LIEW XIAO HUI / 0353121
BACHELOR OF DESIGN (HONOURS) IN CREATIVE MEDIA / LIGHTING INTERACTIVE DESIGN
Assignment 01: Concept and Ideation: Project Proposal
JUMPLINK
Lecture Summaries
Instructions
Assignment 01: Concept and Ideation: Project Proposal
Feedback
Reflections
LECTURES SUMMARIES
Week 01 / Introduction to module, Projection Mapping and Immersive Projection
In Week 01, Mr. Abdul Shakir explained the concepts of projection mapping and immersive projection, helping us understand their differences. We also received a briefing on our module assignment, including essential guidelines for completion. For example, understanding the canvas and scale.
Additionally, we were introduced to various software tools for animation, such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, and Blender, depending on the visual style we choose. He also walked us through the animation production process, covering storyboarding, animation, and final compositing for projection mapping.
Since our final task involves creating an immersive projection, he provided insights into different types of projectors, explaining how factors like canvas size and budget influence projector selection.
Lastly, a workshop and site recce is scheduled at Muzium Telekom on Wednesday, 5th February 2025, where we will experience projection mapping firsthand, comparing small-scale and large-scale exhibitions to better understand the process and execution in real-world settings.
Week 02 / Projection Design Practices: Content Creation
In Week 02, Mr. Shakir recapped key points from Week 01, as some students were absent due to Chinese New Year. He then shared tips for selecting a good mapping canvas, emphasizing that white or light-colored surfaces are ideal for projection since they maintain color consistency with the original content displayed on a laptop. He pointed out that during the site recce, it was observed that Muzium Telekom uses white walls, while RXPKL uses light grey walls for projection.
Next, he guided us through the brainstorming process for generating ideas based on the given theme. To assist with Project 02 content creation, he showed sketches from previous works to provide inspiration and direction. Lastly, he introduced methods for selecting suitable background music or sound effects to enhance our content in the upcoming project.
Additionally, he shared his experience working on a project in Georgetown. He explained that projectors used are heavy (around 40-50kg), requiring four people to carry them. He also stressed the importance of carefully determining and adjusting the projection path to ensure optimal image alignment.
Week 03 / Intro to Editing & Animation
In Week 3, our lecture was rescheduled to Wednesday. During the class, Mr. Shakir taught us about the 12 principles of animation, which were originally introduced by Disney animators to bring animations to life.
We were also introduced to different software for creating motion graphics, such as After Effects and Cinema 4D, along with various video editing techniques. Some examples shown in class were commonly used in TikTok short videos.
Additionally, we learned the basics of animating in After Effects. Mr. Shakir reminded us that when creating illustrations or assets for animation, they should be designed in separate layers. This allows for smoother animation when importing them into After Effects.
Assignment 01: Concept and Ideation: Project Proposal
This assignment requires us to research and brainstorm ideas related to the given theme, "Pulse/Nadi." We need to organize our thoughts in a digital mind map and conduct research on immersive projection for case study analysis and concept development.
Progress
In the first week, our group of four members was formed when two members, whom I didn’t know, reached out on WhatsApp to ask if we could team up. After forming the group, we created a WhatsApp chat for communication. I informed them that Bernice and I would be unable to attend the site recce on Wednesday due to a scheduling conflict with our major project class. They assured us that they would attend and update us on key insights from the session. However, when I later asked for updates, they admitted that they had also missed the site recce. Instead, they asked their friends, who informed them that the assignment requirements had been uploaded to MyTimes and that the site recce was not directly related to the assignment.
Since I had never met them before, I wanted to ensure we made progress before the Week 2 tutorial discussion with our tutor. To gain inspiration, I first researched immersive projection exhibitions related to the Pulse/Nadi theme.
Figure 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Research.
After gathering insights from my research, I attempted to brainstorm ideas for the mind map using Miro. However, I struggled to generate many ideas as I am not from this course and was unsure of the expected direction, whether the outcome should be a visual animation of various Pulse styles or an animation concept related to Pulse. I then listed the potential ideas I had gathered in the digital mind map.
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| Figure 1.4 Mind map attempt 01. |
On Saturday, Bernice informed us that she had started working on the mind map and case study, so we could contribute our ideas to the Miro board she created. I added my ideas and asked the group whether we should use the "Pulse: Beyond Delight" exhibition, an immersive projection event with the Pulse theme for our case study or if we should find another example. I felt that "Pulse: Beyond Delight" had limited images and explanations, which made it difficult to analyze thoroughly. However, I didn’t receive any responses to my question, so I decided to complete the case study first and discuss any changes later.
