Design DPJ 3 - What's A Good Hanging Mobile

Concept Art of Jessie and her owner, Emily

This design journal is actually a pin-up tutorial for us to explain our idea process for the final Design assignment. Ms. Delliya is my tutor for this journal.

This is my first time having this type of journal submission as in a form of crossover between idea journal and presentation. I was confused on what to show or submit for the session. However, critical and creative thinking skills help me in completing this journal.

It is no doubt that there will be more submissions like this in the future as I enter degree in university. Thus, I must be more prepared.

Design DPJ 2 - Exploring the Keywords

Sketches of Jessie by Pixar

In this journal, we need to come up with 2 or 3 keywords that best describe the lego character. Next, we need to research about those keywords and translate them into design elements. Lastly, 2 or 3 A4 artworks are to be produced from those keywords.

The keywords I select that best describe my toy character, Jessie, are:

• Adventurous
• Joyful

This journal requires us to translate keywords into artworks without potraying the lego character directly. So, I had to think and justify the relations between the keywords and design elements.

However, this journal really need brainstorming to force ourselves to think out of the box. It could be trained as how good designers and architects are.

Design DPJ 1 - Understanding the Toy

Initial drawing of Jessie 

The first design journal requires us to choose a lego toy character and research about it. Hence, I went to One Utama to hunt for a new lego character. At last, I found Jessie as my toy character! Due to limited knowledge about Toy Story, I had to do a lot of research about Jessie. 

Research had carried out, I had studied about the information related to Jessie which includes her physical traits, background story and personality. 

As one of the well-know Disney and Pixar movie, there is definitely many things to learn about Jessie. I understood more by researching and studying about Jessie independently, 

Design Project 2B - Toy Display

Hanging Sculpture by James Cohan 

In this final project, we were required to create a representation in the form of a 3D toy display hanging sculpture for our Lego minifigure.

From the start of semester, we had already selected our toy for our DPJ for in-depth understanding over time. Besides the toy display hanging sculpture, 3 A2 presentation boards with orthographic drawings were a must.

The Brief

Jessie the Cowgirl from Toy Story is my toy character. Understanding her was a challenge, I was never interested in Toy Story series. After doing research, I found out that Jessie actually had a dark past. One of her major personality was being adventurous.

I've made a few mock ups sketches and finally decided to use ping pong ball as my hanging sculpture. By crashing the ping pong ball in different stage to show the journey of Jessie finding back the adventurous own self.  Adventurous basically means willing to take risks, fearless.

My Hanging Sculpture

Honestly, there is so much more to improve on my submission, especially on the model. It could have been done much better. Thus, I need to work smarter and harder to improve myself as I enter degree next semester.

This project really inspire me a lot. I've got to design a hanging display sculpture by looking at every aspect and thanks to the tutorial session, I'm satisfy with it. Apart from that, I learnt that design is not just about making something look aesthetically nice and interesting. It is also about making something functionable and fits well with the designated theme. 

Last but not least, I had learnt a lot throughout this module. It definitely aid me as I venture into architectural studies in the future.

Design Project 2A - Models

Intertwine - our word

This group project required students to translate the given words into shapes, forms, and materials and transforming it into a 3D geometric abstract art piece to suite a certain given word or phrase.

We are required to explore the given words and translate it into “design elements” and then using design principles to transform it into a 3D geometric art work. The end product will be a 3D artwork that instantly reflects the given word.

The Brief

For this project, our team was given the word "INTERTWINE" and had to design models that best express this word. First, we studied about the word and had a pin up session with our tutor. We will be presenting some sketches and nine of our artworks during the class. 

For the next tutorial session, we are required to create three plain models by use model boards and cut sandwich boards as their base.

The models we created.

On the following tutorial class, we duplicated 3 models with different materials such as cardboard, sponge and mixture of cardboard and sponge.

The result of our exploration of different materials.

Next, we proceeded and work on the remaining 4 models which included the final hanging model. Asides from building the models, we also touch-up the previous models.

The model built using other variety of materials.

Finally, our final hanging model! It made up of balsa wood with the colour of black and brown to show contrast of the intertwine point. 

PRESENTATION DAY

On 8th of May, we arranged arranged all our models and presentation board before our tutorial session. Working towards the final model became increasingly stressful, but we still managed to finish it together as more hands make the work go faster.

After all, everyone's ideas were great but sometimes in order to strive better and attain a stronger bond among the team is to compromise.

Models with presentation boards.

Throughout the whole process, we managed to come up with sufficient ideas to complete this assignment. However, I felt that this project is just the beginning of everything. There is still a lots more for us to learn and improve.

As a team, we got to discuss about the best way to do all of the models. We managed to represent systematic on 3D models and apply the design principles and elements.

