Practice/ Project

According to what the designer has done with both independent and external projects being accomplished, it is clearly evident that mental health should be an issue that needs to be addressed and openly discussed by the society. For the designer herself, she has also gained some knowledge throughout the whole process and practice. Even though both projects were delivered in different ways, their main intentions are still deliverable. As the main intention of both projects were to have relations based on personal experiences, the designer decided to create something that was slightly different than before. Before starting both projects, as a designer student, she opted to have a better understanding on how and what usually a student’s situation is. To her point of view and research, most students are facing mental health issues that might affect their life. Therefore to tackle this issue, the designer decided to utilise her own personal experience as the deliverables for both projects. 

 

Throughout the whole process for both projects, one of the things that the designer has learnt is to really know what she wants. Often, it is hard for her to decide and settle things down as she is afraid that she might have expectations that are too high but unfortunately can’t be done. For example for the independent project, she intended to create her illustrations by drawing it out with her hands instead of using computer software such as Adobe Illustrator, but turns out after a hundred times of trying, she found out that the drawings didn’t met her expectations and she decided to still go with the computer software. Although it is to be known that the beauty in art doesn't necessarily mean perfection in illustrations or perfect shapes, sometimes a simple and messy drawing could also be something that seems as an art to someone else. Therefore this is something that the designer intends to learn and accept the truth of not being perfect is the only perfect. 

 

Another useful tip that she has picked up throughout these projects is to also have different approaches for a problem faced. For the external brief, during the proposal stage, the designer intended to produce a self-care kit, where she successfully created and produced as a outcome. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic now, there were a few restrictions at first for her to complete a project, and it actually made her worried if she is able to actually produce the actual deliverable she wants to. From what the designer thought of from her imagination, since it is a self-care kit, means there will be a list of things that needed to be prepared and done such as designing, printing and preparing actual products for the photoshoot of the final deliverable. But unfortunately due to the severe pandemic now, she was unable to shop for equipment and go out for prints for a proper self-care kit. Instead of thinking of a solution for this problem, she first thought of changing the final deliverable for this project into something else. But her lecturer actually gave her advice on having different approaches for the problem faced. Finally, the designer did find a solution for this problem, which is to continue with designing the packaging for the products and have it presented in a mock up form. With these reflections surrounding her, it has taught the designer to actually not to be afraid of obstacles that are faced in any circumstance. Life is full of challenges and obstacles that are all waiting for the people to slowly overcome it. 

 

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Context

After the completion of the first project brief, the designer had not only learned a handful of useful knowledge from her work but had also expanded her perspective towards mental illness. The designer had learned to become more considerate towards others. Not only that, the designer had also learned how to control and express herself from her work. Furthermore, the designer had also concluded her primary research by doing surveys and interviews with a group of respondents. With that, the designer thinks that there are more perspectives that can be looked into so that she gets to understand the interviewee more and to develop a better deliverable.

 

Concurrently, the main target for the project is to promote mental well-being amongst the public so that the mentally illed can open up to the public without feeling ashamed. From her work, the designer also has a whole lot more of explorations that can be made and put into her upcoming work. Besides that, the designer has also looked up for more inspiration from her current projects so that she can perform and strive better in the future. Consequently, the next stage of the project will be approached differently however this may not affect the primary purpose of the original project that has been created beforehand.

 

Not to forget, both projects are titled regarding mental health so that there are more experiments that can be made so the designer will have a clearer picture of the whole topic. During the process of creating this project, the designer had progressed towards being a more receptive person since her work deals with incorporating the mental illness of others. Since the designer's initial proposal, she had made changes to her work such as the layout of her design elements and the addition of making the overall deliverable to be presented in a more publication look, she was also suggested to look more into typographies as well. 

 

Last but not least, being a designer could still be clearly seen as an influencer in some impact in the society. Maybe not physically being an influencer but rather through their inspirational works that are trying to communicate messages and words to the public. Other than that, with a clear intention of the designer’s practice, it also helped her in completing two projects at the same time. Therefore with a clear intention in mind, the deliverables will also be delivered in the best form. Overall, the designer should reflect more on her intentions and practices to achieve an outcome with a bigger influential impact in the future.