professional development week! ⊹ ࣪ ˖

PRJ62304 Major Project 16.10.23 - 20.10.23 (Week 8)

Wendy Seto / 0348805

Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Professional Development Week

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The Professional Development Week was unexpectedly fulfilling. Throughout the week, I had the privilege of engaging with seven exceptional speakers who excel in their respective fields. Their expertise and insights have left an indelible mark on my professional journey, offering valuable lessons that I am confident will prove invaluable in both my current pursuits and future endeavors.

The first workshop I attended encouraged us to start financial planning from a young age. The main speaker, Gloria Swee from Allianz, introduced us to the 20/30/50 rule. I just started saving a month ago and will definitely implement this concept from now on! (What a coincidence, hehe).

The second workshop, which revolved around career development, was equally enlightening. The title had the word "Keynote," but it turned out to have nothing to do with the app Keynote. The speaker presented the Career Development Model and discussed the Rules of Work-Life (including the 20/30/50 rule taught in the first workshop), all while sharing ten valuable tips for thriving in the workplace. What set this session apart was the speaker's relentless focus on maintaining a positive perspective, which resonated deeply with me.

The third workshop took an entirely different approach, as it was devoid of slides or traditional teaching materials. Instead, it was an intimate and personal session led by an alumnus of Taylor's Design School who is now a successful producer at WSVS studio. He has produced a variety of commercials and short films over the past four years. This unstructured, firsthand account of their experiences in the industry made me feel like I was entering his creative world, a perspective that was very transparent and honest, which you couldn't get elsewhere.

The fourth workshop explored the significance of one's digital presence, particularly on LinkedIn, in today's professional landscape. While the content didn't introduce me to new things because I'm already establishing my profile on the platform, the interaction with the speaker was quite enjoyable. The speaker, Kent from PwC, said that even if my work experience is not related to the job I'm looking for, it's still equally valuable as there are definitely strengths that you have from that irrelevant experience that can be your bonus point. Notably, the session also provided a glimpse into the viewpoint of the recruitment team, which is interesting to see.

The fifth workshop centered around the art of networking and personal branding. The speaker provided guidance on how to initiate, sustain, and naturally conclude conversations. I have never actually attended a networking event, but I have always wanted to expand my connections, and after the webinar, I feel even more excited!

The sixth workshop felt more like storytime. It presented a narrative of the speaker's career growth in the film industry. The topic was more aligned with my minor degree, Digital Media Production. Zabrina, the speaker, emphasized the idea that opportunities are not found but created, an ideology I wholeheartedly endorse.

The final workshop touched upon choir performances. It may not directly align with my personal pursuits, but it was still an insightful session that broadened my understanding of the performing arts. I wished they had talked more about acting, directing and backstage aspects because I'm definitely into those!

In between these engaging workshops, I also attended the SHINE briefing, where the ambassadors explained the SHINE rewards program. The potential to earn points and their impact on my future career prospects were clearly elucidated. As a result, I am committed to diligently write my reflections to accumulate these points, recognizing their long-term value.

In sum, the overall experience was incredibly enjoyable, as I found myself enriched with new knowledge and perspectives. I still can't believe these professional individuals spared an hour of their busy schedules to share and talk with us; it's something you shouldn't take for granted! If I were to express a single wish, it would be that the event had taken place in a physical setting. Meeting the speakers face-to-face and fostering in-person interactions would have undoubtedly added another layer of enrichment to the experience. Additionally, I regret not securing a spot for one more workshop that piqued my interest; I have to apply earlier next time, lesson learnt! Lastly, I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Izwal and Mr. Aaron for their tireless efforts in organizing this exceptional event. I wholeheartedly appreciate and cherish the opportunities they have provided, and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything else!

major project

PRJ62304 Major Project 28.08.23 - 9.12.23 (Week 1 - Week 15)

Wendy Seto / 0348805

Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Major Project

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INSTRUCTIONS

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PRACTICAL

1. Idea Exploration

What excites me about the Major Project is that we're allowed to do whatever we want to showcase at the end of the semester. When it comes to creating art and being imaginative, I enjoy the freedom of exploration. Therefore, I want to create something that can be life-changing, not only for me but to a lot of people out there.

