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SOAD TALK: Let's Swap! 23/02/2022

A talk by the founder of The Fashion Pulpit, Raye Padit.

Although I'm not a fashion student and honestly don't understand much about fashion I chose to attend this talk to gain a new perspective from someone who is not in the graphic design industry. I've chose to attend this talk also because it was related to sustainability and service.

Summary

The talk started off with a short introduction and a clip from the documentary about fast fashion called 'True Cost'. Then Raye talked about how he started this company called The Fashion Pulpit and how he was inspired to start it. It ended off with a short Q&A session to know more about the founder of this company and his views on the fashion and design world.

My Notes

I took down some note and quickly jotted down my thoughts while listening through this lecture series.

Conclusion

Overall, this talk by Raye was eye opening and insightful, I like how it started off with a short video on materialism and consumerism;Overall, this talk by Raye was eye opening and insightful, I like how it started off with a short video on materialism and consumerism; it was impactful and it left me thinking about how much I actually spend on buying clothes from these kind of companies (fast fashion companies). The problem with fast fashion and how it impacts today's world around us. It was an impactful video that left me thinking about how much I actually spend on buying clothes from these kind of companies (fast fashion companies). I went ahead to watch the full documentary after the talk as the video got me curious to know more.

I like how concise the question and answer section of the talk is, it got me thinking deep about how I'm spending on clothes, where are all my clothes from, being mindful of my purchases not only on clothes but everything in general.

I've also thought of how this 'swapping' could apply to things other than clothes or fashion items, could we swap electronics? or perhaps books, art materials and more? This would bring along an interesting service design concept and I would want to explore this concept in future projects.

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International Placement Critical Reflection

Introduction

London, United Kingdom — it was my first time being away from home for more than a month, away from the sunny and humid Singapore. I felt a wave of emotions, both negative and positive, negative mainly because of the pandemic. Positive because I was excited to experience a new environment (climate especially), meet new people and learn new things. I was also a little worried that I could not assimilate well to the weather or culture here, this did cause quite a bit of stress in me so I had difficulties concentrating on the school projects. It did take me quite a few days to adjust but it was alright and smooth sailing afterwards. During my almost two months stay here in London, I had visited many places and learnt many things that awed and enlightened me. As I write through this reflection, I will go through the key moments and reflections of this exchange programme.

My first & Assimilation.

The first two weeks were what I call “Assimilation Weeks” as I had trouble adjusting to a few things; 1) the climate — it was my first time experiencing winter and the moist London weather did not make it pleasant for me, though I did conquer and fight through the cold in the end. 2) Homesickness — as it was my first time being away from my family, I was homesick and was especially missing the food and people back home. 3) Culture — I wasn’t familiar with the western culture so I was afraid that I would say or do something that would seem offensive to the locals here but not to us in Singapore, I was glad to have some friends and families who lived in Europe to help me with my assimilation to the western culture and formalities.

The second week in London was my first formal week in school. I was excited yet anxious about what was to come. School in London was different from how schools in Singapore feel and look, down from the exterior to the interior of the school. The school felt grand, old and it felt like it blended into the surrounding buildings. I was awestruck by the architecture and buildings here, it is as though I've time travelled to the past — this is where it struck me that I’m in a foreign country. 

On the first day of lessons — the words ‘experiment’ and ‘experimentation’ came up many times during the lecture. These words are uncommon in Singapore’s design scene or lease to me. I find it uncommon for design firms and schools in Singapore to be extremely experimental with what we do; it is usually straight to the point, user-centric, logical and to a tee. Whilst in UAL we indeed still think about the users and how they will view our designs but they also encourage experimentation which was new to me as I was never really introduced to such a method of exploring design in Singapore; it is usually just sketches, more research and critic.

  

Growing Pains & Tension.

As much as I enjoy the creative freedom given to us here, I was in fact feeling quite bound instead of “free”. Having too much freedom, trying to assimilate to a new environment plus juggling more extra schoolwork made me feel overwhelmed. I felt that I could not move on with my project well and I was stuck. I was homesick and I just did not feel like doing anything. What encouraged me to hang on and push ahead was the constant video calls from my family and friends back home, just the sight of my room made me feel motivated. Hence I printed out pictures of my room back in Singapore to paste on the walls of my accommodation room in London. This gave me a boost of confidence, resilience and motivation to carry on with my work as I look forward to going home. 

A house with four people, four very different personalities and habits, who are not entirely familiar with each other — This is my first time having to house with people that I don’t know, or who I have yet to know more about. When you have a house of four people who are not very familiar with each other you get occasional disagreements and tension. I have learnt that even though each of us is different and has different habits, we should learn to respect what each person wants and needs, and communicate with each other clearly so that way we could live peacefully in one household.

Enlightenment & Freedom.

