Designbook Ly

Introduction
What is design?
That was the one question we were asked as new
students within the design field. Design is many things; it
is creative, it is innovation--a process and a way of
thinking.
There were many times where we came accross the

contention between art and design. What makes them
different? Art is subjective and for its creator. Design, on
the other hand, is for the users.
This book documents most of my projects and my

process as a design student from the first day I walked into
Akshay’s studio. It also serves as the final project. I would
also like to note that this is my first time using InDesign to
create any sort of book. Akshay showed us how to do the
basic formats for pages and margins but other than that
everybody was pretty much on their own.
I am proud and thankful, especially to Akshay and my peers

for teaching me so much and showing me that the cognitive
and design process is sometimes more important than what
may result from it.
Foundation Design 1
Table of Contents
Projects Page
Paper 3
Color 7
Clay 10
Abstract Composition 13
Platonic Solids 25
Skewers & the X, Y, and Z Planes 27
Interaction 30
Poster Compositions 35
Charcoal Sketches 39
Pen & Marker Sketches 45
Sketching Shadows 48
Team Sketches 54
Natural Pattern 57
Collage 60
Plaster 63
Photography 67
Screen Printing 75
2 Foundation Design
Project I
PAPER
Foundation Design 3
Paper Study
As we progressed through the study Ak-

shay wanted us to learn different shad-
ing techniques. In order to do so, we
used acrylic paint and the primary colors.
I tried different shading techniques like

cross-hatching and lightly brushing the
paint on. I think the red and blue are most
successful as yellow was way too bright.
4 Foundation Design
Paper Study
This study was assigned to us at the very beginning of the year. The as-
signment was to take a sheet of regular paper and explore its proper-
ties. What I wanted to explore was the flexibility of the paper and curves.
Akshay also wanted us to sketch what we made from a bird’s

eye view with pencil and shading on an 8” x 8” bristol board.
The most challenging part in the project was getting the dimensions of the
object accurately onto the paper and getting the shading dark enough.
Foundation Design 5
Paper Study
After having more ex-

perience in shading and
color, Akshay wanted
us to paint what we
had sketched in three
colors instead of one.
I chose green and yellow

on a magenta background
because they contrast-
ed each other nicely.
Green and purple are
complementary colors.
For this second painting

the study was to explore
another aspect of the
composition. I was inter-
ested in seeing how the
shadows would appear
if they were inversed.
6 Foundation Design
Project II
COLOR
Foundation Design 7
Color
A color cube seems more interesting to me than a regular color wheel.
This particular project was to help us understand the harmony of color bet-
ter. We were to recreate the color wheel with acrylics. This was per-
haps one of the most challenging assignments because blending was very
difficult. I had to redo much of the cube and even now it is not perfect.
8 Foundation Design
Color
I made two because I felt

that the first one was not
clear enough because I
made the mistake of add-
ing a background of orange.
That takes away from the or-
ange within the red and yel-
low. The second one I feel
is more successful as the
pinks stand out more as two
seemingly different colors.
For these two, the assign-

ment was to create a color
illusion, using two contrast-
ing colors and a mid-range
color to create the false im-
age that the mid-range color
is two different colors, when
in fact they are the same.
Foundation Design 9
Project III
CLAY
10 Foundation Design
Clay
I did not have much experience in working with clay so this project really helped me under-
stand the properties of clay. It took some time for me to get used to the texture of clay. I knew
that it was important to work with the qualities of the material, so what I wanted to explore
was movement and fluidity as it seemed to be a natural tendency of clay to curve and bend.
Foundation Design 11
Clay
Below is a second clay

object where the fo-
cus was on simplicity.
Above is a poster we did re-

garding the idea behind our
tile. Mine was movement
so waves portrayed it well.
Project IV
ABSTRACT COMPOSITION
The following are photographs I took of a clay mod-

el I made. The purpose of these photographs is to
demonstrate a working knowledge of abstract pho-
tography within natural or manmade settings. Most
of the photographs were taken in common settings.
Abstract Composition
19
Project V
PLATONIC SOLIDS
Platonic Solids
We started learning about the platonic