During the module briefing on week 1, Mr. Asrizal suggested us to first think of an idea and then slowly develop the output that works for that idea. Initially, I didn't take it seriously because all I could think of was wanting to design a board game or a card game. The main reason is that I love playing them at home with my siblings, and sometimes my mom joins us. Consequently, I have always wanted to create my own game that I can bring home to play together. Therefore, two potential ideas have come to my mind based on these preferences.

fig 1.1 idea #1 3/9/23

IDEA #1 RATIONALE
Some people are unlucky enough not to feel close to their family members. They rarely spend time together, aside from having meals at the designated time in the dining room. All I want is for them to have the chance to bond with their family and get to know each other better. Another issue is the prevalence of Asian family stereotypes suggesting that they don't openly discuss their feelings and other matters. I personally agree with this perception, and I would like to propose a solution through my artwork.

fig 1.2 further research to support the desired output 3/9/23

fig 1.3 idea #2 3/9/23

IDEA #2 RATIONALE

I harbor a very toxic mindset wherein I consistently feel the need to engage in work during my free time. Throughout my entire degree, I've undertaken numerous responsibilities, leading to considerable stress in attempting to balance my studies. Surprisingly, I find myself repeating this pattern yet again this semester. I sense a pressing need for something to assist me in leading a healthier life—managing my time better, ensuring sufficient sleep, and handling the normal everyday tasks that prove challenging for me. Despite attempting to adopt strategies from books like 'The 5 AM Club' and 'Atomic Habits', I haven't translated these insights into meaningful actions in my life. There are various reasons for this, and one significant factor is the absence of fun and excitement. I aim to create something that addresses this need, not just for myself but for everyone grappling with similar challenges.

fig 1.4 list of habits draft 001 3/9/23

I decided to work with my second idea because I feel it's more doable, and since I've done some research on the 21/90 rule, I believe I'm a few steps ahead compared to if I had chosen my other idea. 

fig 1.5 major project: case study.pdf 10/9/23

2. Brand Profile

I started my own business back in 2020 during the pandemic; it's called Create O'Clock. My sister suggested the name because it represents a specific time of day dedicated to creative activities or pursuits, which is essentially what the brand is about. I spent approximately three months gathering all the essential tools, equipment, and materials to produce stationeries like notebooks and stickers from scratch.

fig 2.1 how I started my own business.mp4

In March 2021, I began my degree and became too busy to manage the business actively. Despite this, I still managed to collaborate with several brands. However, when I moved to Malaysia, I couldn't bring all the equipment with me, so I had no option but to take a break. I haven't opened my shop since then, and I thought now would be the perfect time to reopen it through my final year project.

I decided to launch this personal growth campaign, or as I'd prefer to call it, a 'series,' under Create O'Clock and named it Good Habit O'Clock. It's a playful and creative name that suggests a designated time for cultivating positive and healthy habits. This implies setting aside a specific hour or moment in your daily routine to focus on self-improvement and the development of beneficial behaviours.

fig 2.2 major project: brand profile.pdf 17/9/23

fig 2.3 major project: proposal draft.pdf 24/9/23

3. Product Brainstorm

As the brand profile is established, I began polishing the contents for my touchpoints, basically adding more habits to the table.

fig 3.1 list of habits draft 002 24/9/23

I also did a seperate SWOT analysis for the board game/card game to see if the idea will work.

fig 3.2 desired output swot analysis 24/9/23

I struggled to align the idea with my initial desired output, so I decided to rethink the main touchpoint. I finally understand why Mr. Asrizal advised developing the output based on the idea, not vice versa. At this point, I realize that a card game might not be effective for the concept and goal I'm aiming for. It's challenging to proceed because different individuals might want to pursue different habits, and the habits I'm listing out might be biased, which means I need to shift the direction a little.

fig 3.3 major project: product brainstorm.pdf 1/10/23

It took me a while to brainstorm other potential main output. After considering all aspects, including time and costs, I decided to go with my last option, which is the Habit Tracker Kit.

