Design Principles - Project 1: Self-Portrait
21.09.2022 - 14.10.2022 / Week 4 - Week 7
Lim Rui Ying / 0358986
Design Principles / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 1: Self-Portrait
LIST
Instructions
LECTURES
WEEK 4
Dr Yip briefed us about the second assignment - Project 1:
Self-Portrait. We were asked to watch the lecture video first before
we start this project.
WEEK 5
Dr Yip has gone through everyone's mindmaps with us. I have seen amazing
mindmaps from my classmates and their perspective about themselves. Dr Yip
advised us to choose one or two aspects from our mindmap to create our
self-portrait and note that the art style we decide should be reflecting the
aspect(s) chosen.
WEEK 6
Dr Yip mentioned the deadline and the submission requirements in case we
are unaware of them. She reviewed our sketches and discuss what we want to
express in our self-portrait with useful feedback.
WEEK 7
Dr Yip reminded us again of the due date and submissions which are this
particular blog link and a JPEG file of our self-portrait. She then
reviewed our progress work and gave us comments on our work to finish up
our self-portrait. Due to the coming deadline, Dr Yip allows us to send
her our adjusted progress work in private messages to proceed to the final
self-portrait.
INSTRUCTIONS
Project 1: Self-Portrait
RECAP OF PROJECT 1 BRIEF
We are to create a self-portrait in this project. I have divided this
project into five parts:
a. Mindmap
Before we start to sketch our ideas, we have to get to know more about
ourselves first. We are assigned to create a mindmap about ourselves
concluding our experiences, including our family, personalities, school
days, favourite things, etc. We can also include our surroundings, such as
buildings, people, plants, nature and activities. We could record our
experiences in any materials like sketches, photography or videos.
We are advised to choose one or two aspects only from our mindmap that
best express ourselves to create the self-portrait.
b. Research for visual references
We have to do research to discover the art styles that can match the
aspect(s) we have chosen to express ourselves well. When researching
visual references, we can search for the art styles we would like to apply
instead of just searching the keyword 'self-portrait'.
c. Refined sketches
We are assigned to come out with several refined sketches for this
project. We have to apply the design principles in this design and note
that the Balance design principle should be applied as good artwork must
achieve BALANCE.
d. Idea explorations
From the experience of the previous exercises, I am aware to do more
explorations by making more different attempts to discover more ideas and
decide on the best idea for the final design.
e. Final design and rationale
The final design could be in any material either in physical or digital
form which could express ourselves best. We have to write a rationale for
our final design to explain what our self-portrait is about.
Feedback and Reflection
We should record the feedback given by the lecturer and write a reflection
for each particular week.
DESIGN PROCESS
1. Visual References
I like the art style of the illustrations by the illustrators (Fig. 1.1,
1.2 and 1.3). The illustrations have a similar art style that is simple
and harmonious which I would like to apply in my
self-portrait. I also referred to the illustration by pipi (Fig. 1.2) that indicates
self-hug or self-love.
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| Fig. 1.1 Illustration by ZOU XIAOSEN |
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Fig. 1.2 Illustration by nana (@lazy.nana) *This post has been deleted by the illustrator |
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This artwork uses messy lines to create a body shape of a man which is emotional and represents a mess. I would like to use messy lines in my self-portrait, indicating my messy thoughts.
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I referred to the waves in this illustration which is the element of
nature I want to include in my self-portrait.
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| Fig. 1.5 The Ocean of Story, illustration by Lim Heng Swee (@limhengswee) |
I also intend to figure out a different style of indicating inner conflict.
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| Fig. 1.6 Illustration by Ana Godis, from Pinterest, Week 6 |
2. Idea exploration and description
WEEK 4 / mindmap
After the look through all the mindmaps of my classmates, instead of
using the mood board-style mindmap, I create a new mindmap with only
texts that can express myself directly. I remained on the mood board as
a part of my idea exploration.
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| Fig. 2.1 Mindmap, Week 5 (4/10/2022) |
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| Fig. 2.2 Mood board, Week 4 (27/9/2022) |
I first sketched out a common portrait that referred to the art style
from the visual reference above.
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| Fig. 2.3 Sketch of a portrait, Week 5 (4/10/2022) |
DESIGN #1
I create a simplified portrait sketch and apply it in sketch #1. I took contradictory/inner conflict from the aspect of personalities and nature from the aspect of things I like to apply in my design. In this sketch, I apply the design principles of Balance and Contrast.
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| Fig. 2.4 Sketch #1, Week 5 (4/10/2022) |
I use the simplified portrait sketch in sketch #2 as well. This design is about self-love which I chose from the aspect of personal goals. I also apply nature elements of waves and plants. This sketch shows the design principles of Balance and Movement. I would also like to apply the Harmony & Unity design principle in my design by using analogous colours for this design.
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| Fig. 2.5 Sketch #2, Week 5 (4/10/2022) |
WEEK 6 / progress work
I redrew my sketch and came out with another design of a
self-portrait.
I drew a variation sketch from sketch #3 changed the facing directions of the girls and added a heart shape at the back. Sketch #3 is the combination of the idea of sketches #1 and #2, indicating inner conflict and self-love.
