opposite, the first half explained the course, a mini tour of the Falmouth campus, and the second was a brief and personal presentation.
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The Process module allows the design process to play a central role in the creative practice and aims to find how new methodologies and perspectives can add to the investigation of communication challenges, promoting the development of fresh and imaginative ideas. The focus point is to question how we create and set up the process models to make them vibrate with individual personal practice. The orientation part will begin with the initial journey. Along with this, there will be a basic introduction to standard sand models which will be essential for the course (Discover, Spark, Resolve, and Perform). The Exploration spans individual, global, physical and interdisciplinary process strategies through lectures and engaging practice.
The module's outset involves presenting one's creative process in any form. Uncertain about the content, I chose to craft an infographic detailing the inception and evolution of my creative journey. Unaware that we were to showcase our work, I initially hesitated, but the overall experience on the first day turned out to be positive.
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26th to 29th September’23 - Jyni Ong Workshop
We had a three-day workshop with visiting creative Jyni Ong, a freelancer Senior creative, writer, strategist, and consultant. She has a way of telling stories through visuals, and words and creating concepts for different sectors such as fashion, sports, advertising, etc. The workshop titled ‘Design as Storytelling’ was our first base to open ourselves through our personal stories into design. There are various ways of communicating storytelling in design medium and it gives you various directions.
The first task was to find personal writing that has something related to me and it can be anything such as a text message, email, image, etc. This text can tell anything from breaks up, birthday memories, first day in the university and so on. To begin with this task, there was a series of questions given to us so that the chosen piece had a personal meaning. The main aim of this workshop was to glean new insights about oneself from this piece of text.
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For this task, I had some personal stories which I could engage through my storytelling. I picked up the text from My sister. My sister and I share a close bond despite our 10-year age difference. I have taken on significant responsibilities in helping to care for her since her birth. She seemed to cope well when I left for my bachelor’s degree in the UK. However, upon my return from a 6-month stay in India, she began having trouble sleeping and feelings of isolation when alone. She reaches out to me frequently, often daily by messaging me, to express her concerns and share her struggles with sleep.
After selecting this piece of writing, now was the time to create a
proposal for the story I wanted to tell. This proposal can be rough or
finished, depending on the individual. It could be anything like a poster,
a mind map, or an idea. I was confused about what to make, as it must
be something that could be helpful for my sister. At first, I thought of
creating illustrations, but it would not help my sister. So, I shifted to
creating an interactive game.
I initiated my exploration by finding games aligned with my sister’s interests that also had calming effects. Given her penchant for drawing, I delved into games developed by Google and discovered two of them. The first, ‘Quick, Draw’, challenge the users to draw prompted objects in a 20-second time
frame, with an AI attempting to guess their sketch - a
captivating and calming activity. The second game,
Halloween 2016’s ‘Magic Cat Academy’ involves drawing
lines to alter a cat portrait wielding a wizard’s stick, aiming
to vanquish ghosts - an engaging way to unwind.
Another game that helps you sleep is 'Dream Walker’ which features a young sleepwalker named Anna, who embarks on diverse dream adventures. Meanwhile, I also remember the game 'Bubble Shooter' which centred on shooting the bubbles with the soothing sound of the bursting bubbles, which creates a joyful atmosphere. Transitioning my focus to colours, I explored the impact of hues on emotions, discovering that a colouring book app could effectively pacify the mind. My in-depth investigation into the psychological effects of colours revealed the specific emotions triggered by each colour.
After conducting thorough research, I got a concept for the proposal - a game design intended to enhance my sister’s sleep. The envisioned game depicts my sister in a monochromatic sleeping environment, surrounded by approaching bubbles.
The primary objective of the game is to fill these bubbles with positive emotions within a 20-second timeframe, each bubble representing a different emotion. The happier emotion is collected, the more colourful the bubbles become. The game is structured with three progressively challenging levels, each featuring an increasing number of bubbles.
My Reflection
I have a better understanding of how storytelling would be developed into visuals that I had never thought about. This workshop has offered a solution for my sister, and I'm eager to pursue the development of this game as it would be my first time creating a game .
WEEK 2: 2nd - 6th Oct’23
3rd Oct’23 - Lecture (Journaling) – Dwayne Roberts
Establishing a journal proves essential for documenting the evolving information around you and finding inspiration. In my second year of my bachelor’s degree, an important assignment was to chronicle everyday experiences and the work generated during the second semester.
