LESSON 11!

Heyyyyy!
Sorry, this is a delayed blog post, hehe! :D

In this lesson, we learnt about EFFECTIVE BROCHURE DESIGN!

So, what are the pointers?

• Who are the clients, what the client wants
• Valuable input
• Attention grabbing cover
• Strong Images and cover
• Clear and compelling content
• Unique Selling point

http://www.designbolts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Beautiful-Deca-Fold-Brochure-design-5.jpg

Next, we learnt more about corporate brochure-- this is the part where it is more important since it is going to be my CA! The examples shown during class was very interesting and inspiring for the CA! 

Here's one that I found on the net while searching!

http://www.designdune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Business-3-Fold-Brochure-520x349.jpg

Thereafter, we broke into four groups and we looked for 5 stock images in a library and check out the prices and the service! 

 http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/backlit-tree-in-morning-mist-on-meadow-at-sunrise-royalty-free-image/108354723#p

Just for the beautiful image of the tree, it's starting price is 20 dollars! 

Next, we learnt more about InDesign and thereafter was consultations! :)

Well,  that's all for today folks! :) 

Ngee Ann Open House!

Heyyyyy,

So, here’s the trip to Ngee Ann! 

As you can probably see, it was quite a crowd when we went to NP on Friday! 

Firstly, I love the posters, banners and the standees, apart from the hot guys (hehe), the colours used were very bright and optimistic. It also gave off a very trendy and hip vibe! Maybe, SP could try that next year instead of just using black and red? :) 

The stage was small, it was not really a stage but more for the DJs to play their music, there wasn’t any formal stage, making it a very informal event.

The brochures were very neat, clear and concise. Also, the images used were appropriate and had clear and compelling content.

The theme 'always that something xtra' was present throughout the entire NP, making it very obvious on what was the theme! The message of offering something extra in NP was also quite clear! 

All in all, I think NP’s open house was effective. With brochures given throughout and with helpful volunteers everywhere, it made NP a very friendly school and welcoming. The colours and the design were very hip and colourful, the fonts used were also fonts that most teenagers use. The design of the standees are also not too messy but very neat and sophisticated! 

Perhaps, the area that they could improve on is the website, for some reason, I am unable to access to their website! Thus, without the website, I am unable to get more info. Not only that, I feel that their Social Media presence is not that strong as compared to SP and I felt in that aspect, SP did really great with the hashtags and all! :)

I believe SP could improve on the overall colour scheme— red, black and white seems a little too boring and I think more colours which are brighter should be used to attract more teenagers. 

The collaborative tools that we used in the group would be Whatsapp— to decide the date and the time when we went and Google Docs— to share our images! 

Well, that’s all folks! :) 

Peranakan Museum

Heyyyyyy!

Field-trip time to Peranakan Museum!

Peranakan Museum is the first museum to explore the peranakan culture and it boasts 10 different galleries on the culture and traditions of Peranakans!

    There are three major communities-- Jawi Peranakan, Chitty Melaka Peranakan, Baba Peranakan and guess who's the person on the left?! 

     Yeppp, it is Dick Lee, Singapore's very own well-reputed composer and so much more! Besides that, he is also a Peranakan. 

The most interesting part has to be the Wedding customs!                                                                             On my left, is the wedding march!

The lantern bearers were known as Pak Boyen. They were used to bear the lanterns with the surnames of the family on them, to proclaim to all that the two families were being joined in marriage.

What's Peranakan without Nonyas above?

The Nonyas represent the close relatives that would usually be part of the wedding procession. They will be well dressed in specially made baju panjang(long tunics) and sarongs for the occasion.

The interestingly intricate design for the altar is really eye-catching.  The design and the motifs present are also very attractive and beautiful. The entire layout is also simple and clean and not messy.

The highlight has to be this! 

 The designs and the intricacy is present throughout this and loved how they are very sophisticated and beautiful!

Wish I was a Peranakan because of the beautiful culture present throughout the designs itself! :)


That's all folks! :D

Critique on five ads!

Heyyyy! :)

I am now going to critique five ads that I came across on the net!

