Illustration and Visual Narrative/Task 2 : Exercises

  Starting Date-Ending Date / Starting Week-Ending Week 

Name As Per Your ID :Zhang Tianyao (0376838)

Module Name :Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Task 2

Instructions

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Lectures 

notes 
From the first presentation, I learned that designing something should be simple, iconic, and unique.We can also extract different shape elements from various objects or characters.

notes
The second presentation mainly explained the relationship between light and shadow, as well as three-dimensional relationships and the direction of light. Using a dark background can better highlight the highlights in the image and make the composition more impactful.

notes

The third presentation mainly talked about how proper placement of objects can make the composition more aesthetically pleasing and better highlight what the image is primarily trying to convey. It also discussed various modes under different camera lenses, such as picture-in-picture, aerial view, and medium shot, among others.

Exercise

Week 5

                                                                                         Fig 1.1

This is my first draft of the assignment, a line drawing created using a variety of different shapes.

                                                                                          Fig 1.2

“This is the colored version of the design. I used blue and red elements to show that this dragon has the ability to control both water and fire.”

Final

                                                                   Fig 2.1

Inspiration source

Fig 2.1

 

Fig2.2

                                                                     
These are images I found online as inspiration.               

Sketch

This is a digital hand-drawn artwork.

self-reflection

Project Goals and Initial Concept

My goal is to design a monster based on the appearance of a bull. I want this monster to look intimidating and evoke a sense of fear in the viewer. To achieve this effect, I chose black and red as the main colors to create an aggressive and fierce atmosphere. This color combination not only emphasizes the monster’s strength but also conveys a sense of danger and oppression. By incorporating the bull’s form into the monster design, I aim to convey a sense of raw power while maintaining a unique and captivating design.

Design Process and Creative Development
At the beginning of the design, I felt creatively blocked, lacking a clear direction and only able to experiment with different shapes in search of inspiration. The initial sketches and shape combinations appeared quite random and seemed to lack cohesion. However, through repeated adjustments, I suddenly realized that certain shape combinations gave the character a bull-like silhouette, sparking my inspiration. From there, I gradually refined the image, evolving it into a fierce, bull-like monster. This journey from random attempts to a clear design direction taught me that creative sparks often require patience and exploration.
Technical Challenges and Solutions
One of the main technical challenges in this project was my unfamiliarity with Illustrator. Although I had spent a lot of time learning Illustrator before, a lack of recent practice made me feel rusty. Initially, I encountered some difficulties with basic tools, which slowed down my design progress. However, with continued use, I gradually regained familiarity, re-mastering key skills like layers, paths, and node adjustments, and I became increasingly comfortable with the operations. This recovery and improvement in technical skills allowed me to focus more on the design itself rather than being limited by tool usage.
Gains and Improvements
Through this project, I not only revisited the basics of using Illustrator but also became proficient in some previously challenging or less commonly used functions, such as path offsetting and the shape builder. These tools provided great convenience in creating complex shapes and compositions, allowing me to realize my ideas more efficiently. Additionally, this project made me realize that improving design skills is not just about creativity but also requires proficiency with the software. Moving forward, I plan to further explore Illustrator’s various functions and develop a more efficient workflow to make my design process smoother and more precise.
Gratitude and Future Outlook
I am very grateful for Mr. Hafiz’s guidance, as his help and feedback allowed me to deeply explore the application of Illustrator and design methods throughout this project. I learned many practical techniques from him that not only enriched my design ideas but also sparked my interest in illustration creation. In the future, I hope to make further progress in the field of illustration, particularly in developing a personalized style and enhancing detail work. I believe that through continuous practice and effort, I can keep growing on the path of design and bring more creativity and possibilities to future projects.

Graduate Showcase

That day, we started by sketching some ideas and brainstorming on the iPad. Later, when we received the tools, we quickly started drawing and designing. We created an outline with a specific color and size, and then drew everything else within this framework. Inside the framework, there is a large Malaysian flag, many iconic buildings from Kuala Lumpur, and three people from different places. In the end, although we didn’t win the competition, we gained a lot from the experience.