Today’s lecture was delivered by Dwayne Roberts, an impressive MACD graduate currently pursuing a PhD, who shared insights on creating journals and demonstrated the utilisation of HTML code to create a website, a skill I remember learning HTML during my school days.
There were some key things which we needed to remember while creating a website to keep the carbon footprints low, such as judicious use of videos and minimising the number of images—details that I had not been aware could impact a website.
In line with my desire to showcase my personal branding style, I opted for WIX, a website platform I previously used for my portfolio. I plan to develop a website that incorporates both my portfolio and journal, continuing the practice I initiated.
6th Oct’23 – The Human Condition by Martin
Today marked the first lesson for our critical academic writing for this semester, and I am afraid of what I write in it. Each semester will entail the creation of three papers and Martin shared valuable insights to guide our initial steps and essay construction
The Literature Review segment involves delving into research by reading books, dissertations or journals and subsequently articulating findings. This process aids in the strategic planning of one's essay. George Orwell, in his 1946 article 'Politics and the English Language,' highlights the evolution of the English language over time.
Semiotics, the examination of signs and symbols, explores the meanings inherent in these symbols. According to semiotics, any element conveying a direct meaning is considered a sign. Roland Barthes, in his book 'Image Music Text,' particularly in the chapter on the rhetoric of the image, exemplifies this with the 'Panzani brand, which not only signifies its name but also conveys an additional meaning—a connection to an Italian city. The symbolic message, acting as a signifier, incorporates elements like tomatoes and peppers to promote its intended message in the poster.
When we think about the word ‘Methodologies’, it is essential to learn these two terms, that is, method and methodology. They are both often used to interchange but are different dimensions of research and scholarly inquiry. Methods encompass the techniques to conduct research, such as data analysis, whereas methodology is a systematic approach to the methods used.
From this initial lesson, I have gained a deeper understanding of terms that I had not previously considered. The key takeaway this week is the importance of immersing myself in critical reading and writing, laying the groundwork for future essays.
WEEK 3: 9th Oct – 13th Oct’23
9th Oct’23 – Process Progress
Following the workshop, my contemplation shifted towards my graphic design studies, where I found myself uncertain about my creative process. In my initial year at university, my emphasis was on idea generation and outcomes, with less emphasis on research, as I believed my outcomes were satisfactory. Progressing through my university journey, I encountered various briefs that necessitated a deeper understanding of the problems at hand, prompting me to incorporate more research. Subsequently, I began questioning my approach.
‘A recurring frustration arose from the observation that, in simpler projects, my research was commendable, but the outcomes fell short of my desired excellence. Conversely, in more intricate projects, while my research was deemed acceptable, the resulting outcomes proved to be successful.’
This inconsistency used to irritate me a lot. To unfold this issue, I began contemplating that each set of briefs presented unique challenges. As I tackled specific briefs, I felt an internal pressure to produce great ideas. Despite deeming an idea as valuable, a reluctance to express it emerged, fearing others might not appreciate it as much. This hesitancy led me to withdraw, closing myself off and withholding my ideas from others.
Having comprehended the challenges I confronted over the years, I aimed to infuse adventure and confidence into my design process, standing by my creations. My goal was self-improvement as a designer. I delved into researching the backgrounds of artists who boldly crafted unique works, unafraid to showcase their creativity.
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Jackson Pollock for his art piece ‘Drip Paintings’. It is presented by showing fewer pictures rather than fluid splashing everywhere on the canvas. When he describes his action-based process, Pollock says “When I am in my painting, I’m not aware of what I’m doing… I have no fears about making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own”. The critical response by Clement Greenberg says “I took one look at it and I thought, ‘Now that’s great art,’ and I knew Jackson was the greatest painter this country had produced.” His art has sparked debates about the meaning of frenetic style which had brought him fame. There are many other theories such as mental health struggles or his illness, etc.
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Yayoi Kusama for her ‘Infinity Mirror Rooms’. When you see the rooms her unique vision of creating multiple reflections portrays the artist's central themes like a celebration of life. When you see the Infinity Mirrored room filled with the brilliance of life (2011- 17), the most powerful thing about this are never-ending, boundless, experiences of colour and light. It is a space where the walls and ceiling of the room are mirrored, and the floor has a shallow pool of water. When visitors walk through this mirrored walkway surrounded by LED lights these lights flash in various colours which creates an infinity for the illusion of space.
