Common Module - AY24.25 CTS B

I have strengths in generating creative ideas, building emotional connections, quickly learning and applying new tools, and paying meticulous attention to detail. These strengths are connected to my artistic vision.

My artistic vision is to build meaningful connections through design and move people's hearts. 'Meaningful connection' means going beyond creating visually appealing and functional work to achieve deep emotional communication with users. I aim to become a designer who can realise true communication through design and thereby touch people's hearts.

In 5 years, I hope to be someone with a distinct identity by reflecting on this vision and building expertise and insight through diverse experiences, both as a designer and as an individual. In particular, I want to become a skillful communicator, adept in both visual design and real-world interactions. Additionally, I would like to gain knowledge in design-related fields such as marketing and business to develop a comprehensive understanding of the design industry. Moving forward, based on a growth mindset, I will proactively design my career by adjusting my direction through various experiences.

These works are from designer Park Ji-won's "The World Out Sight" project, which focuses on visual impairment. It's quite paradoxical that it's a visual design project about and for the visually impaired. Through conversations with visually impaired individuals, Park realised that even exceptional design could be merely a piece of paper to someone. This insight prompted her to start this project, reflecting on what design truly is and with what mindset one should approach design.

I discovered connections between her views on design and her work process with my vision and the CTS B. The reasons I chose this project are as follows:

Similarity to my artistic vision: Designer Park Ji-won believes that true communication can move people's hearts, and she aims to contribute to changing the world for the better and expressing better values through the power of design. This project creates meaningful emotional connections through deep communication with visually impaired people.

Social impact: Designer Park Ji-won believes that design is the most powerful means of communication that connects people to people, and society to its members. This project, as a socially engaged design, connects society and its members beyond mere visual elements. It also demonstrates how creative design thinking can be used as a tool for social innovation.

Empathy & understanding: This project is designed not to unilaterally convey the visual world to visually impaired people, but to allow sharing of stories about each other's perspectives and experiences, fostering mutual empathy.

Critical self-reflectivity & Creative practice: Through conversations with visually impaired people, designer Park Ji-won critically thought about the essence of design, and based on this, attempted new creative practices.

(447 words)

: The importance of communication emphasised in this video resonates with my pursuit of 'building meaningful connections'. The video creator explores the essence of communication and how we can utilise it to improve ourselves, our relationships, and society as a whole. This makes me consider how design can build meaningful connections in modern society, where the development of the internet, smartphones, and social media has completely changed the way we interact and communicate.

References:

“Please Touch.” Designdb, www.designdb.com/?menuno=776&bbsno=26893&siteno=15&act=view&ztag=rO0ABXQAPjxjYWxsIHR5cGU9ImJvYXJkIiBubz0iNTczIiBza2luPSJiYnNfZXhoaWJpdGlvbl8yMDE5Ij48L2NhbGw%2B#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

“Love Letter to Jean Paul Sartre.” Designdb, www.designdb.com/?menuno=776&bbsno=26893&siteno=15&act=view&ztag=rO0ABXQAPjxjYWxsIHR5cGU9ImJvYXJkIiBubz0iNTczIiBza2luPSJiYnNfZXhoaWJpdGlvbl8yMDE5Ij48L2NhbGw%2B#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Ari and Batya Kievman. “The Art of Communication.” YouTube, 9 Jan. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_W6SX6SLdg. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

In my submission I acknowledge the use of:

Our group's CTS B manifesto covers social influence, growth, personal background, empathy, communication, and self-awareness. This serves as a reminder of the values gained from CTS B, and inspires me to strive for continuous growth.

I reflected on our manifesto and how it relates to my personal and artistic journey. The principle of communicating with empathy and criticising constructively resonated deeply with me. This made me reflect on my interactions with colleagues. In the early stages of Studio collaboration projects, I faced difficulties in coordinating opinions due to different working methods and design processes. Through this, I realised the importance of a supportive and constructive approach in collaborations and feedback sessions.

"Incorporate your background to your work" encourages reflecting individuality in design. For example, in the Materiality & Techniques class, I'm making a zine inspired by memories of the stamp collection album I gathered with my dad, which has shown me how personal experiences can shape creative outcomes. However, I believe it's also important to keep a balanced approach so that this principle doesn’t lean too heavily on personal elements alone.

Lastly, "Be self-aware of strengths and flaws" made me look back on my design process journaling. By recording CPJ and analysing prototypes, I could recognise which aspects needed improvement. Furthermore, by requesting feedback, I was able to view my work from various perspectives, discovering areas for improvement and strengths that I hadn't previously considered.

While I generally agree with our group's manifesto, I would like to modify "Unique experiences create a unique you" to "See and experience a lot" as my personal manifesto. I believe that diverse and rich experiences are more valuable than a single unique experience. Through this, we can gain new inspiration and improve our ability to cope with various situations. Ultimately, this will greatly contribute to our growth as more flexible and creative designers.

Looking back on the manifesto, I felt deeply immersed in the principles we established together. In this way, CTS B prompts me to ask myself many questions for my growth as both a designer and an individual. The most significant aspect for me in this module was the development of self-awareness through the practice of critical thinking and reflection.

Particularly, the insight into the connection between critical thinking and creativity had a big impact on me. It presented a new perspective that creative inspiration can also be gained through logical analysis. This has been helpful in generating ideas and experimenting with prototypes. Moreover, the discussions and presentations were valuable. Through group activities, I was able to broaden my thinking by engaging with peers, which became a powerful motivation for developing critical thinking skills.

This semester, I am finding my design direction by continuously questioning my interests and strengths and weaknesses, reflecting on every module. In this process, I feel the importance of critical thinking more deeply than ever before.

