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.