Although we are receiving good feedbacks from many other people, but the lecturers did not quite agree with our design concept. The final model is not strong enough to bring out the meaning of the word "INTERTWINE". However, what I think is most important for this project is the process, not the outcome.

Design Project 1B - Daily Items

Connectivity

For the second part of Project 1, we will be concentrating on familiarising design principles through composing simple art work using simple daily items. Both parts are basically dealing with 2D artwork.

In a group of 4, we are required to create nine simple artworks using daily materials to show our understanding of design principles. The artworks are on 9 A4 size bases.

As final submission, we need to display all nine artworks as one artwork and included 2 A2 presentation boards that explain about the design principles, concepts and ideas that is on each artwork. The presentation boards must be hand written and hand drawn. 

The Brief

For this project, I teamed up with Cindy, Lee Ning and Man Kit. We received the material "raffia string". Before doing the artwork, first we need to do research about the characteristic and function of raffia string. 

After discussing with my group mates, we decided to use blue raffia string. We explored our material and come out with "CONNECTIVITY" as our theme for the artworks. Since we were given raffia string, it is best to do weaving. We also had to learn the weaving methods. Also, we actually got to train ourselves to practice weaving.

PRESENTATION DAY

The date for submission and presentation falls on 3th of April. During presentation, we managed to nailed every artwork as we deeply understand the correct way to represent the design elements and principles of each artwork. 

Our ARTWORKS

Our PRESENTATION BOARDS

I learned that the right concept can lead a project, structuring every detail and connection until all holes are sealed. We really saw the idea grow into artworks with constant development.

I feel honored to able to succeed this project with the help of my fellow group members. Also, I feel that we are really a team, as we will discuss before doing. We manage to divide our job well on the artworks as well as the boards. 

Individually, I had fully understood all the design principles and ways to apply them in a practical way. Overall, lots to improve in the future although we did not really well in this project.

Design Project 1A - Sketching Design Elements & Principles

In Project 1A, we will be knowing the basic design elements through observing nature and built environments by sketching the apparent and concealed design elements in nature. This prepares us for Project 1B, which concentrates on familiarising design principles through composing simple artworks using simple daily items.

Individually, we are required to observe nature and built environment and sketch our finding, interpret them on A5 art block paper, for a total 10 sketches, and another piece of A4 artwork inspired by nature, we are to include a explanation page behind every artwork to further explain the artwork.

The Brief

To explore more about design principles and elements, a field trip to Taman Botanic, Putrajaya was organized. The trip was held on 7th of January 2015.

My Sketches

Elements and principles are literally everywhere. By noticing the details of both built and natural environments, I tried to be more observant about my surroundings and be inspired by them.

While selecting photos and elements to sketch for this project, I had struggled for quite a long time as I had to choose photos that fit in the designated themes with strong justifications. Also, they have to be visually-appealing.

I really enjoyed this project although my sketching skill is not that good. It was satisfying seeing the outcome of my own work overall. Lots to improve though. Looking forward to future sketching!

Social Psychology Assignment 3

In this assignment, it consisted of 2 components which include making up a video clip by incorporating the concepts learned in class and writing a report of the clip. Also, presenting the clip to the class.

This assignment allows students to recognize and identify the connections among concepts and perspectives within psychology and with other disciplines.

Our Video

Our Presentation Slides

Our Report

Working with equally enthusiastic, determined and energetic friends made me enjoy this process to the fullest. Exploring our creativity in conveying realistic messages through a video medium was a great way in exposing our hidden talents, accompanied with other components.

As everyone had their own schedules and conduct assignments, it was rather difficult to coordinate the whole team. However, we still managed to complete this assignment as a team.

Social Psychology - Assignment 2

Example of a comic strip

In this second assignment, in a group of 5, we are required to draw a comic strip. We need to create a short sequence of drawing that included 5 social psychology concepts. The comic strip must be drawn on A3 drawing block.

Our Comic Strip

Our Presentation Slides

Creating a comic strip requires creativity and critical thinking skills. These skills are necessary when it comes to solving problems in real life.

By creating this comic strip, I hope that the viewers can understand more about the social psychology concepts mentioned and be more aware of them.

Social Psychology - Assignment 1

The first project requires student to write a journal by incorporating the concepts learned in class. The journal is designed to assess students’ ability in applying theories and concepts to their personal lives and that of others. 

We were to produced a journal which integrates our personal experiences with the 5 concepts each which was taught in class.

Individual Journal

This individual journal is like a diary which I had tried hard to recall back what I had done in the past which integrated and related to the psychology concepts used in this subject.

After completing this journal, it made me realise that what we did in the past or present now actually relates to one another and there is always an explanation behind the act or behavior reflected by a person through certain social psychological theories and concepts.