DESIGN PRINCIPLES // PROJECT 2 : Sense of Place

23.05.2022 - 03.06.22 / Week 9 - Week 10

Lim Yi Xvan 0354552

Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

---

Instructions

fig 1 - refer to page 8 and 9

---

Week 10

On week 9 and 10, we were advised to watch the pre-recorded lecture video for our project 2 - Sense of Place and may kick start our progress.

In this lecture, we were taught that design via visual communication and so that it's important for us to be observant when in designing. Being observant is to be attentive about our surroundings and analyse the details in it. We might some how get inspired from them and get design ideas.

Observing is an act of receiving information from the senses, of one in its natural setting. Our senses are vital for us to create arts as we get to know, feel, understand and analyse.

We may start exploring on places that we like or we've been through that gave us a unique feelings or memory then express them in our own way.

---

Visual Research

For this lecture, we were asked to observe the surroundings around us and explore on places that we want to express with our own idea and feelings.

So I decided to work with the place --- ocean. For me, I'm an ocean lover, whenever I think of ocean, the first word that got into my mind is the word peace. With this idea, I searched up on Pinterest and look on how usually people express the ocean in their way. Here're few research I found on Pinterest of the place ocean.

Using Line Art:

With using line art, it could show the movement of the waves in the ocean with just using line which applied the design principle of movement.

fig 1.1 - ocean in line art from Pinterest

fig 1.2 - ocean in line art from Pinterest

fig 1.2.1 - ocean in line art from Pinterest

Using Collage Form:

In collage form, they used different materials, textures and colours to create the layers of the ocean.

fig 1.3 - ocean in collage form from Pinterest

fig 1.4 - ocean in collage form from Pinterest

fig 1.5 - ocean in collage form from Pinterest

Using Photography:

Photography is the most direct way to present something with just a snap of the scene infront. We can express the moment/place we want with photography. However, the mood in the photography may affect how the viewers feel.

fig 1.6 - Photography of ocean  from Pinterest

fig 1.7 - Photography of ocean  from Pinterest

fig 1.8 - Photography of ocean  from Pinterest

---

Design Process & Idea Exploration

For this project, I wanted to express the ocean in my way. Due to covid, I haven't went for diving for about 3 years and I miss it a lot. Whenever I think of it, I feel peace, chill and in my own world. I'm so obsessed with the emotions that the ocean brought to me. 

While scrolling through Pinterest, I saw these two artworks which I think it bring out the sense of chill for the place.

fig 2.1 - Art of girl sitting by the ocean  from Pinterest

fig 2.2 - Art of girl sitting with hair of space  from Pinterest

With the inspiration above, I think to create something similar but in my own way. So first of all, I took a pic of me sitting and then mask it out in Adobe Photoshop.

fig 3.1 - Pic of me sitting being masked  in Photoshop

Next, I used a photograph I took 3 years back when I was at a place called NhaTrang, a city near the ocean in Vietnam. Then for that, I wanted to make a background of sunset and me sitting with the flow of ocean when I think of it. So here're the progress.

fig 3.1 - Photograph of ocean took by me in NhaTrang

fig 3.2 - Progress of masking for background in PS

As shown above, I mask the background with a curvy flow just to place the ocean in it then with me placing on the edge and here's how it looks with the basic layout.

fig 3.3 - Basic layout for my sense of place project

Then, I showed this to Dr.Jinchi for feedback. After received her feedbacks, I then added up stuffs inside to make the whole thing more interesting. 

First, I find curve lines from web to place both on the sky and wave so it would bring out the principle of movement. And here's how it looks like.

fig 3.3.1 - Movement pattern done masking

fig 3.4 - Movement applied on artwork 

I changed the blending option of sky movement to soft light also applied noise on it and ocean waves to pin light and also make some adjustments on the hue/saturation. I still think that it's kinda blank for the sky area so I added some birds flying as Dr.Jinchi has suggested me too.

fig 3.5 - Birds flying applied on artwork 

I adjusted their opacity respectively so that they're well blended with the artwork. 

Before I decided to work with this, I actually did with some attempts. Here're the few attempts I've done previously.

fig 4.1 - Simple Illustration done 

fig 4.2 - Different movement of birds applied

fig 4.3 - Different pattern movement of waves applied

I lastly chose fig 3.5 and make adjustment on the color balance, hue/saturation, levels and curves for better visual. Besides I also removed the dissolve effect I used at first place as it makes the artwork too 'dirty'.

---

Final Outcome

fig 5 - Final Outcome for Sense of Place
           

For my final outcome, it's fig 3.5 but done with some adjustments. Why would I chose to express ocean and in such way. It's because ocean give me the sense of feeling, it's just me in my own world, the sound of the waves bring me chill, peace, freedom and joy. I feel calm. Whenever I'm stressed out and upset, I always went to beach viewing. Seeing the ocean and with listening to the sound of waves slapping to the sand, all my sadness and stress will disappear. The birds flying also represent to the meaning freedom.

I've applied three principles in this design which are contrast, balance and movement. The balance and contrast is from the sky and the wave for their colours and the curves separated them equally. Then for the waves and skies, I applied flowing lines to create movement and also the birds flying. 

---

Feedbacks

Week 10: I presented my idea for this project with the inspiration given by fig 2.2. Dr.Jinchi said it's not acceptable to recreate the same thing with same layout as this will be marked as plagiarism. She said that maybe I can use the idea and make it in my own way instead of using the same layout and hair expanding with space.

Week 11: I then showed my outcome for both fig 3.4 and fig 4.1 and seek for her advices on which to work out with and any improvements to be done to make them better. Then she asked me to decide which to work with and I chose fig 3.4 then she asked me what I likes about it and what I don't like about it. I said I think that it's too simple but I like how the tones and vibes that brings me chill. She then referred that it looks visually balance to her. Also, she said It's not stated that you must create a design that is bombastic (what if it does not reflect your sense of place?). The core is it must reflect your sense of place and that you have applied the design principles knowledge well. I would not change much to this design except perhaps add a bit of excitement in the horizon at the back. 

---

Reflection

At first, I think that this project was easy as it's just we need to draw out a place. But then I was wrong as it's to express a place on how we sense on that and express them in our own way. I was kinda scared to be honest, as I'll get parted away from the objective of this project and make something that aren't related. But then after few advices given by Dr.Jinchi, I slowly got what is the meaning for this project. I have no idea at first spot to express on what and how as I saw all my peers they're expressing the place by drawing them out. But I think it's not how I want to express it by drawing it out like that. So I rethink of the topic, I then think of ocean. 

However, I don't know how to express ocean in my way, I just know that whenever I'm stressed, I think of ocean then I'll feel chill and better. So I created a basic layout like fig 3.4 and 4.1 above which I think it's super unpresentable to public because it's so ugly and like kid's art hahaha. Then I got feedbacks from Dr.Jinchi then I know how to make my art more interesting. I used Photoshop to create artwork this time as I'm not sure what to draw and how to draw in the way I want to express. Then I saw collage art from Pinterest so why not try haha. 

Throughout this project, I learn to sense the place in more deeper emotions and feelings. I guess everyone has their own specific places that give them different senses. And so am I. Some might think of their home, kampung or places they travelled to but for me I think of place that comforts me on the most of my bad time. I also get to improve my masking skills through this project hahahaha and also know more on how to function Photoshop compared when I first started uni with 0 basic.