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WOII: In Summary

Throughout the semester, attending the WOII class introduced me to design concepts I had never encountered before. Previously, I thought of design as something clean and harmonious. However, through WOII, I learned about designs where seemingly mismatched elements come together to create harmony. Activities aimed at broadening our perspectives before starting the design process allowed me to explore ideas that went beyond conventional boundaries.

The class on postmodernism in Week 11 was particularly enlightening. It taught me that even complex design can effectively convey information. Moreover, I discovered that colors that initially seem discordant can come together to create a unique harmony.

In WOII, group work played a central role. Since the groups changed every week, I had the opportunity to learn a lot from my classmates. Sometimes I got inspiration from their ideas, and other times, a single comment from a friend helped me upgrade my own ideas.

However, I realized that I tend to have a limited range of ideas. Once I come up with one, it’s hard for me to think of another. However, I saw my classmates presenting multiple ideas. Watching them made me determined to broaden the scope of my thinking.

196 words

“Dare to Embrace Visual Chaos in Graphic Design. - Subsign | Stories.” Subsign | Stories, 20 Mar. 2024, subsign.co/stories/dare-to-embrace-visual-chaos-in-graphic-design/.

“Group Projects Done Right: 7 Keys to Collaborative Success - FAME Spark.” FAME Spark, 11 Nov. 2024, blog.fame.edu.my/the-power-of-collaborattion-group-projects/.

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WOII: Week 11 - postmodernism

What are some notable ideas from today’s session?

In today’s class, I explored the theme of Postmodernism. It was a good opportunity to step away from the modern design methods I was used to and experience the expression freely that define postmodernism.

For the activity, I chose one of my personal items and used it as the subject to create a postmodern-style poster. I selected a lip tint that I use regularly. 

The most interesting thing in today’s activity was extraordinary rather than organization. In most of my previous design work, I usually aimed for a clean and balanced composition. However, this time, I purposely overlapped images and used colors that stand out, creating an inconsistent visual flow. 

Searching for images related to the lip tint was also a fun part of the process. I found some photos of lips and combined them like a collage.

At first, I was a bit confused and overwhelmed because the design style felt unfamiliar. But as time went on and I began to understand postmodernism more deeply, I started to see it as a way to express my own unique style.

I realized that design doesn’t always have to be neat, clean, or perfectly organized. In fact, a poster that embraces chaos can sometimes leave a much stronger impression. This experience helped me see that breaking the rules can open up new creative possibilities and lead to more powerful visual communication.

230 words 

North, Astrid. “Postmodernism Explained.” Owlcation, Owlcation, 5 Mar. 2015, owlcation.com/humanities/Postmodernism-Explained.

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Woii: Week 9 - Cultural Materialism

What are some notable ideas from today’s session?

In today’s class, we learned about Cultural Materialism, a theory that emphasizes material aspects such as technology, economic systems, and resources. It helps us analyze how these elements shape the way people live, interact, and build their environments.

For an activity, we worked in groups on a design project. Each group selected a film and created a poster based on the world of that film, highlighting materialism through a specific service. Our group chose Wakanda from Black Panther, a fictional country known for its highly advanced medical technology and natural resources.

The service we focused on was medication. In the film, Wakanda’s medical systems are deeply connected to their unique technologies, particularly their use of Vibranium and Herb. We felt this represented Cultural Materialism well, as it showed how resources and innovation directly influence everyday life and healthcare in Wakanda.

Since our topic was medical-related, we aimed to create a poster that felt clean, calm, and professional. We used simple, organized color schemes to reflect the clarity often associated with healthcare. We also selected readable fonts and tried several layout options to ensure the composition felt balanced and visually effective.

This project allowed me to think about how design can communicate deeper cultural and material ideas. It was interesting to explore how even a fictional world like Wakanda can be analyzed through this topic, and how design choices can reflect.

