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WOII: COMPULSORY: IN SUMMARY

WOII has given me a lot of insights about the world, not just about design in particular. It taught me how to be sensitive to my environment. Everyone’s upbringing and traumas are different. It taught me more about perception and awareness, and how everything in life has a breakdown to its structure, how it is created, how it is presented. As a designer, I believe this module has shaped me to be more thoughtful and intentional about what I consume and produce. EVERYTHING that plays a role in creating plays a huge role to the intentions that are presented. Colours, layouts, texts, all of these might seem minor, or insignificant, but if I introspect deeper, there is always an intention to what is being used in a design process. Though at first I find it really mundane to study and attend WOII lessons, I will have to admit that it is part of the process for design. It pushes me to be a better designer, making use of different topics like postmodernism or post structuralism in my work. I realised a lot of the things I have learned come into play with my other modules for this semester like Studio, Photography, Craft and Digital whereby all the deliverables have a creative process behind it. 

(214 words)

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WOII: WEEK 5 AND 6 - WORK DESIGN & FIELD TRIP

WEEK 5

An item that I choose that’s handcrafted would be these press-on nails that I created myself from scratch. This item is especially memorable to me since I am part of the creative process and I run this nail business for more than 2 years now. Design analysis is broken down into 5 frameworks. As an independent business owner that works really closely with design and my clients, I have found out which medium works best for my creation, and to also understand what my clients wish to receive. Usually, my clients will send me various pictures and moodboards for me to design and depict my own style onto the medium used (fake nails). It’s amazing how I am able to use different colours of gel paints, the different viscosity and other materials such as charms or beads (which I will consider as the raw materials) to create a creation that is functional and usable as a form of fashion statement/ expressing each individual. I always aim to be purposeful with my designs and creation by going through each frameworks with intentions. I believe the reason why my business is still ongoing and still running is because of the effort and craftsmanship I put into my works. But also not forgetting the trust and loyalty that my clients have for me, I am always grateful to have an outlet where I can express my own creativity.

(235 words)

WEEK 6

The theme that I chose that could be an extension to the item that I brought would be “materiality”. The satin material and beads that I captured are items that are material and raw on their own. But the beauty in it is, it is able to create into a greater creation. The satin material could be used to create a beautiful satin dress, and the beads can be used to create handmade bracelets. I chose the topic materiality since I worked really closely with materials and products. It’s about experimenting with different materials and choosing what works for me best. What worked for others could not work for me, and these come with experiences that I cherish as it makes me who I am to this day. To me, materiality is not just about identifying what something is made of. It’s about understanding what shaped its properties, usage, meaning and the impact it has. 

(155 words) 

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WOII: WEEK 11 POSTMODERNISM

Postmodernism to this day is a very complex topic as it is highly debatable to the perceived limitations and failures of modernism. It is a controversial lens for designers as it opposes the modernist art that design should be created with clean lines, solutions that are objective and timeless aesthetics. Whereas, for postmodern it rebels against that as it allows individuals to express and embrace the playful side to design. The whole idea is to not conform to normality and to diversify our creation. 

This plays a huge role in my Studio work. For my first draft, I chose April Greiman as my artist as her work intrigues me the most. The way she uses layers and different vibrant colours to create her works. Personally, it resonates a lot with myself as I believe my personality matches her work, being playful and breaking rules to what I am familiar with - modernism. I’m more of a process kind of person rather than what is the finished product. It’s much more enjoyable to be playful during the process as it creates an extraordinary work, unique and one of a kind. This week’s topic reminds me closely of post structuralism, whereby it opposes structure, and focuses on the process. But does this take away the meaning that it is trying to convey? I believe not, rather it gives each individual a different perspective and insight. It’s about embracing the fluidity and culturally aware approach that acknowledges the diversity of the contemporary world. It allows consumers to be intrigued, and to think more critically about the message that is being conveyed. 

(267 words)

Citation:

Sessions College. "Graphic Giant: April Greiman." Notes on Design, Sessions College for Professional Design, https://www.sessions.edu/notes-on-design/graphic-giants-april-greiman/

Inkbot Design. "April Greiman: American Graphic Designer." Inkbot Design, inkbotdesign.com/april-greiman/.

