Common Module - AY25.26 CTS A

After completing all the weeks, I realised I have learned a lot from each session and how each topic builds different skills, from brainstorming ideas to developing final designs. It changed my perspective on design and made me see it as something that requires both creativity and planning, where I need to be more thoughtful in how I develop and present my ideas.

I also run a henna business as a side hustle, and I realised it connects strongly with what I learned in WOll, such as cultural materialism, aesthetics, and postmodernism. Cultural materialism helps me understand how culture and context influence henna designs, since henna carries meaning and tradition. Aesthetics is important in attracting an audience because how I design and present my work affects how people respond to it. Postmodernism encourages me to be more creative and experimental instead of sticking to basic patterns.

In my business, I need to carefully plan my branding and marketing, including posters for events and promotions, while also brainstorming ideas to grow my audience. During the henna process, I’ve learned to take my time and enjoy it, as this reflects sincerity and improves the quality of my work. Overall, this experience has helped me connect theory with practice, understand design in a deeper way, and recognise my own artistic style and preferences.

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We did an activity where we chose an object and took photos to create an advertisement for it. My partner and I selected a phone case as our product, with the slogan “Grip better. Drop safer. Live greener.” This slogan highlights the phone case’s strong grip, protective durability, and eco-friendly qualities, helping to promote it as a reliable and sustainable product.

Postmodernism helped me understand the importance of pushing beyond basic and conventional design ideas. This also helps for my other modules like studio and the rest. I now aim to make my posters and other designs more vibrant, bold, and playful. While I take my work seriously, I also enjoy the process and have fun experimenting with different creative ideas.

This also taught me that more unique and creative designs can grab people’s attention better because they stand out from the usual. Adding some complexity, like layering ideas or trying different compositions, can make the design look more interesting and meaningful. It made me realize that putting more effort into creativity helps make the overall design more engaging and impactful.

Overall, postmodernism helped me improve my understanding of design and made me more aware of how extraordinary works stand out through creativity, detail, and strong visual ideas. It also encouraged me to look deeper into how different elements can work together to create more meaningful and impactful designs, and to keep exploring new and original approaches in my future work.

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In class, we did an activity where we created advertisements for fictional goods and services. My partner and I chose Upin Ipin, a Malaysian animated series about two twin boys, because we both grew up watching it and are familiar with its characters and style. We decided to focus on one of the characters, Mail, and created an advertisement showing him selling chicken at a booth in a bazaar, which reflects his entrepreneurial personality in the show.

During the process, we had to brainstorm ideas on how to design the advertisement and represent the character clearly so that the audience could easily understand the concept of Mail selling chicken at a bazaar. This included thinking about the setting, the character’s actions, and how to visually communicate the message in a simple and engaging way.

However, creating an advertisement that effectively shows the character’s action was quite challenging, especially with the limited time given in class. We had to quickly come up with ideas, make decisions, and execute them within a short period, which required us to think fast while still maintaining clarity and creativity. This experience relates closely to doing assignments for studio, photography, digital skills and craft, as it shows the importance of proper brainstorming and idea development before starting the final work. Without clear planning, the message can become unclear or less impactful, so it is important to organize ideas properly before starting any creative task.

Overall, the activity helped me understand the importance of thinking critically, managing time well, and organising ideas to produce a strong and meaningful piece of work. It also helped me improve my creativity and confidence in turning simple ideas into clear visual concepts.

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In week 4, we did an activity in groups of three where each of us chose three objects and connected them under one theme. My group decided on the theme “weather,” and we organised the objects into categories like hot weather, humid weather, cold weather, and rainy weather. We also explored another theme called “expiration,” where we grouped the objects based on how long they could last, such as days, weeks, months, or years. This activity helped us learn how to sort and categorise objects more thoughtfully and logically.

I realised that this method is useful in design because it helps us think about relationships between ideas and visuals. By grouping and categorising, we can develop clearer concepts, better organisation, and stronger visual direction. It also helps when planning layouts, choosing colours, and making sure each design element fits the theme. Overall, this activity made me understand how structured thinking can support creativity and improve my design process. This principle is useful in creating visual hierarchies and categorising elements (20 Feb 2026).

Last week’s class also helped me learn how to segregate and categorise objects more clearly. Through the grouping activity, I realised that organising items under a theme can help me develop clearer ideas and concepts in design. My group chose the theme “weather,” which made me think about how objects can be connected through meaning rather than just appearance.