230 words

“Cultural Materialism: Literature and Society | Intro to Literary Theory Class Notes | Fiveable.” Fiveable, 2018, library.fiveable.me/introduction-to-literary-theory/unit-10/cultural-materialism-literature-society/study-guide/GfwW8xDIG3d1Qcl8. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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WOII- Week 5 & 6 - Summative Prep - Design Analysis & Field trip

In Week 5, we used various objects and divided them into the given topics. In our group, we categorized the objects into three groups: memory, materiality, and structure. 

Memory was dominated by travel souvenirs or handmade products, objects most likely to trigger emotional connections or individual memories. Materiality refers to things that we use and need to sustain everyday lives, and I realized how the textures and materials of these things impact our experiences. Finally, structure was about items with the same functions and shapes, where the form and function design is identical, so we have a smooth, intuitive experience with the item. This activity got me thinking about how to categorize and analyze things, and how different things in design could be connected.

In Week 6, We went on a field trip to photograph, and I chose memory, humor and balance.

For memory, I searched for scenes or objects that would cause thoughts of travel. For humor, I attempted to photograph moments or advertisements that conveyed humor. Balance was all about going out to find visually balanced compositions and observing how various elements in the photographs could harmoniously work together. As Observing Balance, I was thinking about design principles and how they apply to finding harmony in composition.

By accomplishing this, I further understood how to express a theme using design and photography and how visual elements generate emotional responses.

231 words

Francis, Yuyun. “Analysis and Design Phases of UX Design Process. - Bootcamp - Medium.” Medium, Bootcamp, 22 Mar. 2022, medium.com/design-bootcamp/analysis-and-design-phases-of-ux-design-process-8331933a9f43. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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WOII- Week 4 - Summative Prep - Semiotics

Today, we analyzed a poster as part of an activity in group. We shared what the poster was advertising and what it conveyed. Our group chose the poster of the ‘Dracula’ movie, and what caught our attention was that it was unique. During the day, the poster just showed wooden weapons lodged in a white background. But during night, shadows fallon the white background due to the wooden weapons, and it depicted the silhouette of Dracula.

This poster is also connected to Charles Peirce's concepts of icon, index, and symbol in semiotics (Peirce, Charles S. Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce.) The wooden stakes themselves are an icon, having a resemblance to the actual object. The shadow is an index, representing the presence of light interacting with the object. The silhouette of Dracula, finally, is a symbol, representing the meaning of the vampire's presence and the horror that it brings. 

Through this activity, I think that I've learned the skill of designing advertisements in a creative way and communicating their message clearly. Designing advertisement posters might seem like a mundane task, but this activity made me see things more clearly. I realized that it's not just about making something beautiful, but making sure the design conveys the message. This activity has given me a better idea of how design choices can appeal to the audience both visually and emotionally.

229 words

Peirce, Charles S. Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce. Edited by Charles Hartshorne, Paul Weiss, and Arthur W. Burks, Harvard University Press, 1931–1958.

Book, Little Black. “BBC Creative Uses Shadow Art to Celebrate the ‘Bloody Legend’ of Dracula.” Lbbonline.com, Little Black Book, 2 Jan. 2020, lbbonline.com/news/bbc-creative-uses-shadow-art-to-celebrate-the-bloody-legend-of-dracula. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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WOII- Week 1 - Summative Prep - Phenomenology

Today, I chose "time" as the theme for an assignment where we had to pick between "time" and "shadow." To illustrate this, I chose”time” and Iook three photographs: a wilting leaf which dries and shrinks with time, a disappearing puddle leaving its impression on the ground, and clouds drifting among stationary buildings. These pictures depict the natural changes that occur in objects, representing how time continuously changes their identity.

Phenomenology seeks the nature of things beyond their surface. Phenomenology, according to Edmund Husserl, its inventor, "seeks the essence of things." My photographs reflect this perspective in that they represent how time can change objects. 

