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Compulsory Question 2

My Vision Statement:

I am most proficient with designs involving typography, photography and the traditional pencil and paper. But I am deeply interested in design project or exhibitions that provides the enjoyment of immersive and interactive experience.

I envision myself to be a passionate practitioner of graphical design most definitely but not always necessarily career wise. I would love to be a part of a team that design immersive and interactive spaces. I am open to opportunities outside the design industry that I could be interested in too.

I plan to gain as much knowledge from other designers and do the best I can for my diploma. Take every opportunity that comes to open as many doors of possibilities for me in the future. I am still in the midst of finding my truest self and I am ready for any possibilities to come and I will embrace what best resonates with me.

I will take initiative to explore opportunities. Approach those that are more experienced such as my lecturers to take in as much knowledge as I can. I will also be taking internships and part time jobs related to design to build up my portfolio and fill my time with visits to various art and design centres to gain exposure. Gaining knowledge and making connections matters to me the most.

This artwork by Chua Mia Tee named “National Language Class” became an inspiration for a performance made by spell#7.

The performance recreated the scene as depicted in the painting, in a classroom of chinese students learning malay in 1959. This performance was meant to replicate the aura and scene of what it felt like to be chinese students learning a new language. Immersive and interactive, audience were able to interact with the performers and ask questions to have the closest to first hand experience of what it was like dueing those times. I feel like this resonates best with me as I believe that learning through experience is the best way to learn. Being able to replicate an event that is impossible to find in our times and allowing audiences to experience it is special to me. It’s almost like a short getaway from reality being able to experience events and occasions from places and times that are not current. It’s like visiting a completely new world that we will not be able to understand unless we experience them ourselves.

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Compulsory Question 1

I have identified six essential elements in my manifesto which I deemed most important to me as a young designer.

Passion for knowledge. CTS B has highlighted to me the importance of wanting to seek more knowledge, more information. As a learner, I am fully aware that there is an infinite amount of things that I have yet to learn and explore out there. But this knowledge will stay untouched without me putting in effort to reach out for them. I have to be proactive as a designer and always looking out for platforms and opportunities to seek information. LASALLE being in the heart of the design circle in Singapore, I am just a few steps away from places like The National Museum of Singapore and even other design schools like NAFA. I need to take initiative outside my curriculum, at my own will to visit different design centres. Lecturers that are also designers by heart around me are also available and they will also be keen to share a part of their experience which will all contribute to my growth as a designer.

Making connections. This module involved a lot of working as a team and discussing our own ideas and taking on different issues. I have been able to have an active platform for exchange of experiences and backgrounds. This did not only open up for flow of knowledge but also doors to opportunities that have yet to be explored. Opportunities for collaborations and a medium to help each other to be better designers. Having a wide chain of connections can also aid me to even more opportunities to work with designers that may be more experienced and more knowledgeable which will help with my growth. It can also open up opportunities relating to building my own career and reputation as a designer.

Embrace differences. In modules such as Studio, we have a lot of platforms and chances to meet people. We are always constantly working with other designers and rarely on our own. I have met people from various backgrounds that experience things that I have never experienced before. The differences in our lives built differences in opinions and perspectives too. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It is only a drive to open my mind to new ideas and beliefs. It helps me to be more empathetic and understanding towards others. This way I can be a more versatile, adaptable and knowledgeable designer.

Design with purpose. Designing with intent helps to make my work more meaningful. I believe that design is more than just aesthetics and is also a medium for designers to express themselves and their opinion about things revolving around them. I feel it will be fulfilling for me to know that my work played a part in any way to improve a part of the society. It can be as simple as designing a product to help with reduction of waste or through the message I intend to convey behind the aesthetics of my designs and work. Designing with purpose also means not to be excessive or directionless in putting certain elements in my work. Always be purposeful. Simple yet effective, as the idea is to communicate not to complicate.

Celebrate uniqueness. Designers have their own unique identity and it is up to me to find mine. That does not mean I cannot take inspiration from works of other designers and students around me. In fact that is how in LASALLE, we learn. We have numerous pin up sessions where we can see other students’ designs and we are encouraged to do research on other established designers around the world. By exposing myself to countless design works that communicate different design intentions in various ways, I can adapt ideas and a way of work that best suits me. This will ultimately form and shape my identity as a designer that other aspiring designers can take inspiration from to build their own personality.

Courage for betterment. There is always room for improvement. The world is constantly changing and moving to a new direction. New issues and problems will constantly arise. As a designer, I need to be able to move along with it, to adapt, to stay relevant and to constantly effectively impact the world through my work. I need to be able to humble myself and take criticism from other people and designers, regardless of their years of experience or expertise, and always listen. I have to be able to listen and empathise where other designers are coming from, why and how they do certain things and take what I perceive to be an area that I can improve. In other modules that I took this semester, we always have sharing sessions when we pin up our works and share our thought processes in coming up with whatever design we came up with. Lecturers will ask other students to give thoughts on other students’ work. We get to hear how other people feel and are affected by our work. We learn how we can better communicate our ideas through our designs and we constantly improve. This is how designers learn and climb the ladder to success. Always stay grounded yet ambitious and courageous.

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Critical Self-Reflectivity

About a year ago in 2022, Will Smith was banned from attending the

Academy Awards for a decade after the ‘slapping’ incident with Chris Rock on stage. Regardless stating that it was the consequences of overwhelming unpleasant emotions and experiences he kept in, Will Smith did express his regret in an interview with Noah and acknowledged it was not justified and not who he wanted to be. 

It is important to constantly be self aware of the things around me and how it affects me both physically and emotionally. Always take a step back to identify with an honest and open mind, what caused me to be and feel a certain way? This will help me to understand the things that can trigger me and help me find ways to regulate those feelings. 