I’ve felt enlightened during the museum trips organised by a lecturer here at UAL. The lecturers gave us several tips and a small pep talk about design and the design process, we have also dabbled on the topic of art and design on how different and how to differentiate between the two.

We’ve been to several places and museums within the two days, they were inspiring and it also bonded the group of us together. One question that was running through my head throughout this trip was “What exactly is good design?” and I think I’ve found the answer during the museum visits here in London. There is no proper definition of a “good design” but I believe that everyone has their own definition of what their view of design is. For me, a good design is where it provokes people’s emotions and is deemed useful to the user and it also enriches the user’s life. Design is not just about aesthetics but also the functionality.

Conclusion

One thing that I will really miss about London is the sunny spring weather and the abundance of spring flowers that would not be found in Singapore. Also the much appreciated and celebrated art and design scene here. 

All in all, I feel like I have cultivated enough knowledge through this trip, I am satisfied with what I have learnt and am proud of what I have done here during the exchange programme. I could do better if more time was given to Unit 7 however it is sufficient and I am satisfied with my outcome. This trip has taught me many things from education to life to gaining confidence and making new friends. I am glad that I have onboarded this journey in my life and I am looking forward to what will be in store next.

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Business Studies: Reflection 

Going through this module and especially doing the group project has made me ponder and think about what I truly know about the business industry.

I've always have the impression that business is something very strategic, lots of numbers and mathematics involved and also something that only a “business minded” person could do. That is until recently that I’ve learnt that business is not all about numbers and calculations, business can be creative too! 

Honestly, I wasn't interested in learning anything business related because I didn't have a plan to start my own business in the future. However after going through this module my mindset towards the term 'business' have changed and I now see business in a whole new light. I now see it as something that could aid me in designing something, a design tool whereby I can understand more about the market and consumers through business studies. It is beneficiary and it could also provide me with insights that aids in design research and whatnot.

Starting off the module with an individual ikigai project was interesting as I'm intrigued by this topic. I’ve read a book on Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles a few years ago, it was inspirational and an eye opener — the book also motivated me to live a healthy lifestyle, not the over-the-top health junkie kind of lifestyle, but a lifestyle where I just live in the moment, do some light exercises, stretches or walk everyday, be mindful, and also to make sure I eat more greens in my meals. One thing I learnt in this book is that finding your ikigai is not something that will happen instantly, but rather a process where you need to go through. 

My take away after completing this book is to live in the now; do not rush into things “live in the moment keep it slow” and reflect on what I hope to achieve each time I start on a new project.

Also, after completing this individual project I've came to be clearer on what I truly want to do in the future and I felt reassured.

The group project was honestly fun as I got to do it with classmates and friends who share common interests, we got to pick a topic that interest us and decided to work from there. This group project has taught me how to use and apply the business canvas model on setting up a business, it was very hands on and a nice learning experience.

In conclusion, I felt that I have learnt sufficient skills and information for me to know how to go about in the business world; it will definitely come in handy in the future. The learnings and takeaways could also be applied in my future and upcoming projects too.

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SEA Workshop

Link to Presentation Slides

What I've learnt:

My takeaway from this workshop, I've learnt about the importance of film and how music in films can influence how you feel about certain structures, characters, scenes. How music can sort of predict something forthcoming and how the rhythms and beats of music determines such things.

This film 'Opera Jawa' is Indonesia's unique take on musicals and arts.

some notes from watching the film ⬇️

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Business Studies: Week 4-8

Business Canvas model.

First class of 2022; we've dived into the business model canvas where we are taught of how entrepreneurs plan their businesses.

There are 2 ways to plan a business —

Firstly, the traditional way of planning business with long logs and, plan, as well as a new and more efficient way called business model canvas. The old style could take up to 2 to 3 months to plan with all the details such as executive summary and business description, marketing plan and location as well as calculations.

But what is this business model thing and how does it work? Similarly to all models and frameworks, I've compared it to the design framework where we break down to make design planning and understanding the need of design easier. To put it simply, a business model canvas is where we create deliver and capture the values of the process (of how we want to run the business) with one simple look to it. Value on the other hand, means the thing people pays for it, the monetary term of technical, economic service and social benefits. The cost and benefit of a products can be the same thing, but they can also be the different thing, for example, a useful item that is selling for cheap can be considered an earned barging, on the other hand, value is also in term of time and connection. To let the customers enjoy the product, it would bring forth the enjoyment, and value.

For today's exercise, we did an activity on value proposition and how we can apply this skill in crafting out a sentence/paragraph by using SIA as an example.

This is what I wrote for the activity ^

All in all today's class was quite fruitful, although I didn't quite understand some terms (I might need to revise and recap on this lesson again as it is an important component to the group work)

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Business Studies: Week 3

On Ikigai

⬆️ The picture above is something that I did after watching the video about Ikigai in class.

This week we ventured into learning about Ikigai.

