Design Exploration

23.04.2024 - 02.08.2024 ( week 01 - week 14 )
Len Hoi Yee / 0353430
Design Exploration / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

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Instruction

Project brief and SDG goals 

In week 1, we were briefed with the module information and we were told to be creative and free with out design as the topic is quite broad and open, as long as we fulfill the SDG goals in our designs. However, we were told that the topic has changed and we were ought to participate in an international competition organised by Taiwan for this project. After a long struggle, I have decided to work on the 4th SDG goals, Education. 

TLSDC Competition brief

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Figma Board 

First Stage: Research and Planning 

I have struggled a lot with choosing the topic to work on, since we are limited to only Equality and Equality has a wide range of topics to discuss about. I spent a lot of time brainstorming what I could do for this topic. At one point i cant decide and just carry on with Equality in Education. In this story, to effectively narrates the information about Equality in Education, I planned to use the most significant elements for education such as book and pencil, simple but effective. To include the world in this story, I will use continents to include everyone in this world in this story. 

Story Development (rough idea) 

A book with no name open on its own, revealing a pencil.  A hand grabs the pencil and begins completing drawings. Once a drawing is finished, its elements move subtly as the page flips to the next scene. Each subsequent scene features a hand from a different continent—North America, Europe, South America, Antarctica, Africa, Australia, and Asia—drawing iconic symbols from their respective regions.  With each page flip, the animation transitions to another hand from a different continent symbolizing collaboration and unity in achieving educational equality. The final scene concludes with the book closing, revealing the title "Equality in Education" and an engraved globe, encapsulating the global message of educational equality.

Research 

Fig 1.1 Research on each continents 

To start off, I did a thorough research on each continent, in order to understand each continent more since I have a lot of details to include in each artwork. I expanded my vision by looking deep into their cultures and traditions so I would know which could be the most representative elements of each continent. I put myself in both designer and audience pov to eliminate the elements that are least representative and only pick out the ones that are more recognisable.

Fig 1.2 Picked elements 

After a long research journey, I have picked out the most recognisable and representable elements to include in each continent. 

Moodboard 

Fig 1.3 Overall mood setting 

The overall setting should relate to books and places that provide education such as library, classroom, and school. So the overall setting should be beige and brown colour with orange and yellow as lighting.

 

Fig 1.4 Illustration Art style 

These are the styles that I want to create for the continents artwork. It is similar to sticker pack, but it as nice framing edges.

Fig 1.5 Artstyle 

Watercolour with sketchy lines. 

Fig 1.6 Poster reference 

Fig 1.7 First sketch 

Fig 1.8 Well drafted storyline  

After confirming the direction I aim to go on, I drafted the storyline properly for me to draw the storyboard out. 

Fig 1.9 Storyboard 

Fig 1.10 Updated storyboard and storyline 

After receiving feedback, I shortened and simplified my story to fit in the busy schedule. 

Fig 1.10 Perspective study 

I have also used my knowledge in Blender to help me with perspective study. I set up the scenes that I imagined, eaasier for planning. 

First proposal presentation slide 

Second Stage: Draw and Colour 

North America 

Initial sketch 

Fig 2.1 North America process timelapse 

For NA, I have planned to draw the Statue of Liberty, Hollywood sign, American football, and maple leaves. To create a cute and fun experience, I took reference from a chibi version to draw the Statue of Liberty, in a way it is simpler and also children-friendly. Then, Ms, Anis suggested to add a famous landmark in NA as the background, like the Grand Canyon. 

Fig 2.2 Final NA illustration

Europe

Initial sketch 

Fig 2.3 New Sketch with different layout  

Ms Anis suggested to change the Venice's bridge to another famous landmarks in Europe, because the bridge links the Big Ben to the windmill as if a normal bridge, and it would be better to place a ore recodnisable landmarks than the Venice Bridge. So I changed it to the Colosseum and the Pisa Tower at the back to give a better framing effect. To fill in the space, I also added the Eiffel Tower on the side.  I tried out 3 different layout and decided to go with the second one. 