4. Pre-production Plan

After making an unanimous decision of proceeding with Habit Tracker Kit, I began listing out the campaign flow to summarise everything and set the plan.

fig 4.1 major project: campaign flow.pdf 17/10/23

I also broke down the estimated cost for the main output and merchandise based on the materials I've chosen. I set the budget at RM 500, and now I just realized how much that actually is HAHAHA.

fig 4.2 major project: budget planning.pdf 17/10/23

5. Art Direction

I'm fully aware that Mr. Asrizal advised against trying something entirely new, especially since this project is not the time for trials and errors—particularly when we're expected to showcase our work to the public later; it's just way too risky. While my specialisation is in Graphic Design, for some reason, I aspire to showcase not only my Graphic Design skills but also something beyond that. In week 2, my urge to learn 3D illustrations was so strong that I turned to YouTube and watched some tutorials. At that exact point, I knew that this is the direction I'm going for.

I simply love creating art that resonates with aspects of my life — the people around me, memories from my childhood, and the things I collect and enjoy doing. These elements serve as my primary wellspring of inspiration, encapsulating the essence of my happiness and reflecting my true self. Now, let me show you a photo of me with my stuffed animals ><

fig 5.1 mini me with my stuffed animals (riri right and pinkly left)

For my Advanced Interactive Design projects last semester, I featured Riri, and now, I guess it's Pinkly's time to shine!

fig 5.2 my adv. interactive design project featuring riri!

Here are my initial attempts at 3D illustrations. I'd say it's less complicated compared to Blender (I don't know; I assumed because I've never tried Blender, but I'd love to, well, maybe after this :D). However, working on the lighting and shadows is still a bit tricky. Sometimes, I need to show my draft to others and ask for genuine feedback, so I can identify what is off and fix it. You know, after working on something for too long, you just become blind sksksk.

fig 5.3 illustrating eps. 1! 14/9/23

I was highly satisfied with the result, it turned out to be incredibly adorable, and I certainly feel confident enough to move forward. This will be my first fully illustrated project, and I'm very excited!

fig 5.4 1st concept art 14/9/23

If you notice, some of the elements were taken from my previous projects in Year 1, hehe.

Anyway, below is the draft of my card design that I showed Mr. Asrizal before changing the main output, and he approved it! Maybe I'll revisit and work on it in the future. :p

fig 5.5 card design draft 17/9/23

Now, back to my art direction.

The colour palette for this project is derived from the initial concept art I created. In total, there are 8 primary colors and 8 secondary colors. Since it's illustration-based, I believe I need more color variations to be able to highlight the details.

fig 5.6 colour palette 14/9/23

As for the typefaces, I was just playing around and discovered how pretty Climate Crisis and Donnabold look together (especially in 3D)! For the body copy, I'll be using my forever go-to Avenir type family. You can never go wrong with Avenir! <3

fig 5.7 typefaces for headings 14/9/23

fig 5.8 good habit o'clock logo 17/9/23

Gradients based on my color palette will be applied to designs outside the main illustrations, aka the backgrounds. 

fig 5.9 gradients for backgrounds 21/9/23

fig 5.10 major project: art direction draft.pdf  21/9/23

Sometime later, I decided to add another visual element for both functional and aesthetic purposes.

fig 5.11 black outline flat shapes (?) 24/9/23

6. Production

Before I begin, here is the finalised proposal with some progress updates that I'll be covering in the next few sections.

fig 6 major project: proposal + current progress.pdf 6/11/23

6.1 Habit Tracker Sheets

Before I continue illustrating more pieces, I need to design the layout for my Habit Tracker Sheets. I've created three cycles and inputted Day 1 to Day 21 for each.

fig 6.1.1 habit tracker sheets draft 001 28/9/23

At first, I set the orientation to horizontal, envisioning an appearance resembling a book. However, seeing the artboards next to one another made me wonder if pairing them together on the same page would look nicer.

