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WOII Compulsory: In Summary

The Summary Post of WOII module.

Reflecting on World of Ideas and Imagination module, I feel like it was the start of a creative cartography. I, as a designer, began mapping out landscapes as the foundation for my first year journey. Each week unfolded like an exploration across another to another topic developing both my academic knowledge and art intuition. About the first three weeks, Phenomenology, as a soil base, taught me to present design and observe how experiences shape visual communication. Aesthetics then gave me the compass to navigate questions of real beauty towards young designers nowadays while Semiotics added the legend signs that allowed me to decode meaning of the visual, symbolic world.

However, the more I explored, the more complicated it got. Design Analysis added an actual depth of foundation to appreciate craftsmanship and design along with the refreshing break of field trip. Additionally, Cultural Materialism, which introduced the layers beneath the surface of material realities that shape cultural designs like a reminder that design is not a tool but interacts with the realistic conditions of society. Moving on, with perhaps my favorite, Poststructuralism reached out of the map unsettlingly yet freely. This prepared me for Postmodernism, where I encountered the possibilities of visual chaos and how they communicate deeply. Lastly, the journey ended with Art Ecosystems, where I discovered through the Open Studios that I am not only a rigid designer but also an audience with opinions.

Overall, the WOII module was a whole journey finding my comprehension in design. It does have challenges but it is meaningful. As Richard Grefé once said, “Design is the intermediary between information and understanding.”, I definitely will continue to expand and shape how I think, create and connect as a creative designer.

(286 words)

Grefé, Richard. Design Is the Intermediary Between Information and Understanding. AIGA Design Conference, 2012, New York.

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WOII: Week 10 - Post Structuralism

Weekly Reflection.

“It would be wrong to conceive of the designer as anything but the service of giving messages, events, ideas and values of every kind a visible form.” said Armin Hofmann reflecting the traditional view of design as a clear translation of meaning. Emerged in the late 20th century, Post Structuralism was a critical response to Structuralism, which argued meaning might be discovered within established systems. Alternatively, Post Structuralism claimed that meaning is inherently unstable and context-dependent. Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault and Roland Barthes believed that meaning is constantly changing and influenced by history, subjectivity and the viewer's point of view. In turn, this change in thinking has a powerful influence in design. 

As a young designer, this perspective freshly shows me how to approach design not as a tool to deliver a single message but as something that can be negotiated and rediscovered. This set me free from the need to achieve something that is perfect clarified, instead encouraging me to experiment with layered ambiguity and leave my content to be freely narrated. Along with the theory, I actually have come across it several times through the other modules such as Craft Workshop and Photography. I used creative components to develop a unique voice in order to gain confidence and engage in the process of a thinker and also a designer.

With this mentality, I feel no longer constrained by the necessity for finding the "right" solution. I can design the possibilities within uncertainty and express myself while allowing others to interpret my work. Over time, I see that design is not just about organizing information but it is about interactive experiences where the viewers become part of the communication. 

(281 words)

References:

Hofmann, Armin. Graphic Design Manual: Principles and Practice. Hastings House, 1965.

Carson, David. The End of Print: The Graphic Design of David Carson. Edited by Lewis Blackwell, Chronicle Books, 1995.

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WOII: Week 09 - Cultural Materialism

Weekly Reflection.

From my earliest moments in life, I am already surrounded by culture, especially when I am raised with a deep connection to my Vietnamese roots. Culture shapes how I speak, what I think and even how I see the world. I understand that cultural recognition acts as a vital source of inspiration and identity. However, to advance from appreciation to a profound comprehension of culture's origins and functions, it is necessary to consider Cultural Materialism. Initially presented by Marvin Harris in his book The Rise of Anthropological Theory, Cultural Materialism is an anthropological theory explaining culture under the lens of three primary influences : infrastructure, structure and superstructure. In other words, culture is not simply ideas but an acknowledgement to the physical world. Culture is not a set of arbitrary beliefs and practices but a response to the practical problems and challenges posed by the environment (Marvin Harris, 1979). 

