Ms jin chi helps us by providing an article about analyzing. Because in this project it is different than the other project we have done. In this project, we are required to write 500 words on the analysis artist's work. The first article that I read was 4 reasons a designer should write:
1. Writing will make you a better designer
clear language can help communicate the purpose of an element, page, or workflow to the copywriter (or your freelance design clients). That not only makes their job easier but also saves you both a confusing, time-consuming back and forth.
2. Writing will make you a better communicator
A) Structure
Effective writing owes much of its power to its structure. using the skeleton: - Write a working title - Then a thesis statement (a quick summary of your point) - Then your supporting arguments (make these brief, as they’ll become your subheadings) - And finally, a quick conclusion
Then start fleshing out the skeleton (i.e., writing)
B) Storytelling
Thinking of design as storytelling, Your target user is your protagonist (the main character). They have a goal they want to fulfill, and obstacles they have to overcome to achieve that goal. And your design is the tool they’ll use to reach that goal.
People love stories. It’s just written into our DNA. Which makes a story the perfect vehicle for convincing your clients and bosses that you’ve come up with the right design solution.If you can tell a compelling story about your user achieving their goals through your design, you’re well on your way to a green light.
Every story contains these key elements:
A protagonist: The heart and soul of your story, the person it all happens to, or who makes it all happen. Over the course of the story, the protagonist changes somehow: they might become a better (or worse) person, fulfill their fondest dreams, or lose everything. Think of your protagonist as the user persona of your design work.
An antagonist: Your protagonists’ enemy, the person (or thing) who blocks their every effort, the source of all the tension, struggle, and drama. Note that the antagonist isn’t always a person: in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” and Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the antagonist is nature itself. If you’re building a newsreader, the antagonist might be the content firehose that is the internet itself.
A conflict: Stories revolve around drama, tension, and change—and none of that happens without conflict. It can be easy to confuse the conflict with your antagonist, so think of your antagonist as the source of conflict. For example, in “To Build a Fire,” nature is the antagonist, but the conflict is the struggle to survive Alaska’s hostile wilds.
A turning point (or two): This is the climax of your story, the point of highest drama when we find out whether our protagonist succeeds or goes down in flames. In “To Build a Fire,” the turning point comes when the protagonist accidentally destroys the little fire he’d managed to kindle and decides to try to run for camp—only to stumble, fall, and finally give in to the urge to sleep.
C) Writing can get you to work
Think of all the writing it takes just to get a job, let alone keep it. you’ll need to write:
- Resume - Cover letter - Emails
But in the design industry, you’ll most likely have to add your:
- LinkedIn profile
- Portfolio site: Your portfolio should epitomize your design work and your writing.
Instruction
Research
For project 3 we need to do a visual analysis that consists of three phases. 1. Observation 2. Analysis 3. Interpretation
We were assigned to choose a single artwork and apply what we've learned from it to our own design. We need to understand their pieces and observe how they are able to convey their message in their design outcome. I did research a choose roughly 2 artists before narrowed it down to 1. This was the 2 artists and their artwork that I choose:
Artwork
Fig 1.0 Sun Project ' Listen To Me' by MiMi N
Fig 1.2 Hold me together by Aykut Aydogdu
This design work is in portrait format. As for visual elements, the main colors observed are black, bluish-green, and cream. Overall, it is a muted color design. She uses the face and separated them into several facial features. There are wires worked as a line that connects each thing together. Her illustration style seems more semi-realistic.
MiMi N's Other Work
Fig 1.3 Mimi's other work
Visual Analysis
I choose Mimi N as my analysis artwork since her artwork seems interesting and involves social issues.
Fig 1.4 Listen to me by Mimi N
Observation
This artwork by Mimi N is in square format. The fundamental colors observed in this work are red, blue, green, and yellow. By employing several contrasting colors, this artwork achieved an impactful design. There are graphic elements utilized such as lines attached from one character to another. At the center, a character is illustrated with shows to be other characters that appeared surrounding the character. I could observe the surrounding character to have various facial expressions. This artwork involves a conventional blue background.
Analysis
This design is presented to be symmetrically balanced. The work emphasizing the center of the design which shows a teenage girl. This is indicated by the character holding a vivid yellow cup with her mouth open. While applying the brightest color in the center, this helps to direct viewers’ attention which then emphasizes her as the major character. This likewise produces a contrast between the center character and other elements shown in this design.
The cups she was holding have a string, which is displayed in a design element of line. This string is connected to cups that the other character was holding. This would lead (movement) your views from the center to the top and thus to the complete picture. A repetition was produced with repeated heads and lines. The heads are shown to have a diversity of facial expression, therefore, you would require to look at each of the heads from left to right while then leading them to see the overall design.
