Self Portrait!

Greetings fellow readers! Our first task for Miss Lisa's 2 Dimensional Design class was to create another self portrait. It's like a ritual, or a rite of passage, or something along those lines.

I've been going through a lot lately. I used to be very cheerful and enthusiastic, and strived to do my very best by thinking of unconventional solutions to create outstanding graphics. However, that bubbly side of me was just a facade. Going through Semester 1 was a very humbling experience for me... and truth be told, I'm still a bit lost. I'm still on a journey to find myself... slowly going through a dark and scary path (metaphorically.)

This portrait was created with raw honesty in mind, something that I feel represents myself, rather than something I want to impress others with. Due to the time frame, the creation of this portrait was a spontaneous and reckless process. I chose the human heart to symbolise myself because a lot of what I been through involved heartache and passion—and I could feel my heart sink, I could feel it beat faster, and I knew as long as it was still beating, I had something to live for. And one thing about the flow of blood is that it's a continuous cycle, and even though it seems like it's the same thing every cycle, you're actually going through small changes. I wrote words like 'pain' and 'self loathing' at the start of the flow, which then gradually transcended to 'joy' and finally 'love' and 'self discovery'.

I used dried leaves to create a mosaic like texture because I believe memories are like leaves. You have to cherish your moments while they're still happening, and when it's over, it'll be there for a long time. You can press dried leaves and they can last for ages, or just leave it there as it slowly decays. But the thing about dried leaves is that they last much longer than green ones. Here's to an amazing Semester 2!

— Hidayah

Panda Poster

Here's a simple poster I designed to commemorate the arrival of the pandas!

Random image... back to sleep for me!

— Hidayah

#Egorider

Here's something pretty simple that I designed yesterday, to promote my friend, WUBCAT's new track, Egorider.

Feel free to check his music out!

— Hidayah

Instagram... new and old.

Quick post! (Stolen from a friend's Instagram, kayhanalee)

This is my feeble attempt to create something close to a portfolio, and to make this blog more interesting!

Here's 2 photos of something I designed for a very special someone! ;)

In love with the Steelfish font in caps. So clean cut!

I'm also falling in love with Sarah Script. Script fonts are my new Kryptonite!

Here are a few more instagram pictures of some old endeavours, enjoy!

And to end this post, some assignment photos from the crazy days of Sem 1, because, why not?!

— Hidayah

Posters Galore! Part 2

Here are some older posters I made during my free time. Most of these were made last year, and they're all lyric posters, actually. I also realised, I used to be really creative and lately, I've had too many artist blocks. I need to step up my game! I guess I'll torture myself with more design even though I'm on break. (the internal struggle of a workaholic designer, basically.)

Back to the drawing board!

— Hidayah

Poster Galore! Part 1

Hello! I made 2 posters this week. It's nothing special, but since I need to spruce up this blog, I guess I'll just post them here!

The first one is for Creative Thinking Skills. I didn't do anything fancy or elaborate. I wanted to maintain the simple and sweet poster look for it. Sadly, I don't think it was what my lecturer wanted, but oh well! I really like the logo I made for my character. I really loved all the posters my coursemates designed, really creative. I was too tired from my previous assignment to go all out for this one, sadly.

Here it is!

Another one was a poster for SPARTfest, the first arts festival in Taylor's, hosted by SPART with support from KLPAC. I stayed back in Uni for it, accompanied by my friend Kay Lee, and this is what we came up with:

I don't have the original file, but I uploaded the screenshot, so here it is. I used a PC to create this poster. After working with a Mac (though I grew up with a PC), it felt awkward to make.

— Hidayah

Final Project: A Set Of 5 Greeting Cards

Hooray! It's the last assignment for Principles Of Design. Wait, no, more like boohoo, POD has always been a fun class, despite the tight deadlines and the fact that it's held only once a week. Regardless, I have learned so much from this class and enjoyed my learning experience!

For our final project, we had to design 5 greeting cards to a specific theme. All cards must go well together, and had to be of a manageable size of around A5 (148 x 210mm). Mine was specifically 13 cm by 21 cm as I preferred the shape, proportion and size.

The theme I chose was Typography (script), Rainy Days and Pastel Colours.

Everyone did a beautiful job, and Miss Lisa was overall satisfied despite her criticism. I loved looking at my coursemates' cards. I even exchanged some!

I learnt that:

• Time management and safety (... is very important.)
• How to cut precise and neat lines (however, I failed after injuring my finger. Tsk!)
• How to assemble the pieces neatly. I used UHU's permanent glue.
• How to apply the basic principles of design into my creations.
• I need to be neater with my calligraphy, and not rush.
• More often than not, less is more.

Here are my sketches for the tutorial:

Colour palette credits to http://www.degraeve.com/.

Here are the final products.

The greeting cards.

The envelopes.

Close up shots of each card:

1. Grumpy Cat! (Thank You)

Grumpy Cat and his envelope. I chose an unconventional colour scheme for this one.

I bought a PVC lace placemat and used it as trimming! I love it.

A photoframe-esque flap which opens to reveal...

Handwritten purposely for that dreadful feel.

A cutout of my calligraphy. It is my favourite calligraphy of the set. This card is my favourite out of all 5 (and Miss Lisa's) as well!

It is assembled with 3 unconventional flaps.

2. Congratulations

The calligraphy is far from perfect. I struggled as congratulations is a long word to write. At least I learned from my mistakes!

PVC lace trimming.

A pocket. For vouchers, money, anything flat to suit your (materialistic, haha) needs! A message can either be slipped in as well, or put on the top flap.

3. Happy Birthday, Cupcake! ;)

I wanted to make this card sweet and simple.

Write your message on the pop-up cupcake!

Complete with a cheery polka-dot envelope.

4. Get Well Soon!

Tracing paper with a grey border.

... revealing and intricate floral pattern.

Matching envelope!

3 flaps!

5. Bon Voyage!

3 flaps combine to create an image. This is my most creative card, in my opinion.

3D effect. Note: the calligraphy—'voyage' is supposed to be italicized.

It comes with a pretty silver envelope.

— Hidayah