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WOII: WEEK 7 POST STRUCTURALISM

Structuralism is the understanding that culture and systems are structured and fixed. It is a form of system that is influenced by other elements within the system. Meanwhile, post-structuralism is rather more complex as it challenges the idea of structuralism. It is an extension and critique to structuralism as it opposes the idea that perceptions should be fixed. Just like in the design context, where we have hierarchy and grids to guide us to create, but who is to say that we can’t express ourselves through our own creation that is not guided through the traditional way? Interestingly, our class activity today challenges that by using pictures and texts. Could a picture derive a different meaning than how it is structured by culture and system? We combined what we captured from text and picture and gave it a different meaning from its function. Stairs - essentially is used to climb up or go down from a level. But how I interpreted it is that it could lead to change. Just like life, there are moments where you succeed or fail. I enjoyed this activity very much as it allows me to perceive and introspect what is beyond a creation.

In short, what we produce may not be consumed and interpreted through a form of structure. To me, perception plays a very huge role in post structuralism as everyone’s consciousness varies to each individual life experiences and upbringing. This topic encourages myself as a designer to move beyond a simplistic understanding of form and function. It also reminds me to always be mindful of my creation as sensitivity varies through every individual too.  

(271 words)

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WOII: WEEK 4 SEMIOTICS

I had a lot of takeaways from this week's lesson regarding semiotics. Essentially, semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, and the meaning that is created. It taught me how to interpret the world around me through various forms of communication, beyond language. By decoding the message embedded in signs and symbols, it helps me to understand why certain images, words or objects invoke a certain emotion or idea.

I chose the picture below to decode for this reflection as the first glimpse of the image invoked a very strong negative feeling. It looks like a gun, but after decoding the image I come to a realisation that it’s just a car key that is composed to look like a gun. The literal meaning of the key is, it is used to operate a vehicle. But after reading the text “Takes one life every 25 seconds” it gives it a different meaning as it provides statistical information. The connotation is the emphasis of the constant danger on the road. “Drive safe” is the takeaway to this connotation as it acts as a command to urge drivers to drive carefully. The image uses a really powerful visual metaphor to connect drivers with potential dangers like accidents or deaths. It starkly warns about the dangers of irresponsible and unsafe driving. The call to action for the image is “Drive safe”. 

With the understanding of semiotics, it allows me to create more meaningfully. Every design element is important, from the shape, colour, text, and layout. I believe that every design or poster we see out there, there is always an intention or a message that it's trying to convey. Design is more than just a mere visual interpretation, it is a form and tool for communication.

(294 words)  

Citation:

Cooler Insights. "The Role of Semiotics in Marketing." Cooler Insights, 13 May 2012, coolerinsights.com/2012/05/the-role-of-semiotics-in-marketing/

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WOII: WEEK 1 - PHENOMENOLOGY

The definition of phenomenology from google is:  the science of phenomena as distinct from that of the nature of being.

an approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience.

Today was a very interesting topic for me as it made me question deeper about existence. Do we give meaning to what’s present or does the present have a meaning on its own? I went to search more regarding the philosophy of Heidegger. Heidegger believes that by studying Dasein (human existence), we are able to unlock more to what it means to exist. We exist for a reason, to figure out what life means to us. We hold the bigger key to awareness, involvement and the questions that come along with existence. 

How does this affect us particularly with the design context? Take our class activity for example. We were tasked to go out to take pictures of “shadow” or “time” and to present it through pictures. “Shadow” or “time” is a very broad topic that even I felt myself struggling trying to capture it through pictures. But after understanding the philosophy of Heidegger more, I learnt that “shadow” is not just a separate entity, it is an inseparable part of an object that interacts with light. I tried presenting it through my pictures, where light plays a big role in reflecting the extension of an object, or even a person. Though shadows can only present its outline and not the details of a certain object, I wanted to capture both revelation and concealment. I find the philosophy of Heidegger really interesting and useful in this context, as I wanted to present more than just a mere representation of these topics. I wanted people to look at my pictures and explore the aspect of existence as experience through the topics.

Citation:

Wheeler, Michael. "Martin Heidegger." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 2011, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/heidegger/

(305 words)

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CONNECT CTS A TO MY LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY! [Week 12]

My partner has his own brand called “Nocturnal” based in Singapore and I would love to collaborate with him. His brand identity is based on the automotive culture and to build a community by connecting with others through events, and their own merchandise. The whole team for his brand are some alumni and current students in Lasalle. I resonate heavily with the brand and I love the idea of building a community and culture for the automotives as I feel that Singapore is lacking in the youth aspect. I have attended a few of their shoots and have helped with some of their branding logos and also covers. It would really be a great honour if I am able to work alongside them for their future projects. For example, “Run The Night” is a franchise and niche event where they invite local or international DJs/ creatives/ rappers/ baristas. I would love to be a part of this, and the creative process for the show. I can work on the event poster or even the layout and designing of the event space alongside the creative director team. I have interacted with most of them and I admire the connection and the common ambition they have towards the vision. I believe that it will be a fun environment for me to be in and the fact that I am doing something of interest such as designing. 