The whole design seems to connect with each other (unity) as objects arranged are connected either with graphic elements or overlapping objects. Especially the color used in this design which is red, blue-green, and yellow is a complementary color of each other. There is a hierarchy of how we perceive this design. They directed us from the center (details) to the big picture of the work.
Interpretation
This design is one of the fascinating creations that MiMi N has worked on a project called Sun Project. The Sun Project is a series of artwork that utilizes figurative imagery to draw attention to social issues. Such as the pressure parents place on their children to succeed in school, or how social media desensitizes people to bullying and violence.
'Listen to me' was her 14th work of MiMi N in March 2019. It was posted on her Instagram and has received numerous positive feedback. People talked about how relatable this illustration was to their lives.
One of the interesting parts of her work ‘listen to me’ is the various interpretations this design holds. People from around the world reflected on her design regarding their own perspectives towards it. Some thought this was about a girl who wanted to speak up, but no one hears her opinion, hence the title of the design. Other people viewed this design as rather related to schizophrenia, which was a mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior, and emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. These usually involve seeing or hearing things that don't exist. Yet for the person with schizophrenia, they have the full force and impact of a normal experience. Hallucinations can be in any of the senses, but hearing voices is the most common hallucination.
For me, regardless of others’ opinions, I personally think this was a message for society to open their peripheral view and realizes that there are other people suffering from one's selfish thoughts. Instead of being focused on your own thoughts, listening is important.
Exploration
Sketches
After researching and analyzing, I did a rough sketch of ideas that potentially represent what I wanted to do for this project.
Fig 1.5 Rough sketch 1
My design has a thought-provoking concept regarding social issues which is inspired by my reference. This sketch represents an introvert where they actually have limited energy to socialize. We are easily exhausted when we socialize with other people. We use energy and we need to charge it when we are at home. In this design, we could see two characters, one is shown sleeping on the bed and the others are shown in the reflection of the window, socializing with each other. This could likewise be interpreted as an introvert who canceled on a plan and would rather spend time by herself. However, she felt exhausted and left out.
Fig 1.6 Rough sketch 2
In this sketch, the idea was based on the same criteria as the first sketch. Although, this design leaning more towards an introvert having a hard time expressing themselves to other people. We as an introvert, tend to be reserved and we don't let others get into our hearts easily. The yellow tape is actually tape that said 'Keep Out'. This design would also reflect how people think you are quiet and may find it difficult to get to know you.
Drafts
Fig 1.7 'Unnecessary Attention' Draft 1
Through this artwork, we could distinguish several viewpoints. One may think, this was about a girl who is self-conscious of her own surroundings or another may be called Hypervigilance. Hypervigilance is a state of increased alertness. If you’re in a state of hypervigilance, you’re extremely sensitive to your surroundings.
Two may assume this was about an introvert who’s uncomfortable from the unnecessary attention and builds herself a barrier as self-protection. It’s no doubt introvert enjoys their time alone and can be identified as more reserved. Introverts tend to be anxious when they are at the center of attention. They require their own privacy to recharge.
Three, As an introvert, you could feel constricted and confined, hence the wall you formed to yourself. When constrained to social situations, we can’t blossom when pressed against everyone else. We can’t help but establish a barricade of silence. We’re listening until you stop talking and assume we don’t like you. Sometimes, according to other people, silence is dangerous. However, according to us, silence is ambiguous. Our silence could be meditation, it could be us dreaming into space, it could be us who’s lost in deep thought or at war with ourselves.
Despite that, others may perceive this design on the contrary view. Where the girl was the one that produces unnecessary attention to herself. By closing herself and developing a barrier, provokes a person’s curiosity. They would ask questions and seek to discover a hole in your wall.
Fig 1.8 'Vulnerable' Draft 2
For this artwork, I named it vulnerable. We could observe a girl with a cracked heart surrounded by hands pointing at her. She is shown to hug her heart tight and protect her fragile heart from other people. We could understand others pointing at her, which symbolizes blame.
One perspective is how everyone making the guilt on you. When individuals make mistakes, they seek security and freedom. They search people with vulnerability and they would shift the table by turning the blame on you.
However, in this work, it is not clear whose hands are present in the design. There is a chance that one of the hands might be yourselves. In this generation, there is a crowd of self-blame and self-criticism. When something goes wrong, we expect “it's all my fault”. Self-blame is a cognitive process in which an individual attributes the occurrence of a stressful event to oneself. Self-blame is a component of self-directed emotions, like guilt and self-disgust.
Fig 1.8 'Fragile' Draft 3
For this design, it has the same concept as fig however, instead of hand pointing, it comprises words. The red words are the negative words and assumptions people have towards introverts. Meanwhile, the white words are positive personalities and introverts have. You’ll see the girl hugging tight her broken heart shows how her heart is fragile. Hence, the sticker on it. She cares about what people said and she is protecting the remaining pieces of her heart.
