Summative Project Report

General feedback from peers: 

• Well presented and neatly composed; clear, methodical work flow
• Variety in media, playful, expressive and minimal
• More exploration of how color can represent different expressions? 
• "The use of animals was a really cool concept and I'd love to see more of it!"
• The practical work shows you always kept the outcome in mind, would like to have seen more diversity in emotions (have a collection of it) 
• "Practice reflects a visual style you clearly enjoy working"

Thoughts:

• Just to add to the comment made about showing more diversity in emotion, I agree that I didn't work on any other emotions or feelings. But I think that this focused route allowed me to delve into the subject in more depth rather than being stretched to wide apart and too thin. 

• I am generally happy with the work I've produced for this module. I wouldn't say I am super proud of it, however I am satisfied. I would say, I could have gone more ambitious? Adding to the suggestion, I would like to expand on the practical side of this module into 603, where I continue to explore this concept of visual language and perhaps make a whole series. 

Digital media tests

Baldy (one of my first designs)

Sticker set

• I decided to work with digital media just to see if the clean, solid lines and colors are suitable for the contemporary theme. I personally think that some of the designs look rather 'simple' and feels as if it were missing a few elements. Though I find it useful for when I plan on making these characters/stickers move. In a way the 'simple' designs look more coherent when it is animated. 

• After looking through my initial designs, I think that I would steer away from religious symbolisms/iconography. I thought of using the Buddhist hand posture because it is a very accurate depiction of the word 'pasrah'. It hasn't been done before within the Line official stickers. I researched into sticker designs within the Line Corp. that they specifically refrain from illustrating religious concepts to avoid any offence towards specific cultures/communities. Which is true and sensible. 

• The initial designs are very figurative and straight forward to begin with. I might try something more open to interpretation but coherent enough for people to understand the message the stickers are meant to communicate.

Kenapa? Por que? Why?

Examples of 'upfixes' p.43 (Cohn N, 2013. The Visual Language
of Comics. London: Bloomsbury)

• After the feedback I received from people, I found out that the designs where I applied these 'upfixes' or morphemes are deemed to be more successful. After looking further into those lines and marks made alongside these characters, they are initially used in comics. 

• I also came to the realization that I am naive to think there might be a 'universal sign' or 'symbols'. Even as figurative as the sticker design is, it is still art. And art is generally subjective. People themselves are unique individuals with different backgrounds, culture and beliefs. Hence, when it comes to interpreting images, it would always be prone to misinterpretations. 

(Thor:Ragnarok - Grandmaster and Topaz | bonus extended scene ) 

^^ This is how I felt throughout the whole COP practical journey ^^ 

Little experiment

• I decided to put posters up of my semi-final sticker designs to find out what people think of it. I did not expect the answers at all. From the answers people written,  I would give the design a 70% success rate. 

• I received a range of answers and interpretations. There aren't any comments on the stickers relating to the feeling I am trying to convey (to accept one's fate). However, the comments that are written are still close. Most answers cover general feelings: 'I surrender!', 'speechless' or 'ugh'. I would say they may have interpret these stickers as reactions. 

• An assumption that I came up with is that, either the designs aren't coherent enough or it lacks context, hence it might be difficult to get the right feeling. Even with the more figurative sticker design (the crane), people still have different interpretations of it. 

Creating Stickers!

 The Making of BT21 by BTS x Line Friends

Tata's design

Mang's design

• The design behind Mang is based on the misconception of horses being a rather unpopular animal for a character. They wanted to make a sticker where people would come to like it. Whereas the design for Tata, they thought that people might not just want 'cute' and 'adorable' stickers. Instead they went for an approach where the characters should be more unique and weird in a way. 

• Aside from Line and KakaoTalk, they moved over to creating stickers for Facebook Messenger and the main iMessenger, knowing that these platforms now provides stickers aside from emojis. Similarly, WhatsApp is now jumping into the bandwagon of using stickers instead of strictly sticking to the usual emojis. 

• I suppose that they saw the success of the use of stickers from both Line and Kakaotalk. Not only is it successful in terms of practicality for some cultures and languages, it's starting to be widely used for the trend and hype due celebrity endorsement. But also perhaps it makes casual conversations a more enjoyable and expressive.

