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WOII: Final post

After going through all the weeks in this module, I’ve come to realize that many of the topics we covered have really helped me in other areas of my studies. The module that has benefited me the most is definitely Studio. It has taught me how to think more critically, plan my ideas more clearly, and most importantly, how to do better research. I’ve learned that research doesn’t only come from the internet sometimes, visiting different places around Singapore or even in other countries can give me new perspectives and creative inspiration. These real-world experiences help me approach my design work with more depth and originality.

Besides Studio, the weekly lessons have also supported me in Digital. There are moments when I feel stuck or lost with no clear ideas, but I’ve learned to look back at past student works, especially from our alumni, or with my lecturer/peers to get inspired. Seeing their progress and final outcomes gives me motivation and insight into how I can improve my own work. It also pushes me to think about how I can surpass expectations by learning from what’s been done before and pushing it further with my own creativity.

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WOII: Week 11 - Postmoderism

I was thinking about the keyword "subjectivity" for Week 11 because I feel my poster has a lot of expression and personal interpretation behind it. I played around with the design's elements, such as composition, color, and an intriguing addition of "blind spots," for instance, placing eyes in unusual spots on the poster. This way, one allows the spectators to interact with the work themselves and to interpret it differently based on their personal perspectives and feelings.

The notion of subjectivity becomes increasingly vital in any creative endeavor, especially within the confines of the Digital module, where we continually find ourselves working away on posters, illustrations, or a specific visual presentation. Subjectivity means showing one's emotions or conveying specific ideas with an individual style. To me, it would serve as a litmus test to tell whether a particular design has gained a sense of completion or meaning. For example, if I feel emotionally bonded to the design or if it speaks my intention, a certain degree of satisfaction comes into play, and I consider it finished.

This keyword also serves as a reminder that design is experienced differently by everyone. What I find beautiful or expressive might not be the same for someone else. But that is what makes creative work special and precious. It makes me feel more powerful, standing by my artistic decisions and trusting my instinct of what works for me. With an understanding of subjectivity, I would like to deeply explore emotional storytelling through visual design by making my works not only visually engaging but also deeply meaningful.

[Word count: 262]

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WOII: Week 10 - Post Structuralism

The group work that we did, seen in the image, was a really great exercise. Most importantly, it helped us understand how text and images interact in random ways. By pairing random text with photos, we were able to see which image suited the text, or which text changed the meaning of the image. Personally, it made me realised that meanings are not fixed and they can be changed depending on the combination. Keyword I picked from this week's reading is Post-Structuralism. I picked this because I read the image first then the text to interpret its meaning and see whether they connect or form another meaning altogether.

Depending on the context, Post-Structuralism is how meaning changes in the vocabulary of photography, and I see this being applied when we talked about Project 3. In this project, we played distant images against each other while trying to process what it is that they could mean. Using Post-Structuralism in photography means processing a topic or theme and then seeking images that might relate to it in a somewhat tangential way, that is, not related directly or obviously, but perhaps eliciting different interpretations.

I just want to see how an image, paired with another image-specifically one that "could tell a lot of stories", and how the second image would inform it, how it's presented. That idea makes me think more about composition and subject matter that even titles gives me pause. It pushes me to create work that leaves possibility open to the imagination and perspective of the viewer. [Word count:257]

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WOII: Week 9 - Cultural Materialism

This week I've chosen the keyword structure, and this concept resonated with me because it relates to how I engage with my work in the Studio module. Within the Studio context, we are called to develop a body of design materials, from posters and postcards to brochures and a catalogue. A proper understanding of structure allows me to plan the sequence and flow of these projects so that everything fits together in a coherent and meaningful way.

In Cultural Materialism terms, structure means the social, political, and economic setup of a society. Even if what I am dealing with in Studio is not about society as such, the concept of structure-that is, an organized system with layers-still applies. In this instance, it is similar to an exhibition space, where brochures would be offered to visitors or where items could be purchased. Within this project are components to design in a logical order, almost like building blocks interdependent upon one another towards a complete experience.

On some occasions, I get badly overwhelmed with too much on my plate. Enter the concept of structure, which allows me to break work into small, digestible bites. I first did the poster design, then the postcard, brochure, and finally the catalogue. At each stage, I would normally get back to my lecturer to review what I have come up with and improvement.

Following a structured approach keeps me on course, stress-free, and able to work more cohesively and deliberately. [Words count: 244]

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WOII: Week 5 and 6- How to Analyze a Work of Design

In Week 5, I chose a blue plastic mat as my design object due to my childhood personal emotional and cultural significance. The common object led me to be curious about how something so intricate is manufactured, and so I researched the keywords "Processes" and "Purposes." I discovered that the manufacture of such mats, whether handmade or machine made, requires skill, precision, and craftsmanship.