Fig 2.4 Europe process timelapse 

Fig 2.5 Final Europe illustration

South America 

Fig 2.6 South America process timelapse 

Fig 2.7 Before vs After 

I have chosen the Amazon rainforest to represent this continent. This was really hard to colour as it used the same colour but different shades. I thought it was easy but turns out it was not, plus the watercolour artstyle does not help my struggle too. My intention is to make the foreground more pop so I used brighter colours and the background to be less opaque and cooler green shade. 

Fig 2.8 Final SA illustration

Antarctica

Fig 2.9 Antarctica process timelapse 

For Antarctica, I added the most recognisable animals like penguins and polar bear, with the iconic iceberg at the back. I intend to separate them into 2 different ice platform for me to animate them moving away from each other as if their ice breaks apart and the lonely bear who thinks he wins boo at the penguins. 

Fig 2.10 Final Antarctica illustration

Africa

Fig 2.11 Africa process timelapse 

For Africa, everyone will be more familiar with the Savannah wildlife. So I added some common animals seen in wildlife. To emphasise on the lion, I gave it a platform to enhance its pride and to show that the lion is the king of the land animals. For the subtle animation, I also increased the opacity of the sunset colour as the sun rises. 

Fig 2.12 Final Africa illustration

Australia

Fig 2.13 Australia process timelapse 

Australia is quite famous for their surfing activities and that's why I used a beach as the base and the other iconic elements will be on the beach. 

Fig 2.14 Final Australia illustration

Asia

Fig 2.15 Asia process timelapse 

Asia is the biggest continent among all and it is hard for me to include everything in one artwork so I created an oriental art that showcases the Southeast Asia and without forgetting the Western Asia, I added an Arabic word that says Equality in Education. 

Fig 2.16 Final Asia illustration

Scene 1 (Front View) 

This scene used 3d software to create models as a sketch. As I am not good at perspective study, so I used Blender to help with my drawing process. I had downloaded and created some models to be used in this scene as a sketch. In Scene 1, I have decided to introduce 3 different angles for the same scene.By referring to my moodboard earlier, I had used the brown and beige colour palette for most of the objects but colourful colours for the books. 

Fig 2.17 Scene 1 sketch and animation planning 

Fig 2.18 Front view scene process timelapse 

Fig 2.19 Final Front View illustration ( w/o lighting )

Fig 2.20 Final Front View illustration ( w lighting )

 (Side View) 

Fig 2.21 Side view scene process timelapse 

Fig 2.22 Final Front View illustration ( w/o lighting )

Fig 2.23 Final Front View illustration ( w lighting )

Scene 1 (Top View) 

Fig 2.24 Top view scene process timelapse 

Fig 2.25 Final Front View illustration ( w lighting )

Fig 2.26 Final Top View illustration ( w lighting )

Poster 

The book is half open with a soft green blue(earth colour) cloud flowing upwards with all the recognisable continents' landmarks and animals, with pencil silhouette on the floor as a mat. The title of the poster will be on the bottom right corner. 

Fig 2.27 Poster process timelapse 

Fig 2.28 Difference in background 

After finishing the content, Ms, Anis told me to make the background darker, however, I have tried and research on watercolour posters most of them are on a clean or soft coloured canvas. So I felt it's a bit too dark if the background is in darker colour. 

Fig 2.29 After effects edit 

When it is done, I imported the PSD file into After Effects for further edit. I have edited the lighting, shadow, and colours as well. This poster was submitted to the TLSDC competition, so I was comparing the opacity of the title of the poster. 

Final Proposal Presentation slide

Third Stage: Animate

Book flip (frame by frame) 

Fig 3.1 Book animation frame by frame timelapse 

Fig 3.2 Final book Opening scene  

Animation in AE  

Fig 3.4 Front View animation

At first, I wanted to do Parallax effect for the book scene but I have tried a few times, and I was quite confused and I didnt have enough time to further figure out so I gave up and just went for a regular slide down and fade in and out animation. 

Fig 3.5 Ink splash reveal animation 

I have collected the ink splash reveal animations that I like and use Mask and Luma Matte for the illustration to be revealed. 

