ILLUSTRATION AND VISUAL NARRATIVE - PROJECT 1

4/4/2023 - 19/5/2023 / Week 1 - Week 7

Thanaphorn Daensaad / 0350930

Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Hons) In Creative Media

Task 1 Exercises

---

List:

1. Lectures

2. Instructions

3. Task

4. Reflection

---

Lectures:

Week 1

On the first week, Mr Hafiz did some briefings on our assignment breakdown. He introduced us to the Bezier Game to play as it can help us to get used to using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator.

Figure 1.1 Bezier Game Score

Week 2

For this week, we got into our Adobe account to make sure everyone has access. Mr Hafiz briefed us on how to use the tools (pen tool, shape builder, pathfinder and blob brush). We were required to trace the vormator shapes and do a few tutorials in Adobe. Then, we were briefed on character design by Ms Anis.

Figure 1.2 Week 2 Exercise

Week 3

This week, we learnt how to use the gradient tool and the blob brush to make shadows. We also learnt recolouring option through some exercises.

Figure 1.3 Week 3 Exercise

Week 4

We learnt how to manipulate with pencil tool, shaper tool, width tool and some previous tools. We were also briefed on our first project illustrated type and MyTIGER poster challenge.

Figure 1.4 Week 4 Exercise

Week 5

We learnt about how to make things 3D and how to intertwine shapes through some tutorial exercises.

Figure 1.5 Week 5 Exercise

Week 6

On this week, we had a consultation with Ms Anis on our progress for illustrated type and MyTiger poster progress.

---

Instructions

Exercise 1 - Vormator Character

For this first task, we were asked to come up with a character silhouette. As many people are able to identify a character just by looking at a silhouette as it could be a memorisable design or complicated one. We had a session where we practice on building with shapes beforehand to get used to it before making our own character design.

Fig 2.1 Project requirements

1. Shape tracing

Before starting on the exercise, we first traced out the shapes using the Pen Tool so it's easier for us to just copy and paste the shapes we've made.

Fig 2.2 Vormator shapes tracing

1. Inspiration

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets : Dobby

Fig 2.3 Dobby (Harry Potter)

I remember growing up watching Harry Potter when I noticed the appearance of Dobby in the movie as he played quite a major role. The character Dobby is an elf, judging by the enormous elf ears that he has. He has quite a slander figure accompanied with a rectangulared body figure. An elf (pl elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic Poetic Edda and Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda. As he is known as a house elf, he's seen mostly in a dirty body-covering pillowcase wrapped around his body to indicate that he does alot of housework. He has an obssession with socks.

Other than that, I like the realisticness of his skin to a human skin since elf is a humanoid supernatural being. Not only that but also the realness of the wrinkles on the skin was quite a study to be able to manipulate shapes into shaping like wrinkles. I admire him for his loyalty to his master and his close friends but sadly he died from sacrificing himself in a fight. ( Sobbing such a great elf  ;-; )

The Lord of the Rings : Gollum

Fig 2.4 Gollum (The Lord of the Rings)

Gollum from the movie "The Lord of the Rings" is the most iconic ring bearer for being possessive with it. He calls his ring "my precious" (damn i want someone to call me my precious sobbing).  He has a love-hate relationship to the ring and himself. I really relate with him when he had the moments where he was just talking to himself.

2. Design Exploration

I started off with determining the humanoid figure I planned to make using basic shapes which then I bring it to life using Adobe Illustrator.

Fig 2.4 Humanoid figure sketch

3. Character Design

I proceed to take it to Illustrator and tried to manipulate the shapes to look like my figures without breaking any rules given by Miss Anis.

Fig 2.5 Manipulating shapes

Fig 2.6 Character design sketch

I was happy with the outcome though I think I can further develop it if I have more time. I was able to add more defined look by using different tones to add shadow to the figure. 

4. Adding colour

I went with the basic skin tone and played around with the colour to highlight the shadows for each element of the body.

Fig 2.7 Character design outline,silhouette and coloured

Final Character Design

Fig 2.8 Final Vormator Design

---

Exercise 2 - Illustrated Typography

In this exercise, we were required to design and create 2 illustrated typography using the words generated from a Pictionary Generator.

Fig 3.1 Project Requirements

1. Word Generating

The two words I got were "outer space" and "sleep".

Fig 3.2 Word Generated

2. Sketches

I started off with brainstorming the first thing that came in mind when I first thought of the two words.

Outer space

The first thing I thought of when it comes to the word 'outer space' were aliens, astronauts, moonrocks, asteroids and so on. From that, I wanted to make them spell out the word by also making a story that the astronaut was trying to escape from the alien but was caught up by the rope holding him while the alien slurp it up like a noodle strand.

Fig 3.3 "Outerspace" sketch

Sleep

The word sleep took me awhile to think because I first thought of a simple idea of closed eyes. Then, my idea changed to making the process of sleeping where it starts then ended it with a dream.

Fig 3.4 "Outerspace" sketch

I had some time to rethink of an idea of the process. First letter represents getting in comfy pjs, then being in bed, closing both eyes then having a dream. The letter p is just an a way to incorporate that it's a dream as it represents the logo of dreamworks.

Fig 3.4 Improvement ideas

3. Digitalization

Outer space

I digitized the work in Adobe Illustrator. I manipulated the shapes into spelling out each letters then added on the elements. I used alot of pencil tool, pen tool and more to finish it.

Fig 3.5 Outline of "outer space"

Fig 3.6 "Outerspace" finalized

Sleep

I digitized the work in Adobe Illustrator. I manipulated the shapes into spelling out each letters then added on the elements. I used alot of pencil tool, pen tool and more to finish it.

Fig 3.7 Outline of "sleep"

Fig 3.8 "Sleep" finalized

Final Illustrated Typography

Fig 3.9 "Outerspace" final

Fig 3.9 "Sleep" final

Fig 3.12 Outline of "outer space"

Fig 3.11 Outline of "sleep"

---

Feedback

Week 6

Miss told me to try to do more exploration on the word sleep as it was a little too plain. She liked the idea I had for my outerspace. How should I make the word sleep to speak to itself?

---

Reflection

Experience

Throughout this project, I was able to learn the basics of the Adobe Illustrator which when used in my work to come out with amazing outcomes. At first, it was hard to manipulate the shapes I wanted but it took me a few trials and errors to get it right. I had lots of fun during the process of making my vormator character design as it allows me to roam free with any sorts of idea I have.

Observation

I realized that I learn alot from my peers from different ideas they had and methods in doing their work that I could use to incorporate in my work. Errors and trials are the ways for me to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator better.

Findings

Though having limited shapes for the character design, it was fun finding ways to make shapes with the only shapes given and using the shaper tool. I would want to get a better device to do my work so that my work can work smoothly and not crashed any chance it could. Adobe is testing my patience which is great at a certain point.