(477 words)

References:

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page- Saint Augustine." Flickr, uploaded by pojokcerita, 10 Dec. 2012, www.flickr.com/photos/pojokcerita/8257361061. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." Saint Augustine. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford UP, 1991.

Grant, Adam. “Stop Serving the Feedback Sandwich.” LinkedIn, LinkedIn, 3 May.2016, www.linkedin.com/pulse/stop-serving-feedback-sandwich-adam-grant. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

"Abstract: The Art of Design | Paula Scher: Graphic Design | FULL EPISODE | Netflix" YouTube, uploaded by Netflix, 7 April. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCfBYE97rFk&t=479s. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

In my submission I acknowledge the use of:

Self-reflection and self-understanding enable smooth communication with others. This is because good conversation begins with objectively viewing the situation and accurately recognising one's own emotions and needs, rather than those of others.

Personally, I am greatly influenced by emotions and need to understand the reasons for my emotions to feel at ease. This is why I keep a diary. Although sometimes I struggle with excessive self-reflection, for me, the process of self-understanding involves comprehending and embracing the roots of all my emotions.

I believe that all creative practices begin with empathy and self-reflection. In terms of design, self-reflection leads designers to deeply explore their thoughts and perspectives on the world. I think this self-reflection is the reason why good design starts from a deep understanding of people's lives and experiences.

In this context, my CPJ has been immensely helpful to my design process. By revisiting my process, I can objectively view my work, organise my thoughts and intentions systematically, and enhance both creativity and communication skills. This is more than just a record. It's a valuable resource documenting my design journey. Tracking the development of my ideas through it also supports my long-term growth. A few weeks ago, when I felt lost in design, the CPJ clarified areas for improvement and guided me toward the next steps. Inspired, I've decided to plan an independent project and participate in a competition during project week. I believe that this reflective practice will be a powerful driver of my growth as a designer.

(250 words)

References:

“START FROM WHERE YOU AT.” Things We Forget, thingsweforget.blogspot.com/#google_vignette.

Pietrangelo, Ann. "Self-Reflection: Definition, Benefits, and Tips." BetterUp, 14 Mar. 2023, www.betterup.com/blog/self-reflection. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.

In my submission I acknowledge the use of:

Viewing artworks in galleries is always intriguing, but works by international artists are especially fascinating. They offer a glimpse into unfamiliar cultural and historical contexts, adding a layer of depth to the experience.

This week, we explored various pieces at the National Gallery Singapore, and among them, S. Sudjojono's "Perusing a Poster" was impressive. The figures gazing at something invisible, presumably a poster, allowed me to sense the complex emotions for the future of the Indonesian people during that time.

Personally, I'm interested in history, so while preparing a presentation on this artwork for class activities, I found it fascinating to learn the historical context and social significance through art. I think the reason this painting is the most memorable among others is because of Korean history. Korea also experienced 35 years of colonial rule under Japan and faced political instability and social change after its independence. I felt how art can transcend cultural boundaries and evoke universal emotion. 

The exhibition space featured paintings by other artists dealing with the historical context of war and independence, offering a diverse range of artistic expressions. And the exhibition title "Siapa Nama Kamu?" in Malay caught my attention. It means "What is your name?", prompting visitors to consider how art can connect to individual and communal identities. Also the signages installed in each exhibition area formed the overall narrative of the exhibition and served to naturally guide visitors through the spaces.

I realised that not only the artworks but also all the elements composing the space come together to convey a message. Each element was intentionally designed to make the exhibition more appealing. Isn't this the essence of design communication?

(277 words)

References:

Sudjojono, S. Perusing a Poster. 1948, Singapore National Gallery, Singapore.

Nguyen Lam. Choi Cung. 1965, Singapore National Gallery, Singapore.

Sieon: Language of the Times. Han Seo-kyung. 2019

“Museum Inside Out: The Exhibition Designer”YouTube, uploaded by Milwaukee Art Museum, 3 Sep.2014, https://youtu.be/yPl4vamFRpc?si=293wfDG4MwSRSr6Y.

In my submission I acknowledge the use of:

I used to think of creativity and critical thinking as opposing areas, as they respectively emphasise free expression and experimentation, and logical analysis and evaluation. However, through this class, I learned that these two are actually very similar. The similarity I found is that both areas stem from deep curiosity and a desire to better understand the world. They are not simply a process of solving problems within the bounds of existing knowledge, but rather a process of continuously observing, asking questions, and expanding the realm of thought. In this context, I reckon that critical thinking doesn't limit creativity, but rather can be the driving force that lays its foundation and produces feasible innovative results.

For class activity, we wrote a short piece about a social issue. One classmate and I wrote about the same topic of inequality, but my writing mainly dealt with the problem from an analytical and critical perspective. My friend wrote a short story contrasting the daily life of a child experiencing social inequality. It made me think deeply about the subject without direct criticism or analysis. It was impressive how the critical topic and intention of the writing combined with a creative story. Through this experience, I realised that critical thinking and creative practice are complementary, and the harmony of these elements enables a deeper empathy and understanding of complex problems.

I once again felt the need for 'challenging bold and experimental design' to foster creativity, which was one of my design learning goals for this year. As a student aspiring to become a designer, I do believe that the experiences gained from various attempts at combining critical thinking and creative design will be a valuable source of learning.

(284 words)

"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way." — Edward de Bono

References:

de Bono, Edward. "Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way."

“Parasite.” Naver, search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&sm=tab_etc&mra=bkEw&pkid=68&os=5664043&qvt=0&query=영화%20기생충%20포토.

In my submission I acknowledge the use of: