Infographic - How Things Work

I chose a recipe for this infographic as I find it interesting to have one instead of something related to Science/Geography.

Instead of just reading words for a recipe, it's a lot easier to have some illustrations and diagrams as well (especially for people who are more visual learners).

Comments during tutorial was that it was generally easy to read, just need to realign certain texts and change the colour for the essential ingredients to further enhance reading (like since the first three ingredients are used together, they should have the same colour but different from the others).

My Final Prototype:

Colourful Asia

I chose noodles as my subject of colourful Asia because I love to eat noodles and I find that the noodles here in Asia are of different sizes and colour. Udon noodles are thick and white, Fishball Noodles come in various colours and sizes etc.

Comments from the class was that the colour scheme I chose was too red therefore giving a "spicy" notion of Asia. Indeed, Asia is a place of spices but I chose later to just tone down a little and choose a colour scheme that is more soothing towards the eye.

Also, comments were to add in more pictures of noodles, which I agree with. However, I just let it be more simple and stop at 3 pictures. I haven't had time to hunt for other noodles anyway. Haha. Hopefully this is good enough.

iN2015 Poster

This was my previous design.


My targeted audience was the students of Singapore, namely Primary to Junior College students who are still rather primitive in their learning generally; relying mostly on paper. The purpose of the poster is to inform them that in 2015, learning materials will already be mostly digitised and there is no need to always lug heavy textbooks around to school (especially for primary school students).

Hence, the idea for the poster was that textbooks will just be a click away.

During tutorials, I received comments that certain information is missing and the direction towards which the poster was communicating was unclear. I didn't know how else to communicate the idea better so I decided to just redo it.

Here's my 2nd attempt, which was actually my initial idea.

FINAL PROTOTYPE:

For this poster, I had a picture taken of a student so that it is clear who my target audience is. Then I did a comparison of "then" and "now". "Then" refers to 2009, where students still generally bring many textbooks to school. "Now" refers to the year 2015 whereby by then, learning will already have been largely digitalised.

Textbooks will have been uploaded in a high-tech-hologram-gadget (it is touchscreen), and so all students need to do is to 'click' around with their fingers on the interface and they can access the textbooks, without having to bring the actual heavy textbooks to school! So much lighter! And more convenient!

Class Exercise C

Abstract sketches.

U C What I See

Theme of story: Cinderella.

How to view the story: From left to right..

1. The girl is daydreaming.

2. Dreams that she will be a beautiful princess or prom queen in very nice dress.

3. Girl continues daydreaming

4. Girl stares at computer screen

5. Starring at Zac Efron on the screen

6. Girl's smile disappears

7. Girl's eyes open to signify back to reality with downcast expression

8. It is revealed that she's actually a servant girl

There has been some issues with using Zac Efron as one of my subjects. There were comments about using another handsome guy whom I can take a photo in person, but I thought the notion of falling in love with a rich and famous (plus young and good-looking) will be lost. Another comment was that I edit the photo of Zac Efron on the computer screen such that it looks as if the girl is web-camming with him.. Then again, I thought it was possible, just difficult to achieve the desired results.

So, I think I will change my 4th and 5th frames such that girl no longer craves to fall in love with a rich and famous person, but rather craves for material things (money, designer handbas etc.)

FINAL PROTOTYPE:

To replace frame #4


To replace frame #5

Less Is More

Initially, I had planned to do a pictogram of the water dispensers in NUS because it has always been frustrating to locate them whenever I need to refill my bottle. (Perhaps NUS should really think of something?)

However, as I have realised in tutorial, the idea of the water dispenser has been overused. Hence, I have decided to try another idea instead.

I thought of a "NO HOGGING" pictogram sign for power points because there are always limited power points in a classroom and the demand usually exceeds the need. It is not practical to install more power points so I thought a "NO HOGGING" pictogram sign would encourage people to share power points.