How I envision myself working for a final project is something that is of my interest and also involves a community. I like the idea of building that connection with others and not viewing it as a job. Similarly to “Nocturnal” there is a brand called “PinkFlamingoUSA” that is based in the USA and has moved internationally to other countries such as Japan. They have similar vibes whereby it is a community based on the automotive culture. Their partner company “Prix Workshop” focuses more on the fashion line and merchandising. I love the idea of having merchandise to foster a sense of identity and individuality. Additionally the idea of integrating fashion together with a community sparks my interest. It would be a really great opportunity if I am able to work with either PinkFlamingoUSA or Prix as I resonate heavily with this brand. From that experience and networking, it would be nice for Nocturnal, a local brand to move towards that direction of making it known worldwide too. 

CTS A will help me a lot in building my self-esteem and confidence to network with relevant people. As an individual, I am reletively shy and conserved. This will definitely affect my line of work as I am required to communicate with people for projects and events. It will enhance my ability to be able to have intentional and effective communication when I am networking with people. Especially since my work line is around building relationships and a community, not only am I required to communicate with my team but also the audience and the people that resonate with the brand. With critical thinking, I have to be mindful and put myself in the shoes of others and to feel the emotions that I am trying to convey from their standpoint. This would mean that I have to be unbiased and to practise empathy. 

word count: 546

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CONNECT CTS A TO MY OTHER MODULES! [Week 11]

I find myself struggling with Studio, during Research Frameworks. At first I was looking at it on a surface level and I thought to myself that I could definitely do better. Since we were grouped, I had the opportunity to listen to others’ opinions and it helped me dive deeper into the quote and to look at it from different perspectives. Teamwork had a really huge role especially when we were in the library where we were tasked to search up relevant information from different sources and articles. Once we were gathered back in class, each of us had different ideas which helped a lot in curating a mind map. CTS A helped in being able to grasp the objectives of the project and to explore different ideas. Basically, looking at it at a bigger picture and connecting the quote to current world problems such as BLM, and the LGBT community. 

As for the Craft workshop, I was not confident of my positive-negative (space, contrast) work. However, Edmund gave me constructive criticism on how I can improve my work. CTS A helps me to better understand and to accept criticism openly as a form of feedback. This is where emotional intelligence plays a role, it helps me to understand what is needed and what I can do better in terms of the composition of the space and contrast of the exercise. 

CTS A helped me a lot for Photography in aspects such as Critical Thinking and Emotional Intelligence. What was required was pictures that showed depth and emotions. Aside from that, the composition and lighting of the pictures have to align with the design element such as balance, negative space, etc. With Critical Thinking, it allows me to analyse the subject and have thoughtful decisions to reflect what was needed for each exercise. I have to make sure my photos have the emotional aspect, by putting myself in the shoes of the lecturers or a third perspective and allowing myself to be unbiased by my own perceptions. Additionally, asking feedback from my lecturer helps me to broaden my understanding and how I can better compose my photos.

I felt quite frustrated with myself during Digital and Applications as I prefer hands on stuff like Craft activities. Working on things digitally feels frustrating due to circumstances like laptop crashing. Sometimes, I already have an idea in mind but I am unable to produce the same quality digitally and that too feels demoralising. With CTS A and practising mindfulness, I am able to be more gentle on myself and to not beat myself up. Instead, to be more patient and ask my peers for advice and help. This is especially crucial as my work tends to pile up if I over analyse and focus on an issue. It builds better self-management and self-awareness to not be so hard on myself and to take things one step at a time. 

word count: 487

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DISCUSS THE SEVEN WEEKLY TOPICS AS A WHOLE! [Week 10]

The Critical Thinking Skills module is a module that enhances skilled values that I have already possessed as an individual. From my understanding for the past few weeks, it pushes me to think critically and further dive deeper into matters rather than looking at it at a surface level. Though the seven weekly topics may seem daunting, I personally feel that complacency overlooks the true definition of thinking critically. It allows me to be more self aware as a person and these values are definitely important when it comes to school and even more when I am working, where I will be placed in situations where conflict, pressure, or self esteem may be affected. To me, Critical Thinking is a process that should not be rushed. I view it as steps, just like how if I’m going through a breakup, or grieving over a loss, my friends will always advise me to take baby steps to heal. These steps should feel like a process that would lead me into a bigger picture. The image below is an exact depiction of what critical thinking metaphorically is in my head.