The withered leaf represents natural life's decay process, while the vanishing puddle reflects the accumulation of time and the effect it produces on the world. The contrast between fixed structures and traversing clouds visually represents the relativity of time, emphasizing how human man-made structures and nature understand time differently.

Through these photos, I realized time is not a series of digits but annotation that is experienced through objects, locations, and perception. Going through my friends' photos, I could see each of the recorded time in his/her own way, confirming its subjectivity.

This exercise enriched my knowledge of time's existence in the world around us. Photographing time was more than documentation, it became an experience for me to engage with the world and broaden my thoughts, specifically in the field of design.

237 words

“에드문드 후설의 현상학 정리 및 관련 명언.” 해방일지, 25 June 2023, storystorystory.tistory.com/99. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

Madsbjerg, Christian. “How Phenomenology Can Radically Change Your Perspective on Everyday Life.” Big Think, 22 July 2023, bigthink.com/thinking/phenomenology-radically-change-your-perspective/.

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CTS A - Week 12 - Summative Prep - session 3

What kind of collaborative project would you like to do?

I want to collaborate with a diploma in fashion. When they become models and take pictures, we used digital parts to help edit photographs and considered a collaboration in creating a fashion magazine. Communication design takes photography classes, so I think it can be helpful in taking pictures too. 

What kind of final project would you like to do?

I want to design an app about mindfulness for my final project. CTS A made me realise how important mental health and mindfulness are to people. I felt firsthand that through mindfulness, the complicated mind was relaxed and it helped me to do my work more efficiently. Also, when I relaxed my mind and started working, I was able to do time management better. 

I want to share about mindfulness with others all over the world who have a busy life, so they can get more help for their better work quality. Every couple of hours, take time out from whatever you are doing to be mindful for a few minutes. (“A Busy Person’s Guide to Meditation & Mindfulness.”) I believe mindfulness will help them to more relax in their busy life and get comfortable with their mind. 

Consider “Community Engagement and Professional Skills”.

I found a 'Purple Parade' event focused on community engagement, which presents an opportunity to create an advertising poster by communication design. I thought about promoting the Purple Parade to people by making posters by using ai and photoshops which I am learning and using for design.

How might CTS A help you professionally?

As mentioned above, CTS A has shown me how important mindfulness is, which has helped me live a little more comfortable life. I want to try branding for a job. For branding, I have to have as broad a thought as possible and I think mindfulness is very important for broad thinking and CTS A really helped me to organise my thoughts and me to think wider by mindfulness.

302 words.

“How to Design a Fashion Magazine Cover in 5 Minutes in 2023.” Dochipo, 10 Sept. 2021, www.dochipo.com/how-to-design-a-fashion-magazine-cover/.

Misra, Shivendra Nath. “A Busy Person’s Guide to Meditation & Mindfulness.” Ananda, 15 Jan. 2023, www.ananda.org/blog/a-busy-persons-guide-to-meditation-mindfulness/.

“The Purple Parade.” Purpleparade.sg, 2024, www.purpleparade.sg. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

“Getting Started with Mindfulness.” Mindful, 2018, www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/.

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CTS A - Week 11 - Summative Prep - session 2

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

In the studio, I found that CTS A significantly enhanced my ability to create more effective images and outcomes in my activities. For instance, during the Research Frameworks module, CTS A guided me on the types of research I should conduct to convey information more meaningfully. It encouraged me to engage in deeper thinking, which helped me gather more relevant information while creating mind maps. This approach not only enriched my understanding but also improved the clarity of my presentations.

Furthermore, in the Data Space segment, CTS A assisted me in organising items visually in a way that aligned with given keywords while ensuring that the arrangement was aesthetically pleasing. This skill proved invaluable, as it allowed me to convey complex ideas in a more accessible manner, ultimately enhancing the viewer's experience.

In the Craft, Techniques & Technologies course, I learned about essential concepts such as positive and negative space, colour theory, and abstraction. CTS A enabled me to think more critically about the functional and emotional roles of these elements in composition. By applying these principles, I was able to create works that resonated more deeply with my audience.

