Illustration and Visual Narrative (Week1 - Week5)

26/08/2021 - 23/09/2021 (Week 1 - Week5)

Metta angelica (0349095)

Bachelor of Design (Hons) In Creative Media

Illustration and Visual Narrative

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LECTURE

Week 1

In our first week of the semester, we met with our teachers Ms Noranis and Ms Jenifer. They first explain to us about the class module. The module contains all the exercises we will be doing in the future and the timeline of each exercise.

We then were being briefed about our first exercise, which is called Vormator Challenge. For this, we will be making a character using the objects the teacher has provided us and then, using Adobe Illustrator to make the character.

Below is the object we are going to use to make Vormator Characters.

Fig. 1.1 Formator Challenge

Week 2: Introduction to Character Design

In the 2nd week, The teacher shares a slide about Introduction to Character Design, The teacher first ask us what are our favorite characters? and what makes those characters look so appealing to us. After that, the teacher explain to us what makes stylized Design stands out the most is being iconic, created easily, and profitable.

Next, we learn about the Principles of Character Design.

1. Shapes

Shapes define a character's silhouette. Shapes are often used as something to differentiate a character from the others, and this shape creates the iconic look of each character.

Fig. 2.1 Alladin Style

2. Colour

Colour plays an important role in determining the role of the characters, whether it is the heroes/protagonist or villains/antagonists. Colours also gave an impression towards the characters.

Example

Fig. 2.2 Gumball and Darwin (The Amazing World of Gumball)

Fig. 2.3 Color Theory (Source: Lecture)

3. Emphasis & Contrast

Picking one visual element in a character and then exaggerate, makes the character outstanding and memorable, which is why this is a good character design. For example Hercules and Hades.

Fig. 2.4 Hercules (Source: https://pin.it/7fzawhd)

Fig. 2.5 Hades (Source: https://pin.it/39rNmGt)

4. Harmony

All shapes, lines, colours, motifs, patterns must be put together tastefully to create harmony. Every element used in the design must complement each other to create a balance of visual elements that has a Visual Hierarchy.

Fig. 2.6 (Source: Lecture)

5. Expression/Poses

The characters behaviour/quirks/personalities that are visually shown is what makes your characters able to win the heart and attention of the audience.

Fig. 2.7 (Source: Lecture)

Week 3: Composition

In the third week of the class, we learnt about composition. We also learnt about positive and negative space as well as how a good composition could make our design look good or well-balanced.

Week 4/...

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INSTRUCTION

Exercise 1: Vormatore Challenge

Task 1: Vormator Challenge Character Design

Our first task is to make a character out of the objects below.

Fig. 1.1 Vormator Challenge

For this task, I first went to Pinterest to find a few references and Ideas on how to use and combine these shapes. 

Fig. 2.1 (Source: https://pin.it/4q5pJuB)

Fig. 2.2 (Source: https://pin.it/2pbdxGH)

Then I start to make some sketches of Vormator Characters. 

For this sketch, I make it a bit similar to Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 3.1 1st sketch

Then I create another sketch of an old man face. But I then thought maybe I could make another kind of character.

Fig. 3.2 2nd sketch

Fig. 3.3

Fig. 3.4

After, I have done making the sketches. I then choose which will be that character for my formator challenge but after looking again, I felt that this is not good enough. So I open Illustrator and start making the basic shapes first.

Fig. 4.1

After finishing the shapes, I start fiddling with the shapes. Because this is the first time I use Adobe Illustrator, I then look around the tools, while doing some random shapes using the formator. My hobby is often drawing humanoid figures so of course, I make a person using these shapes, after looking at my progress so far, I then start thinking why not use this as my formator character?

I often like to draw circles, squares, and triangles first, so in this challenge, I first use a triangle. At first, I was thinking to make a character out of food called Zongzi.

Fig. 4.2 Zongzi (Source: https://pin.it/3kKY0nR)

So the shape looks like this.

Fig. 4.3

Then I start making the body, and because I first choose the colour yellow. It now looks like a person wearing a yellow raincoat, and resemble "Six" from the game "Little Nightmares" which is unintentional.

Fig. 4.4

Fig. 4.5 Six "Little Nightmares" (Source:https://pin.it/2saWsVE)

Moving on, I then finished my Vormator.

Fig. 4.6

After giving the teachers a look, they gave me a suggestion to add some veins or branches that most leaves have on them. I was not able to figure out how to do that at first, which is why the leave looks like that. So I then look at the format shapes again and then I figure that using the tentacles to make the leave veins.

Fig. 4.7

Well because the tentacles went out of the lines, I then look and search the tool on the Internet to cut out the excess.

Below is the Final Result.

Fig. 4.8 (Final Design)

Task 2: Character Card

For task 2, we are going to make a card for our own vormator characters. Below is the card that the teacher makes for the lecture.

Fig. 1.1 Cammy (Source: Lecture)

Then I look for more references on Pinterest

Fig. 1.2 (Source:https://pin.it/5352Csa)

Fig. 1.3 (Source:https://pin.it/2Z1WHcn)

For my first attempt it was a fail.

Fig. 2.1

So, I create an new document to create a new one. Below is the front card

Fig. 2.2

I must admit that it is not the same the my sketches above, but I think that this is not to bad either, so I continue with the back of the card.

Fig. 2.3

Lastly is to put my character in, below is the result.

Fig. 2.4 (Final Design)

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REFLECTION

I still need to improve on using the adobe tools and also because I haven't memorise some short cut yet, it was a bit time-consuming to go look at the internet back and fort. Also, I think my choice of colours are a bit on the gloomy side, so I probably also need to learn to use colours so it would complement the Design elements.