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Summary Of WOII

World of Imagination and Ideas (WOII) has helped me see design in a much deeper way , even if I didn’t always start out that focused. At first, I honestly just looked at whether something looked nice or functioned well. I wasn’t really thinking too deeply about meaning. I also procrastinated quite a bit in the beginning, pushing things off and leaving work till the last minute. But week by week, especially through the critical thinking sessions, something shifted. I began to realise that design isn’t just visual , it can tell a story, reflect a feeling, or even leave someone thinking long after they’ve seen it.

As I worked through the projects sometimes under pressure from deadlines I gave myself, I started noticing details in everyday things I used to overlook. Even something simple could hold meaning. I slowly became more confident when explaining my ideas and choices during critiques, which is something I struggled with before.

What stood out to me was the creative freedom in this module. We had the space to try weird ideas, explore new materials, and just be curious. I learned a lot not just from my work, but from seeing how my classmates approached theirs ,it helped push me out of my usual habits.

Overall, this module taught me that design isn't about being perfect from the start. It’s about being intentional, open to new perspectives.

A picture is worth a thousand words! How visual storytelling ...

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Postmodernism

Postmodernism is often recognized through its contradictions , things that feel strange, ironic, or intentionally broken. Instead of following rules, it challenges them. I first noticed this through film and pop culture, where reality and fiction often blur together.

One strong example of Postmodernism is The Truman Show, a film about a man unknowingly living in a staged world. It’s a perfect reflection of Postmodernism , using artificial perfection to critique media, control, and identity. The story plays with perspective and makes the audience question what’s real, which is a major theme in Postmodern art and design.

Another powerful example is Lady Gaga, who constantly reinvents her image by combining fashion, music, and performance. Her work mixes high art with pop culture, often using shock or irony to make statements. She embodies the Postmodern idea that identity is flexible and layered and never fixed constantly evolving.

In design, Postmodernism rejects the traditional emphasis on simplicity and order. Instead, it celebrates vibrant colours, disjointed layouts, and eclectic combinations of styles and eras. It’s not just about looking polished , it’s about making a statement. This approach encourages me to experiment more with my own designs, such as mixing different visual styles, distorting type, or combining modern elements with different influences to create something visually dynamic and expressive.

Even though Postmodernism can feel abstract, I’ve come to appreciate how freeing it is. It invites experimentation, self-expression, and complexity. It’s not about being perfect , it’s about being curious, playful, and honest in the work you create.

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Postmodernism Case Study : Lady Gaga

Postmodernism and Its Effect on Graphic Design

Postmodernism in 'The Truman Show'

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Semiotics

This week’s session focused on semiotics and how visuals shape meaning, often without us consciously realising it. Semiotics is all about how we interpret signs, symbols, and images , and how they carry messages through design. At its core, it consists of three elements: the signifier (the form we see, like an image or word), the signified (the concept or meaning behind it), and the sign (the combination of both). Understanding this framework is useful for designers who want to communicate effectively.

During the session, we explored how semiotics can deliver or even twist information depending on how it's presented. For example, in our discussion, I chose to analyse the Apple logo. It's clean, minimalist, and instantly recognisable logo but it also holds deeper meaning. The apple can be linked to knowledge (like the biblical story or Newton’s apple), and the bite gives it a human, approachable feel and making it own look. Over time, it has come to represent innovation, simplicity, and premium design , proof that even a simple shape can carry powerful associations.

Another great example is the green code in The Matrix. Those falling digital characters have become iconic. Visually, the green color feels artificial, representing the computer-generated world of the Matrix. Symbolically, the code reflects control, illusion, and hidden forces shaping perception. It encourages the viewer to question what is real , just like the characters in the film.

Both examples show how semiotics makes visuals more impactful by embedding meaning beyond what’s visible.

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The Bitten Apple

Structuralism And Semiotics In The Matrix

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How to Analyze a Work of Design & Field Trip (Kampong Gelam) Week 5&6

For Week 5, I brought in a small pouch that I feel is exceptionally well-crafted and made with interesting materials. It’s the perfect size, not too big or too small just enough to fit my essentials like bandages, lipsticks, and hair clips. What makes it stand out is its unique material, which has a slightly crinkled texture similar to an IKEA bag. This gives it a sturdy yet lightweight feel. It’s also water-resistant and easy to clean, which is practical when I toss it into my bag without worrying about spills or dirt.