During the field trip to New Bahru, one design work I connected to our group theme was a display of small plants. I chose this because the plants gave a fresh and natural sensation that relates well to weather, especially ideas of growth, nature, and climate. I felt it was a meaningful addition as it visually represents how weather affects the environment.

Three other designs I noticed were clear colourful cups, colourful ceramic pots, and illustrated cards. I grouped them under the theme “sentimental” because they are small objects that people may keep for memories. This grouping is interesting as simple objects can hold strong emotional meaning. Memory plays a crucial role in this process (15 Sept 2024), showing how design can carry deep personal meaning.

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Work cited: “Principles of Grouping.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Feb 2026, “Psychology of Sentimental Items: Why We Cherish Objects and Their Emotional Impact.” NeuroLaunch.Com, 15 Sept. 2024,

In week 3, we were put into groups to analyze a poster using formal and contextual analysis. At first, I didn’t fully understand the difference between the two, but this activity helped me see how a poster can be explored in different ways. I realized that design isn’t just about how something looks, it’s about the meaning behind it. Every choice, from colours and layout to images and small details, is intentional and serves a purpose.

My group focused on the semiotics of the poster, looking at how colours, images, and text work together to communicate a message. Doing this made me appreciate how important formal analysis is, because it helps you notice details you might otherwise overlook. Contextual analysis is just as important it makes you consider the poster’s background, its purpose, and the audience it’s reaching, which gives a bigger picture of why it was designed that way.

One poster I analysed was mostly orange, showing a big hand covering someone’s mouth, with wide-open eyes and a ring on the finger. The text said, “Lost something valuable?” and included information about the lost property department. Formally, I looked at the colours, imagery, and typography. Contextually, I understood that the poster’s goal was to tell commuters to contact the lost property department if they lost something important.

Overall, this activity showed me how semiotics can uncover deeper meanings in design and how every visual choice contributes to the message. It also made me realize that for my studio projects, I need to ensure my work relates closely to the designer I chose. Understanding both form and context is key to really grasping what a design is trying to communicate.

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Work cited: Hongqing, Gu, and Xiaoling Fang. “The Application and Trends of Semiotics in Design.” Usability and User Experience, AHFE Open Acces, 1 Jan. 1970,

In class, we went out to take photos of signages that caught our attention. After that, my group put all our photos together and looked for a theme to connect them. We chose the colour red for four of the photos because it stood out the most and grabbed attention first. Even though the signages were different, they all used red in a bold and eye-catching way. We realized that red is often used in signages because it is hard to ignore and helps people notice things quickly. Since all four photos used red in a similar way, they shared a similar aesthetic and felt visually connected. Our theme focused on how red attracts attention and makes people notice things fast.

This activity helped me understand how aesthetics and colour choices affect how viewers see and feel about a design. Colour psychology is important because different colours can influence emotions and reactions. Using the right colours helps a design communicate its message clearly and connect better with the audience. From the lecture, I also learned that design can communicate without words through visuals like colour, layout, and typography. This relates to my studio projects, where I have to plan the colours, layout, and typography carefully for my poster, postcard, and brochure.

Now I understand that aesthetics is not just about looking good, but about how a design feels and connects with people. In my craft typography project and studio work, aesthetics helps create a strong first impression, clarity, and better communication.

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Work cited:

Braam, Hailey van said, “Red Color Meaning Significance in Design & Psychology.” Color Psychology, 23 Apr 2025.

A collaborative project I would like to do is working with local brands, such as food and beverage or hijab brands. I want to experience collaborating with these brands and help make their marketing designs more appealing and aligned with their identity. Working with local brands also feels more sustainable and realistic, as larger brands may rarely offer opportunities to newcomers. With CTS A, this project would allow me to practice collaborative skills, assertion by pitching ideas, and conflict resolution when balancing my suggestions with the brand’s vision. It would also help me apply emotional intelligence by understanding customer preferences and brand identity, ensuring that my work resonates with both clients and consumers.

A final project I would like to do is creating a new brand from scratch. I would like to design a brand logo, develop the brand concept, and create product packaging. CTS A would help me learn the complete process of establishing a brand, including researching reliable sources, organizing information, and applying digital media skills to bring the concept to life. This project would also develop my growth mindset, as I will need to experiment, learn from mistakes, and adapt my ideas to create a strong and cohesive brand identity.

I would engage my community by creating a campaign on young adults’ mental health, using posters or a short film. With CTS A, this project would let me practice digital media skills and ensure content accuracy through reliable sources. Working with peers or organizations would strengthen my collaborative skills, assertion, and conflict resolution, while understanding young adults’ experiences would enhance my emotional intelligence. Experimenting with different formats, receiving feedback, and revising my work would also further develop my growth mindset.