First one: This McDonalds ad made by TBWA Shanghai was attention grabbing and the minimal text and instead having an image as the most important thing was really working! With the fries being carved from the fresh potato implied that fries are healthy as opposed to how we perceive fries to be-- oily and unhealthy. Thus, with strong images, clear and compelling image and with a unique selling point of being a healthy fast-food restaurant, this ad was awesome! Just hold on, I'm gonna get some fries first, hehe! :D

This is the second ad from South African advertising agency Bittersuite and SANCOOB, a non-profit organisation that aims to protect threatened seabirds, recently developed this innovative series of print ads to raise awareness of the penguin's critical situation. I hate reading words and love graphics, so this ad was something that I liked! The optical illusion was really cool too! The simple black and white colour scheme and the subject itself is very clear. Call to action, eye-catching images&graphics and clear and concise content make this ad one that is really good! 

This ad for Panasonic's Vierra 3D was certainly one that was eye-catching! The details in this image is simply amazing-- the light that seems to be a spotlight for the dinosaur, the plants that has dropped because it hit it, the wall being bitten all seems to fit very nicely in one image itself. 

It is said a picture speaks a thousand words and I really felt this ad speaks a lot to the viewer of the ad. Awesome ad that is clear and persuasive- I feel like buying this TV right away! Hahas, the only problem is the money! :D

This ad is for Delifrancé and I liked how the image is used to describe the tagline aptly. The tagline says, ' Ready to bake at home,' and it fits perfectly with the bread home slippers shown in the image. It is also very simple and clear and the image used is apt for the ad. I liked this ad because of the minimalistic design and the strong, compelling image used in this ad!

Last but not least, we have Volkswagen! The graphics seemed a little unclear to me at first, but after reading the text in the ad, I had greater understanding of the ad. Perhaps, the reason as to why I could not understand the ad is because I do not drive and it is not relatable to me. However, I think the ad's simple imagery and graphics relayed the point across of travelling a long distance with only one tank. With the graphics and the copy text, this ad is clear and concise :)

That's all for today, folks! :) 

References for images

• http://media.creativebloq.futurecdn.net/sites/creativebloq.com/files/images/2013/08/McDonaldsPotatoes.jpg
• http://media.creativebloq.futurecdn.net/sites/creativebloq.com/files/images/2013/07/penguin1.jpg
• http://media.creativebloq.futurecdn.net/sites/creativebloq.com/files/images/2012/07/printada.jpg
• http://media.creativebloq.futurecdn.net/sites/creativebloq.com/files/images/2012/07/printadv.jpg
• http://media.creativebloq.futurecdn.net/sites/creativebloq.com/files/images/2013/08/Volkswagensafari.jpg

Second CA Reflection

Heyyyyy! 

Yayy, second CA for Visual Comm in InDesign! 

For this CA, it was really important to keep in mind about the clients. Since, the client's logo was red, I decided to have red as one of the main colours in the design. For the cover, I wanted it to be original and attention-grabbing, therefore I took some pictures on my own and the tunnel is to represent the fact that with Business Communication Centre, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and be connected to the world.

Some images were also photoshopped to make it better, so the photoshop skills that we learnt in the first term was not put to waste at all! 

As this is a corporate brochure, I made sure to include about the company, recognition that it has gotten the service-- courses provided in this case. 

It was an enjoyable CA with the skills used not only Photoshop but Indesign but photography skills that came into play :) 

However, I hope to improve the next time that I do something similar as the comments that I received from Ms Sng includes, the tunnel having a bad connotation and the fonts being a little unsuitable >< 

Well, that's all for today, folks! :)

First CA Reflection!

Heyyyy y'all!

This is my personal reflection for the first CA in Visual Comm!

Yep, this is my first CA!

Concept Rationale

What inspired the name of Petra is that we wanted to create something that is unique and holds a special meaning to the brand. Thus, Petra was chosen due to its meaning.

The mascot, which is a puppy, was used to show the youth and also the cheerfulness of it. What we aim to do at Petra is to not only inspire teenagers to be strong but also to be friendly and loyal like a dog.

Design Rationale

The font that was used to create Petra was done manually and was not originally a font from Illustrator or any other websites.

Bold lines and colours were used for the logo to convey the brand’s message to be strong.

As for the mascot, yellow was used as the main colour to show the brightness and cheerfulness of the dog. The head is bigger than the body to show the cuteness of it, making it more appealing to the youths. The tongue sticking out of the dog is to show the cheekiness of some youths as well.

It took me some time to create the mascot and the logo! However, with the help of the previous lessons and the consultations with Ms Sng, really helped a lot and I had fun completing this project! 

However, after I was done, I wish I could have done more to improve, hehe :D Perhaps, one of these days during the holidays, I will take some time off to make it again-- the improved version for rebranding purposes, perhaps? :D

Well, that's all for today folks! :) 

LESSON 10!

Heyyyy y'all!


Yayyyyy, INDESIGN 101 is happening today!

We learnt how to do these things in Indesign!

• Doc Setup
• Columns
• Gutter
• Margins
• Import text and images

Seems like a lot doesn't it? But somehow, it didn't seem that much as we progressed through the lesson! 

But, first, we learnt about photo edges, texture effect and transparent text! 

This is what I got!

Next.... (Drumrolls please) InDesign time! 

This is when I was practising with the text and the effects, the typography with Ms Sng's guidance!

Yayyyyy, my first newsletter in Indesign!

All in all, really enjoyed the process of learning a new software but also remembering Photoshop as well! Indesign seems pretty fun and interesting, can't wait to try out the software again in my free time. Also, I think this lesson is really useful and helpful for our upcoming CA!

That's all for today, folks! :)

LESSON 09!

Heyyyyy y'all!

In this lesson, we learnt about spot healing!

Yeppp, now I can make all my pimples disappear in pictures, how I wish I could do it in real life too, haha!

Here's the exercise that I did after Ms Sng described and showed us in detail as to how to do spot healing! :)

I was so happy when I managed to do it but a bit sad as well because that just means most of celebrities' pictures are edited! :( 

Next, we played around with fishies and cat! 

We tried to change the colour and add in new fishes! This was made possible with scaling, rotating, flipping and opacity! 

My sports car looks awesome, doesn't it? :)


All in all, really enjoyed trying the new tools and the recap for the previous lesson was really useful and really enjoyed this lesson!

Till the next lesson! :)  

LESSON 08!

Heyyyyy y'all!


Well, it's after the break now and hope you had a great break too! ^^


In this lesson, its the first lesson! Once again, this was my expression

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/234/765/b7e.jpg

But, after a while and my success with this photo, made me feel all better! 

It's not only the change in black and white, but I had to change the hue and the saturation to achieve this image! 

In this lesson, we learned these things

• Hue/ Saturation
• Brightness/ Contrast
• Levels
• Curves
• Sharpen

I think the takeaway for this lesson was that with these photoshop lessons, everyone can look good!

Look at Harry Styles, before and after!

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&docid=vEcGB5ukm5-7eM&tbnid=p0lIticw60ciiM:&ved=0CAIQjBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.befter.com.br%2Fuser%2FThalesRC%2Fbeft%2Fharry-styles-before-and-after-photoshop%2Fdownload%2F&ei=PLDbUv-XBMOOrgeM9YG4Bg&bvm=bv.59568121,d.bmk&psig=AFQjCNHrBPZhQIAI3FUNHikZTduyIlFaiA&ust=1390215578430226

Finally, with these skills that Ms Sng has taught us, maybe I have a shot at becoming a model? Okay, maybe I'm stretching it a little! :D

The next part of the lesson was to learn about the basic tools in Photoshop! 

The tools that we learnt were 

• move
• lasso
• magic wand
• crop
• clone
• eraser
• image size

Look at Singa after the exercise given during tutorial!

All in all, this was an enjoyable lesson and I believe these photoshop lessons are really useful and are fun to learn! Once again, much thanks to Ms Sng for always helping out the lost kid AKA me sometimes! :D

That's all folks! ;)