Moreover, CTS A supported my endeavours in digital mediums, guiding me to achieve more natural results. In particular, during my photography projects, CTS A encouraged me to reconsider my approach to composition. I learned to focus on balance and harmony within my images, which led to more satisfying outcomes. This shift in perspective not only improved my technical skills but also fostered a greater appreciation for the art of photography. Overall, my experience with CTS A was transformative, equipping me with the tools needed to elevate my creative practice significantly.

279 words.

Lu, Jeremy. “The Basics of Mind Mapping - What You Need to Know When Brainstorming Online.” GroupMap, 20 Nov. 2021, www.groupmap.com/2021/11/19/the-basics-of-mind-mapping?cc=blogID21090.

Chapman, David. “Composition in Landscape Photography: The Essential Guide.” Nature TTL, 19 Aug. 2019, www.naturettl.com/composition-landscape-photography/.

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CTS A - WEEK 10 - Summative Prep - session 1

How do you understand the Critical Thinking Skills module?

I thought CTS A was a venue to help develop the creativity we needed to handle our respective assignments. The Critical Thinking I am feeling now deals with something deeper than I think. It has become important not only to fix the way of thinking but to get out from the frame inside ourselves, it changed to be one-dimensional perception instead of plane. Therefore, in this activity, Critical Thinking was expressed with the difference between 2D and 3D.

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

My favourite session was week 4, where I wrote reflective questions. Reflective writing is a method through which I learned more about my own identity and what is actually important to me. ("The Mirror to Your Inner Self"). This session allowed me to look back on myself again at CTS A. I was able to learn more about my strengths and weaknesses through the feedback from my friends, and it was good to have an opportunity to improve myself in class as I’ve got feedback about my reflection writing.

What is the value of working in a group?

Working in groups can help save time by dividing a task into several people. I can complete all the tasks without having to take a long time. In fact, I was able to finish today’s mind map in time with a group, which seemed to take a long time because we needed to include all of the topics that we discussed in CTS A from week 1 to week 9.

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

I wish I could do better in class discussions. I mainly focused on listening to other people's opinions, and I realised that I might limit the opinions of my team members. I was encouraged to participate more actively in the feedback, but it was not easy to express my opinion with confidence. I wish I could try harder than now to be helpful to my team members.

314 words.

“Reflective Writing: The Mirror to Your Inner Self.” The Waterhole, 30 Oct. 2012, wspucla.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/reflective-writing-the-mirror-to-your-inner-self/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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CTS A - WEEK 3 - Mindfulness and emotional intelligence connection

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.

In today's class, we engaged in an activity that involved writing a script and acting out a specific situation related to one of the four key aspects: Self-management, Self-awareness, Empathy, and Relationship management. Upon reflection, I recognized that my strongest attribute is Empathy. Throughout the scriptwriting process, I found myself deeply attuned to the emotions and perspectives of my peers, which allowed me to contribute meaningfully to our collaborative efforts.

By this activity, I think my strength is empathy. Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place. (“What Is Empathy?”) I made it a point to listen actively to my group members, considering their ideas and feelings as we developed our script. This approach not only fostered a supportive environment but also enhanced the overall quality of our work. By placing myself in the shoes of the characters we portrayed, I was able to better articulate the emotional nuances that our script required, thereby enriching the performance.

However, while I felt confident in my empathic abilities, I recognized that I need to improve my Self-management skills. Self-management is your ability to regulate behaviours, thoughts, and emotions in a way that better serves you and your work. (“What is Self-Management?”) During the activity, I noticed that I sometimes struggled to balance my emotional involvement with the task at hand. I became so engrossed in understanding my peers' perspectives that I occasionally lost sight of the overall objectives we needed to achieve. This realisation highlighted the importance of developing a more structured approach to managing my emotions and responses in collaborative settings.