However, I found it to be rather challenging as I found it difficult to simplify a picture denoting the "no hogging". In situations like this, perhaps just a sign with the words "NO HOGGING" would be effective in itself. =p

As I was walking back home towards the bus stop in NUS. I suddenly had an inspiration for another idea: To warn people of NUS buses rolling backwards. I immediately whipped out my phone and snapped a picture of the NUS bus before it drove off.

I chose the 2nd last design because it provides a little more information than the last design. The 2nd last design has the bus lane on it, so it conveys the idea in a more straightforward way that the bus may tend to roll back. Whereas for the last design, it may seem as if a bus is falling from the sky. Also, the bus looked more like the rear end of the actual bus in the 2nd last design. I also shaded the bus black so that it's more obvious to the eye when driving or crossing the road.

FINAL PROTOTYPES:

With the red border, this sign will look more like a road sign and drivers may take note of it more.

Me, Myself and I

Me, Myself and I

Myself.. Well, for one, I am an NUS student studying Communications and Media in School of Computing. Granted, I have a passion for media studies, but I guess I wouldn't want it to really describe who I am.

I am a Christian.

I love food, especially Japanese food.

I am not a sporty person, but I can be sporty enough.

I love art.

I love music - piano, french horn, guitar and singing!

I love my DSLR!

So, since I figure that photography is a big part of my life now (given that I've finally..after much hoping and bearing with my not-so-fantastic digital camera.. gotten my hands on my Canon EOS recently), perhaps it'd be a great subject for me to work with for this assignment.

This was my sketch at an attempt to improve what I presented in my first tutorial. I tried to make the letters integrated into the photography theme.

[Tracing in Illustrator] I tried to improve the two human sillouettes to make them look like they're really posing for a camera, instead of seemingly kissing each other.


[Adding of colours in Illustrator] So this was the 2nd revised piece I've presented in my 2nd tutorial session.

However, critics said that my piece was too 'safe', which I totally agreed after the session. I tried to squeeze some creative juices out of brain to think of how to make it more interesting whilst keeping the photography theme. I personally liked the filmstrips to depict the letters "C" and "L" in my name because I think filmstrips serve as an icon for photography or videography (which I equally love). Even though currently SLRs have gone digital and filmstrips are rarely used, perhaps it could also mean that I am a rather old-fashioned kind of person - I don't go clubbing and stuff like that.

I also personally like using the DSLR on a tripod stand as my "R". One, it shows that I'm into a more serious kind of photography (I suppose having a DSLR signifies that, rather than having a simple compact camera, or a semi-pro digital camera for that matter). Besides, my "R" is right smack in the middle of my name, so in a way, my DSLR is close to my heart.

By keeping these 2 features, I tried to think of other ways to illustrate my "A" and "O" more creatively.



Having a photo to depict "A" and "C" enables me to keep my polaroid, which I found to be rather pleasing. In the photo, I used an illustration of a candid shot because I am a person who likes to take candid shots of friends besides taking abstract photos.



I then tried to enlarge the person in the polaroid so that it extends out of the polaroid photo itself - to make things more interesting. It helped to suggest movement and dynamism; sorta like being "Larger Than Life", which is a kind of attitude that I maintain in life, that I would like to really make good use of my life. Also, given my Christian view of life, I do agree in a "Larger Than Life" attitude as well - as in we believe that as children of God, we have a God who loves us more than anything. Also, through God's help, we believe that we can conquer life's difficulties as well.



For the colour scheme that I used, I conserved the colours of the filmstrips and camera itself and the black helped to signify coolness and seriousness as well, which is the attitude I have towards photography and in areas of responsibility. However, I knew that at the same time, I can be fun and energetic as well, so I tried to use other colours for the other objects in the illustration. For one, my favourite colour is pink.

I think it's better that I give the person's clothes, hair and skin duller colours so that the hat ("A") and cake ("O") stands out more. However, I realise that by doing so, I wasn't able to bring out a sense of fun and energy in the piece.

FINAL PROTOTYPE:

Hence, I resorted to using Photoshop to add shadow to the piece and create some coloured background for it.