Common Module - AY24.25 CTS B

WEEK 11 - COMPULSORY QUESTION 1

For an artist, a manifesto expresses their beliefs, goals, and unique style, helping them connect with their audience. It clarifies their artistic direction and can also convey social messages, using art to inspire change. My group’s manifesto captures the free and creative vibe we were aiming for. The mix of colours, organic lines, and uneven layout help us express our individuality and originality without being confined to any rules. The combination of handwritten text and drawings gives it a casual feel, while the different styles and sizes of text create a visual rhythm that naturally catches the eye.

My manifesto is "STORYTELLING, NOT SELLING." This idea was inspired by a training article from NASP (National Association of Sales Professionals). I’ve always prioritised results over process when it comes to design, but after reading their article, I realised that storytelling sparks curiosity and attracts attention. I’ve often been someone who focuses on the outcome rather than the process, but through this manifesto, I now believe that by focusing on a solid process, I can create designs that will naturally succeed and sell themselves.

Even if a movie has a sad ending, if the process is good, the audience will still like it.

My second manifesto is "Curiosity didn’t kill the designers". If I look into the famous saying "Curiosity killed the cat," I realise that it actually originated from something quite different. It was originally "Care killed the cat," where "care" meant "worry". I approach this saying from a different perspective: curiosity is, in fact, care. As a designer, I often worry that I might end up creating generic designs. However, as long as I have curiosity and interest, finding my unique style becomes much easier. When I attend studios, workshops, or digital, I don’t engage with subjects I’m not interested in. Of course, I’ll complete the assignments, but those areas don’t spark much interest in me. This way, I can easily identify what I’m genuinely passionate about. In my recent digital class, I learned app design and video design. I had to use Premiere Pro for video design, which didn’t excite me as much, but I enjoyed app design because it involved using Figma, a tool I love. In this way, curiosity leads to interest, and that helps me grow as a designer.

Through CTS-B, my perspective on other classes and assignments has changed. While I was feeling lost, I found motivation through the manifesto, which encouraged me to approach my work with more detailed research and interest. I was thinking about how to create my zine, and then I decided to focus on the project that I had spent the most time on recently—my work about the Korean military. The project came together very quickly. I guess people really do need to work on what they love.

468 words

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WEEK 12 - COMPULSORY QUESTION 2

My main strengths in design are graphic design and ambition. Since I was young, I have loved working and found great satisfaction in earning money. After finishing my military service, my desire to earn became even stronger, so I started working as a freelance designer and offering online tutoring that I could balance with my studies. With this ambition, I took on freelance projects from companies while managing school assignments, which helped me both earn money and quickly improve my skills in Illustrator and Figma.

As I continued freelancing, I mainly focused on app and web design, and Figma which I initially learned from free YouTube tutorials a year ago became my favorite and most used tool. However, I know that consistency is essential, so I plan to continue increasing my skills and value, making sure it doesn’t interfere with my studies or lead to complacency. In a few years, I hope to become a skilled graphic designer.

FREITAG, founded in 1993, was created by Markus and Daniel Freitag, two brothers who were ordinary designers living in Zurich. Their shared passion for cycling deeply influenced their work. The inspiration for their eco-friendly brand stemmed from their experiences cycling through the city. While cycling in the rain, they found it frustrating that water would soak their bags, leading them to create waterproof bags made from discarded PVC tarpaulins and nylon belts.

The uniqueness of FREITAG's products lies in the way they reimagine synthetic fibers, typically seen as pollutants, into eco-friendly materials. By using waste materials to create sustainable, durable, and distinct bags, they reduce environmental impact while offering individuality in every piece. Their approach encourages designers to rethink traditional materials and find creative, eco-conscious solutions. With sustainability becoming a core value for consumers, FREITAG has shown how sustainable practices can become central to a brand's identity and appeal.

FREITAG is also known for significantly reducing waste, contributing to social good. Today, the brand is a global success. However, I believe their concept and business were destined to succeed from the start. With the rise of Y2K and vintage trends, FREITAG's rugged, seemingly worn bags appeal to consumers not only for their design but also for the unique value of being upcycled products, making each bag one of a kind.