These two artists employed unique methods to express their styles, distinct from the approaches of other artists. They possessed a clear artistic vision and displayed a fearless attitude in presenting their work to the public, without concern for judgment. Their confidence was evident, and they didn’t categorize their creations as either good or bad.
The primary objective I aimed to address was how to infuse enjoyment and intrigue into my design process, crafting a portrayal of myself as a designer unafraid to take creative risks.
The three questions which I wanted to portray are:
How Might I
challenge myself to show my work/
ideas to the public without feeling embarrassed?
How Might I
make my design process more fun
and interesting?
How Might I
challenge myself to be more adventurous and confident in my work?
After asking the question, I started looking into how confidently you can share your results with the public and show boldness.
A guide to being brave and creating bold ideas
Creative Director Lydia Pang on why bravery will have you creating your best work yet
According to Lydia Pang, Founder and Creative Director of creative consultancy Morning Studio, and formerly of Nike, Refinery29 and Anomaly, bravery is something we should all strive for. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, allowing you to be more innovative with your ideas and produce more interesting work.
Being brave creatively could be quite a challenge. When we are too comfortable with our creative output, then we cease to innovate. As a creative person, we need to have the energy and tools can challenge our ideas and ask us uncomfortable questions.
You have to loosen up and have fun in your process.
Piera Gelardi puts it, ‘play creates trust’. It gets us out of our heads, and it levels the playing field. The key is to find and lose yourself. If you want to push the brief you need to push beyond your normal context. So instead of wasting hours crumpled in a ball of solitude, get off your arse.
If you believe that something and know it then just start doing it, get that piece of work out and show it to the world and be brave. Then just stop and let evaluate your work and get feedback. It takes a braver person to put something out there but it takes ever more braver to observe and embrace the failure.
The design process is just like a story which has a beginning and an ending. It depends on how we want to begin or end the story.
“When we seek perfection, we’re less likely to take risks and more likely to procrastinate — which can stifle creativity and innovation.” — Unknown
As designers, we think that we are alone and it is our responsibility to create the best design solution. But it is responsible for the whole team. If we had the feeling of too much pressure on ourselves this could kill our creativity by exploring new paths.
“Creativity is more a collaborative art than a solitary one, no matter who wins the accolades or tweets what in response.” — Jeff Goins
Designing is more fun when you don’t take it seriously
After some reading, I began with idea generation for this module. I did some brainstorming sessions and wanted to get feedback from Bryan and Lizzy.
From this session, I selected the best three ideas, that is,
(1) Juice box Puzzle, (2) Ice cream with three layers and (3) Breaking down the Mugs/Plates to form something different.
(1)
(2)
(3)
10th Oct’23 – Tutorial
Upon sharing my concepts, the initial and final ones garnered approval. I was advised to explore these two ideas more, emphasizing the need to illustrate their interconnectedness within my creative process. With their guidance, I gained a fresh perspective on the ice cream concept. Instead of constructing three distinct layers of ice cream, I could now contemplate the selection of specific flavours or types of ice cream to integrate into my process. This could manifest as an ice cream roll or sundae, symbolizing various aspects of my creative journey.
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Motivated by this insight, I commenced research on the emotional associations with ice cream and explored unique flavours to incorporate into my work.
11th Oct’23 – Process Progress
Fashion designer Anya Hindmarch launched a unique venture known as
the Ice Cream Cream Project last summer, exclusively featured in her Belgravia store in London for a limited time.
Additionally, she incorporates iconic foods and drink logos, such as Coca-Cola, into her bag designs.
She says that “Making everyday things in an extraordinary way has always been a passion of mine and is the reason why I love to play with iconic brands. The Ice-cream Project sets out to challenge perceptions, working with the most sophisticated ingredients and recipes in an artful way.”
How did individuals respond to these flavours?
Twisted Foods expressed appreciation for the Kikkoman soy sauce ice cream, noting its well-balanced condiment blend. They likened its taste to salted caramel ice cream but with a subtly savoury undertone.