This Ted Talk Literally Summarised My Essay (ᇂ_Jᇂ)

• He discusses really interesting points and brings out very interesting insight into emojis and the current evolution of language. As well as its relevance to the current age of social media and the digital platform. As well as linking it over to semiotics in a way that is digestible and easy to understand

• A point he made is that language nowadays circles back to the caveman times, where we use imagery and drawings to make sense of the world. The reference he made was to the largely used emojis and emoticons in texting. He referred the 'new cave' being our screens (phone and computer screens)

• He was saying that with these signs, humans can't read it but understand by extracting feeling from it. It is an interesting view on how people obtain and process information based on visuals.

Practical Peer Review 2

Peer Review - COP Practical

• I've got a few constructive feedback from my peers about the character design for the stickers. Visually, some say that the simpler and blocks of shapes are more effective. Another suggested to look into more digital work and GIFs. I would look into moving these characters as most of the designs involve body movement/language. The playful and witty ones seems to work best. People also pointed the ones that are most 'relatable' to them to be very likeable. 

• A question from the feedback that I'd keep in mind are: "how to make pictures express hard/long things to say?" and "what is the theme of your stickers?"

• Initially, I had thought of doing a less figurative approach to creating these stickers. I was quite struggling with that idea and a few other people recommended that they preferred using these stickers that are relatable and to easily convey difficult feelings. As suggested by my peers, I need to narrow down and have a more focused idea. Or a 'root' to tie everything in since the approaches I've taken is still quite broad. Practical-wise, I need to focus on a specific feeling and continue to work from there. N e e d   t o   b e   m o r e    f o c u s e d.  

Practical Peer Review 1

Peer Review - COP Practical

A formalized interview/conversation of people's
opinions towards stickers

• I've got some helpful advice from my peers and several suggestions or things that I could be looking into such as emoji's or stickers that have not been created. Also certain areas such as the more 'sinister side' of stickers rather than just smiley faces. It was also mentioned that I should think more about what I am trying to stay with these stickers and look at the trends or politics of it. People also suggested looking into representation within emojis, sexuality and etc. Most of the suggestions had been about narrowing down and focusing on certain areas. 

• There were several questions that I have taken into account: 
• How do you intend to push your research further? 
• Experiment with more media? GIFs and animation? 
• Where do you see your stickers living? 
• How will you depict the characters? Humans, animals etc?

• I feel like it is worth as well looking into where this all sits in the contemporary culture. I have considered trying to animate my stickers, seeing if it would be more effective to communicate body language or movement in comparison to still ones. I would also need to focus on a specific concept that I could explore even further or a certain 'character' where it expresses a variety of emotions and activities. I have yet to explore with different media or methods because I need an area to focus. But I am looking into specifically complex emotions or phrases from my own language and actually see if imagery (stickers) would effectively communicate these meaning/idea across.

Questions for People

1. Are you aware of LINE/Kakaotalk stickers or Facebook Messenger stickers/emojis? Do you use them? (FOLLOW UP) If yes, which sticker do you often use?

2. Why do you use emojis or LINE/Kakaotalk stickers? (Maybe for fun, giving more ‘emotion’ to texts, etc…) what do you like and don’t like about them

3. What stickers/emojis would you like to see more of?

Anonymous responses:

1. Yes, I use Brown & cony the most.
2. Because I don’t want to text and emoji is the quickest way to reply.
3. Humor.

1. Yes! But I recently deleted the LINE app cos they spam a lot and notify me a lot of stuff.
2. Yes, I use emojis and stickers. I use stickers and gifs (recently) on Facebook. It’s cute and conveys an emotion that would just be like, if you would send words and messages it’s more fun and usually there are stickers that would convey those emotion/feelings that would not be expressed well with words
3. “Terharu” we don’t have that do we? Also the hug one! I’d say, lazy stickers and weird stickers, (for example someone dancing) or a pamper sticker, like a sheet mask or something? Because most stickers are so random that I honestly don’t know when to use them. Even an aesthetic looking emotion, that looks nice. Or the sitting on the toilet emoji?

1. Yes I am aware, I don't use facebook or kakao, but I use line, I use yotsuba! Sticker the most
2. D r a m a, they are very good at conveying feelings that can’t be written
3. Funny stickers, stickers that relate to me

1. I am not aware for LINE/Kakaotalk stickers, and I also don’t use stickers on facebook messenger, I tend to use gifs more often.
2. I use emojis more for instagram posts as captions, when in conversations I use the crying laughing face pretty much all the time because I feel like it makes what I say less awkward and more jokey. I like that they express the way you’re trying to communicate things, however I feel like some people use too many and too often.
3. It think there should be more daily life things, if there’s going to be loads of emojis, there may as well be an emoji for pretty much everything.