fig 6.1.2 habit tracker sheets draft 002 28/9/23

Before finalising the design, I needed to ensure if my idea could work. So, I tried filling the boxes with my first concept art, and it looks so cute!

fig 6.1.3 habit tracker sheet after used mock up 28/9/23

For the final designs, I prepared 6 pages, including 1 cover page and 5 tracking cycles from Day 1 to Day 90. Each of cycles 1 to 4 has 21 boxes (representing 21 days), and the 5th cycle only has 6 boxes (representing the remaining 6 days) with an incomplete illustration.

fig 6.1.4 habit tracker sheet final designs 1/11/23

Once the designs were finalised, I immediately sent them to be printed.

fig 6.1.5 printed out tracker sheets 10/11/23

I wasn't satisfied with how the 5th cycle was printed; the colors were too dark, and it kind of ruined my illustration. It will also be quite a challenge to match the colors with the stickers later due to the material difference. Therefore, I decided to use only the first 4 cycles. According to my case study earlier, aside from the 21/90 rule, habits can become automatic after around 2 months or approximately 66 days. With 4 cycles, I already have 84 days.

fig 6.1.6 another theory of habit-forming

Below are some pictures of the process of turning these individual prints into one. I didn't sleep the entire night because I had to catch a 7 am flight back to KL the next day. I thought I might as well cut and bind as much as I can. ><

 

fig 6.1.7 cutting! 15/11/23

I also cut off the cover page to be the same size as the top design of the rest of the pages because the blue and white gradient was a bit too harsh, creating smear lines on the printing.

fig 6.1.8 binding! 15/11/23

I only managed to make 6 sets with the limited time.

fig 6.1.9 packing! 15/11/23

6.2 Puzzle Sticker Sheets

Having 4 cycles to fill with stickers means I need to make at least 4 illustrations. 1 done so 3 more to go! 

fig 6.2.1 2nd concept art sketch 20/10/23

In my second concept art, I wanted to incorporate my all-time favorite video game characters like Kirby, Pikachu from Pokemon, Toad from Mario, and Kuromi from Sanrio. However, illustrating just one already took me forever, so I had to minimize the scene.

fig 6.2.2 kirby arcade assets 21/10/23

fig 6.2.3 toad claw machine assets 12/11/23

fig 6.2.4 2nd concept art 13/11/23

Since the first two illustrations are quite heavy and crowded already, I'll be creating simpler ones for the other two to balance the visuals out. I didn't do any sketches this time, I just jumped right into it.

fig 6.2.5 tryna make my bunny close her eyes but it somehow turned her to a pig (my 7 year old lil sis couldn't stop laughing at this) 6/11/23

fig 6.2.6 3rd concept art 6/11/23

Tamagotchi holds a big part of my childhood, even until now, so the next illustration is inspired by it!

fig 6.2.7 tamagotchi assets 20/11/23

fig 6.2.8 4th concept art draft 25/11/23

fig 6.2.9 4th concept art 27/11/23

I made a draft of the sticker sheet layout after finishing the 1st concept art. It looks visually decent, but it can only fit 20 pieces of the puzzles, so I need to rearrange it.

fig 6.2.11 sticker sheet layout draft 6/11/23

Here are the final layout for the sticker sheets.

fig 6.2.12 sticker sheets final preview 5/12/23

fig 6.2.13 gho'c sticker sheets.pdf 5/12/23

Moving on to the most exciting part but also the moment of truth: cutting the stickers! I began by tracing the cutting lines.

fig 6.2.14 sticker sheets cutting lines 5/12/23

It's only 2 days away from the showcase, and I don't have my sticker sheets ready yet, which makes me very anxious. I really hoped that the cutting would work well in my first few tries, but it didn't. I'm not sure if you can see it from the pictures, but my machine has been cutting offside. I think I've wasted half a bag of sticker paper and a bunch of copy papers at this point.

fig 6.2.15 cutting process & miscut results 6/12/23

With only 1 day left, I was panicking. I texted a printing house nearby to see if they could help produce my stickers, but they didn't reply.

fig 6.2.16 last resort 7/12/23

Later on the day, after coming back from the showcase's venue and booth setup, suddenly the cutting worked perfectly! 

fig 6.2.17 proper cutting results 7/12/23

6.3 Merchandises

I wanted to create a 2024 calendar, but I don't think I have enough time, so I proceeded with prints, A3 posters, die-cut stickers, and some additional keychains. The designs are basically adapted from the concept arts.