Regulating feelings requires practice and discipline. As a student, coping with many responsibilities, this is an essential skill to keep me calm and composed when stressful moments arrive. It helps me to ensure I don’t act impulsively and irrationally. I personally talk to myself alot and analyse how and why I do certain things, which is why I deem it very important to choose carefully the words I say and how I choose to speak to the people around me but especially to myself.

I believe that practising empathy towards others will also help in reducing selfishness when interacting with others in instances like sharing differing opinions. We will often meet people that have opposing views to us as we are influenced by various experiences and backgrounds. It is important to be able to put myself in someone else’s shoes and try to understand where they are coming from. This will also encourage a motivating culture that encourages exchange of ideas and perspectives around me, contributing to my ability to adapt well to changes and expanding my knowledge.

This is highly valuable to me as a designer and a student as I am at the stage where I am still new and lack experience. I need to be able to interact well with others whilst also conserving my own identity as well as gain as much exposure and knowledge from other students and designers around me.

Referances

“Will Smith on Slapping Chris Rock at Oscars: I Lost It.” The Straits Times, 30 Nov. 2022, www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/will-smith-on-slapping-chris-rock-at-oscars-i-lost-it. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.

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Connecting Practice with Society

One of the purposes of design is to serve as a medium for the artist to materialise their thoughts and perspectives on or to be the pivotal solution or change for a particular subject that is relevant to the target audience or the society. Practices such as films, photography, production design and various more have been a platform to address multiple societal issues.

The LEGO Braille Bricks was an initiative to be more inclusive toward the visually impaired. It was designed to provide a fun and interactive way to expose people ranging from the blind, partially-sighted or just people that want to learn the braille system. This also raises awareness about the challenges faced by the visually challenged, encouraging empathy and inclusivity in our society.

The rift was a short german film addressing the divisions that are continuously and increasingly building tensions in our society. It seeks viewers to normalise having open and empathetic conversations with the people around them. It pleads for people to not let our differences get in the way of us growing and progressing as a society that practises empathy and a culture of making mutual concessions. This is an example of connecting practice with society, in this case using film to communicate a message for the betterment of society.

We experienced first hand taste of making our own short film in class that revolves around the dangers of smoking. We got to see various current affairs that we were not aware of during the sharing session and that is an eye opener. I realised that utilising my design skills to address societal issues brought much more meaning to my work, knowing the positive effects that come about to improve the world I live in. This helps me to be more sincere, genuine and purposeful in the construction of my ideas and design.

Referances

“The Rift | D&AD Awards 2023 Shortlist | Film | D&AD.” Www.dandad.org, www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2023/237730/the-rift/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.

‌The Rift

“Penny Market: The Rift • Ads of the WorldTM | Part of the Clio Network.” Ads of the WorldTM, www.adsoftheworld.com/campaigns/the-rift. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.

‌Cracked glasses

The Rift: PENNY and Serviceplan’s 2022 Christmas Campaign Is a Powerful Plea against the Divisions within Society – Marketing Communication News. marcommnews.com/the-rift-penny-and-serviceplans-2022-christmas-campaign-is-a-powerful-plea-against-the-divisions-within-society/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.

The Lady and The Boy

“LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille - about Us.” LEGO.com, 13 Sept. 2023, www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2023/august/lego-braille-bricks-play-with-braille-?locale=en-us.

‌LEGO Braille Bricks

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Creative Practice and Critical Thinking

Creative practice is the process born from the result of combining critical thinking, creative thinking and the execution of the ideas derived from thinking creatively and critically.

Critical thinking is the analysis of facts or data given isolated from biassed or emotionally influenced ideas.

Creative thinking involves personal touch, experiences and feeling to form ideas or innovations that are not rote.

Creative thinking is infinite and limitless. Critical thinking becomes the frame that shapes rational and functional innovations from the boundless nature of creativity.

By discussing how creative and critical the short story about a social issue we had to write, to my classmate Farid, I realised that creative and critical thinking always comes in a pair. It’s in our nature to form perspectives and ideas by being objective and critical, and induce it with elements involving aspects of our own lives such as emotions, beliefs and personal experiences. Both forms of thinking are essential to shape our own unique take on a particular topic.

However what most people underestimate or overlook in importance in a creative process will be the execution itself. 

Two quotes that made me believe so are 

“genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration” - Thomas Edinson

“dreams without goals, are just dreams and they ultimately fuel disappointment.” - Denzel Washington.

One can have as many ideas and dreams in them but it will only stay as such without the courage to start, discipline to be consistent, and strategic execution to realise the ideas. 

As a designer, I need to be able to master all three sub-aspects of creative practice. I can do so by exposing myself to multiple current affairs and views and perspective of individuals of different backgrounds regarding it to build my own unique and complex ideas. I also can read up on different designers biography to compare and learn from their own experiences to realise their dreams and ideas. That way I can discover what works best to materialise my own thought into a design.

Referances

“Redirect Notice.” Google.com, 2023, www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelightbulb.co.uk%2Fresources%2Fthomas-edison-his-life-story-and-contributions-to-humanity&psig=AOvVaw2KlT6EMf8FeUkAEc5CfshD&ust=1700871072381000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBIQjhxqFwoTCJC-jOGs24IDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.

‌Thomas Edinson image

“Redirect Notice.” Google.com, 2022, www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment-arts%2Fawards%2Fstory%2F2022-03-08%2Fdenzel-washington-tragedy-of-macbeth-oscars&psig=AOvVaw2vd8IEHiBH7BQhVHq0wtDK&ust=1700871004625000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBIQjhxqFwoTCKjY4bOs24IDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.

Denzel Washington image