Following that idea, I perceive that understanding where culture comes from and how it works is essential for me to create designs that are thoughtful, respectful yet rooted in reality. For instance, my group attempted to produce a fictional good for an unreal world. However, for an almost opposite example, one work resonated with me is the Vietnamese animation ‘The Pacification of the Wu’, which is a real historical event. The animation demonstrates how material realities impact cultural perspectives. 

Culture is an evolving system rooted in real-life conditions. By looking through this lens, I have a better understanding of the practical realities from culture and strengthen my critical thinking, empathy and future consideration as a designer. In turn, I will produce work that is not only visually rich but also culturally relevant.

(280 words)

References:

Cultural Materialism : The Struggle for a Science of Culture : Harris, Marvin, 1927-2001 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (1979). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/culturalmaterial00harrrich

The Hunger Games (2012) ⭐ 7.2 | Action, adventure, Sci-Fi. (2012, March 23). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/

Binh Ngo Dai Chien (2020) ⭐ 9.2 | Animation. (2020, December 22). IMDb. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt13701998/

Hall, S. (2018). Cultural Identity and Diaspora. https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/english/currentstudents/postgraduate/masters/modules/asiandiaspora/hallculturalidentityanddiaspora.pdf

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WOII Compulsory: Week 5 & 6 - Design Analysis and Field Trip

Documented Reflection.

In an age dominated by digital platforms, I realize how essential it is to go out and interact with real-world crafted objects. In Week 5, my group divided our objects into Memory, Materiality and Time (sentimentally). For our further research, we explored Golden Landmark Shopping Complex and Kampong Glam to observe more frameworks. 

In the last week, I brought a hand mirror with vintage craftsmanship so I wanted to find an object with the same Structure in this trip. After a few moments of feeling like in a gold rush around Kampong Glam, I stumbled upon these boxes with enamel work. Immediately, it caught my attention as it has almost the same decorative art like my mirror. In the left side, I spotted an ornate box with unique characteristics. The pretty floral metalwork and pastel green completed the feelings of an appealing decoration element. On top of that, I noticed these designs have a link to one’s cultural roots so I think that owning these objects might feel like owning a piece of history. Therefore, I connected these with Time too.

After going back to the mall, my group discovered a secret delicacy named 'TWOWORLDS', a secondhand shop on Level 2. The hanging keychains caught my eyes. Those can be categorized under ‘Time’ as those can be gifted, ‘Identity’ as people put them on their personal belongings and ‘Spirituality’ for who believe that charms bring good luck.

According to Norman (2004), human interaction with objects is deeply emotional. From the two weeks, I appreciate how culture, history, and craftsmanship influence. To approach design better, I must analyze context’s greater meaning then apply this viewpoint in design journey, making sure my work is contextually rich.

(287 words)

References:

Norman, D. A. (2004). Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things. Basic Books. 

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WOII: Week 4 - Semiotics

Weekly Reflection.

In this developing world, I am no strangers to express my opinions. Since I was a child, I have communicated using either the spoken or written word. Communication, by definition, is a process by which information is conveyed by symbols, signals, or actions. Starting from there, I get used to this common, daily system of symbols and signs called Semiotics. 

From researching, I understand that modern semiotic analysis can be traced back to two men: Swiss linguist - Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) and American philosopher - Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914). Saussure called his study Semiology, while Peirce called his Semiotics, which is now widely used to refer to the science of signs. Saussure separated sign into two components, the signifier (or sound-image) and the signified (or concept). “No sign makes sense on its own but only in relation to other signs. Both signifier and signified are purely relational entities” (Saussure 1983, 121). Peirce, on the other hand, emphasized the following elements of signs: their iconic (resemblance), indexical (physical placement), and symbolic dimensions (agreement, habit, principles or customs).

