IVN - Task 1

1 September 2022 - 22 September 2022 / Week1 - Week 4
Sim Jia Min 0349784
Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Task 1: Exercises

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INSTRUCTIONS (MIB)

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LECTURES/TUTORIALS/PRACTICALS

Week 1: 

For the first lecture, Mr Hafiz briefly explained the module information booklet to us for doing a basic introduction. The aim of this module is to learn the process of developing visual conceptions from thoughts and communicating with audiences in illustration form. During the class, Mr Hafiz did an interface intro of Adobe Illustrator, he explained the basic use of tools panel, application bar, control panel, etc. He also guided us to create a simple lemon using shapes (square & circle). The tutorial he gave was very clear and easy to catch up with.

Figure 1.1: Making lemons by using simple shapes on AI

Week 2: 

Today we started the class with The Bézier Game for learning how the pen tool works, the game was easy at the beginning but became a little bit difficult and confusing after few rounds. Task 1 was given on Google Classroom, a vormator challenge for making a character design based on limited shapes in the screenshot image. We opened the screenshot image in AI and started tracing all the shapes by mainly using pen tool & curvature tool.

Figure 1.2: The Bézier Game

Week 3: 

For this week, we learned the basic use of pathfinder tool (unite, minus front, intersect, exclude & divide) & rotate tool. These tools can be used to create unique shapes by combining  & slicing.  

Figure 1.3: Using pathfinder tool to create unique shapes by using circles

Figure 1.4: Created by using pathfinder tool, rotate tool & ctrl+d (duplicate)

Figure 1.5: Another creation by using pathfinder tool, rotate tool & ctrl+d (duplicate)

Miss Noranis gave us a brief explanation about our project 2, which is also a competition we will be taking part in. There are two themes for this project, cultural celebration & renewal of life. She also gave a lecture about character design basics. 

Lecture slide:

Week 4:

This week is the introduction to shape builder tool & gradient tool. The shape builder tool is for easily uniting shapes or subtract one shape from another. Mr Hafiz guided us to use shape builder tool on texts & shapes. Gradient tool can be used to mix two or more colours together. 

Figure 1.6: Using shape builder tool on texts to create type expression of "sharp".

Figure 1.7: Created by using oval shapes (rotate tool, duplicate tool & shape builder tool). Also used gradient tool to apply shadow on them. 

Figure 1.8: Another creation by using pathfinder tool & gradient tool

Figure 1.9: Learned to apply shadow on shape by using gradient tool. Basically just use b&w gradient and adjust the opacity lower.

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TASK 1: THE VORMATOR CHALLENGE

Week 2
I traced the shapes in the screenshot image by using the pen tool and curvature tool. Mr Hafiz mentioned that the shapes don't have any fixed methods to trace, there are many techniques that can be used on tracing, and the most important is using the technique that personally comfortable with. The task is given for us to use these shapes on creating a character before the next class. 

Figure 2.1: Shape tracing on AI

Week 3
I made a character by using the traced shapes, the concept of this character design is an ocean creature, kind of a mermaid silhouette but it is not a mermaid, maybe something similar to Ponyo, a fish with slightly human appearance features. 

Figure 2.2: Initial stage- Shapes combination in black and white 

Figure 2.3: Colouring stage

Figure 2.4: ocean colour palette

Since the character itself is an ocean creature, I think an ocean colour palette might be suitable for its theme.

Week 4 (Final submission)
Since Mr Hafiz has taught us how to use pathfinder tool and gradient tool in the classes, I decided to apply these skills on the character. Before using gradient tool, I use pathfinder tool to unite some shapes together, such as the hair, body & tail part. Then I apply some gradient colour on the character to make it slightly has some shadow and less flat looking. 

And these are my final submission for task 1:

Figure 2.5: Outline before pathfinder

Figure 2.6: Outline after pathfinder

Figure 2.7: Gradient colour applied (FINAL)

 

REFLECTION

I have acquired many new skills in using Adobe Illustrator by making this character design, such as learning to know the tools and how to make good use of them. For me, it is a fun challenge for using limited shapes to create our own original character, I enjoy the making process, especially the freedom of creating a character based on my own ideas.