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| Fig. 2.6 Sketch #3, Week 6 (10/10/2022) |
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| Fig. 2.7 Digitised sketch #3, Week 6 (10/10/2022) |
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Fig. 2.8 Attempt #1 (with colour attempts), Week 6
(10/10/2022) |
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Fig. 2.9 Attempt #2 (with colour attempts), Week 6
(10/10/2022) |
DESIGN #2
This is another art style of expressing inner conflict. The idea
is inspired by Ana Godis's illustration (Fig. 1.6). I have
tried several colour attempts.
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| Fig. 2.10 Sketch-01, Week 6 (10/10/2022) |
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Fig. 2.11 Digitised sketch-01, Week 6 (10/10/2022) |
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| Fig. 2.12 Attempt-01 (with colour attempts), Week 6 (10/10/2022) |
WEEK 7 / finalised design
I decided to go for design #1 with just a single piece of self-portrait
instead of a series one. I made some adjustments based on Dr Yip's
suggestions and tried out several compositions which balance the red
area and the light brown area.
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| Fig. 2.13 Attempt #3 (with composition attempts), Week 7 (12/10/2022) |
From attempt #3, I chose the third one from the left to refine. I
added the flower headdress which I have drawn in sketch #1 and made a
slight adjustment to the red area.
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| Fig. 2.14 Attempt #4, Week 7 (13/10/2022) |
FINAL SELF-PORTRAIT
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| Fig. 2.15 Final Self-Portrait - JPEG, Week 7 (13/10/2022) |
Software: Adobe Illustrator
I believe everyone has their own's inner conflicts and struggles times
like an angel and a devil fighting in your head. I have them as well but
I encounter them most of the time. Thus, I intend to create a
self-portrait which indicates I am striving against the inner conflict
with self-love. This self-portrait is a reminder for me to put my messy
thoughts aside and avoid a fight between the 'angel' and the 'devil' in
my head. It reminds me to listen to the voices in my heart and take
action on what I want to do.
THE LITTLE GIRLS Instead of calling the little girls an angel and a devil, I called the left little girl 'the troublesome younger sister' which indicates the messy thoughts I always struggle with. The messy lines around her head indicate messy thoughts.
While the right little girl is called 'the warm-hearted elder sister',
indicating another me that trying to cope with the inner conflict and
make peace in my heart. The flower headdress creates a warm and peaceful
personality on her.
THE PLANTS The withered plants on the left indicate a mess
and hopelessness while the greeny plants indicate positivity and
liveliness.
THE FLOWER The heart-shape-like flower with mess-like
leaves indicates inner conflict and self-love.
Design principles applied
Balance the little
girls on each side, the red area and the light brown area are well
distributed
Gestalt Theory the
heart shape
Harmony and Unity
the colours used on both sides
Movement a flow
from the messy lines around the head of the girl to the mess-like leaves
FEEDBACK
WEEK 5
Dr Yip commented my mindmap was interesting, which was done visually.
The images might help me to get ideas for my self-portrait design.
WEEK 6
The girls in sketch #1 should be faced inside as sketch #1 is about
inner conflict. The directions of waves go in sketch #2 seem to indicate
inner conflict. Dr Yip's suggestion for me is maybe I can combine the
idea of sketches #1 and #2 and do more visual research on them.
WEEK 7
Sketch #3 is more unified compared to the previous sketches. However,
the upside-down little girl is a bit difficult to recognize. Dr Yip likes the way I create a heart shape without using the actual
heart shape in attempt #1.1.
Lecturer's suggestions (a series or a single piece of
self-portraits)
SERIES Dr Yip suggested attempt #2 could be a series of
self-portraits: the down little girl on the left side and the
optimistic little girl on the right side while a flower blooming in
the middle.
SINGLE PIECE Another option is to improve on the initial single piece which I
could rotate the upside-down little girl to an upright position. I was
also advised to make the flower grow from the vertex of the heart
shape as it is floaty. The last thing advised by Dr Yip is to make
some colour adjustments.
REFLECTION
WEEK 5
After the mindmap session with Dr Yip, I noted that my mindmap could be
better with more descriptions and aspects about myself such as my
physical appearance, my thoughts, strengths and weaknesses, etc that
represent me so that it is easier to create a design that expresses
myself most.
WEEK 6
I did not realize inner conflict should be expressed in an opposing
direction. I also did not realize the directions of the waves I created
can indicate inner conflict. Dr Yip's feedback gives me a new
understanding of the inner conflict. I realize I would have to consider
the compositions as all the elements are quite floaty. My understanding
of colours has to be improved as well.
WEEK 7
I find out that the vertical compositions are better compared to the
rotated one. I think it is important to try out different attempts and
variations for a design to get the ideal final outcome.
Final reflection
I found creating a self-portrait interesting and enjoyable. It is an
opportunity for me to find out myself - my personality, memories,
thoughts, etc. It is not about creating the classic self-portrait, but I
can express myself and my thoughts in my self-portrait in a modern
way.
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