Personally, week 2 is my favourite activity whereby I was required to work collaboratively with my classmates as a group. This activity was memorable to me because it’s been awhile since I had to work together with my peers. Honestly at this period of time, I have not memorised my classmates' names and it felt a tad bit awkward to refer to them as “you” or “he/ she” and not by their names. Despite that, and the international students were struggling to converse with the team due to language barriers, I admired how we could still build a concrete monument under restricted time. The diversity of ideas and understanding of each other allow us to work as a team to curate a monument that represents our individuality and thinking. I value the effort and teamwork that me and my teammate showed during this activity and how the process did not feel awkward at all despite it being one of my worries. 

Honestly, I feel that I can do better when it comes to communicating with my teammates. As a person, I tend to observe and over analyse my environment. This can be a good thing but not at the same time because I might space out and go non verbal. I can definitely improve on this by allowing myself to be more relaxed and to be open to uncomfortable situations.

word count: 418

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WEEK 3: 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.

I am strongest at empathy. I am the type of person that observes intently if I was with a group of people. My priority is to ensure everyone feels heard and seen. I have been in situations where I was not seen and it felt demoralising to be in that state. The last thing I would want is for my friends to feel that way in a group setting or group work. To me empathy is not just about being aware of my surroundings and people’s feelings. Empathy works hand in hand with compassion. To have empathy is to approach someone with compassion. This helps me build deeper connections with my peers and my loved ones.

Something that I have to work on though is self-management. I have a lot of expectations for myself and with expectations comes a lot of burn outs and crash outs. I tend to overwork myself that sometimes I find myself still struggling to reach my own goals. When expectations are not met, then comes the times of me beating myself up to it. I should improve more on managing my mental and physical well being. I realised doing so much does not mean quality product at the end of the day. It is like the same saying as “Quality over quantity”. 

Word count: 217

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WEEK 2: 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 working as a collaborator is my attentiveness to everyone’s emotional well being. Working with international students can be tough at times due to the language barrier. There were times where I noticed my classmates struggling to understand the mini activity that we were doing and since I don’t speak Chinese myself, I tried my best to ask my Chinese friends to help translate to the international student. At the end of the day, I don’t want them to feel outcast and hope to make them feel as included in the group project as it is a team effort. 

However, I do have my own weaknesses working in a team. Being an introvert sucks. There were times where I wanted to impose my ideas but I held myself back due to my fear of judgement from others and I was afraid that no one would listen to my ideas. I should work on this more by building my confidence more as it will be a struggle if I were to keep on being in my own bubble. I’m still working on it but I will get there!

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 redesign.

Our monument represents capitalism. We used a single cake slice and included things that we think are related to capitalism such as indulgence in luxury goods and brands. If I had an unlimited budget, I would use a proper edible cake and cut it into slices and add props of luxury brands and use frosting on the actual cake to decorate it. Capitalism is a very broad topic so I would decorate the cake to show the audience a deeper brief on what capitalism is and how it affects the society. 

Word count: 279

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WEEK 1: CRITICAL THINKING

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

Before critical thinking started I thought the lesson would be a mundane and useless lesson because naturally I would think that everyone has critical thinking skills. However, after the first lesson, i've learned that as an individual I do lack critical thinking in some aspects. For example, Shawn asked us what our life goals are in a few years time. My answer was to just be rich. But what does being rich really entails? Money, experience, luxury items? It is such a broad and generic answer that even I could not give a proper answer to. This made me step back as I realised that perhaps I don't have critical thinking skills. From then onwards, I had more interest in actively listening since my first impression is me feeling disinterested due to the perception that I had before the class. From the first lesson, I learned that critical thinking is about analysing a question from different perspectives, considering the various viewpoints and to make reasoned decisions or choices. 

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

Mindfulness is the act of being aware of not only my feelings and emotions but also the peers and people around me. To create a safe space that holds no judgement but love and respect towards anyone’s opinion and their emotional well being. This is especially crucial in my learning environment. Being in the design industry means there are many differing opinions and perceptions. Being mindful allows me to collaborate with others professionally with a more positive and productive environment. As for individual work, it allows me to be mindful of my emotions at that point of time, and to always ensure that my work does not offend any related parties. At the end of the day, it cultivates a space of non judgement which allows everyone to work and feel at peace.

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

An eventful moment that I experienced in class will have to be Shawn’s introduction. I never knew that one could live so many different lives and to experience so much at a young age. It inspires me to do better and to never be afraid of failing. I have always been one to be calculative with my risks and the society. I adore people who are not afraid to try something new and to always take experiences as a journey. I hope to be that person that is not afraid to enjoy life as it is and to keep on upgrading myself to be the better version of me. 

Word count: 421