BG Design

My initial design geometric design idea for undlerlaying pattern(s) for business card and perhaps other stationary/ packaging design. 

Note: the pattern is found within islamic geometric design and could be seen in or around Singapore. My hotel room had a changing screen with the pattern engraved into it.

Geometric print on Tea

I spotted this at T2 in Civic. Just thought it could be a form of reference.

I loved how it was printed on the glass. I personally loved the white one.

Analyses trait Day 6

So just walking around, many shops were closed but since the buildings were all pretty old, they still retained these pretty geometric shapes on the ornaments that 'decorated' the buildings. These were like the window bars for example.

If the shops were open, perhaps one would be able to see more of  new businesses and the design of it all integrating themselves into the old buildings.

I also don't know if I did come across any form of cross-media whilst walking around, but I happen to have spotted these creative interactive  forms of cross-media.

Orchard Road

Today I decided to explore Orchard Road a bit more on my own. A bit more freedom to move around and explore the places as I please.

During the week, I had explored more of the market places than the big shopping centre areas. I did go to Bugis Junction as well but I more went to the eatery areas. It is also understandable that since Singapore is a mostly Asian influenced place but I noticed MANY Japanese/Korean cuisine to that of other Asian Cuisine.

Anyways, Just having walked around Orchard Road, It was all about the BIG brands, which made a lot of the shopping quite pricey when one is already seeking cheap meal alternatives :P e.g. Louis Vouton, Chanel and etc. But it also showed that there would be a lot of competition to make sales, especially close to a start of a financial year. Once again, because most places prohibited picture taking, I could only get so many examples really.

Just walking around ION and Takashimaya, the design was more sophisticated and somewhat fancy rather than bold and minimal colours with silver/gold or black/white being stronger in colour presence, allowing the products to stand out. Though, Lauduree was a exception what with its pastel coloured and floral bordering design for its macarons. I’m thinking that one was paying more for the branding and packaging over the macarons. A box of 6 macarons costed around $33 SGD ><

Even I got this one for $13 SGD at City Hall

Anyways, one of my goals for the day was to find a Fish Spa and there was one located out at Orchard Central, which I wasn’t anticipating quite a walk but I managed to find it. Orchard shopping centre wasn’t like the other shopping centres, infact it was almost a bit opposite.

For starters, I found my Fish Spa place but it was a bit trick to find as navigating the shopping centre was a bit tricky. Most of the time, you would be better off getting the elevators to get to where you wanted to go and Orchard Centre was, you could say, one half of a building while the other half was another Orchard shopping centre. The building had quite a number of floors too.

The elevators to get around.

The thing that stood out the most was the design aspect of the shops and they even had this 1980’s themed event going on on the first floor which was bold, bright and ‘flashy’ ish LOL

Hippy and bright/bold colours splashed across these vehicles and there were different stores displaying and selling their products that were displayed on the bonnet or in the back of the vehicles.

Analyses trait Day 5

One of the things that caught my eye today were the geometric concrete 'towers' that were seen around the NUS campus gardens.

They have a modern industrial feel but that is quite an obvious fact. Though, I am more interested in the different geometric shapes and forms that have been constructed within each of the 'towers' as I feel like they can be an inspiring ideas for my groups' product and brand.

Upon wondering elsewhere on the campus, such as the NUS shopfront, I noticed that the displays or packaging used strong colours of blue, gold-ish yellow and red, which would obviously resonate with the colours of the NUS logo but designs on the merchandise didn't quite fit in with the NUS branding, in my opinion.

Analysis trait Day 2

Today, there wasn't alot to really be inspired by but there were some really nice and beautiful patterns that were seen on some of the artifacts at the Asian Art Museum. Mostly floral but geometric shapes could be seen through some of the tapestry and rugs there.

Here example here I though was pretty cool for a ancient design, looking somewhat modern to me :P

Day 2 - Set Task

So here is the Q&A for the set task we had to do at the museum. the 'A' part is based on my opinion or perception as there could be a right and wrong but not exact answer.

What are the major cultural groups of Singapore? How are they represented in the Museum (what tools, patterns, symbols, images etc)?

The major cultural groups of Singapore are Malay, Chinese and Indians.

1st approach - As for their representation in the museum....I felt like there were many artifacts that represented  the major cultural groups and if so if i had missed some, I'de say they would be best identified under similar motifs. Afterall, what I saw were artifacts from each of the cultural groups but each of them had different items and there wasn't much of a bases to try and work off since there weren't any similar artifacts between the groups.

2nd approach - The Malays represented them selves with tools such as weapons, accessories and sculptures. The Chinese displayed instruments, clothes and attire and interesting migration documentation. As for the Indians, portraits and furniture -___-"

Malay Tribe weapons

Chinese instruments

Traditional Chinese clothes

List some of the traditions (of each group) and how have they been kept in the face of progress. Why and how are they kept alive?

For traditions being kept in the face of progress, I'm assuming that these traditions could be referring to manners and respect of how things were done back then such as tasks or recipe methods. They're being kept alive so that history is kept alive, which is especially common in family lineage and also applies to recipes as some traditional recipes can only be created using spacific cooking methods. For manners or methods of doing things, a bit like the recipes, they could be or are kept alive for making everyday tasks and chores easy to carry out in the present and as for manners, to show respect, An example, respect towards your elders.

Do you see similar motifs/patterns/symbols occurring throughout all cultures? sketch or take a photo of the motifs so that you might use them in your work.

Yes I do see similar motifs symbols throughout the different cultures but am not 100% sure on the patterns. There were many floral motifs applied to the many artefacts, weather it was engraved or carved. Animals, people or even insects could be seen within some of the designs as they were elements for symbolism within the culture of the belonging artefact. Many of the symbolism is related to Buddhism.  An example can be seen in the traditional Chinese attire above. Butterflies can be made out within the design and the symbolised protection against evil.

Traditional Malay necklace with engraved floral motifs

How do each of the cultural groups and their traditions vary from your own cultural traditions? How are they the same?

This is an interesting question. I particularly come from an Asian background and because many of the cultural traditions share similar traits in being Buddhism I couldn't say that they vary too much to my cultural traditions really. Like, to pick out some differences, each different culture is represented with different animals such as Chinese Buddhism with Dragons and Phoenixes and Hindi Buddhism with cows and elephants or how some rituals, especially with burial rituals, can vary. Similarities, probably the floral motifs or how the burning of in-scent sticks and even some paper items for the afterlife and for the gods.

What is your favourite object/image in the museum and why?

My favourite artefact would have to be the Chinese Pipa.

This guitar like instrument is one of China's oldest instruments, dating back to 2000 years or more. It is called a Pipa because the sounds produced sounded of 'pi' and 'pa' and is played standing vertically, which is evident of the angled string attaching handle which acts as a form of shoulder placement. What I like about it is that it produces a unique sound when the strings are plucked and the instrument still exists today and is still played. It reminds me of the operas that my mum use to listen to when I was a kid and the way it is played is elegant.

On appearance as well, it looks like symbolism has been applied as the angled handle looks like a dragonfly motif has been applied.