solids which form the foundation for all
shapes. Our assignment was to create the
solids from chipboard. Each edge had to be
2”. This was difficult because we had to ac-
count for the thickness of the chipboard.
Our abstract cube assignment was to force us

to think of structure and space differently.
Project VI
SkEWERS
&
THE X, Y & Z PLANES
Skewers
For this project we had to explore the different dimensions

of space, such as the x, y and z planes. We were given bam-
boo skewers and no glue was allowed. I placed my origin in
the center because i felt that would give it the most balance.
Skewers
After making my object I made an interpretive sketch of it.
Project VII
INTERACTION
Interactive Toy
After exploring the x, y and z planes our next project was to create an inter-
active toy that consisted of those planes. I struggled with an idea for days,
and after coming up with unsuccessful ideas I decided to go back on previ-
ous works for inspiration. After much thought I discovered that the octahedron,
if rearranged, can form two tetrahedrons. This became the basis for my object.
Interactive Toy
Each side is 6” long with eye screws holding the rods in place.
The completed octahedron made from wood

and metal rods held together by nuts and bolts.
Interactive Toy
Besides breaking into two tetrahedrons the octahedron can form many other shapes.
Interactive Toy
Sketches of the toy
Computer models created using Sketch Up
Project VIII
POSTER COMPOSITION OF
INTERACTION
Composition
For this project our assignment was to make a poster representation of our in-
teractive toy. The poster composition had to show interaction and had to por-
tray the idea behind the toy. It could not be a literal translation. What I noticed
about my object was how the planes interacted. I wanted to portray that so I
drew two planes crossing each on a axis, which on my toy represented an edge.
Composition
I was unsure of how I wanted to color it so

by recommendation I made some tests firsts.
Composition
This was a second interpretation of my toy. I wanted to portray move-

ment in this one. The bars going down represent that movement.
Project IX
SKETCHING:
CHARCOAL
Charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal
Project X
SKETCHING:
PEN & MARKER
Pen & Marker
Pen & Marker
Project XI
SHADOW SKETCHING
Shadows
For this excercise we learned about shadows and creating them porportion-
ally to the object rather than just simply coloring in a random dark spot.
Shadows
Akshay also mention that

adding a dark background
to the lighter shades make
them stand out more.
We were taught how to draw the

horizon lines and our light source to
accurately measure the shadows.
Shadows
We also drew shadows for different objects such

as this cylinder. This was more difficult as the el-
lipses were more challenging than simple squares.
Shadows
In addition with cylinders, we worked with

cones. I did not find these as challengiing
as the cylinders. I also learned that there
is a slight reflection along the edge of
the cone because it has a curved surface.
We were also encouraged to

explore other shapes. I de-
cided to combine a cone
with a sphere to see if I can
shade a more complex shape.
Shadows
At the beginning of this excercise I did not know how to find the shad-
ow of a sphere but this excercise has taught me how to calculate it.
Project XII
TEAM SKETCHES
Sketches
For this assignment we were to work as a class to make a large composition of a light shin-
ing down on an object. Each person got a different cube on the grid and we had to all
work together to figure out the same dimensions to use. It was hard because many peo-
ple had differing ideas and this project showed us how important team work can be.
Sketches
Each person was given three strips of a piece of a photograph and we were to enlarge
them porportionally. At the end of the project we put all of our images together to
form a huge projection of the original photo. It was interesting to see how each per-
son interpreted their strips differently and how each person shaded things differently.
Project XIII
NATURAL PATTERN
Natural Pattern
Our assignment over the break was to analyze how our thinking has changed
and any examples of that. In my letter to Akshay I wrote that I noticed how
my thinking is different since I began paying more attention to structures on
buildings and more detail to buildings at home that I had never noticed before
this year. It really surprised me at first but I am glad that I see things differ-
ently. In particular, when I was walking past a patio table on a rainy day in an
outside plaza, I stopped. What I saw on the table captured my attention. The
rain had formed water puddles and droplets on the table that was quite inter-
esting in pattern. I pointed it out to my friend who was with me and she did
not think the same, and at that point I realized that my thinking has changed.
For this composition I derived two words from my experience over winter break:
natural pattern. At first my instinct was to go with plant leaves or something
off of that, but then the assignment was not suppose to be a literal translation.
I began working with curves and organic shapes and I came up with a topo-
graphic-like composition. The gradation of color also gives it a tunnel-like look.
Natural Pattern
Project XIV
COLLAGE
Collage
For this collage, I wanted to portray depth and perspective, so I used pictures
that had lines so that they can converge and create a focal point. I also want-
ed to give the collage a scenic feel, like something you’d see in a landscape por-
trait, so I went for trees and mountains. I like how the people in the picture provide
a sense of direction for the collage, leading the viewer’s eye towards the focal point.
Collage
Project XV
PLASTER
Plaster
Plaster
This was one of my first experiences with plaster.