CTS A supports my professional development by equipping me with both technical and interpersonal skills. It has strengthened my critical thinking, enabling me to research, analyze, and organize information effectively. Through collaborative projects, I have developed teamwork, assertion, and conflict resolution skills, all of which are essential for professional work. As Katz & Martin (1997:7) describe, “working together of individuals to achieve a common goal of producing new scientific knowledge,” collaboration is key in both academic and professional contexts.

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Works cited :

What Makes Research Collaborations Successful? Advice from AMJ Authors | Academy of Management Journal, June 2024, Davide Ravasi, Jing Zhu, William Wan, Sinziana Dorobantu and Marc Gruber

When I first started CTS A, I didn't understand what this module helps me with, but now I managed to catch up and understand the use of it and the importance.

In Studio 1, critical thinking is crucial when starting a project because you need to research and analyze the design before executing. CTS A made research frameworks easier for me, helping me know where to find reliable sources. For Typo Sensory, I learned to understand the emotions a font evokes and how it represents the object. For Hollywood Bling, CTS A taught me to learn from mistakes and try different concepts. For Data Space, it helped me create videos beyond my expectations and explore new ideas.

In Craft Workshop, CTS A taught me to be more creative and unique. In mark-making, I designed patterns with dots, lines, textures, and asked for opinions to see if the design fit the theme. For Positive-Negative, I finalized a design after trying many styles. In Abstraction, I simplified objects into symmetrical pixels and boxes, learning the importance of appealing and functional design. Good design is the process of creating aesthetically pleasing and functional solutions that effectively address a specific problem or fulfill a particular purpose. (ALL TIME DESIGN)

In Photography, CTS A taught me to see pictures from different angles and understand the story behind them. I also learned various techniques, such as shutter speed, to create effects.

In Digital Skills and Applications, CTS A helped me learn new skills and use applications like Rotoscoping and Premiere Pro. These skills allowed me to support other modules and spend more time learning digital tools. Interactive apps are commonly used to support the acquisition of foundational skills. (Bethany Huntington, James Goulding, Nicola J. Pitchford, 30 March 2023)

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Works Cited :

What is Good Design? Tips for Creating Functional and Visually Appealing Designs - All Time Design , September 11, 2023

Pedagogical features of interactive apps for effective learning of foundational skills - Huntington - 2023 - British Journal of Educational Technology - Wiley Online Library , 30 March 2023

Critical thinking has taught me so much for example, thinking effectively and recognize the core concept of what I am thinking. I've learnt to see things from a different perspective. This also taught me the different ways of designing and being more practical. I understand that CTS is trying to teach us to see different perspective on everything.

I personally like week 5, Growth mindset. It made me learn to accept critics and learn from them instead of being affected by it. What made this lesson memorable was how it encouraged me to shift my perspective, seeing challenges and failures not as something negative but as a chance to improve and develop. The growth mindset is the belief that intellectual ability can be developed. (David S. Yeager, Carol S. Yeager)

The values of working in a group are communication, open-mindedness, and accountability. Communication because you need to be able to communicate with your group in order to make the group function smoothly. Without communication, you won't understand what your group members want and don't want and you won't be able to hear from another perspective. Open-mindedness because you need to learn from other people's perspective and learn to accept other suggestions instead of just yours. Accountability because you have to be responsible of your own tasks and ensure that you take action within your own group, having initiative is also good when working in a group.

I would love to have more group works so that I am able to get used to working in groups and learning to accept different perspectives to help make the work better.

For my personal experience, I am able to communicate well with my peers. During class, I like to hear other people's perspective and see how different other people think. Individuals often face contexts in which they must learn from multiple perspectives (Firetto, C. M. (2020)

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Works Cited:

What can be learned from growth mindset controversies? , David S. Yeager, Carol S. Yeager, December 2020. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348018543_What_Can_Be_Learned_From_Growth_Mindset_Controversies

Firetto, C. M. (2020). Learning from multiple complementary perspectives: A systematic review. In P. Van Meter, A. List, D. Lombardi, & P. Kendeou (Eds.), https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429443961-16/learning-multiple-complementary-perspectives-carla-firetto