1. Yes. I use stickers from movies/genres I like. For example I use Howl’s Moving Castle stickers on Line. I don’t usually use stickers on facebook, but I think that’s because I use facebook messenger the least.
2. To give more emotion, make a stronger point in messenger. I also use emojis as instagram captions when i can’t think of what to write
3. More adult humor emojis and also moving emojis

1. Yes. I’m an avid fan, even have t-shirts with BT21
2. Emotive texting, easier express things.
3. Feelings, “banjeon maeryeok”

1. Yes. I use it often if I don’t want to type long sentences, I just use stickers.
2. It is cute and it express the feeling, because if you type it doesn’t show/express the feeling.
3. Maybe something about feelings? Getting bored or getting excited?

1. Yes, I am aware. Line has too many features that it can be confusing. I don’t often use the stickers.
2. I use it as emojis, because emojis can be rather boring. It’s a part of language now...it’s makes me sound less serious. I would die to use emojis for emails because I am happy and not sarcastic.
3. I use happy things in LINE. Smiling crying, “proud”. There’s no emoji for that. I want to use that a lot, I need it. (You go bae, kind of thing). They need the snarky, shady, slurpy ones (reference to Kermit the frog). That’s totally me. The idea that there are memes/stickers that represent ME. Make a “lalat” one (rubbing hands).

1. Yeah. I don’t use them that often.
2. The only emoji use is the two pink hearts and purely crying or the snarky. Something vulgar and bring back the gun. Free speech! They need the praise one. Takes to many words to express things so it’s more efficient.
3. I would like that vomit emoji, the puking one and not the sick face one. I actually bought that sticker set. I need a sticker that just says "UGH, OH MAH GOD". (Utter frustration). There are just some feelings that can’t be expressed by words or emojis. You gotta need a lot to express most feelings

1. Yes, but I don't use them often. I only use some emojis and stickers whenever I just feel like using it.
2. I use it because it is easy and quick to send short responses. Aside from typing the usual 'ok', I sometimes just send a sticker that says or shows that. It's a lot more fun that way.
3. I think less cute-sy ones and more of the funny types. Maybe even the weird ones like 'Mr. Baldy' from Line. 

Presentation Feedback

COP Proposal - 

For this project, I would like to explore: 

• The future of illustration - the digital media, modern communication, finding new platforms and spaces for illustrations in this day and age 

• Words vs. images, the return to pictures for communication, the causes and reasons and how they spread across the world

Investigation: 

• In terms of the practical direction, perhaps explore conversations through images? How images express feelings more than words do? Analyze personal use of emojis or stickers? 

• Look into semiotics, communication/visual language and how it is used

Next steps: 

• Formulate a research question, focus on a more defined area: the history and culture of visual language (the case study being stickers)? Semiotics, explore more of its meaning? 

• Start with the practical side of the project. Perhaps create my own set of stickers? Explore ways of communicating through visuals only?

• More research. Maybe contact professionals in this field? Or do my own field research, experiments, actually testing out whether we could express more with images aside from solely relying on words. 

Summary

This had been a really enlightening project since I never touched upon drawing/photography reportage. It was a really interesting topic to investigate on and being able to use this project to start my own reportage of things. In terms of the practical work, I had hoped to have done more, such as a compilation of my work. It is nice to see the raw journal as it illustrates the whole process and journey taken throughout the project. 

Visual Journal - Photographs, sure. What about drawing? 

• there are a few things that I found different between recording through a camera and a simple drawing tool. It sure is quite difficult to capture the exact image in a short time, however the experience is more personal and direct in comparison to a quick photograph. 

Visual Journal - How to photograph people 101

• After the progress tutorials, I had a clearer view on what to do for my practical work. I would focus on photojournalism: capturing perhaps everyday moments and society back home in Indonesia. 

• Though the way to approach this is that I will involve both photography and drawing. An experiment to see the outcomes of visually recording from two separate tools. 

• Based on my research and readings, people tend to not mind being drawn, receiving less attention/avoidance. In a way it is also a much more intimate process between us and time, place (Michael Taussig's book: I Swear I Saw This) 

• Whereas if I use photography, some people would be uncomfortable with getting their photo taken and would have less effect of raw reaction/emotion. I need to consider ways of approaching people. Perhaps asking them nicely? or put up signs? Investigating between asking people's consent or candidly taking their pictures through subtle ways? 