For this class’ activity about Semiotics, my group discussed about a poster about not smoking in restaurants. I think of another poster to analyze, 'The Silence Of The Lambs'. This movie poster is a straightforward example of semiotic analysis as it contains multiple meaningful layers through signs. It only uses minimal elements to embed the film’s entire theme. 

I learnt that semiotics are a strong method to break down barriers of language and elicit emotional feelings. I enjoy doing semiotic analysis as a profound lesson about visual communication and conceptual depth. Overall, this assists my comprehension about semiotics as a young designer and encourages me applying this method into my future works.

(288 words)

References:

De Saussure, F. (1959). A COURSE IN GENERAL LINGUISTICS (C. Bally, A. Sechehaye, & Albert Reidlinger, Eds.; Wade Baskin, Trans.). PHILOSOPHICAL LIBRARY. https://ia600204.us.archive.org/0/items/SaussureFerdinandDeCourseInGeneralLinguistics1959/Saussure_Ferdinand_de_Course_in_General_Linguistics_1959.pdf

Peirce’s Theory of Signs (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). (2022, August 4). https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/peirce-semiotics/

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)  | Crime, drama, thriller. (1991, February 14). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102926/

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WOII: Week 2 - Aesthetics

Weekly Reflection.

“Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” wrote by Rainbow Rowell giving prominence to the perspective of aesthetic on beauty and art. It defies conventional ideas of beauty by arguing that true beauty of art is about eliciting emotion rather than just traditional one. In this reflection, I elaborate about aesthetics and the impact it has on young designers in this industry.

When scrolling down any social platform like Instagram, Pinterest, etc, design trend loops are noticeable with some compilation posts of the most trendy styles, driven by popular culture. It frequently dictates aesthetic preferences among young designers. While trends are useful guides, over-reliance on them can restrain personal growth and creativity. While exposure to diverse aesthetics can inspire innovation, it can also lead to challenges such as trend dependency and a lack of originality (Manovich, 2017). To avoid this, I perceive that only taking inspirations from aesthetics, from how the context emotionally connect to me, therefore create my personal emotional resonance of works without merely following prevailing styles. 

For instance, in this class’ activity, I went to Sim Lim Square to photograph a signage and then imagined it as a person. In process, I created an extrovert chef named Tong Tong.

After researching and class activity, I understand aesthetic encompasses essential concepts in design that determine personality and beauty. It is a strong influence in design, impacting impression of viewers and developing a good sense of beauty. However, I have to add personality in my work to succeed in the learning journey.

(273 words)

References:

Rowell, Rainbow. Eleanor & Park. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2013.

Lupton, E. (2017). Design Is Storytelling. Cooper Hewitt.

Manovich, L. (2017). The Language of New Media. MIT Press.

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CTS A | Week 12 Summative Assessment

Connect CTS A to your learning and professional journey.

Personally, I am glad that I had a chance to rummage in an aspect of future career directions. Design is undeniably a broad field that has expanded to the connection of artistic and organizational majors such as animation, fashion, dance, music production, or broadcast media. I perceive design can contribute some visual features, such as posters, advertising banners, or aesthetic videos, to attract a wide range of attention. For instance, fashion shows need eye-catching backgrounds that visualize well the wanted atmosphere and concept of their outfits. Furthermore, I am able to do a music project such as designing an album cover that represents well the artist’s music or even film an outrageous music video. 

As the world comes to be more and more aware and concerned about mental health, especially in Asia, where mental health does not seem as impactful, it would be meaningful to do an awareness campaign to the society about it. Given the amount of majors that can be involved, it would be more contagious. This campaign could be a short video about mental health issues that people, such as kids, adolescents, or even people at any age, tend to face with. Posters can be included and printed out in specific places, such as HDB, schools, buildings, or bus stops. Digitally, there could be short animated videos and approachable social media posts. Even more, I believe with music major, we could make a short song that contains some message about the project’s message.