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| Figure 1.5 Case study attempt 01. |
Before our consultation session in Week 2, we arranged a face-to-face meeting at Taylor’s to get to know each other and ensure that everyone was aligned with the progress. By then, they had completed two case studies, while Bernice and I had worked on one case study and the mind map.
Figure 1.6, 1.7 Progress screenshot.
After the discussion with Mr. Zeon during Week 2, we were urged to choose a specific topic to focus on, which has depth and allows for meaningful discussion. We were also advised to redo all the required elements based on the new topic, while keeping the previous mind map as part of our progress. At the end of the discussion, we proposed the topic: "If people rely too much on digital conversations, is the collective heartbeat of society slowing down? Encouraging more face-to-face interactions could be seen as a way to revive the pulse of human connection." Mr. Zeon felt this was a strong direction and encouraged us to proceed if we were all interested.
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| Figure 2.1 Progress screenshot. |
That week, I started by redoing the mind map. Since I felt that I had contributed less than Bernice in the previous round, I made an effort to add as many ideas as possible this time. First, I focused on fully understanding the topic. My interpretation was that, while digital communication (digital pulse) offers convenience and allows people to connect globally, it may also lead to a decline in human connection. Younger generations, in particular, might struggle with face-to-face interactions (human pulse) due to their reliance on digital methods (digital pulse). This discussion links to the broader theme of social interaction and the "pulse" of society.
To develop the mind map, I categorized human communication (human pulse) into aspects like emotions, body language, and tone of voice, while digital communication (digital pulse) was divided into different platforms and the language used in those spaces. I summarized our focus under the theme of "social interaction" and informed my team members via our group chat that I had updated the mind map. I also encouraged them to contribute their own ideas to ensure a well-rounded perspective and to verify that my points were accurate.
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| Figure 2.2 Mind map attempt 01. |
Additionally, I began searching for immersive projection exhibitions related to our topic for use as a case study. I spent a significant amount of time researching, both manually through the internet and with the help of AI. However, I struggled to find an exhibition that directly aligned with our chosen theme. Eventually, I discovered an exhibition exploring the connection between humans, nature, and technology. I believed this exhibition could provide valuable insights, as our topic also examines human connection in both digital and physical spaces. However, the available information on the exhibition was limited, making it difficult to analyze its design and purpose in depth. The only video showcasing the exhibition’s artwork was in Danish, a North Germanic language. To understand its content, I relied on YouTube's translation feature.
Figure 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 Research.
So, I did my best to complete the case study using the translated YouTube video and the limited resources available on the exhibition. I carefully analyzed the visuals, design elements, and any contextual information I could gather. While the lack of detailed explanations made it difficult to fully grasp the designers' intentions.
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| Figure 2.6 Case study attempt 02. |
After reviewing Bernice’s case study, I gained some inspiration and came up with an idea for the narrative.
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| Figure 2.7 Progress screenshot. |
I documented my thoughts in the Design Inspiration and Innovative Concepts/Narrative section. My idea is to create a narrative that illustrates the evolution of social interaction, transitioning from traditional human communication to the digital era. It will also depict how human connection, the pulse of communication, is influenced by this shift. The visual style can be abstract, using lines and dots to represent interactions and connections dynamically throughout the animation.
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| Figure 2.8 Narrative idea attempt 01. |
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| Figure 2.9 Progress screenshot. |
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| Figure 2.10 Concept proposal. |
Xinran and Haohan worked on the case study they had previously attempted, conducting further research and also finding a new study that better aligned with the topic.
Figure 2.11, 2.12 Progress screenshot.
During Week 3, after our consultation with Mr. Zeon, we decided to change our topic as he suggested. Given the limited time left, we needed to work efficiently. We scheduled an online meeting for Thursday to finalize our work and discuss everything together.
This time, I was hesitant to create the mind map and analyze the topic on my own, fearing that any misunderstanding on my part could lead to additional workload for the team. To ensure we had a clear direction, Bernice and I started drafting the mind map before our online meeting. We carefully discussed the topic to make sure it aligned with what Mr. Zeon wanted and began researching relevant points. In the first two weeks, Mr. Zeon hadn't mentioned that our mind map points needed to be supported by journals or articles, so we had freely brainstormed ideas. However, during our third consultation, he clarified that every point must have supporting sources. This initially confused us, but we proceeded with his instructions, searching for academic journals and articles to back up our points.
Figure 3.1, 3.2 Progress screenshot.