• Shea Glover had a social project, capturing people's reaction when told that they were beautiful. Which was an interesting way of approaching people and taking their photographs. (https://fstoppers.com/documentary/photographer-captures-peoples-reactions-when-told-they-are-beautiful-102444)

Visual Journal & Reflective Writing - what next? 

Notes on the essay first draft.
Things to consider adding/improving

The next steps -reflective bit

What do people see/talk about?

"The photographer is an armed version of the solitary walker reconnoitring, stalking cruising the urban inferno, the voyeuristic stroller who discovers the city as a landscape of voluptuous extremes. Adept of the joys of watching, connoisseur of empathy, the flâneur finds the world picturesque." - Susan Sontag, 1977 

Yoshiyuki Okuyama/Japan, The Town You Live In, 2017

• I really find Yoshiyuki's photographs appealing. There is nothing special going on or a statement he's trying to make. But it is that beauty of nature and life that he captures, something that I never really took the time to notice as I am too immersed with my own world.

“I decided I should take pictures of working class people and contribute to the movements. Whatever movements there were Socialism, Communism, whatever was happening. And then I saw pictures of Cartier Bresson, and realized that photography could be an art and that made me ambitious.” – Helen Levitt 

Helen Levitt,
 Kids on Doorway/New York, 1940

Helen Levitt/New York, 1980 

“I never had a ‘project.’ I would go out and shoot, follow my eyes—what they noticed, I tried to capture with my camera, for others to see.” 

• Perhaps disregarding what others think and photograph what catches my eyes would give a different result to my work. There is a moment in time where I should create work that I would proudly show to the public, a story that I would like to tell. 

• In reference to my essay, it made me wonder where would I take my practice? What is it that I would communicate/show people. Is what I am showing important? Ethical? Necessary? Different? Interesting? 

• Question of the day, am I taking photographs/creating art for the sake of it? Or am I making art that will affect, influence and inspire others?

Practical Research - Peer Review Action Plan

Currently investigating - photojournalism and reportage

What I have done so far and feedback

• I've been looking into galleries and exhibition, such as Ai Wei Wei's as well as other photographers' works. It was a good starting point in terms of understanding their content and purpose behind their photographs

• Since I am looking into capturing mundane elements and non-staged photographs, my peers suggested capturing daily occurrences or elements that perhaps people wouldn't generally notice due to busy lives

• Another suggestion was to consider: creating work about photojournalism or 'photo journalising' something.

Next steps

• I would continue with the experimental route of collaging and drawing over the photographs. Perhaps a new form of visual language would arise?

• Actually stepping out of the studio and taking those photographs as well as refining the content of my visual journal. What I would like to convey and how to convey? A final outcome has not been decided, however I do wish to create a zine or either use my visual journal as a collection of my journey/discovery

• Practitioners to look at (suggested by peers) - Martin Parr, Yoshiyuki Okuyama, Garry Winogrand 

Visual Journal - Starting point

Prague, Czech Republic - Vienna, Austria

• I decided to take a disposal camera, which is handy and convenient to carry around during my travels. I wanted to look more into photography and capturing mundane scene and natural occurrences, nothing staged or pose. 

• I enjoy the raw emotion and reaction captured through candid pictures. In terms of the visual journal, I would perhaps create a type of photo album or book filled with people's stories/lives.

Reading Extended Essays 

It was both insightful and helpful to be able to see previous extended essays. The essay I picked up in particular was very well written in terms of: 

• Content - it was coherent and concise, focused on the subject matter. The student didn't waffle at all and maintained an objective point of view. Providing both for and against arguments. 

• Quotes/referencing - she used minimal direct quotations and paraphrased the most, which added more of a smooth flow throughout her essay 

• Structure - effective. Used short sentences, which may seem rigid but a clear way to get the message across, keeps writing focused and not overly descriptive. Point - Quote - Explanation structure.

• Conclusion - A simple summary, no new information included

• Sources - provided a variety, from online sources to books

Ai Wei Wei - Law of the Journey 2017 (Czech Republic)

• I personally thought that this was such a powerful exhibition as it is still in effect as of today. I find it fascinating that Ai Wei Wei would go so far to deliver the most authentic, accurate, detailed portrayal of the life of refugees. He actually went through a whole year of journey alongside these refugees. 

• It was overwhelming when I saw his exhibition in person. Delivery and presentation wise, I thought that it was successful. Through the scale of his sculptures, use of quotes, film, photograph, the snapshots of messages, news. They were all informative and it sure did raised my awareness.