In my personal perspective, media companies would be suitable to collaborate with. Not only can I help create new videos that are trending, but I can also contribute creative ideas to satisfy the needs of society. Overall, the CTS-A module helps me understand my career pathways, the attributes needed to take on an occupation, and the competencies required as a future qualified personnel. Like Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” 

(327 words)

Reference:

A Quote by Mahatma Gandhi. www.goodreads.com/quotes/2253-live-as-if-you-were-to-die-tomorrow-learn-as.

Zoe Wees - Topic. “Control.” YouTube, 20 May 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=px6a_jJrvik.

Sherin, Dana, and Dana_Sherin. “Mental Health.” Pinterest, 2 Sept. 2022, pin.it/4viohKff2.

Caca. “Look After Your Mental Health.” Pinterest, 10 Apr. 2023, pin.it/1mmZ5tK04.

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CTS A | Week 11 Summative Assessment

Connect CTS A to all your other modules (and components)!

From what I have observed throughout the module, CTS-A provides an initial foundation of thinking and a personal disposition to work, thereby serving as the core for all other fields. However, CTS-A has a substantial effect on the Studio module, especially in Week 1 “Visual Thinking”. As it was Week 1, I learned how to think properly and brought my thoughts to reality for the first day. For instance, I found a good spot, contemplated what to draw, and critically selected my sketches. I believe it did play a crucial role to be a prominent base for my ongoing academic journey and helped myself grasp the needed insight.

Through Craft Workshop, my skills have been improved substantially as I embraced inspirations from comprised reliable sources from famous websites such as Pinterest, Google or even from the artists in the lesson slides. In that way, a major gain in comprehension helps me have a better understanding and do my assignments more effectively. In photography, with a growth mindset, I found myself indulged in an equipment that I had never used before — the camera. I patiently learned its techniques and took photos in a more challenging way instead of a safe option like photographing with the phone. With Digital Skills, my social skills have been leveled up as I ask the professor for clearer tutorials or questions which I do not understand. Therefore, my digital outcomes are satisfactory enough.

It is mesmerizing how Critical Thinking Skills are related to all of the modules in an irreplaceable way like a supplement and reinforcement. Like what Leonardo da Vinci once said, “To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” Through the connection between CTS-A and other modules, a spark has ignited my passion to become a better designer with the gained adaptability to the practical world.

(323 words)

Reference :

A Quote by Leonardo Da Vinci. www.goodreads.com/quotes/1423493-to-develop-a-complete-mind-study-the-science-of-art.

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CTS A | Week 10 Summative Assessment

Discuss the seven weekly topics as a whole!

Throughout the module, I have learnt that Critical Thinking Skills foster me as an active participant in my own academic journey rather than just a passive recipient of knowledge. I have come to think actively. Following that, my team’s visual metaphor is summed up as a maze. 

A maze is a symbolization of a journey representing this academic journey. I become an adventurer in pursuit of rapturous thrill having to go through the deepest aspects of each week, then afterward, I receive every coin contained a meaning of the lesson similar to a motivation to get forward. The directions I pace and the dead-ends I face, for I have tossed and turned and decided to keep the spirits enliven and go searching. Hoping that just maybe, when a new direction appears, I will learn something new. I have simply not had the experience, so in the years of my first, fumbling footsteps, to find my way to get out of the maze. In The Unquiet Grave, Cyril Connolly writes, “Life is a maze in which we take the wrong turning before we have learned to walk.”

Collaborative Skills is the session that makes a total impression on me. The most crucial value of working together is discovering different perspectives of teammates in one problem to come up with more creative solutions. As we have divergent insights and expertise collaborate, more and more unique ideas will be brought to the table. It is exciting to see the progress of final, richer outcome that can be unique and well-rounded. At first, I almost wished I weren’t so silent when brainstorming, therefore incidentally lowered the energetic atmosphere. After receiving feedback from my friends, I improved social interactions by becoming more active and talkative. Day by day, I have found myself become more comfortable of speaking my thoughts out and contributed more in the working process of the team. Correspondingly, I am pleased with what I provide now while collaborating.