Monocle courageously opted for a scoop of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce and Heinz baked beans ice creams. They found the Heins baked beans flavour a tad too peppery but enjoyed its sweetness and protein-rich taste. Additionally, they bought a tub of the Mayonnaise flavour ice cream and took it to the Midori House, where the staff members had varied reactions to this unique flavour.
13th Oct’23 - Craft as Process
Last week, our assignment involved delving into reading and writing on Politics and the English Language 1946 by George Orwell. Immersing myself in the article not only provided insights into how the English language transformed that era but also shed light on the flexibility writers had in altering aspects of their writing. I found myself grappling with uncertainties about the correctness of my writing and the need to incorporate my perspective. Fortunately, the solution was to incorporate relevant quotes, and the rest of the writing fell into place seamlessly.
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Click this to read my Literature Review -
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Today’s session was about Craft as a Process, a topic that is quick and fascinating. As a designer, I had never gotten into the process of understanding how the craft was created in the early century and how I as a designer can relate this to the modern world. The difference between Workmanship of risk and workmanship of certainty is that, in the workmanship of risk, you cannot decide what will be the outcome and solely depend on the craftsman whereas, in the workmanship of certainty, the procedure is done in the standardised factory used methods. Reflecting on my design process, I recognized that it varies from project to project; for instance, crafting a logo involves an element of risk, as the final result is uncertain. However, if the logo turns out well, it can be confidently displayed everywhere, resembling the Workmanship of Certainty.
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The interesting part about this session involved a hands-on exploration of craftsmanship, prompting personal reflections. We divided into groups, each group had to examine a craft object, answering questions about its nature, creation timeline, and other pertinent details. My group was assigned a basket, speculating that it was likely used for gathering fruits or vegetables and crafted from bamboo. Despite being inscribed in Chinese, we surmised that it belonged to a married woman. Appreciating the intricacies of its craftsmanship, including the design of the handles, added a layer of depth to our understanding.
WEEK 4: 16th Oct – 20th Oct’23
16th Oct’23 – Process Progress
After presenting this concept, I received feedback suggesting a slight change. Instead of the ice cream stick, the suggestion was to transform it into an ice cream sundae, where each flavour would symbolise elements in my creative process. I had to experiment with different flavours to form a sundae, but I wondered whether the ice cream sundae truly captured the essence of combining diverse items to create a singular product. In my view, the process of working on projects mirrors this idea, starting with research and incorporating a blend of various elements to achieve the outcome.
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I thought of changing my idea of an ice cream sundae to:
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While the idea wasn’t terrible, I don’t enjoy making ice cream rolls as much. Forming them feels like a struggle, and it doesn’t quite align with my first scenario.
Ice Cream Roll
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I chose the Milkshake because creating it promises to be enjoyable, and the ingredients it entails convey my intended message more effectively.
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Now is the moment to determine the necessary steps for creating a milkshake.
Milkshake
The next phrase illustrating the process of making a milkshake. I examined an infographic detailing how to make a milkshake.
17th Oct’23 – Tutorial
I presented my approach to the project concept and the feedback I received included inquiries such as:
1. What scenarios do you plan to display?
2. What ingredients do you intend to include?
3. How do you plan to present your milkshake?
18th - 20th Oct’23 – Process Progress
Following the feedback session, I began contemplating which scenarios to present and, once identified, determining the appropriate ingredients for each.
Here are the two scenarios
First Scenario - Upon commencing with a briefing, I conducted standard research on the subject. While the concepts seem acceptable, the resulting outcome did not evoke the level of enthusiasm I had anticipated.
Second Scenario - Upon embarking on a project, I conducted thorough research, incorporating unconventional elements into the brief. While the ideas or ingredients may have seemed peculiar, the resulting outcome surpassed my initial expectations.
When determining the content, I intend to craft a stop-motion sequence within a video, gradually revealing the step-by-step process of the milkshake coming together. Before this, I had not ventured into the realm of stop-motion creation. Consequently, I initiated the initial storyboarding phase for the two milkshakes. Subsequently, I decided to film the process, merging the resulting stop-motion segments to produce a unified video that captures my conceptualisation of both milkshakes.
Storyboarding - Milkshake 01
Storyboarding - Milkshake 02
Final
Upon finishing the stop-motion sequences featuring two milkshakes, I decided to merge these creations to present my conceptual idea.
The following is my ultimate video