[Week 3 Critical Thinking] Emotional Intelligence

In Week 3, I believe my strongest skills are self-awareness and empathy. For self-awareness, I notice how I speak and act in different situations. When I realise that my words or behaviour are inappropriate or unnecessary, I take time to reflect on myself. This helps me understand why I reacted in that way and think about how I can do better in the future. Self-awareness allows me to adjust my actions before they affect others, and it pushes me to be more mindful while communicating. It also makes us be aware of what we want to become like this quote "Self-awareness—how we see ourselves and the effects we have on our environment—influences our behavior and the type of person we want to become." For empathy, I am able to pick up on others’ emotions quite easily. For example, I notice when someone is not in a good mood or not acting like their usual self. This helps me approach them with understanding and support, rather than judgment. Empathy makes it easier to connect with others because it shows that I care about their feelings and perspectives, not just my own. To improve on these skills, I can practice listening more actively, giving others space to express themselves, and seeking feedback on my behavior. I can also challenge myself to pause before reacting, so that my responses are thoughtful rather than impulsive. In class, we did an activity where we reenacted a scenario in school, my group had to reenact "a student’s comments were simply rephrasing the lecturer’s words". Watching my group act this out made me realize how easy it is to identify such scenarios and reflect on ways to handle them better.

Overall, emotional intelligence helps me understand situations and I am able to handle more situations effectively.

Works Cited:

[Week 2 Critical Thinking] Collaborative Skills

In group work, one of my biggest strengths is my ability to communicate and keep discussions going, even when ideas aren’t clear yet. I try to create a comfortable space where everyone feels encouraged to speak up and build on small points so conversations flow naturally. I listen carefully and piece together ideas to help the group move forward.

A weakness I notice is that I sometimes struggle to develop strong ideas independently, especially when I can’t immediately connect my thoughts. I tend to work slowly in these moments and need time to process before contributing solidly. While I can support and build on others’ input well, I need to practice generating my own ideas with more confidence and speed. Overall, these strengths and weaknesses balance in a way that helps me grow as a collaborator.

For today’s activity, my group created a monument together. We designed a tree structure to represent trees, placing it near the printer. The monument reminds people that paper comes from trees and encourages efficient use. We all contributed solid ideas: I drew the draft to show our vision, and a teammate developed how to construct it with paper. The team made good collaborative decisions.

If I were to redesign the monument, I would add more colors to make it vibrant and symbolic, reflecting different emotions or ideas. I would also make the structure more solid and realistic, as it currently feels light and fragile. Strengthening its form would give it a sense of permanence, fitting for a monument meant to be remembered. This activity also made me realize that every group naturally has leaders, and some voices may dominate while others are ignored, potentially causing tension. Since the weekly topic is collaborative skills, it’s important that everyone works together to generate more ideas. By adding color and reinforcing the design, the monument would be more visually appealing, meaningful, and impactful, combining creativity with strength.

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Works cited :

[Week 1 Critical Thinking] What is Critical Thinking?

Before attending the class, my understanding of critical thinking in design was unclear. I didn’t initially realize the depth required. At first, I was unsure about the class direction, but over time, listening to classmates’ perspectives made me more confident in voicing my thoughts. I learned that fast and smart thinking is essential in design, considering elements like colors, layout, and audience impact. I also realized that design demands significant mental effort. Sometimes my brain needs more time to process, making the class challenging. I try to include daily life in my thinking process, as the article says, "The more you know about things, the better you can reason about them" (Scott Young, March 2019).

Researching critical thinking further taught me that knowing more makes it easier to expand thinking and ideation.

Meditation has shown me its value for the mind. It helps me feel calm, present, and focused, giving the mind space to breathe, especially when overwhelmed. I tend to overstress over minor matters, as the article says, "We all take ourselves too seriously because we believe that there’s someone to take seriously." Integrating meditation can help when I feel stuck, unable to generate ideas, or weighed down by tasks. Mindfulness goes beyond meditation—it’s about treating the mind kindly, recognizing limits, and not forcing it. This approach supports a healthier, sustainable mindset while still allowing progress.

One of the most eventful moments in this class was listening to everyone’s opinions. Hearing different perspectives gave me new insights and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. Before this class, I was shy speaking in front of unfamiliar people and often kept my thoughts to myself. Adapting to this environment was challenging, as the article says, "Changes are usually not so easy for humans. We are creatures of habits and often feel most comfortable in our familiar surroundings. Facing changes that we cannot influence and have not consciously decided on is often not easy for us." Through activities and discussions, I became braver and more willing to share my views. I also started talking to classmates and made new friends—something I hadn’t expected. This marks a change in how I approach group settings: I no longer feel hesitant to participate and have gained confidence and new connections.

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Works Cited:

Scott Young, How to improve critical thinking, March 2019

Jon Kabat Zinn: Defining Mindfulness, What is mindfulness? The founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.