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Compulsory Question 2

My design strength is doing illustration. I am glad that illustration is one of the options for my specialist because I get to expand my knowledge and explore more styles. I want to become an illustrator for a brand or maybe become a freelance illustrator so that I can have experience working with many people. Currently, I have been practicing and learning different styles of illustration from other illustrators and getting inspiration from them. I have been following their social media and participating in their workshops. It is an opportunity to not only learn from them but to also create connections. As I go along, I have slowly found a style that I always go for in my work and use as my signature style. Developing my skills means I should try to step out of my comfort zone and try different mediums to find my unique voice. I should keep my work so that I can look back and spot my weaknesses. Maybe I can recreate the same project I have done in the past to see the improvements and put them in my portfolio. I should also consider taking a degree to further my studies in illustration. 

I chose a brand named “Totomi” as an example of a design that developed with a focus on environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Totomi is a slow fashion brand that emphasizes the belief that fashion has to be practiced with consciousness from the supply to the consumer. They promote the idea of buying only what is necessary and repurposing items whenever possible. Sustainable design seeks to balance the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. I can consider focusing on this social engagement in my design training because I believe that I have the ability to use design skills to bring people together and practice sustainable pro-life.  

I can combine my interest in illustration and contribute to sustainability by using recycled materials in my illustration. For example, I can use clothing materials that are not worn anymore as a pattern. I can mix my skills of using medium and digital to create my illustrations. I can build an illustration structure using recycled materials. I should also be mindful and consider the amount of paper I print to limit waste. Whenever I get the chance to start my own project, I can start choosing topics that promote sustainability, environmental awareness and social responsibility in my illustrations. It can help to educate and inspire others about sustainable practices. I should use the advantage of my platform as a designer to convey messages that encourage positive behaviors. There are so many ways I can contribute to sustainability while doing what I love.

(456 words)

Interaction Design Foundation, 16 March 2023, "Sustainable Design", https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/sustainable-design#:~:text=Sustainable%20design%20creates%20long%2Dterm,and%20even%20better%20%2D%20endlessly%20reusable.

[syafinawoii]

Compulsory Question 1

During our group discussion, we decided each person to pick one or two weeks and write our manifesto. We will share what we wrote and discuss if we have any disagreements. I chose to write for week 9 and my manifesto was “Every little detail is important and should not be overlooked”. In week 9, we learned to analyze our creative practice and we had to prepare a presentation to introduce our design interest. Since it was a practice on what we should include in our portfolio or interview for our internship, it was important for me to explain every detail of the questions. It will help me show the interviewer that I am confident in the things I do and that I am independent enough for them to trust me. 

I have a few alternative manifestos that are very similar to the group outcomes. Therefore, there is nothing I would change but instead, I would add more. Firstly, I commit to look for my passion and pursue it with full dedication. Doing what I love is one of the keys to a fulfilling life. I can put it in my design training by focusing on my illustration work. It is one of my favourite things to do and I should consider pursuing it as my future career. Secondly, I choose to find the purpose of my daily activities, aiming for a life of meaning and impact rather than relying on other people for support and encouragement. In class, I should make use of the different techniques and styles in my work to find my strengths and weaknesses. I should not depend on other people commenting on my work because I need to be more mindful as self-validations can help me build my acknowledgment of my abilities.

In week 10, our topic was “This is how you craft a statement of artistic”. Our activity for that day was to write down our artistic vision and pass it to our classmates for their comments and questions. It was an eye-opening activity for me because I do not usually ask myself questions such as “Who do I want to become in 5 years?” and “What do I want to do between now and then?”. It was nice to take some time to reflect on myself and write them down. It helped me to think carefully about my decisions in life. After receiving the paper and getting reviewed by my classmates, I was not expecting the comments I received. They were supportive and complimented my illustration work and persuaded me to continue my passion. I did not expect them to recognize and remember my work. It motivated me to stick to what I wrote; which was to become an illustrator.

(457 words)

Reference: Sherry Gaba, 24 July 2019, “ Stop Seeking Validation from others”, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-and-recovery/201907/stop-seeking-validation-others 

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Connecting Practice with Society

I can be a social agent if I am an artist/designer by using my creativity and knowledge to positively impact society, raise awareness, create solutions for changes and spread topics focusing on important issues. There are so many ways I can act as a social agent.

I can create a product, graphics, posters and experiences to make solutions for social problems. Engaging my local community to lead workshops, art classes and design workshops helps to gather individuals and strengthen their creativity. I can collaborate with organizations, companies, communities, or professionals to amplify the impact. There are also ideas to show that we care for the environment such as using art to make the world a better place. For example, I can bring the community together to pick up rubbish and clean the area so that we can decorate the place to look more pleasing and enjoyable.

Socially-engaged practice is an artistic approach that places a strong emphasis on community involvement. Examples of socially-engaged art can extend from community based and public.

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Connecting Theory and Practice

The theory of my everyday activities involves having a routine. Having a routine and a habit helps to make my life livable. It also helps me to structure my life and make it more predictable. Everyday I start by waking up around the same time and make sure that I sleep before midnight. Days when I do not follow my routine, I will immediately feel different. Sometimes when I know that I can not stick to my routine, I will try to balance it out for the week. 

Identity is the sense of who we are independently and as a group. It is also a sense of how other people perceive us. Personal identity relates to our characteristics, experiences and attributes that differentiate us from others. Our personality traits and experiences make us who we are as it defines us. Social Identity refers to our self-categorization based on our groups. It can be a race, religion, gender, nationality and more. 

Our identity is actually not a fixed concept therefore it can change over time due to our experiences. Creating new definitions of identity is a process of expanding our knowledge of identity to be more flexible on expressing oneself.

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Critical Self-reflectivity

Critical self-reflectivity is taking a step back and understanding our thoughts and values. It is a process of becoming more aware of ourselves and our surroundings. I am critically self-reflective because personally I feel that it is a powerful tool for my growth and development. It helps to tune with my strengths and weaknesses.

For my class activity, I focus on the goal and objectives before making decisions. I am aware that I am not best at communicating but I tried my best to speak up and ask questions. I wanted everyone to be at the same level so no one gets confused with our task. When practicing self awareness, I apply active listening skills to my own thoughts and pay attention to myself as if I am an outside observer. Practicing self-regulation helps to make thoughtful decisions. Having a sense of purpose can help me to stay focused on my actions. I made sure that everyone was comfortable with each other’s ideas. I practiced my social skills by attentively listening to them and gave feedback to show that they are heard. 

I noticed that there were small signs printed on an A4 paper for a toilet sign direction. I showed my team and asked for their thoughts. They agreed that the sign was not helpful so we took a few pictures and left. I felt that I should have spoken up that I wanted to explore where the toilet was located to support our slides. After the activity I learned that I need to be more confident.