In conclusion, while my strength lies in Empathy, I acknowledge the necessity of enhancing my Self-management skills to become a more effective collaborator in future projects.

302 words.

Cherry, Kendra. “What Is Empathy?” Verywell Mind, 2023, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-empathy-2795562.

Izzy Knopper. “Customer Service: The Art of Empathy - Izzy Knopper - Medium.” Medium, 20 Dec. 2022, medium.com/@izzy.knopper/customer-service-the-art-of-empathy-b42fd1856fb4.

Raeburn, Alicia. “Self-Management: 7 Skills to Become a Better Leader • Asana.” Asana, 21 July 2023, asana.com/resources/self-management.

Axisa, Tonio. “What Are Self-Management Skills?” Linkedin.com, 2019, www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-self-management-skills-tonio-axisa.

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CTS A - 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 today’s activity.

"In the workplace, it’s always a question of listening and being seen to be listening." (How to Be a Good Listener: The Experts’ Guide.) My strength as a collaborator is that I am good at accepting other people's opinions. I can combine not only my opinions but also those of others to produce the best results. When we were making the monument today, we shared our opinions on what to represent and how to shape it. We had different opinions, but by combining those opinions together, we created a final work.

On the other hand, my weakness is that I can't express my opinion properly. This isn't to say that I don't express my opinion. It means that I can't convey exactly what I was trying to say. While talking about making the monument today, I remember that I said similar things twice and three times because what I was trying to say was not accurately conveyed. So I thought I needed to organise the sentence again in my mind before speaking.

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.

In making this monument, we used paper. To make a monument to symbolise peace, a flower that symbolises peace was folded and placed underneath, and paper was rolled up to wrap around the flower. If there were no limit to the material, I would have used clean marble and trimmed the surrounding walls more smoothly. But the shape itself would have been the same. The shape of the monument we made seems to be a good shape to symbolise peace because different lengths of paper mean that we become one and achieve peace.

265 words

Moya Sarner. “How to Be a Good Listener: The Experts’ Guide.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 25 Nov. 2016, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/25/how-to-be-a-good-listener-the-experts-guide.

How. “42courses.com.” 42courses.com, 10 Feb. 2019, www.42courses.com/blog/home/2019/2/10/how-good-a-listener-are-you. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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CTS A - WEEK 1 - 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.

Before class, I thought that critical thinking was pointing out what was wrong and expressing my thoughts. And while watching videos about what critical thinking is today, I learned that it is not. I learned that it is to analyse and evaluate something from various perspectives, and that critical thinking is not just used in negative situations. In addition, I found that critical thinking can give me confidence in my decisions, choices, and opinions. I found it helpful for me and others, not just the thought of blaming.

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

Before we started class, we took a deep breath and took care of my mind to exhale. It was a class I took after lunch, so mindfulness became an opportunity to improve my concentration when I could feel food coma. The goal of mindfulness is to wake up to the inner workings of our mental, emotional, and physical processes. ("Getting start with mindfulness") Without mindfulness, I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on the video until the end, and I think I might have missed the information while taking notes. Mindfulness helps me focus while learning something. By watching the video and discussing the video again in each class, I could see that I focused well while watching the video with good concentration.

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

Today was the first day of class, but it was also the first day I saw my classmates. Since we were still awkward and didn't know each other well, we briefly introduced ourselves before starting the class. And I think that moment was the most eventful for me. It was good to get to know a little more about the friends we will be with for the next three years.

281 words.

Doyle, Alison. “Why Employers Value Critical Thinking.” ThoughtCo, 8 June 2022, www.thoughtco.com/critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745.

“Getting Started with Mindfulness.” Mindful, 2018, www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/.

“‘My Classmates Are My Family in School.’” Jacinthfaye14, 17 Jan. 2016, jacinthfaye14.wordpress.com/2016/01/17/my-classmates-are-my-family-in-school/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.