6.3.1 Prints & Posters

fig 6.3.1.1 print #1 14/9/23

fig 6.3.1.2 print #2 6/11/23


fig 6.3.1.3 print #3 13/11/23


fig 6.3.1.4 print #4 28/11/23


fig 6.3.1.5 gho'c prints.pdf 29/11/23

fig 6.3.1.6 gho'c prints - printed 4/11/23

6.3.2 Die-Cut Stickers

fig 6.3.2.1 pinkly sticker designs.jpg 28/11/23

I printed the stickers on two different materials, one glossy (non-laminated) and one matte (matte laminated). You can see the difference in colors on different materials, personally, I prefer the printing quality of the glossy one more. However, it's less durable because I didn't laminate it // I only have matte lamination.

fig 6.3.2.3 printed die-cut stickers (glossy left, matte right) 28/11/23

Four hours before the first day of the showcase, I designed more stickers using the Tamagotchi. I listed out some sayings that tease bad habits.

fig 6.3.2.4 list of sayings 7/11/23

Here are the final designs for the stickers. I accidentally made and printed two color variations for 'You've Been Losing Sleep,' but both of them look cute!

fig 6.3.2.5 tamagotchi sticker designs.jpg 8/12/23

I also created one big sticker of Pinkly playing the arcade.

fig 6.3.2.6 pinkly playing arcade sticker design 8/12/23

6.4 Keychains

I used the same designs as in Figure 6.3.2.1 with the additional little charm of the Good Habit O'Clock logo. The printed acrylics were just delivered on the 8th, so I had to attach the pieces on-site in between the showcase.

fig 6.4.1 keychains assembling 8/12/23

I was very disappointed with the printing quality as it made my designs look very pixelated and grainy. The sizes were very small as well :(. Luckily, I ordered separate chains with star and moon shapes, so it kind of helped to make it 'presentable'.

fig 6.4.2 assembled keychains 8/12/23

7. Pre-Showcase

And ta-da! Here's the final product of Good Habit O'Clock!

fig 7.1 gho'c habit tracker set/kit 8/12/23

I made two name card designs because why not? :p

One is a more clean-professional look, derived from my resume. The other one is more fun and also includes links to my graphic design studio and small business.

fig 7.2 personal name cards 8/12/23

I also decorated the stationeries I'm bringing to the exhibition!

fig 7.3 sticker container 8/12/23


fig 7.4 book stands 8/12/23


fig 7.5 whiteboard to display my keychains 8/12/23

fig 7.6 basket where I keep all my stuffs 8/12/23

8. Exhibition

This section is basically a photo gallery :D

Shoutout to Hussain, Kenji and Maning for the pictures <3

fig 8.1 setting up my booth 8/12/23

fig 8.2 my booth!! 8/12/23

fig 8.3 booth close ups 8/12/23

fig 8.4 me & my booth - day 1 & day 2! 8-9/12/23

fig 8.5 explaining my project to visitors 8-9/12/23

fig 8.6 with dr. jinchi <3 9/12/23

fig 8.7 with my senior, maning :p 9/12/23

fig 8.8 my graphic design gang 9/12/23

 
fig 8.9 with other fellow exhibitors! 9/12/23

fig 8.10 the inbtween big family 9/12/23

9. Post-Mortem

I asked every single visitor, including the lecturers, to paste a piece of the puzzle, and these are the results!