(328 words)

Reference :

The Unquiet Grave: A Word Cycle by Palinurus. Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/book/show/88846.The_Unquiet_Grave.

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CTS A - Week 03 - Emotional Intelligence

Q1; We talked about "Self-management", "Self-awareness", "Empathy" and "Relationship management". Which aspect do you think you are strongest at, and which is something you should try to improve? Discuss with reference to today's activities, and even your Studio collaborations.

Among those qualities, I think I am the best at self-awareness. I am aware of my thoughts or feelings that are consistent or inconsistent. When I finish my work, I look back and evaluate them objectively, then consider how other people perceive them. For instance, today when the professor Teng Hong asked my group to draw about whatever we wanted, we were caught up in emotional interpretations of our circumstances so we drew how tired we were. Then, the topic was changed to what was the most important thing in our lives. The conversation was detailed about our individual inclinations so that the professor could give feedback about them.

The field that I am not good at is self-management. I am still not used to time management. The common thing that I do is that I have it all planned out in my head but I rarely take action to do it. However, just like the quote by Anthony J. D'Angelo: “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”, I have improved it little by little these days by balancing steadily my play time and work time. With the competitive academy, I become more motivated, especially when the lessons get heavier. When I manage myself in reality to get the work done, I feel relieved and satisfied. 

(267 words)

Reference:

A Quote by Anthony J. D’Angelo. www.goodreads.com/quotes/747044-develop-a-passion-for-learning-if-you-do-you-will.

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CTS A - Week 02 - Collaborative Skills

Q1. Describe your strengths and weaknesses as a collaborator. What did you do well, and what are some areas to improve? Discuss with reference to today's activities.

Today, we had to think about creating a future monument within a group, a random group to be exact. When I work with others, I tend to become a person who takes care of finding information, contributing ideas integrating the aesthetic. For instance, I recommended creating lines within the chairs and tying them tight within the lines. However, I realize what I am lacking of was physical interaction. I did not help too much but just provide the materials and help to tighten the lines. I will definitely try to improve helping in next group activities as a collaborator. 

Q2. If you had more time and an unlimited budget, how would you design the monument differently? Include pictures of the group work, and your personal re-design.

In a case where I had boundless budget and time, I would find myself appreciate the long live presence of the already existed monument instead of actually finding ways to redesign it diversely. The reason for that is to be beholden for history and what is left to our lifetime for what the way it already is. However, adding some modernness to them would be a better idea. It would  connect effortlessly with visitors to view information, know the stories behind and engage with the monument. In that way, it will stimulate visitors in the interaction in order to resonate with the monument in a deeper level. 

(261 words)

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CTS A - Week 01 - Minfulness

Q1; Describe your understanding of critical thinking that you had before the class, and reflect on what you may have learned.

Before, when I thought of critical thinking, I thought of heat criticism which was to reason and argue. However, after this lesson, my mind has been opened into a new realm where critical thinking relates to how an artist thinks. From the video from Pooja Nansi, there was a standing-out quote by Scott Adams: “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” Therefore, I realize self-criticism should not be harsh but take failure as necessity, allowing myself to be free, not strained.

Q2; What have you learned about mindfulness? How might you integrate this into your learning environment?

Mindfulness teaches me how to practice the ability to be fully aware of the present moment to live positively. With this, I am confident of changing to improve my productivity, increase my creativity and practice my confidence in an academic environment. 

Q3; Describe an eventful moment you have experienced in this class.

Professor Teng Hong asked our group about what should be changed in the classroom. That was when my group looked around to observe, analyze and contribute individual ideas before concluding with the best one. One of my group members presented in front of the class about changing the plain white walls with the students’ creative drawings and the idea was pretty much applauded. I am delighted that we did a good job of analyzing as a group.

(256 words)

References :

MB. “Critical Thinking Skills a Week 1 Film  Pooja Nansi.” YouTube, 15 Aug. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAHqOIuCsUs.