Illustration and Visual Narrative Exercises task 01 & task 02

7/4/2023 - 7/7/2023 Week 1 - Week 16

Wong Kai Xin / 0353027

Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / The Design School

Exercises task 01 & task 02

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LECTURES

Week 1 : 

For the first class, we tried The Bezier Game to help us get used to using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator. Even though it was challenging at first, I started to get the hang of it.

Week 2 : 

We were taught the character design basics and how to create a iconic character. Something new that I learned about is a "stylized design".  A character's body proportions and features could really impact on how its image would be portrayed by the audience, for example, protagonist often have rounder eyes, a smaller physique, compared to a villain, who would normally have strong sharp features like foxy eyes, bigger build. Our tutor taught us the different ways we could trace and cut out an object using the Adobe Illustrator tools. We could use the "shape" tool to make the process easier compared to the pen tool, which takes a much longer time.

Fig 1.1 examples of how shapes are being used in characters

Fig 1.2 Tutorial on Character design basics

Week 3 : 

For this class, it was about colors, we were taught that we could create our own color palette using adobe color, or we could use the eyedropper tool for more convenience. In this tutorial, I learned how to make gradients and how to adjust them and control the direction. 

Fig 2.1 Video on illustrator colour tips

Week 4 : 

Today, we learned about the pencil tool and how to use it to make our own personalized fonts. 

Using the pencil tool allows us to draw shapes and it is the most flexible method as you can easily adjust the points as you like, however it isn't the most accurate way. 

Fig 3.1 Pencil tool tutorial

Stages of creating illustrated type:

1. Text Tool
2. Create outline
3. Pencil and Smooth Tool
4. Shaper Tool
5. Joining Paths
6. Width Tool/Converting a Line to a Path

Examples of illustrated type

Week 5 :

Today, we were taught about how to create the 3D effect in illustrator. 

Fig 4.1 3D sushi tutorial

Fig 4.2 work based on following tutorial 01

 

Fig 4.3 3D rainbow tutorial

Fig 4.4 work based on following tutorial 01

INSTRUCTIONS

For task 1, we were required to use vormator elements to create a character based on our creativity. We were only allowed to use these specific shapes and were not allowed to distort it. As for task 2, we were to get two randomized words from the pictionary website and illustrate it using illustrator tools.  

EXERCISES

Task 1 

Week 1 : 

I didn't have access to Adobe Illustrator yet so I tried planning out my character using the lasso tool on IbisPaint X on my tablet. I was going for a character that will give off a sassy vibe, but cute as well.

Fig 5.1 first attempt on exploring how to combine the shapes

Week 2 : 

When I finally got the access to Adobe Illustrator, I tried tracing out the shapes from the Fig 5.2 

Fig 5.2 Vormator elements 

Fig 5.3 Traced shapes using various tools (pen tool, shape tool, curvature tool)

After tracing the basic shapes, I pieced them together and came up with my first draft. As shown in Fig 5.4, I tried to use every shape given to fully utilize them and see what possibilities these shapes could create when put together.

Fig 5.4 First draft ( relaxed ver )

I also attempted different facial expressions to see which one looks best 

     Fig 5.5 Second draft ( scared ver )

Feedback : I was told that I could make the character more realistic by adjusting some parts of the character to show which direction it was facing and start exploring on colour. 

Week 3 : 

For this week I focused on finalizing the final design of my vormator character and coloring it using the tutorial our tutor gave during class. 

Fig 5.6 First try on inserting colors and gradient to a character, following tutor's tutorial in class

Fig 5.7 Third draft ( angry ver )

Fig 5.8 Finalized character before color

Submission

Fig 5.91 screenshot of the character's outline view in Adobe Illustrator (JPEG)

Fig 5.92 Final character design (JPEG)

The reason why I chose purple is because I was going for an evil looking character, and according to my research, most antagonists are purple in color. I also put the gradient tool to use, so it looks more dimensional. 

Task 2

For task 2, we were required to get two random words from the Pictionary website and illustrate both words. The words I got were "yoyo" and "party".

When I first got the words, I experimented with various ways to place the words

Fig 6.1 first draft

After my first draft, I felt like it wasn't as "fun" as it seemed so I decided to switch it to a more lively cuter appearance.

Both were very fun words as "yoyo" isn a toy whilst "party" being a place where everyone has fun. In result, I tried to utilise more colours, but still maintain a colour theme so it wouldn't look too messy. I also tried to make stage lights from parties on the letter "A" so it has some interesting touch to it. 

Fig 6.2 second draft

Feedback: use yoyo tricks to create shapes for letters. too simple looking now

Fig 6.3 third draft

Feedback: overall good work but the word "yoyo" has to have some movement, currently it looks a little stiff 

Submission

Fig 6.41 screenshot of the typography's outline view in Adobe Illustrator (JPEG)

Fig 6.42 Final typography design (JPEG)

REFLECTION

Throughout this very first exercise, I realised how much thought was put behind every character and each tries to tell a story with its visuals. As my first task for the module, I feel like it was a beneficial task, helping me learn the basics of character forming using the most basic shapes. It was almost my first time using Adobe Illustrator and it was indeed really complicated to me, but I am looking forward to learning more about this application through this module. As for the second task, it was slightly better for me as I was satisfied with the outcome of the type. But from what I have learned in the second exercise is that the movement of the words matters and plays a role in expressing themselves.