fig 9.1 filled habit tracker sheets 9/12/23

fig 9.2 before & after 9/12/23

The feedback I received was 100% positive! All the visitors found my idea interesting, and they could definitely see it becoming a popular choice, especially in the kids to young adults market. Below is the list of habits my audience wants to change, based on the conversations I had with them during the showcase:

1. Sleeping schedule; sleep early, wake up early (95%)

2. Exercising; workout, jog, run (2%)

3. Regular cleaning; car wash, laundry (1%)

4. Eating; nutrition balance, veggies, fewer snacks (1%)

5. Time management - get things done (1%)

I also managed to sell all five of my habit tracker sets! I'm very happy to see people investing in their own personal growth, and I hope my project can help them~

10. Future Projections

I'll soon be launching this Good Habit O'Clock series in my small business, Create O'Clock. But before that I need to do some restocking, and maybe switch some materials for the merchandises. Aside from that, I'd like to keep working on this project as I believe that are a lot of potentials for it. Mr. Mike visited my booth and told me that I can actually develop this idea into a mobile application and so much more. It made me so excited!

Also, I didn't have enough time to do my social media campaign, so I'm thinking of working on it together with the launch!

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FEEDBACK

WEEK 2

About your first idea, how would you ensure the family to play the game? If your audience are naturally the type that don't really express their feelings then you can't change that. Your second idea could work, but there are a lot of books about the 21/90 rule out there. Do more research in order to make your project stands out. The only way to do board game or card game is by adapting a game that already exist, otherwise there is a high chance that you'd fail.

WEEK 3

Why 3D illustrations? And why so many colours? The card design draft looks fine and I think you can move forward with it. However, you need to make it clear of how game works. 

WEEK 4

The gradient looks too harsh to me, maybe you should try using one darker colour and one lighter colour instead of white.

WEEK 5

No feedback.

WEEK 6

Make your proposal less wordy because I won't read it all, only highlight the important points.

WEEK 7

I don't want to see the illustrations progress, it's already week 7 and I'm expecting the entire campaign flow.

WEEK 8

Independent Learning Week.

WEEK 9

The campaign flow and budget plan look reasonable. You and Janice have this weird obsession over bunnies, cute bunnies.

WEEK 10

No feedback.

WEEK 11

Proposal + Current Progress Presentation Week

WEEK 12

No feedback.

WEEK 13

You should've brought the Habit Tracker Sheets sample instead of showing me the picture.

WEEK 14

No feedback.

WEEK 15

No specific feedback. Mr. Asrizal participated in pasting the puzzle piece on the Habit Tracker Sheet.

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REFLECTION

It has been quite a while since my last design module, so I was eagerly anticipating Major Project. I didn't have any idea, nor had I prepared anything before the semester started, but everything seemed to go pretty smoothly. This project stands out from any previous ones I've done under the Creative Media course, where there is typically specific guidance on what we need to prepare. Over the past 15 weeks, we were compelled to be independent designers. It was tough, but I unquestionably learned a lot.

Throughout this journey, I also developed new skills, such as 3D illustrations and concept art, which I learned on my own. I only wished I could have received feedback from lecturers specializing in this field, as it would undoubtedly help me produce better work.

During the exhibition week, I was worrying so much because I hadn't completed a lot of things. There were tasks I had planned but didn't have enough time to execute. I learned that sometimes we have to prioritize certain things and not expect ourselves to do too much. Focus on one important thing, and once it's done, feel free to expand on it. Managing a total of four modules, working a full-time job, and being a full-time committee member in a club while tackling the most important project of your entire degree is not recommended, but I made it through anyway, as always.

Overall, I'm really proud of myself. Reflecting on my work over the past three years, I can see so much improvement. I'm genuinely happy with Good Habit O'Clock being the last project of mine in The Design School. No words can describe how glad and grateful I am to be able to bring my ideas to life, representing a lot of things that are personal to me. For your information, my dad gave me this bunny, Pinkly when I was little. My little brother also has one, the male bunny, named Greenprle. I can't wait to go home and show my work to them1

And last but not least, if only I could share this achievement with the little girl in the picture! <3