Moreover, the plastic mat is very functional, as it can be used for seating on occasion, for floor coverings, or even ornamentation. It made me respect its value beyond aesthetics and demonstrated the ways in which meaning can be imbued in a simple design. It also relates to my Craft module, which emphasizes purposive creation in terms of skill and attention to detail.

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In Week 6, a visit to Kampong Gelam made me realised the contrast between a plastic mat with a prayer mat. Both have cultural backgrounds in Malay and Muslim communities, but they vary in purpose and material. The prayer mat with soft material is for religious practice and hygiene use during prayers. However, the two mats tend to cross purposes in application with plastic mats being used during big congregational prayers when cloth mats run short, showing how things flex in application.

Both mats represent change. Over time, their uses, designs, and patterns adapted to meet modern needs. Prayer mats turned portable, and both mats usually feature repetitive patterns that combine functionality and aesthetics. They are reused as carpets, wall hangings, or table runners, reflecting how old items adapt across generations and cultures.

These experiences heightened my sense of how design connects us to heritage, function, and identity. I have learned from the process and purpose of an object to look beyond the superficial and see deeper into the things we take for granted.

[Word count: 174]

Citation:

Factory Explorer. (2019, October 31). HOW? Handmade Sleeping Mat made? | Factory Explorer [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uKmXkjbX8E

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WOII: Week 2- Aesthetic

For this week's assignment, we were required to take photos of signages and describe them in terms of appearance and what the message says. My signage is Wok Of Wonders, which hooked me immediately with its bold image using a wok and flames. The imagery clearly shows cooking and has a sense of energy and excitement around it, which I found inspiring.

After completing this exercise, I selected two key words that stood out for me: "function" and "communication". These words are used to guide my creative thinking and decision-making throughout my STUDIO module. For this module, we must create design materials like posters and a catalogue. The word "function" reminds me to keep myself in check to make sure that my designs function as their purpose. Does the layout function? Is the flow of information rational? Are the elements logically structured and easy to understand? These are some of the things I ask myself to ensure my work functions.

Meanwhile, "communication" plays a similar role. Design isn't about looks but it's about communicating something effectively. This keyword helps me gauge whether or not someone can understand my work by just looking at it. Can they learn the concept or information by itself without explanation? That is what I target. These two words, function and communication, are a good foundation for my process. Even when I am stranded, I am confident that I can always seek help from my lecturer or classmates so that I can keep improving.

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Summative Assessment Compulsory Question 3:

Kumar, A. (2023, July 10). Difference between broadcasting media and social media. Dreamcast Blog. https://www.dreamcast.in/blog/difference-between-broadcasting-and-social-media/

Q1. What kinds of collaborative projects would you like to do?

For me personally, I would like to collaborate with Broadcast media as I have some friends that is in that. Furthermore, what do Broadcast media student does is they do storyboard, scene planning, scene edit (colour, layer, effects), text animation, 3d modelling, collage, filming, lighting, sound mixing, scene directing and plot script. Why I chose this course is because I am really interested on editing videos and explore more than just editing. I am also curious on how would they execute the ideas if plan A fails, do they have back up plan? Are they going to postpone the shoot?

Q2. What kind of final project would you like to do?

For my final project, what i would love to do is an advertisement showcasing a short skit that shows tertiary students who experiences financial issues. I chose this topic as it relates closely to my life as i find it difficult to cope and manage my financial spendings due to different kinds of expenses as a student, such as public transportation fees, food and school materials. furthermore, the prices of these expenses are gradually increasing, thus makes it difficult for students like me to control and manage our money.

Q3. Consider “Community Engagement and Professional Skills”.

I would like to work with lower income families through raising funds by selling merchandise or product and hit a specific amount of quota before donating these funds to the families. From there we can use these funds gathered to help families that are in need by buying them groceries or handing them a certain amount of money so that they can spend it on their own needs.

Q4. How might CTS A help you Professionally?

How CTS A help me professionally is that it will help me in any problems that I encounter. How I would execute is by taking a step back and see what are the possible solutions that can deal without making it bigger

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Summative Assessment Compulsory Question 2:

Introduction to Problem Solving Skills | CCMIT. (n.d.). https://ccmit.mit.edu/problem-solving/

How CTS helps me in my module is by using some of the topic, which is "ways of solving the problems" and "growth mindset". How these 2 topics helps me in any problem that I am facing is first, I will analyse the problems. Second, I will see which part of the problems that went wrong. Third I will try to think of the ways that I can handle the situation better without making a fuss. Next is growth mindset, how I apply it is by apologising my mistake if I am the one who made it and hear their point of view. From there I can ask them if we can try another method of idea, and if they do not agree with the idea, I will let them cool down first as the pressure is still there. Once they have cooled down, from there I can suggest my ideas and brainstorm so at least I can contribute my ideas and help my teammates out. I would say Studio requires CTS the most as the module for me is quite pressurising and has a lot of last minutes add in. But with the help of CTS, it made me think clearly and visualise my problems instead of stressing out and breaking down.

