Illustration and Visual Narrative | Final Project
01.12.2023 — 29.12.2023 (Week 10 — Week 14)
Melvin Yung Khun Yew | 0357241 | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
GCD 61304 Illustration and Visual Narrative
Final Project
This portfolio consists of:
Click on the link to jump to that part of the portfolio
Mr Hafiz gave the class a quick briefing on this whole module and the module learning outcomes during the class on Friday afternoon.
Task 3 (40%) - Individual: Self-Titled
In this third and final task, I need to make a self-titled poster utilizing all the knowledge I've learned during this first semester, including from the Illustration and Visual Narrative and Typography module.
In this third and final task, I need to make a self-titled poster utilizing all the knowledge I've learned during this first semester, including from the Illustration and Visual Narrative and Typography module.
Submission
A4 integrated poster
A4 integrated poster
(2480 pixels x 3508 pixels (print resolution) 595 pixels x 842 pixels (screen resolution)
Learning goals
- Generate and communicate design concepts and solutions through manual and digital skills effectively and skillfully.
- Use creative thinking skills and methodologies to explore, generate and test a wide range of conceptual ideas.
- Use information and communication technology to source navigate, select, retrieve and manage information.
↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑
Work Process
Ideation and sketching
First thing first, I began to visualize the possible poster outcome with guidance from Mr Martin to write a biography about myself and then focus on the keyword of my personality/passion.
To initiate the idea development of the poster, I quickly wrote down my habits, personality, likings and experiences to find the important keyword for my poster.
 |
| My biography |
From the biography, I noted down the keywords of myself such as:
- beauty and wonders of the human mind
- peace
- dreaming
- creations.
 |
| Statement of my work |
Based on the statement, I commenced searching the suitable references including composition, and colour tones on the Internet, where I found these posters and images somewhat relevant to my ideas.
 |
| Mood board (Poster Reference) |
Moving on with these keywords, I began to sketch the poster composition that fits the keywords.
 |
| Sketch version 1 — 8/12/2023 |
However, I want myself to have the action of creating to match the keywords. Thus, here comes the second sketch:
 |
| Sketch version 2 — 12/12/2023 |
After my sketch version 2 had been approved by both Mr Martin and Mr Hafiz, I moved on to the digitization process.
Digitization process
Already decided on the final poster composition sketch, I started to collect materials and elements for my poster through photo taking and Internet browsing.
Taking portrait photos for poster
I started the photo editing process by first taking some portrait photos of myself with the helping hands of my wonderful classmates.
Portrait photo taking with different poses and angles
Upon making a final choice of which portrait photo to use, I also get the chance to take another side face photo of myself for double exposure editing.
 |
| Side face of myself |
I also came across different beautiful pictures of the universe (outer space) that correspond with my poster theme.
Outer space pictures
Poster Composition
Combining the use of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, I began to construct the poster based on the sketch I had made.
What I had done in the Adobe software:
Adobe Illustrator:
- Combining and shaping the blue energy trails (initially water trails)
- Light rays emitting out of the head
- 3D energy orb (using 3D effects inflate) on the hand
- Applying graphics on the 3D orb
- Adjusting the lighting of the orb
- Making gradient background
Adobe Photoshop:
- Selecting and masking out the excess part of the photo (portrait photo, materials)
- Auto-tone and colour the portrait photo to match the background
- Making adjustment layers on the exposure and the curve of the whole image
- Double exposure of side face
- Adjusting blend mode and opacity of each layer.
 |
| The first version of the poster composition |
In the first version of the poster, I noticed there is something off with the whole poster, it's the colour tone of the poster (blue, green, purple, yellow) doesn't complement each other. Thus, I made use of the colour theory and found out I should use warmer colours like orange, red, and yellow with the cool colour purple to create a better contrast. At the same time, there's a little too much going on in the poster.
Noting down the issues:
- Colour tone
- Composition
Continuing to improve the poster, I made several changes to the poster based on the persisting issues.
What I had done in the Adobe software:
Adobe Illustrator:
- Creating and enhancing details of the energy trails
- Applying gradient and texture effects (sprinkles grain effect) on the trails
- Smoothing and blending the edge of the light ray by adjusting the opacity with the gradient tool
- Illustrating anime eye
- Adding pen trails and applying a 3D effect to it
- Type modification for the title of the poster "endless"
Adobe Photoshop:
- Adjusting the position of the elements
- Make use of foreground, midground and background concept
- Blend the bottom part of the double exposure side face to the background
 |
| The second version of the poster composition |
After consulting with Mr Martin, he suggested I change the colour of the title to make the text pop a bit more. Thus, here comes the final version of the poster:
 |
| The final version of the digital A4 poster — 24/12/2023 |
Artist Statement
"There are no limits to the imagination, it’s up to you whether you can imagine it.” This is a fiction-style surrealism poster, where the poster presents the grounds of solace you can experience when you’re in outer space. Through this poster, I hope to portray the message that creativity is one of our proudest powers as human beings, let us cherish this overpowered strength and utilize it in our daily lives. Wonder how much stuff and events we have yet to witness in this vast universe, with the unknown awaiting us to discover among the galaxies. It’s endless!
Holding onto an orb symbolises how we can grasp hold of every possibility just within reach of our hands every moment. Our brain is one of the vital parts that allow us to perceive information and to suit ourselves in our surroundings. The black hole represents that we will never know what happens inside the head, but one can imagine that there’s an eye helping us foresee every probability and the future.
Notice how the text "endless" is aligned and connects together seamlessly to represent that there is no end to things.
P/S: For more information about cinemagraph video and post-production, please click here to redirect.
↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑
Feedback
Week 13:
Specific feedback
Good sketch, and keep in mind how the digital imaging be integrated into the whole poster. By the way, the composition can be tighter, meaning more of a close shot of the portrait. Be mindful of what the text says and where the text is.
Week 14:
Specific feedback
Go ahead
↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑
Reflections
- Experience
For this final task combining all the challenges from different modules like Illustration and Visual Narrative (IVN), Digital Photography and Imaging (DPI) and Typography, I'd say it's quite a thrilling experience for me to utilize all the knowledge I've learned during the first semester and apply them together to produce a integrated poster and a cinemagraph poster. I'm glad that all the skills I've acquired in the class can be put together to create a poster that describes myself using visual means only.
- Observations
As instructed and requested by my lecturer to look at the examples on the Internet, I'm able to appreciate the enthralling work of art by the professionals, they make me wonder how capable our human mind is.
- Findings
Not only the information from the module can help me achieve a greater height in my creative design voyage, but the experiences and samples portrayed by others make me realize that there is always someone more capable and stronger than us, all we can do is not hoping for the best, but wishes for improvement as times goes.
Comments
Post a Comment