matinroslan

[matinroslan]

Question 2

I'm drawn to becoming a graphic designer because I enjoy making things visually appealing and, more importantly, using design to convey stories and ideas effectively. It's not just about making things look nice, it's about using pictures, fonts, and colors to help people understand and connect with messages. I aim to be a visual storyteller, ensuring clear and engaging information.

In the next five years, I see myself growing as a designer. I want to excel at my work and stay up-to-date with the latest tools and trends. I'll focus on web design, making apps user-friendly, and creating strong brand identities.

I also want to be a helpful part of the creative community. I hope to collaborate with experienced designers and share my knowledge with newcomers. In five years, I want to be known for my creative work and for being someone who mentors and inspires others in the field of design. Being a graphic designer isn't just a job, it's a way to express myself, keep learning, and leave a lasting impact through design.

As a graphic designer, I am able to play a role in raising awareness about marginalized groups, disabilities, and environmental issues through visual communication. By creating visually compelling images that depict the experiences, challenges, and strengths of marginalized communities, designers like myself will have the power to challenge stereotypes and foster a deeper understanding among audiences. The use of infographics also able to allows me to simplify complex information related to disabilities, environmental concerns, or social inequalities, making it more accessible to a broader audience and facilitating informed discussions. 

In week 3’s critical thinking lesson,  I created a skit where I highlighted the importance of taking care of the environment, especially in Singapore where littering is strictly regulated. I use a humorous approach to showcase the consequences of improper cigarette bud disposal, emphasizing how small actions can have health risks associated with smoking, simplifying the message by explaining that smoking can lead to serious issues like heart attacks. Through relatable scenarios and a bit of humor, I aim to encourage viewers to be mindful of their actions, not just for the cleanliness of their surroundings but also for their own well-being. This video serves as a lighthearted reminder that being considerate of the environment and making healthy choices can collectively contribute to a better, cleaner, and healthier community.

As a graphic designer, I realized I am able to play a role in raising awareness about marginalized groups, disabilities, and environmental issues through visual communication. By creating visually compelling images that depict the experiences, challenges, and strengths of marginalized communities, designers like myself will have the power to challenge stereotypes and foster a deeper understanding among audiences. The use of infographics also able to allow me to simplify complex information related to disabilities, environmental concerns, or social inequalities, making it more accessible to a broader audience and facilitating informed discussions. [484 words]

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[matinroslan]

Question 01

Our group's main idea revolves around humility. This means that we believe in prioritizing the needs and concerns of others over our own. It's about taking a step back, listening actively, and valuing diverse perspectives, even when they differ from our own. We believe in the power of constant learning and growth, and we keep our curiosity alive.

Quality holds a significant place in our approach. We believe in producing a few high-quality designs instead of overwhelming ourselves and others with an abundance of choices. It's a quality over-quantity philosophy. Moreover, we strongly advocate that art should carry a deeper meaning or message. We believe that art without meaning is like a blank canvas, waiting for the artist's touch. I understand that art can range from profoundly meaningful to purely aesthetic, and we respect diverse opinions and perspectives, recognizing that how we interpret art can be shaped by our individual perspectives.

However, while our group manifesto places a strong emphasis on finding a balance between creativity and addressing the needs of those who experience our designs, I find myself contemplating the idea of exploring an alternative manifesto. This journey involves a thorough examination of our group's beliefs and practicality. It's about understanding how my personal convictions align with our collective goals and the effectiveness of our teamwork.

Engaging in open discussions with my fellow group members is also crucial as I gather their valuable insights and explore the potential for alternative manifestos that may better serve our objectives. These alternative ideas might lean towards fostering innovation, inclusivity, or placing a stronger focus on well-being. Trying out these new ideas in the context of a project is a way to assess its effect to make necessary adaptations. An aspect that I hold particularly dear is the idea of connecting art with society. It's about using art as a means to address significant issues, such as racial inequality and climate change.

In my studio module, I had the opportunity to collaborate with my friend on a project. The collaborative approach we adopted offered advantages for project collaboration. It allowed us to share responsibilities, encouraged diverse perspectives, and enhanced our overall efficiency as a team. Furthermore, it allows quality control, fostered the development of new skills, and ignited our creativity. This approach reduced individual workloads, boosted our motivation, and provided a valuable learning experience in collaboration and communication.

In my perspective, this experience highlighted the value of teamwork and cooperation. It underlines the idea that when different talents and perspectives come together, the power of creative work is amplified. It's about understanding that art isn't solely an individual effort, but rather a collaborative endeavor. By pooling our skills and ideas, we can create something more impactful and insightful than we could on our own. [461 words]

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[matinroslan]

Crafting A Statement of Artistic Vision

This activity was interesting as I went to Sim Lim Sq to observe places that interest me and to find a design problem I would like to fix. I managed to find some issues faced by this cafe on the second floor. They have a lack of manpower, the menu was scattered around the cafe walls and lastly having false information of prices. My group and I discussed and came up with suggestions for the cafe such as hiring more capable staff, putting the cuisines available on one menu board and having signage to politely ask customers to leave after having their meals to allow others to dine in.