I've read a book on Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles a few years ago, it was inspirational and an eye opener for me — the book also motivated me to live a healthy lifestyle, not the over-the-top health junkie kind of lifestyle, but a lifestyle where I just live in the moment, do some light exercises, stretches or walk everyday, be mindful, and also to make sure I eat more greens in my meals.

One thing I learnt in this book is that finding your ikigai is not something that will happen instantly, but rather a process where you need to go through.

My take away after completing this book is to live in the now; do not rush into things "live in the moment keep it slow" and reflect on what I hope to achieve each time I start on a new project.

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Business Studies: Week 2

Opportunity assessment

Unique opportunities that fill needs and wants

Creativity:

What if? Why not?

Sources of creativity: process or people driven

Two kinds of entrepreneurs

Adaptive

Refine current practices (make small little changes to how people use things)

Create something that is new, more means oriented and detailed

Innovative

Approach tasks from ‘unusual’ angles (Dyson)

Question basic assumptions to current practices (Dyson: vacuum > no bag, fan > no blade)

Has little tolerance for routine work

Little or no need for consensus & insensitive to others

Business Opportunities according to Maslow's Hierachy of Needs (Physiological):

Trends can be started by societal behaviour, technolody, economic, government policies

Example: masks production > our behaviour and our need to wear mask,

MASLOW HIERACHY OF NEEDS!!!

We are able to create businesses out of these needs

Physciological

Safety

Love/belonging

Esteem

Self-actualisation

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Business Studies: Week 1

Introduction to Business Studies

We started off the class by introducing ourselves ⬇️

Then we moved on to discuss about what kind of business we would like to do/start.

Here are some notes for this week:

Business management

Imagination

Cubism

Being different

Spreading the word

Entrepreneurs

Challenge the unknowns and continuously go on to create the future

Recognise opportunities where others see chaos or confusion

Entrepreneur: to create something innovative

Reflection:

All along, all of my life I've always have the impression that business is something very strategic, lots of numbers and mathematics involved and also something that a very "business minded" person could do. That is until today that I've learnt that business is not all that numbers and calculations. Business can be creative too!

Although as of now I have no plans of starting my own business in the future, (but who knows someday I might be interested in venturing into this route) I definitely know that this module will benefit me greatly if I ever do start a business of my own.

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Internship Opportunities

CLICK HERE TO GO TO INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES DOC

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SOAD Lecture: On using pause, contradiction & restraint for practical creativity …. By Jonathan Yuen

It is interesting to know how others go through their design process. Jonathan Yuen's design process is definitely one of a kind and it gave me a new perspective of how I view of the design thinking process.

In this lecture, Jonathan talked about how the usage of creative pause could greatly benefit us designers.

Quote from lecture "You can only do something good once you fully understand what you're doing"

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PDP REFLECTION WORD DOC

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Current Affairs: Week 9

Throughout this module, I've learnt more about the role of what designers can do not only in today's context but also in what we can do in the coming future. From the very first week of the topic on the roles of design — why do we want to design? for who? how can we implement our design and how can it benefit everyone, regardless of age and abilities? Current Affairs have taught me to look at what's going on around me, what are the trends? What are the subtle nuances? what are the issues that the people around me are facing? Not just people with who I am close but also in a global context, look at the current social issues, and think about how I can use design to better improve these issues. How are people trying to change what is happening around us? Why do said problems happen, and how can we "fix" it?

“The only problems worth solving are the wicked ones” this is the most impactful sentence that I remember from the first lesson. I do agree that wicked problems are worth solving to a certain extent. Global warming is a wicked problem that we have been trying to solve for years now, we still cannot find a viable solution to it. Wicked problems are difficult to solve, but if we all cooperate, it might help. So the question now is how can we get everyone to play a part? Can design help? Can we design something that appeals to everyone of all ages, different preferences and views of life?

An example for the above problem would be Singapore's 2030 Green Plan and Apple's 2030 carbon-neutral plan, These plans both have similar initiatives, to fight climate change by reducing carbon footprints and creating greener products and ways of life.

There is also design activism, where we stand up for our rights through design. "Design Activism encompasses a wide range of socially and environmentally responsible actions in design and planning. ... It has since become an emerging discourse in the design profession that parallels a resurging interest in the social practice of design."

How can I, as a graphic designer/visual communicator bring across these messages to people who are unaware and clueless? Say, for example, educating young children on inclusiveness or on how to be conscious through an interactive picture book where they will be able to learn and put their shoes into how people with disabilities go about their daily lives or how they can help to play a part in making the earth a better place to live in, by learning how to recycle and being conscious on what they want; such books will not only increase children's social-emotional awareness, they will also hopefully pass on this knowledge of what they learnt in class to their family members.