On Thursday, we had our online meeting. Xinran and Haohan worked on expanding the mind map with relevant ideas and sources, while Bernice and I focused on refining the case studies from our previous attempt. Since Mr. Zeon approved using the same case studies with some refinements, we added our analysis, clearly explaining why we selected them and how they related to our topic. This helped in completing our proposal.
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| Figure 3.3 Case study attempt 03. |
Once that was done, we moved on to the Design Inspirations and Innovative Concepts/Narrative section. We listed inspirations drawn from the mind map and case studies that had the potential to be translated into our design concept. Then, we worked on the Application of Insights and Concept Proposal, detailing our project concept, focus, proposed interactions, and feasibility considerations. Xinran and Haohan contributed their ideas, which we combined with ours before finalizing the content on the Miro board.
Figure 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 Progress screenshot.
After completing everything, I reached out to Mr. Zeon to review our work and check if any refinements were needed before transferring it to a Canva presentation. He responded quickly, confirming that we could proceed with the slides.
Bernice found a Canva template, allowing us to collaborate on the slides efficiently before Sunday. I worked on the initial slides, including the mind map and Case Study 1, while the rest of the team helped transfer all the content from the Miro board to Canva.
Figure 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 Progress screenshot.
After everyone contributed, I rearranged some slides to improve the layout, as certain points were too lengthy and made the slides look cluttered. We submitted the slides once Mr. Zeon announced the submission method. However, we overlooked one of the requirements. Thankfully, Mr. Zeon noticed it and reminded us. Bernice and I quickly refined it at midnight, double-checked all the content, and resubmitted the presentation to ensure everything was complete.
Figure 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 Refinement.
Miro Board
Link to Miro
Final Presentation Slide
Figure 5.1 Final Presentation Slide.
Week 01
There was no tutorial and practical class in Week 01 instead a site recce was scheduled. However, the recce clashed with my other module, Major Project 01, so I was unable to attend.
Week 02
The chosen topic is quite common, as three to four other groups are also planning to create content about animals and nature. The topic should be something that can be discussed, presents a problem, or conveys moral values to ensure a strong storytelling foundation.
It’s important to conduct more research on the topic discussed during the tutorial session to ensure it interests all group members. Otherwise, it may become challenging to develop engaging content. Additionally, the case study needs to be redone, as it should be directly related to the selected topic and provide meaningful insights that can be applied to the project.
Week 03
The current mind map content does not align with the chosen topic. According to the sticky note, the topic to focus on is: "If people rely too much on digital conversations, is the collective heartbeat of society slowing down? Encouraging more face-to-face interactions could be seen as a way to revive the pulse of human connection."
This discussion should explore the causes of reduced human connection and how the "heartbeat of society" is slowing down. However, the current mind map mainly covers different types of social interaction and how humans communicate, which is not the intended focus. Additionally, the chosen case studies are more about alternative ways of human connection. Similarly, the design inspiration and innovative concepts/narrative do not align with the topic.
The case study should be relevant to the chosen topic or provide meaningful inspiration. The design inspiration and innovative concepts/narrative should reflect ideas drawn from the mind map and case studies that can be translated into potential design concepts. The images placed in this section can instead be used in Assignment 2's mood board.
Based on the current case studies, design inspiration, and innovative concepts/narrative, Mr. Zeon suggests shifting the topic to "alternative ways of human connection/communication." This would require reworking only the mind map and making minor adjustments to the case study and design inspiration. However, if we choose to continue with the current topic, we will need to redo all the required sections.
REFLECTIONS
In this assignment, I initially felt stressed and confused as we had to create a mind map based on the theme Pulse/Nadi. Despite multiple attempts, our mind map kept getting rejected by Mr. Zeon. We often went in the wrong direction conceptually, and our limited perspective led to ideas that felt uninspired, forcing us to rethink our approach repeatedly.
Since this was my first time taking this course's module, I was unfamiliar with the expectations and workflow. I realized that we should explore more existing and innovative designs, not just within our specialization but also in other fields in order to broaden our knowledge and spark fresh ideas. Generating a compelling concept was the most challenging part, as it needed to be both creative and original to captivate the audience.
I realized that design evolves the more I explore it. I never considered projection mapping as a form of design before, let alone one that requires animation to bring it to life. Embracing new experiences, being open to learning, and actively participating in different creative processes have helped broaden my perspective and deepen my understanding. Exploring beyond my comfort zone has been an eye-opening journey that allowed me to gain valuable skills and insights.
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