Though simple in appearance, the pouch excels due to its texture and structure. The material strikes a balance between flexibility and shape retention, so it doesn’t feel flimsy. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate just how well-made it is. It’s a perfect example of how a design doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective, it just needs to function well in everyday life.

For Week 6’s assignment, I explored Kampong Gelam to document at least one design that connects to my curated object grouping. At a store, I found Freitag bags, made from recycled truck tarps. Their material is durable, waterproof, and has a similar crinkled texture to my pouch, making it an interesting parallel. Freitag’s approach to sustainable design highlights how repurposed materials can be used effectively in everyday products.

Additionally, I documented three other works under a new theme: “humor.” In Haji Lane, I found several amusing designs. At a cafe, I was surprised to see two donkey figures from Shrek, adding a playful touch. Later, at a figurine store, I spotted a banana figurine with its peel pulled back, revealing a human-like form. This quirky design was humorous because it transformed an ordinary fruit into something unexpected and entertaining.

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MADE OF TRUCKS AND PET BOTTLES

IKEA Blue Bags Are a Fashion Hat Item

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Aesthetics

While walking around my neighborhood, I was drawn to the Singapore Pools signage. It’s not flashy or trendy instead, The aesthetic of the Singapore Pools signage speaks volumes about its connection with the older generation in Singapore. Its design is simple, clean, and highly functional , qualities that resonate with a demographic that values clarity and familiarity over flashiness.

The bold, deep blue background evokes a sense of trust and stability, while the crisp, white "S" in the center is unmistakable and instantly recognizable. The logo doesn’t try to be trendy or overly modern. Instead, it reflects a practical and no-nonsense approach , something that aligns closely with the lifestyle and preferences of many older Singaporeans. In public spaces, it’s common to see older men dressed in polo shirts, loose trousers with plenty of pockets, and open-toed sandals. Accessories like watches, gold bracelets, or even a sling pouch complete the look. These choices aren’t made for fashion but for comfort, familiarity, and function. Over time, they’ve become part of an unspoken collective style that feels uniform without being formal.

In this context, the Singapore Pools aesthetic doesn’t just serve its purpose , it quietly aligns with the sensibilities of its main demographic. It’s non-intrusive, clear, and comfortably familiar. There’s no need for loud branding or dynamic layouts, the design works precisely because it doesn’t try too hard. It feels like it belongs, not just in its physical environment, but also within the visual landscape and habits of the people who engage with it regularly.

This shows how aesthetic choices can connect meaningfully with audiences, even without intentional symbolism or cultural references.

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Design Is Storytelling: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

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Phenomenology

This artwork explores the theme of time through a phenomenological lens, using an hourglass to symbolize the flow of human experience. The composition is divided into three sections , youth, adulthood, and old age , representing the different ways we perceive and live through time. In phenomenology, time is not just measured objectively but is felt and lived.

At the top of the hourglass, the younger figures symbolize potential and energy, where time seems abundant. Their relaxed expressions and upward positioning reflect how, in youth, time often feels limitless. As we move toward the center, the space narrows, symbolizing the transition into adulthood. This is where responsibilities, especially financial ones, begin to shape our perception of time. The dollar signs flowing downward represent how the pressure of economic survival often dominates this stage.

In the lower half, the older figures carry more serious expressions, reflecting a life shaped by experiences, memories, and the passage of time. Although money appears to be lost along the way, the real value lies in the memories and meaning created through lived experience. Phenomenology emphasizes how we engage with time emotionally, physically, and mentally , not as a clock, but as a flow of being.

The hourglass becomes more than a symbol; it’s a reflection of how time, responsibility, and memory shape identity. Despite the weight of financial struggles, the moments we live through , joyful or difficult , remain central to who we are.

