STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Individual Practice & Final Illustrations

• I would say that I am proud and satisfied with the outcome of this project due to various reasons. One of the main reasons is being able to create something I am genuinely interested in. I have found that I enjoy working traditionally more effectively since I have yet to master digital media. From the previous module, I found that I quite enjoy creating animated illustrations, despite it being simple movements as it seems more inviting and suits the current modern trend (gifs, online platforms, social media etc)

• Currently, I could say that I am interested in branding, retail and those alike. But this is still indefinite. I am at a point where I really should start being more selective rather than wanting to do everything. I should focus more on developing my skills in image-making and simply create things I enjoy doing.

• Thoughts to carry-on for future projects: I would like to work on more content and crafting my illustrations/image-making. Less on wanting to make things for the purpose of aesthetics? I feel that I tend to dwell and overthink my own work which often cause the constant changes with my ideas or generally being stuck on a problem. I simply need to be more decisive and confident with my own work with the right amount of planning and ongoing evaluation. 

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - ICAF

Main Poster for their event (as well as the design of the
event book)

PPI LEEDS instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/ppileeds/?hl=en

• They've decided to go for a mixture of the plants theme and asked me to use the lino design I made of the Barong as it suits the 'culture' aspect of the event. They had said that it would be more appealing to the general public and reflects more of the main idea of the event (promote Indonesian Culture) 
• I honestly wasn't too happy with the designs since there were several restrictions, but they seemed to like it and decided to go for it. But for this brief particularly, I decided to push my designs further.

Event book

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Testing

Gif testing

• I decided to work with mythical creatures from our folklores and legends and create a more contemporary illustration out of it? This might be a more relevant imagery when promoting the festival and our culture.

mangkok ayam (chicken bowl) - tried to animate my lino print

Digital media? 

• This would be a more efficient and economical way of promoting the event in comparison to have printed posters. I imagine the moving posters could be showcased on screens, mobile phones or sent by email. 
• The next step is to work on 4 the designs/illustrations itself and then I could move onto trying to make gifs.

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Research

EXISTING EVENTS

Thought Bubble - https://www.thoughtbubblefestival.com/

WE THE FEST - http://www.wethefest.com/

• Looking through these festivals/fairs, it gave me the idea of creating designs for online platforms (aside from a digital poster) such as website banners. But also perhaps tickets or event guides that could be handed out during the event.

• For this project I have been working quite closely with the event organizers. But from what I have experienced working with them so far was that they were quite restricting (understandable due to budget etc.), so I plan on doing more for this brief that expresses my own interests as well. 

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Eko Nugroho, inspirations...

Mask 2, Embroidery and wire (2012)
Eko Nugroho

• 
  I have been looking at Indonesian patterns and cultural motifs, which would be the main concept of my project. Though I am quite stuck on what part of those motifs or themes that I would focus on. 

• For now, I thought of doing something with people and the society. But it made me think that the target audience (which is generally non-Indonesians) might not understand the cultural references/relevance. 

old stamps I found at home

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Initial designs for ICAF

• They wanted basic designs for their promotion (mainly for their social media and a few flyers) and I pitched in these few designs. They aren't the best clients since they have been quiet uncommunicative and unclear about what they want. But I thought that I would just pitch in a general concept and let them decide. 

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Group Crit & Things to do?

• From today's crit I felt that I need to do more research into specific imagery or elements that may inform my designs as I don't want to simply create patterns without any meaning/purely serves as aesthetics.

• That and I think working on actually creating and developing those imagery/elements may be a good way to start. Perhaps that way I could visualize what the designs might potentially be.

INDUSTRY RESEARCH

• I particularly looked into the merchandising and branding side, which is something I am interested in after researching into this industry. What I noticed is that it is quite audience/client driven as it generally caters to the consumers. Thinking about the design for any packaging or retail is essential for giving the product/company an identity as well as make things look appealing to the market. 

• In a sense, packaging and retail is a combination between art enthusiasm and perhaps general business knowledge. It is a very broad area as it covers a range of applying illustration, from homeware to beer bottle labels. This is rather a new market to me that I never really ventured into. But it is a possible platform to showcase illustrations.

• I never envisioned my work applied to packaging, merchandising or retail and I personally think that it would be an interesting change. I may or may not enjoy it, but it is something I need to explore further.

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Starting point

Le Petit Néant ID (2013) from Nicolas Ménard on Vimeo.

• The progress tutorial had been very helpful in terms of focusing my personal project. I am already taking part in a collaborative event (2-days exhibition/event) with the Leeds Indonesian Student Association. I would look most likely into event branding? Perhaps simply propose designs for their event, which would be their decision whether to use my designs or not. 

