MAKING THEATER PAMPHLETS

Despite being a last-minute idea, I was keen on creating prints to provide additional context for my setup. I envisioned designing a theatre pamphlet akin to those distributed before a play. This pamphlet would serve to introduce my artefact with key visuals and include a catalog detailing the process of its creation on the back.

DESIGNING: FRONT

For the front, I utilised the key visual as the main image for the poster. After numerous design tests and font selections, I settled on Abril Display for its timeless aesthetic, which complemented the photo well. Many older theatre posters also feature Abril Display as their heading font, so I opted for it to align with that tradition. Given that this was my initial iteration, I didn't have much time to refine the design, but it's something I plan to revisit after open studio.

DESIGNING: BACK

For the back side, given the accordion fold format, I opted for simplicity. The first leaf featured a brief description of the artefact followed by my making-of catalog. In a departure from my usual approach of working with symmetry and grids, I decided to break the grid this time. While I wasn't entirely satisfied with the final appearance, due to the time constraints, I decided to let it go for open studio.

CHOOSING PAPER

When I was choosing paper from the RJ catalog, I was torn between two types: "recycpal" and "maple bright." I tested both to see how my prints would turn out. The ones on recycpal didn't look as bright or sharp as I hoped. On the other hand, the prints on maple bright were a bit warm but sharp and bright. For open studio, I decided to go with maple bright. But for the final submission, I plan to print on maple snow because it's a pure white.

FINAL SET UP

For my final setup, I was concerned that I wouldn't have enough space on the table and it might look too crowded. So, I decided to include my semester 1 artifact but keep it non-interactive. I had already received enough feedback on that piece, and I wanted the focus to be on the other two artifacts. This decision helped to declutter my layout a bit.

FEEDBACK

During the open studio, I received a lot of feedback, which was really valuable. It was great to see people come and interact with my work. Although I would have liked more industry exposure, as it was quite limited and selective this time, so not many industry professionals were able to see my work. However, I did have people from other courses and the general public interact with my projects, which was enjoyable. It was satisfying to see them experience the emotions or reactions I intended to evoke. I was initially worried that people might not find "Damnation" scary, but to my surprise, I heard screams coming from my corner during the open studio, which was reassuring. One concern I had was that my projects didn't have a cohesive branding and might not look like part of the same collection, and a few people pointed that out. Some suggested that having a brand logo could help address this issue.

FEEDBACK FROM ANDREAS

we also had a class presentation where we walked around and talked about our projects. Yishan's has to be my favourite so far. But anyways, I was able to get feedback from Andreas and it helped figure out my layout for final submissions. He noted that while it wasn't bad, there were areas for improvement, but overall, it worked decently. Andreas was pleased to see that I had resolved my technical issues and made everything function properly. However, he did express some reservations about my graphic design skills, suggesting that it's an area I could focus on improving. Additionally, he observed that all of my artifacts had a raw aesthetic, and suggested that I could further develop this aspect.

REFLECTION

The past few weeks have been incredibly challenging and exhausting, almost like cramming a year's worth of work into just two weeks. Despite the intensity, it was all worth it because I had the opportunity to showcase my work to others and receive valuable feedback. I was initially worried that people might not like or understand my work, especially since it deviates from traditional theatre norms. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the positive response overall.

Of course, there's still plenty of room for improvement. I need to work on establishing a cohesive art direction, refining my artifacts, and ensuring proper documentation. However, seeing most of the pieces fall into place brings me a sense of satisfaction, albeit tinged with a bit of sadness knowing that this journey will soon come to an end.

I'm also incredibly proud of my classmates for their outstanding work. Each person had such cool topics and executed them so nicely. I feel so happy seeing everyone's project come to life.