The activity taught me alot in terms of having critical self reflectivity. I am able to relate in terms of my own experience of critical self reflectivity. I was able to have a personal dialogue with myself such as having a thoughtful examination of my thoughts, actions and beliefs without passing on harsh criticisms or judgements. As an art student, I was able to take a step back and look at my own works from an impartial viewpoint much like an observer. Instead of judging my work, it allows me to have a constructive self-evaluation where I am able to pinpoint areas where my designs can evolve and flourish. It allows input from fellow peers and lecturers to offer me their suggestions to steer me towards improving my craft. It made me more self-aware as well as allowing me to be more consistent to push the boundaries of my creative abilities. [260 words]

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[matinroslan]

Connecting Practice with Society

This week has taught me a profound lesson about understanding what I do, as an art student or as an individual, has ripple effects that extend beyond my immediate sphere. For instance, as a designer, social commentary is a core of my creative expression. I am able to use my artworks to highlight significant issues that are meaningful to society. This can take the form of paintings, illustrations, graphics, or any creative medium. I might also be able to create thought-provoking illustrations that visually represent challenges like racial inequality or climate change. One example is the video I uploaded below. Through collaboration with my peers, we manage to do a short skit.

It reminds the audience the consequences of smoking and littering in our society, and how smoking can lead to diseases. It will be able to stir emotions and intellect, inspiring viewers to reflect on these issues and possibly take action. As an art student in Singapore, embracing socially-engaged practice means connecting deeply with our diverse society. It involves going beyond our studio to engage with people of various backgrounds, understanding their stories and addressing issues like multiculturalism and sustainability through art. This approach empowers me to be a catalyst for change, sparking important conversations and fostering empathy within our tight knit community. It’s not just about making art but about using art to make a difference in Singapore’s ever-evolving societal landscape. As an art student this has reinforced the idea that my role as an art student extends beyond personal creativity. [253 words]

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Creative Practice and Critical Thinking

I understand that creative practice involves generating new, imaginative ideas and solutions whereas critical thinking involves analysing, evaluating and making informed decisions based on evidence and logic. They can be used together to allow myself as an artist to foster innovation and effective problem-solving in my various works in school. From my point of view, when I engage in creative practice as an design student, it becomes a form of self-exploration. Through the act of creating design, I delve into my own thoughts, emotions, and personal experiences. 

As a design student myself, I’ve come to realise that my assignments frequently come with their fair share of challenges and hurdles. For instance, in the Studio module, I have to create posters for the Baybeats festival. One of my weaknesses is that my posters tend to be generic. Due to such a case, I consulted my lecturer and was given a better idea of concept making and realised the importance of having a visual identity for my poster. I resolve this problem by understanding better about having audience engagement, having a typography layout that’s not generic, ensuring the right visual elements and message clarity and lastly consulting lecturers for feedback for a few times. As I face these tough problems, I get better at finding solutions. I find that this skill doesn't stay confined to the classroom as it can also be applied when it comes to my personal issues in life. This skill extends beyond art and proves useful in addressing personal life and work life challenges in the future. [259 words]

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[matinroslan]

Semiotics

Semiotics is the study of signs and how they are used to interpret communication. It is a visual representation of ideas, concepts, and emotions that rely on the viewer's interpretation of the signs and symbols used. I did some research and found an image that can relate to the topic of the day.

This is a painting titled Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. In relation to semiotics and its perspective, the painting can be looked at as a collection of signs and symbols that convey a sense of wonder. The colors and swirling lines can be interpreted as signifiers of movement and energy while the use of light and dark can be seen as a signifier of day and night.

From what I see, Semiotics seeks to understand ways in which signs and symbols are used to create meaning in human communication. It allows us to explore various types of signs used in different social contexts. It has been used in advertising and design applications as well as to analyse art.

An artist's use of signs and symbols and the way it is manipulated, as well as their choices of a medium are all able to reveal their individual artistic inclinations in Semiotics.

[203 words]

[matinroslan]

Aesthetics

Aesthetics holds a wide range of topics such as art philosophy, art criticisms, and the psychology of perception. One such aesthetic is signage. Aesthetic signages take on forms such as banners, sculptures, murals, and other types of art installations. It incorporates design elements like colors, textures, and shapes to create a visually compelling message which captures the attention of the audience, for this case, anyone passing by. It is often used in spaces such as roads, shopping malls, parks, restaurants, and other areas where there is a need to communicate information to the public. I went to do some research and found various signages relating back to the topic of aesthetics.

This is an image of a Thai restaurant signage. It is a well-designed signage in terms of aesthetics as it is able to tell the audience that the restaurant serves Thai cuisine from the way the signage uses traditional Thai art and cultural symbols. The bold typography also gives its identity and message.

Aesthetic art can also be abstract and can be created using a wide range of techniques. "Campbell soup cans" by Andy Warhol is an example of an art piece that involves aesthetics. The series of paintings, featuring iconic images from popular culture, challenges traditional notions of beauty and art while celebrating the aesthetic appeal of everyday objects. It demonstrates how aesthetics can be expressed in a variety forms of mediums and styles, highlighting beauty and harmony in human expression.

[243 words]

[matinroslan]

Phenomenology

Phenomenology is significant in art and emphasizes subjective experiences, perception, and the way in which images, objects, or events are perceived by an individual. Phenomenology is needed when evaluating art as it allows the audience to open up their horizon to various ways of perceiving art, promoting various experiences. I researched to observe some artworks and found "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon", an artwork by Pablo Picasso.

From what I observe from the artwork, there is a use of contrasting colors that creates a sense of tension. This would allow me as a viewer to engage with the painting on an emotional level. The abstract forms of the painting question my preconceptions about beauty and the human form, creating a sense of disorientation and a subjective experience. Not forgetting the distorted fragments of the women in the artwork create a sense of fragmentation and also emphasizes subjective experience in interpretation and perception.

These are just some observations done using Phenomenology. It is able to provide a valuable method for recognizing individual artistic inclinations by examining the subjective experience of the artist. By gaining insights into these experiences, we understand the artist's expression better and the meaning that shapes it.

[196 words]