FREITAG has greatly inspired me. Their success in creating products through upcycling and their transformation from ordinary designers to successful entrepreneurs has shown me the power of combining personal passions with social engagement. I now aspire to create designs that solve real-world problems and connect with society. Rather than just producing mass-market designs, I want my work to reflect my personal passion and respond to contemporary trends, creating meaningful products that engage with and reflect society.

454 words

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WEEK 3: REFLECTIVE WRITING

Designers should connect their work to society because design can have a meaningful impact on the world. By addressing social issues, designers create work that not only resonates with people but also contributes to positive change and supports important causes. This approach goes beyond aesthetics and profit, focusing on raising awareness and tackling bigger issues like fairness and environmental sustainability.

For example, brands like Ben & Jerry's demonstrate how businesses can integrate social values into their practices, such as using fair trade ingredients and promoting sustainability.

Ben & Jerry's leads in ESG practices by prioritising fairness in sourcing. They use fair trade to buy key ingredients like cocoa, sugar, and bananas from small farms in developing countries, supporting 200,000 farmers annually. Their packaging reflects Vermont’s natural beauty and features a fair trade certification.

In our class, we were tasked with creating a documentary about a social issue. We decided to focus on the high cost of living in Singapore. In our video, an agency shows students a small, messy room with an outrageously high rent. The students, after checking their wallets, find only a handful of coins.

While working on this project, I realised that as designers, we should engage with societal issues like this more often. If designers express such problems through their work, it could help raise awareness and ultimately contribute to changing the world for the better.

230 words

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WEEK 2: REFLECTIVE WRITING

Finding one’s identity as a designer is crucial because what we are good at may not always align with our true interests. Having a distinct style and personality allows a designer to shine wherever they go. There are various ways a designer can express their identity, depending on their field of expertise or the programs they use. Even simple elements like the fonts and colours chosen in their work can reflect a designer's unique identity. This individuality is what makes their designs stand out and resonate with others.

The Psychology of Identity - Professor Park Sun-woong

This book is one of my personal favourites, and through it, I have learned a great deal about identity. The book suggests that defining identity is an act of arrogance, and that life constantly changes in real-time, meaning we cannot define either our own life or anyone else's. It argues that life is a story, and this concept really resonated with me. What I understood from this is that identity is something I create, and my actions and choices can always change it. Rather than deciding on my identity and sticking to it, I realised that I want to grow by learning from my mistakes and evolving, ultimately becoming a person who continually improves and progresses.

Even when looking at the portrait my group created, there is no single theme, and various elements have come together to form the artwork. Each of us has different stubbornness and beliefs, and I think these aspects are reflected in the portrait, which gives it a chaotic atmosphere. But this is completely natural. If our portrait had been unified into one style, it would have been very boring and predictable.

WEEK 1: REFLECTIVE WRITING

Critical thinking means carefully analysing information to make wise and informed decisions. Not everyone thinks in the same way, so in this class, we had a session where each of us wrote down and discussed social issues we personally consider important.

After the Celebrity's Suicide: A Story from the Bereaved Family - An article from the Korean newspaper Ilyo News

The biggest social issue I thought of was internet crime, but because that is such a broad topic, I chose to write more specifically about hate comments. I approached this topic with critical thinking, trying to understand the serious harm and negative impact that hate comments can have on people. I also creatively considered the effects of malicious commenters, allowing me to empathise with the victims and grasp the negative influence hate comments can impose. My classmates and I shared and debated our chosen topics, and I found my friend Scot’s topic particularly interesting. He spoke about environmental sustainability, which resonated with me because I often wonder in daily life, "What if we run out of natural resources? We can’t simply remove buildings."

Today’s topic reminded me of Joker, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix, a movie I really like for how deeply it shows emotions. At the start of the movie, Joker works as a clown to entertain people, but his tough home life and exposure to crime eventually lead him to hurt others in anger because he feels misunderstood. This reminded me of what victims of internet hate go through today. Unlike the violent character of Joker, regular people like celebrities must endure emotional pain, which can be incredibly hard to handle.

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