Current Affairs has opened my views of design, before going through this module my perception of design was all hands-on, mockups, prototyping, basically practical things as that was how I learnt back in my diploma days. Learning about design through theories is something refreshing and new, although I struggle and I am weak at this area of theories and essays, I do enjoy learning about new stuff and what's happening around me.

As designers, I believe that we should have empathy, to understand what people may want and may need in the future. It is about rethinking how we can do things better, and more efficient. Design should not get in the way of making something good, it is not all about beautifying things, it is about creating meaning and value. Using design and visuals to create an emotional impression that everyone can relate to.

My design direction is driven by emotions, I am all about creating designs that evoke positive emotions. I hope for my creations to touch people's hearts and deliver a strong and clear message. I also feel that without design, it will be like instant noodles with no seasoning or msg — plain and tasteless. Just like how instant. noodles seasoning have different flavours, so does design. With the seasoning packet, the design will be much more colourful and tastier, and most importantly you will eat with gusto! That is how I design; not just in communication design, but in all aspects of design, to be able to add that punch of flavour into our designs

Moving forward, I hope to bring along with me this knowledge everywhere I go and create designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also impactful.

Will I ride the wave of trends or will I take the other calmer wave where I will ride my wave of self-discovery and creating a whole new set of trends?

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Current Affairs: Week 8

What (or which) future trends will impact design we do today?

The trend of Digital Reality (MR, XR, DR, VR, AR). This trend might turn designing on our computers "tangible" as we now can "touch" what we design using VR controls and what not.

How can we apply our practice with future trends in mind?

We apply design today, tomorrow and future, there is no designated time where design should or should not be applied. Future trends might or might not happen. We cannot predict the future like how Analyst can’t predict stocks. Trends are derived by human needs, driven by primary forces of changes

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Current Affairs: Week 7

How can design be part of the circular and sharing economy?

Weaving design thinking into the process of circular and sharing economy production to make products more sustainable

How can design make us consume less?/How else can design be less about consumerism?

Educate people about the impact of consumerism

Educate and encourage people to make mindful decisions on what they consume by using attractive infographics and campaigns

Design better products that last longer

Interesting Watch + Read

Video about Neuromarketing and how brands get us to buy more stuff

On consumerism and design

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Current Affairs: Week 6

What are some principles you can apply to make your design more inclusive?

1) Don't just solve problems with our own bias.

2) Observe what others do

3) Try being in the user's shoes for a day (eg. a simulation of being an elderly or visually impaired)

4) Learn from diversity: get insights from a diverse range of people, not just a specific group.

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Current Affairs: Week 5

Preferable future in 2041

There will be a growing importance of design in our lives as the masses gets to understand how design impacts the world.

Design can be seen everywhere right now, and more companies are using the design thinking module for their projects.

"The definition of design as a whole will dilute with time. Design will be just more than graphics and interfaces."

As there will be a growing importance of design, I hope people will understand that design (especially graphic design) is not just about drawing/illustrations, making a logo or poster.

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Workshop: Risograph

17 SEP 2021 | WEEK 3: DIGITAL > PRINT

On the last of of the risograph workshop, we got to do a digital collage on photoshop.

I decided to do a collage of cats, I've also used colour halftone filters on the pictures so that it will look cartoonish when it's printed.

Afterwards, we had to separate the photoshop file into different channels C,M,Y and K. [insert picture here]

Then it's off to printing!

⬆️ Test print on separate channels (CYMK)

⬆️ Prints on actual paper.

⬆️ Cutting our prints! ✨

✨Final result!✨

I'm really happy at how this collage turned out, even tho it's quite simple, but i think it brings out a certain humour.

CLICK HERE TO READ PDP WORKSHOP REFLECTION WORKSHEET

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Current Affairs: Week 4

Video Reflection

What are the insights?

What are some findings that will matter to your work?

How can designers work with stakeholders (people, private, public)?

20s:

Insights

23 y/o

Concerned about transitioning from a fresh grad student to adult. Not sure how to adult — thinks adulting is foreign

25 y/o

Concerned about mental health — Because of the pandemic, we're stuck at home = less interaction with people = mentally deteriorating to mental health.

Concerned about climate change — thinks we should be responsible about the environment. Has good habits of separating her garbage and recycling.

Wants to change herself in order to help others.

50s:

Insights

Concerned about covid and life

Wants to change his attitude on his outlook in life

Findings that will matter to my work/ How can designers work with stakeholders:

Most of the findings matters to my work, it's just the way we solve or help ease the problems that they have. Since we're not doctors, I feel that it's impossible to "cure" the problem of mental health, but maybe we could ease it by doing some user research to first delve deeper and understand the root of the problem before coming out with a solid solution that might help with said problems. Designers can collaborate with organisations that deal with problems such as environmental issues, health issues etc. to get more insights on how we should move on, from there we could come out with solutions like a space or an app or even a campaign which creates awareness on such situations.