Fig 3.6 Illustration animation

Animate the small elements until the page turns. 

Fig 3.6 Sound effect 

I have found some suitable sound effects and background music for this animation. 

Feedback

W6
Artstyle

• Paintbrush
• Watercolour (air brush)
• Subtle sketchy outline

Storyboard

• can use page flipping as transition to next scene(this can strengthen the narrative cuz it makes it look like a book)
• Some extra elements dont have to add in
• your challenge is to create different visual style, the feel of animation

Animation for continent illustration

• either do fade in fade out but maybe can try having the illustration done and the hand just finish the drawing by adding in the small detail.
• (own extra idea)
• can implement the second idea and draw the small illustration to complete the art and make a subtle animation for it.

Illustration

• Asia - dont need to add Japan’s Fushimi, the oriental art alrd represents Eastern China
• Europe - Dont need stars from the union flag
• Antartica - can wear a mitten

W10 

North America: try to implement framing device into your art so there's consistency and more visually appealing, you can try to put the statue in the middle instead of the bottom of thr canvas. 

Europe: The bridge doesn't really tell European vibe but maybe you can input some landmarks that is more recognisable like the eiffel tower or some churches but maybe just put the silhouette. 

South America : nice framing. 

Antarctica: Inconsistent art line: there's clean line style and sketchy line style. 

Africa: can enlarge the sun and act as framing or even the tree as well, and add some cloudy effect.

Australia: Remove the flag and try to add some trees to frame it better. 

Asia: same, frame it better 

Overall feedback: You should frame it better to maintain your art consistency and also each art dont need to show elements that represent the continents in an obvious way, let the audience figure themselves. 

Final Outcome 

Google Drive Link here

Poster 

Fig 4.1 Poster (Chinese) 

Fig 4.2 Poster (English)

Trailer 

Fig 4.3 Trailer 

Animation 

Fig 4.4 Final Animation 

Fig 4.4 Final Animation (funny vers)

Reflection

Well it's the end of a semester again, time really flies. Throwback to the start of this semester, I was very excited with this module as I already knew the rough idea of this module from my friend, and I couldn't wait to expand my vision and skills from this module. At the start, I was very lost as the topic was not the common topic that we normally work on, Equality. To be honest, I didnt like this topic that's why I took a long time to figure out a way but I took way too long time to think and I had no choice but to start brainstorming on Equality in education. Also, one thing I look forward to this module is it is a wide and free design module for us to expand our creativity and skills . So to strengthen my skills, I decided to take up the challenge where I want to expand my drawing skills. So I chose to focus on illustration than animation.  

The most challenging part of this module was definitely the colouring part. However, I have learnt to properly use watercolour style although I am not at my best yet but this was an oppotunity for me to force myself out of my comfort zone. At first, I thought I could handle watercolour style but it was not easy to start, at least for me. I had to find suitable brushes in Procreate, plan, try and test the result, in case I need to change the illustrations' elements. It really was draining for me as it took me an average of 2 days++ to finish one illustration, of course it takes longer at the start because I was not familiar with handling the watercolour brushes and I had to use a lot of references. It took me long time too on deciding the right colours, for the landmarks, especially the iceberg and Europe's. 

However, there is one thing that i regret the most is I didnt get to explore the 3D Parallax effect that I wanted to implement as I was running out of time. It really was my time management that held me back. So, it's is regretful that I didnt plan my time well and started the project late and that had led to cutting down scenes and simplifying animation. Even though I am quite satisfied with the outcome, but I feel it could be better if I did not spend so much time on being indecisive and just start the project. 

All in all, I have learnt a lot from this module, even though I hate the process, but it pushed me to do things that I was not confident in back then. Now, I have learnt to do watercolour artstyle but I still wish to learn more, because I feel I am not great with colours. This project consumes time and patience. I spent a lot of time in researching, planning, and testing. UGH finally it's over, but I am still grateful that I could produce this result in a short time. Regardless, I am truly grateful to have Ms Anis and my friends who have helped me along this journey. Your opinion and suggestions had helped me grow this far.