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[isaacwhuut]

Summative Assessment Compulsory Question 1:

Q1. How do you understand the Critical Thinking Skills module?

From my understanding, Critical Thinking Skills helps us to think clearly and logically. It also helps us with our planning example, analyse our information, thinking process and making our own decisions. Critical Thinking also helps us to control our emotions and to help us to be more mature.

Q2. Which was your favourite activity or session? Why? Why aspects of it were memorable for you?

To me my favourite session was Week 2 which we did the monument. What I like about that session is that my group thought about the situation where covid strikes. Why we chose that is because the world was in a serious situation where a lot of people losses their job or have financial issues and education is also affected. The most memorable moment was my group had no idea at first, after with some discussion we then have things to do, and we move fast and be creative with it.

Q3. What is the value of working in a group?

For me what value of working in a group is that they have team spirit, growth mindset and open minded. Why I chose this value is because that as a group we all have either the same idea or different idea. With this value we can make the work moving and progress. If none of the members have this, we will have a hard time to do the work, and the work will turn out not good enough to be presentable.

Q4. What do you wish you did more of, or better?

Personally, for me, what I can improve on myself is to be more less sensitive. Because sometimes I can joke around to not make the work less boring but sometimes if my teammates dislike it, I will feel hurt. But I also do a self-reflection on myself on which area I can improve on. I also can improve more on my growth mindset as sometimes my groupmate idea is better and I can also ask  them on which area to be improved so that I also can contribute to the team.

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[Week 5 Critical Thinking] Growth Mindset

Q1. Describe an eventful moment you have experienced in this class, bearing in mind the key ideas of the day.

For me the eventful moment was to go out of class and take different kind of logo. It helps me to see the different kinds of ways to create a logo. With this activity I am looking forward to use my creativity and see how many logo I can create using 1 brand. Growth mindset, I get to challenge myself to use my idea and create a logo. Even if I have a good or bad comment on my drawing, it doesn’t stop me from using my own idea instead of stealing people’s idea. While we have to use our non-master hand to draw, I was in fixed mindset. I thought that I couldn’t do it at first as it was very scribble and all over the place but with a growth mindset, I get to execute the logo and to be honest it does not turn out as bad as I thought it would.

Q2. Include selected images of your personal sketches, and explain them. In particular, which sketches did you like most? Which least? Why?

My group choose oatside for our activity. The left side image is 9 of my idea while using my creativity. Out of all the 9 my favourite is the number 9 as it is giving me the café or hang out space to chill or to do work. So I improvise it and on the right side of the image is the final outcome. What can be better is that the black background can be more of water looking as it is a oatmilk. Or I can also add led light to make it more aesthetic and feel more welcome as it is kind of teenage vibe.          

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[Week 2 Critical Thinking] 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

My strength as a collaborator is that I can contribute with giving the idea and see which idea is the most outstanding. As for my weaknesses as a collaborator, I tend to overthink about my idea and that is where I start to feel not so confident. What I did well during the activity is that I hear my group’s opinion, and I also give out ideas, from there we vote which idea to use we agree to do about the covid. Things I need to improve is the monument as I was to focus on thinking ideas where as I can help to create a nicer monument and help my groupmate to design the monument

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

How I would design the monument if I had an unlimited is I will create the covid monument with every person wear a mask and show throughout the years to see the evolvement from 2020-2024. To me it shows that even though covid happen but as times goes by the doctor and nurses endured this phase and I respect that as not a lot of people can endure this situation. I remember during covid period where I was about to lose hope because back then it was very restricted. But how i overcome it is by telling myself that we can do it even if there is pandemic that is happening. Where I will put this up is at every hospital or a historical museum to show the younger generation that even if bad things, that does not mean our journey ended there. We can either give up and lose our strength or push ourselves to against all odds.

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[Week 1 Crtitical Thinking!] What is Critical Thinking?

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

What I understand about the critical thinking before the class is that we must take a step back and analysis the situation before stepping in. When I think that way, I sometimes have self-doubt about my work which leads me to not have any confidence and have low self-esteem. When I learned during class is the three steps which is Observe, Question and Answer. With these three steps I can think better as a designer and break down the situation easily. After I learn those methods, I gain more confidence and think as a designer.

Q2. What have you learned about Mindfulness? How might you integrate this into your learning environment?

What I learned from Mindfulness is that we have be more focus on our surroundings and the situations that is in front of us and not to think about our future or the past that has been already happen. How I would used this method is whenever I am stressing about my assignment, I would take a step back and see what is wrong with it. After analysing it, the mistake that I have done I can change it to make it even better.

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

The most eventful moment that I have experienced is when the lecturer asks, we all to form a group of four to five. When we already form a group, my group shows teamwork, and they are very outgoing which really motivates me to gives more ideas and we also share our thoughts about the question that has been given to us. Our ideas were creative, and my group are aware of our surroundings on the things that can be improve or to add on.

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