It was very difficult at first to get the consistency
of the mix right and work quick enought so that
it doesn’t harden on you too quickly. Another lim-
it I had was that there was no turning back once
the plaster thickened, and that adding water did
nothing to stop it. I thought this was interesting
as it forced me to actually work within the time
limits and push myself. Plaster cannot form a
shape and structure on its own; it takes on what-
ever quality of the material you are using it with.
For this particular piece of plaster, I used burlap

and a triangular piece of cardboard. I wanted to
see if I could get the plaster and burlap to hold
the piece of cardboard upright. It was difficult
to get the shape to stand when it was wet, but
once dried, the object held its shape very well.
Plaster
For this next piece, I was exploring

strength and dexterity of plaster
forms. Again, I used burlap. This
time, I wanted to create some-
thing that had volume, similar to
that of a tunnel. I wrapped the
burlap dipped in plaster around it-
self but found that it was difficult
to get it to stay in a cylindrical
shape, so I propped up the ends
with two cardboard toilet papers
rolls. It held the burlap up, creat-
ing a space between the two ends
and an organic curvature shape,
which I thought was interesting.
Project XVI
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography
Photography
Photography
Photography
Photography
Photography
Photography
Project XVII
SCREEN PRINTING
Screen Printing
I had never worked with screen printing before, so I was very excit-
ed. At the same time, I knew nothing about the screen printing pro-
cess, and all I knew about scren printing was that they use it to make shirts.
The first part of this group project was to figure out a design. Kyle cam
up with the slogan and I decided that the words should look like squirts of
glue to fit with the theme. Ash did the cut out part, and I did the trac-
ing. It was nice to be able to work as a group and come together with our ideas.
The most challenging aspect was getting the hang of screen printing, espe-
cially lining up all the words and pictures so that the match. There were many
steps and it was not something that we could rush on. Adding the paint was by
far the most nerve racking experience because if we mess up there was no
turning back. Screen printing also taught me that little mistakes are okay,
and as long as you play it off like it was intentional, people won’t notice.

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Introduction

There were many times where we came accross the

This book documents most of my projects and my

I am proud and thankful, especially to Akshay and my peers

Skewers & the X, Y, and Z Planes 27

Pen & Marker Sketches 45

As we progressed through the study Ak-

I tried different shading techniques like

Akshay also wanted us to sketch what we made from a bird’s

After having more ex-

I chose green and yellow

For this second painting

A color cube seems more interesting to me than a regular color wheel.

I made two because I felt

For these two, the assign-

Below is a second clay

Above is a poster we did re-

The following are photographs I took of a clay mod-

We started learning about the platonic

Our abstract cube assignment was to force us

For this project we had to explore the different dimensions

After making my object I made an interpretive sketch of it.

The completed octahedron made from wood

Sketches of the toy

Computer models created using Sketch Up

I was unsure of how I wanted to color it so

This was a second interpretation of my toy. I wanted to portray move-

Akshay also mention that

We were taught how to draw the

We also drew shadows for different objects such

In addition with cylinders, we worked with

We were also encouraged to

This was one of my first experiences with plaster.

For this particular piece of plaster, I used burlap

For this next piece, I was exploring

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