• After the discussion, rather then designing for print since it would require some budget, I could perhaps consider creating designs for digital platforms. Perhaps create a short animation that could be emailed to the visitors or perhaps place on the union's webpage? I really enjoyed creating the STING and it was something that I would like to continue further for this project.

• Though I think that my next steps are to plan my days of research, testing and production. Also to be a little ambitious about this project.

Other useful sources 

True Soul of Indonesia by Nicholas Berglund - https://vimeo.com/134298941

The Jungle Book poster by Daniel Danger - https://mondotees.com/blogs/news/new-poster-release-the-jungle-book-by-daniel-danger
Short animation inspiration - Louie Zong

Pool Vibes - Louie Zong, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuCy-NUfibA

STUDIO BRIEF 1 - Live Brief 

• Initially I thought that this brief was rather simple and direct. Instead I found it quite challenging because of the lack of restrictions (quite vague) and responding to the requirements: design for the gallery and have it cater to children, adults and tourists.

• Though thinking about the content in particular was difficult. The planning itself took longer than actually creating the actual products. I found myself being rather selective of what to illustrate due to wanting to meet the brief requirements but also follow my own interests. Also I had to consider the fact that the illustration could be turned into a coloring poster. 

• I decided to particularly focus on the artists that are exhibited in their gallery rather than the artwork itself since it seemed more appealing and that it might be educative -enriching. This is more of a personal judgement, but I am not too keen on old paintings and majority of their collections are in their archive. Another challenge was inclusivity -providing a range of artists and makers as I discovered along the way that the artworks in the gallery are male dominant (as expected from pre-raphaelite paintings).

• But overall this live brief had mainly been for experience: developing my skills further, meeting deadlines and responding to design problems/briefs. It was worthwhile. I feel that I also should be more active within and outside the walls of the institution by taking in more opportunities such as live briefs or commissions. 

Industry Research - Branding & Packaging

Event Branding - Chandesh Tk 
https://www.behance.net/gallery/41790161/Event-branding-template-An-essential-set-for-S73

Packaging

• Asian demographics: higher demand on packaging & retail due to tradition and what would generally be ingrained within society -customer expecation

• It is also considered as an additional touch of luxury

Branding 

• Why: creativity and market value? An area where unique packaging/branding has a power advantage and significance in drawing consumer's attention. Also it can benefit on the production sales

• In a way it combines art enthusiasm with business knowledge

Things to consider

• Know it's purpose and meaning for the clients

• Eco-friendly options?

Event production, Branding/Identity - KastorandPollux
http://kastorandpollux.com/honesthustle/ 

Illustrations by Dani Roche


Japan and the art of packaging

http://www.euromonitor.com/packaging-industry-in-japan/report
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/xd573w/japans-excessive-packaging-fetish-299
Useful sites on marketing and branding
https://www.inc.com/joshua-conran/why-your-product-s-packaging-is-as-important-as-the-product-itself.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/onmarketing/2014/07/23/the-five-things-product-packaging-must-do/#64c2e8ab3ac4
http://www.creativebydefinition.com/about.html

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - Project Proposal

Feedback!

• As my peers suggested I should keep testing out different media, however from the things I have tried so far, I am leaning more towards paper cut-outs and/or digital media. I thought that this was the most effective in terms of illustrating through shapes and block colors. I should now perhaps decide on three main designs to work on.

Researching - Artists, sculptures, craft, fashion 

Don't Look at the Finger (2017)
- short film by Hetain Patel

• The gallery's archive is a whole lot more beneficial for research as they provide more variety and selection of work, from ceramics to paintings. Something I personally wish were displayed more at the actual gallery. 

• A challenge I came across: there aren't as many female as male artists' works displayed in the gallery. This was something I should consider when composing the poster (to at least have some diversity) 

Roman Muradov - Digital Illustration: Drawing with shapes and layers

Roman Muradov - Illustration 2017

• After the previous module I really enjoyed the aesthetic of screenprints and it is interesting to see Roman Muradov producing similar textures and aesthetic digitally. I would like to further investigate his process of illustrating through digital media, simply using shapes and layers.

GOALS FOR 504 - Applied Illustration

• What would I bring forward from 503? I would like to do more research/content based work. Perhaps also combining both analog and digital way of illustrating, for instance using print method for textures and then create illustrations on Photoshop. 

• During the last module, I felt that I had mainly been out of my comfort zone by trying different production methods (relief and screen printing, publication). This time, I would like to focus on my interests and strengths, further developing them. However I would not stop challenging myself since it helped me select my interests and dislikes. 