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Heidegger Being and Time and the Care for the Self Escudero

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Compulsory Question 3

The collaborative project that I would love to engage in is one that revolves around the concept of synesthesia and fuses traditional with digital art. This will bring together students of fine arts and graphic designers who will incorporate different tones, images into one visual piece. For fine arts students, they will produce paintings, sculptures or any other mixed media works which convey their senses while the graphic designers will bring in a digital aspect which may include animated images of the sound or music motion graphics that play in accordance with the particular sound. In a gallery setting, each art piece would be accompanied by headphones streaming a different sound theme so that the audience could experience how the arts render a similar sound in different forms. This joint effort will help create a different structure that would immerse the audience in sound and visual art.

And for the final project, I was thinking that I would want to work for the SPCA and help with the campaign. The goal of the campaign would be to increase the number of the animal adoptions through highlighting the underlying characteristics of each animal in the creative graphic design. This would entail doing work on designing posters and a website as well as creating content for social media in order to make a relationship possible between the animals and potential adopters. The objective would be to enhance the adoption process by using visuals that are more representative of the animals in order to change the perspective of the potential adopters.

Considering my professional aspirations, one of them is to run a cafe, attainment of which would require Critical Thinking Skills (CTS) A. It is fundamental to be inventive and resourceful for purposes of differentiating my cafe among others in relation to creating an appealing decor or adjusting the menu according to the preferences of clients. This would also enable me to solve problems such as those related to supply chain management.

Williamson, J. G. (2006). Globalization and the Poor Periphery before 1950.

https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/3312.001.0001

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Compulsory Question 2

Critical thinking is a key part of my creative process, especially in this modules. It helps me sift through information, avoid feeling overwhelmed, and approach problems from new angles. By thinking critically, I can make better decisions, which opens up space for creativity and flexibility in my work. For example, in studio activities like creating mind maps, I’m not just organizing ideas, but also considering different perspectives and building on my peers' thoughts.

In other tasks, such as analyzing fonts for food stores, I see how typography can evoke certain emotions, like how dessert store fonts often appear bubbly and inviting. When making collages from newspaper cutouts, critical thinking came into play as I had to carefully consider how to arrange elements for both balance and meaning.

Rotoscoping also required me to think critically about how one shape transitions into another smoothly. The attention to detail and precision needed was essential to get the desired outcome. During class projects where we combined our individual items, critical thinking helped merge everyone’s ideas into a cohesive and unique final piece. It was a perfect example of how different perspectives can create something even better.

In areas like photography and digital design, critical thinking is just as crucial. In photography, it’s about understanding the history and impact of the medium while solving practical problems, like adjusting settings for low light or fast-moving subjects. In digital tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, critical thinking helps me make the right technical choices, from adjusting composition to color grading. Each decision requires careful thought, creativity, and problem-solving.

Finally, critical thinking plays a major role in areas like mark-making ,abstraction , colours and positive-negative . Whether it’s choosing shape or balancing contrast, I constantly think through how each choice affects the overall piece, ensuring it aligns with the vision while offering something unique and impactful.

Think Design. (2024, September 18). Critical thinking - Think design.

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Compulsory Question 1

Critical Thinking Skills module feels like learning to become an architect of thought, almost as if we’re fashioning reality itself. It’s not just about perceiving what’s in front of us but about creating ideas, challenging them, and exploring each layer as if navigating the dream levels in Inception In the film, every level of the dream has unique rules, requiring careful navigation and comprehension. Critical thinking operates in a similar way: each “layer” of thought contains assumptions and perspectives that need to be examined and critiqued. The deeper you go, the more complex the ideas become, with each insight revealing new questions and leading to a more nuanced understanding.

The totem in Inception serves as a powerful analogy here. Just as the characters use their totems to test reality, critical thinking requires self-checking methods our own logic, evidence, and reasoning skills to keep us anchored as we explore complex ideas. Even in the deepest exploration of thought, we need something concrete to keep us grounded.

When I think of teamwork, the monument project stands out. Working with friends to create something meaningful allowed everyone to contribute their unique skills and ideas, making the experience incredibly rewarding. I especially enjoyed seeing ideas evolve, transform, and fuse into a powerful outcome. Such projects show that teamwork isn’t just about achieving the end result but also about combining different perspectives that one person might not envision alone.

Lastly, I want to work on overcoming procrastination. I realize that delaying tasks only leads to unnecessary stress, so I’m aiming to improve my time management skills. Breaking this habit will allow me to work more effectively and reach my goals with greater clarity and confidence.