Color Exploration
Application
Fig 3.0 progress 1 rough sketch
Fig 3.1 girl line art
Fig 3.2 speech bubbles
Fig 3.3 tape warped the girl
Fig 3.4 eyes on speech bubbles
Fig 3.5 color application background and character
Fig 3.6 completed color application
Fig 3.7 touch up
Final Outcome
"Unwanted Attention"
Rationale
Through this artwork, I wanted to convey design that has several viewpoints just like MiMi N did. I wanted my design to emotionally connect with people. When people looked at my design they each would have different interpretation that relates to themselves personally.
When I finished my design, I ask my friends and family regarding their vision of what is this illustration meant to them. One of my friend thought that this one is about cyberbullying. The speech bubble is a text message in which people are sending their hatred words towards the girl.
I personally thought, this design is about an introvert who’s uncomfortable from the unnecessary attention and builds herself a barrier as self-protection. It’s no doubt introvert enjoys their time alone and can be identified as more reserved. Introverts tend to be anxious when they are at the center of attention. They require their own privacy to recharge. As an introvert, I could feel constricted and confined, hence the wall of tape the girl formed to herself. When constrained to social situations, we can’t blossom when pressed against everyone else. We can’t help but establish a barricade of silence. We’re listening until you stop talking and people would assume we don’t like you. Sometimes, according to other people, silence is dangerous. However, according to us, silence is ambiguous. Our silence could be meditation, it could be us dreaming into space, it could be us who’s lost in deep thought or at war with ourselves.
For the design itself, there are a lot of symbolism applied in the design. The main symbolism is the color of the eyes. Colors sometimes can express certain feelings such as a blue mood or a black day. However, how colors relate to emotions can be different in different languages. In English, there are terms like “green-eyed,” “green-eyed monster” to express that someone is envious or jealous after seeing another person's success, wealth, fame, good luck, etc, and may even want to possess these things. However, in Chinese, an impression often used to describe envy or jealousy is “眼红”- literally “red-eyed.” “眼红(yǎnhóng)” can be used as an adjective, meaning to be envious or jealous. Furthermore, the bluish background evoke a sense of comfort, this tells viewer how it is true that the girl is lonely and protecting herself from her surrounding but she is still comfortable alone with herself.
Feedback
Week 11
Specific Feedback:Ms. Jinchi liked both of my chosen artists and artwork. She asks which of the two I liked the most and I told her that I resonate more with Fig 1.0 as it holds a deeper meaning about social issues. She told me that I could move on to writing my analysis and she agreed that it would be fun to analyze that design.
Week 12
Specific Feedback: Ms. Jinchi told me to remove the sentence 'what seemed to be a cup' in my observation and replace it with "surrounding the character". I was also told to describe further schizophrenia in the interpretation section. As for the sketch, Ms. Jinchi liked where I am going with the idea. Although, she didn't like the replacement of the way my design works. She told me to change my design to be simpler and more impactful just like Mimi N. She told me I didn't need to have a complicated background, instead, incorporate elements to make it more powerful. I can use speech bubbles or eyes looking towards the character. Ms. Jinchi liked the incorporation of yellow tape in which holds the deep meaning of a wall/bandage which she may/may not put it herself.
Week 13
Specific Feedback:Ms. Jinchi liked my fig 1.7 design. It is very impactful and meaningful. She told me to go with this one because the idea is strong. For fig 1.8 Ms. Jinchi told me to change the hand with words. She told me to still explore a little bit since I have time.
Week 14
Specific Feedback:Ms. Jinchi agreed that she liked my Fig 1.7 design and I should go with this one. She told me to change the words in the tape from caution to words available in Fig 1.8. She also told me it was a good job that I've done and shown colour exploration before the final outcome.
Final Reflection
Since there were exercises every week and projects. It was hard for me to come up with new ideas every week. Sometimes, It seems like I have compressed my creativity juice, and it’s now empty. We require creating at least 4 ideas every week for particular exercises. This might not be hard for others, but it sometimes causes unmotivated from idea block.
I understood that occasionally I had a competitive side that I didn’t realize before. This happened when I saw other’s work which was fantastic and this makes me want to design much harder. I was also a little perfectionist in which I wanted to create an excellent design. I tend to change my design when I get an average response for it.
I definitely learned that mistakes could be beautiful. We need to make mistakes to learned from them and create a more excellent outcome from it. I do still had a hard time to manage my competitive side. However, I realise art is subjective and that we can’t please everyone with our design. When people don’t like our design, there are other people who liked them. This is because design is based on preference and different people have their own original style.
Honestly, right now it has been doing great. I like how Ms Jinchi’s personality is caring and more relaxed in which helps us to release from stressed. I too loved how for our project we could use any medium we want because that way we could relate our design to ourself and create a meaningful design that comprises a story.
Comments
Post a Comment