• Things to accomplish by May? I suppose the complete the live brief before spring break, invest time in testing and developing. But as well as start with the the individual brief, thinking of what I would like to do and where it lies/shape my practice.

Module completed!

PROJECT PROPOSALS - Studio Brief 2 & 3

• There were a few things that I altered along the way and didn't completely followed the project proposal. The feedback given was that my designs may look more complete if it were compiled into a publication. After testing it out on photoshop, it felt and appeared to make more sense -having this sort of flow.

•  It wasn't much of a difficult decision to change the final product from the 5 prints to a publication. The only concern I had was time. It was close to the end of the term that I made the last minute choice. 

MOVING PICTURES - Reflective Piece

With the set prints and images, this particular brief wasn't too difficult to approach since I simply reused the prints and animated a few things. It was an interesting experience since it was my first time using After Effects as I am already quite accustomed to film editing with Premiere Pro. The concept of animating with AE isn't too foreign. However, animating an illustration is completely new to me. I realized that the mechanism is similar to a GIF, but slightly different. 

Improvement? I felt that I should have experimented with a simpler movement, such as a scrolling animation. Perhaps it wouldn't feel as crowded? Though I do hope the main idea of a journey was successfully communicated. Initially the idea was quite complicated and I was having a few difficulties figuring out how to animate that particular scene. That was when I thought that simplifying it was the only solution and that it should be enough to coherently convey the message. 

If I were to have the opportunity, I would try and apply animation or GIFS into my practice since I enjoy the process of designing illustrations with a narrative. Also having movement in my illustrations somehow brings them to life -adds dynamic even with minimal animation. Being able to animate illustrations is a useful skill to learn since it might be helpful when creating work for an online content or digital platform which is starting to become common (the future is here).

PRINTED PICTURES - Reflective Piece

There were a lot more decision making in this brief, in comparison to the first: 

• Initially I was not sure if I should insert text or a quotation in the concertina. Though after I included texts, it gave some sort of context and not simply be images. I then thought of conveying Murakami's philosophy of life and the seashore being a metaphor of a journey of self-discovery (Kafka on the Shore)
• A great opportunity for me to work with InDesign and screen printing, in which I wasn't too comfortable with. I actually enjoy the process and it is an efficient method of creating multiples. The final outcome appears cleaner but still having those printed textures. 
• First time making a concertina and it could have gone wrong, but it didn't thankfully. The individual prints looked more connected as a publication. There is this narrative going on especially having those little Murakami's travelling across the prints.
• Time management was essential for this particular brief. Planning ahead and booking slots helped with productivity and efficiency in the printing process. Bookings in the print dungeon and the print room got rather full towards the Christmas break. 
• Room for improvement? Yes. If I were to be meticulous, I had hoped to crease and fold the pages for the concertina more so it would be cleaner and crisp. I would also have tried a different paper stock as this might be a bit thicker than I initially expected. Though I am satisfied with the matte finish as it suits the softness and desaturated nuance.

Overall, I am very satisfied and it is a very refreshing project in terms of being able to try things that I rarely done. I was given results that were mostly unexpected, which made me do more experimenting and tests which was insightful.

IDEA PICTURES - Reflective piece

There were a lot of decision making to get to this point. But I eventually decided to go with this set due to a few reasons: 

• It is quite a strange approach in terms of an editorial piece to have a single image, though it works as a set
• The colors, atmosphere and storytelling suits Murakami more than the other pieces
• It conveys quietude and loneliness better 
• It was an opportunity for me to work with space and composition, in which I thought I wasn't too confident about. Though I actually quite like the simplicity of utilizing space in my illustrations

A common feedback given was to create them digitally. Personally, I wouldn't change much with this editorial project as I am generally satisfied with the outcome. I thought that it would lose the 'handcrafted' look and softness of the (slightly) wonky shapes if it were purely done digitally.

I would go with my peers' suggestion of scanning in the final images and perhaps clean up a bit with a digital software. It turned out quite well with the first set of illustrations. Perhaps I could try creating the figures with Illustrator or Photoshop. Other than that, I relatively agree with the comments left during the mega crit in regards of the composition, space, simplicity and narrative. Thus what I was trying to convey was successful!

I decided to go with this piece for this particular set instead of the other was because of the opportunity to use print media. Now thinking about it, I feel that the other design would work quite well with lino or screen print, with simple layering of colors and shapes but at the same time get that organic, authentic textures. This is something that I'd like to consider for the next brief.