Critical Thinking as a Qualified Decision Making Tool. (2019, December). Researchgate.

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WEEK THREE| CRITICAL THINKING

Today’s jelly bean activity was a wonderful opportunity to explore the connections between visual design and individual experiences. As we analyzed the logo’s font, we debated whether it conveyed a bitter or sweet feeling, resulting in lively discussions among our group of five. Observing how the viewpoints of my group members shape our perceptions and decisions was fascinating. Through reflection on our personal tastes and the feelings that different typefaces may evoke in different people, this exercise brought to light the significance of self-awareness. My strongest quality, in my opinion, is empathy. I enjoy listening to my groupmates and taking into account other perspectives, which promotes a collaborative environment. It became clear throughout our group conversations. Understanding how each person's upbringing or life experiences influenced their perspectives on the flavours of jelly beans we connected with the typeface was enlightening to me. It brought to mind our Studio collaborations, where a diversity of perspectives produces more imaginative results. I am aware, though, that I still need to work on my self-management. I occasionally have trouble managing my workload and remaining organised, which limits my capacity to fully participate in group initiatives. The exercise today reaffirmed the need for efficient time management and communication. It needs both of these abilities to communicate visually. In the future, I hope to become more methodical in how I approach my work so that I can use my empathy and contribute more to the dynamics of the group. All things considered, today's event was a valuable opportunity for team building and personal development.

Alrubail, R. (2015, June 2). Teaching empathy through design thinking. Edutopia.

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WEEK TWO| CRITICAL THINKING

During today’s activity, my group and I built a Covid 19 monument to commemorate the bravery of those healthcare workers who risked their lives and those who passed on during the Covid 19 crisis. Our group of four used materials provided by the teacher as well as materials we brought ourselves, such as newspaper and colored paper to create the sculpture, representing the sacrifices made by so many during the Covid 19 pandemic. In terms of strengths, I feel confident in my ability to share my ideas and help create an open environment for my group. I actively encouraged my teammates to express their thoughts, which helped make the collaboration more inclusive and productive. However, I realise one of my weaknesses is presenting. Since it’s only my second week in class and I’m still getting to know everyone, I feel a bit nervous and awkward when speaking in front of the class. If I had more time and an unlimited budget, I would have designed the monument differently by hiring an expert sculptor to carve out the detailed design. I’d also include the names of healthcare workers and those who lost their lives during the pandemic as part of the monument, As that would create a more personal and lasting tribute to their sacrifices. This would elevate the project and make it even more meaningful. As I believe these enhancements would elevate its significance and create an even more meaningful memorial.

Dedication of COVID-19 sculpture honors Emory Healthcare and university personnel | Emory University | Atlanta GA. (n.d.). Emory University.

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WEEK ONE| CRITICAL THINKING

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

02. What have you learned about Mindfulness?

How might you integrate this into your learning environment?

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

Before attending this critical thinking lesson, I used to think that this class was similar to ITE life skills lessons but I was wrong. It was completely something different. I thought of critical thinking as something pretty straightforward. I thought it was all about analysing information logically and making a decision based on facts. I figured it was about whether a design looked nice or got the message across, without digging deeper into why or how it worked. But after taking this class, I realized that critical thinking is so much more than that. It involves questioning assumptions as well as looking at things from different perspectives and really considering the context of what we create. The mindfulness video the teacher shared with us at the start of every lesson helped me think more creatively and approach design with greater intention and depth as the video helped clear up our minds and let the ideas come in. I’ve learned that mindfulness is key to being present and thoughtful in my work. Now, I think of critical thinking skills as a tool that helps me break down not just the look of a design but the meaning behind the design as well as how it affects the audience emotionally and culturally. What really changed for me was learning to be more mindful and think out of the box with my design. Instead of just making something look appealing, I’m now thinking about its message. And how people viewing my work might interpret the message differently. I feel like I have become more mindful and aware of my design process since the critical thinking lesson. This first week has gotten me out of my shell after a long holiday break, getting to know new people with different personalities.

Design thinking in education. (n.d.). HGSE Teaching and Learning Lab.