29/8/2023-5/12/2023 (week1-week15)
Ng Jia Xien (0355062)
Environment Design
Instruction
Week 2
Perspective exercise
We were asked to do some research on different genres (i.e. steampunk,
biopunk, post-apocalyptic, etc.) and draw sketches to show our ideas. Also,
keep in mind that all structures must be based on different terrains to
showcase their diversity.
I came out with three sketches:
1. Post-apocalyptic (ruins temple) (jungle+mountain+cave)
2. Steampunk+industrial (urban)
3. Biopunk (underwater)
Feedback: Mr. Kannan liked the temple idea and suggested I do more
research. However, underwater terrain, which requires research and is a bit
difficult, can be done but keep in mind that a lot of research is
needed.
Week 3
Continue with the sketch on week 1, we now choose and develop a location based
on a theme or story that we have proposed from a game/movie/animation.
We should complete the task below:
1. Mood board (week2)
2. Thumbnail sketch (week2)
3. Composition studies
4. Value studies
5. Ambience studies
I came out with my ideas based on the animation <Spirited Away>, I
have watched this animation many times and was really attracted by its
environment art and the art style, so when we were asked to find a reference
movie/game/animation, <Spirited Away> became my first
choice.
I have a second choice which is <Kungfu Panda>, I am interested in
the Chinese elements that occur in the movie.
After a little research, I found that I couldn't find any related
movie/animation/game that I satisfied for the ruins temple, so I gave up on
that idea and decided to choose one from the rest.
But in the end, I realized that this is our last semester to work on our
specialization, and in the next semester, we are about to start our
internship. So I decided to challenge myself by working on <Spirited
Away>, and <Kungfu Panda>. I have asked the opinions of Mr. Kannan
by choosing both locations, and he encourages us to do so but remember to
keep the quality of the product but not the quantity.
Feedback: Both <Spirited Away> and <Kungfu Panda> are
interesting to work with, but do more research about the entire world of the
animation/movie, and come out with a story that can support your reason for
that building. And for the building's design, make it more
symbolically.
Week 4
In week 3, I continued on the research of <Spirited Away> and
enhanced my mood board, doing research is helpful to get more ideas for
exploring it. This week, we were supposed to come out with 6 composition
thumbnails and choose 2 to do more detailed sketches.
We should complete the task below:
1. Mood board (week2)
2.
Thumbnail sketch (week2)
3. Composition studies (week3)
4. Value
studies
5. Ambience studies
From the very first week, Mr. Kannan kept reminding us to work fast, to set
a timer when sketching, and to try to finish on time and not waste too much
time on our sketches. I tried to do this in every sketch and exercise and I
could feel my improvement, but I also felt very tired by the time I finished
the sketch and felt like my brain juice had been sucked dry.
Feedback: The mood board is great, but the sketch is too flat. It is
important to differentiate between foreground, midground, and background to
make the whole landscape more three-dimensional and layered.
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Fig.2 Week4 Lecture Note
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Below is what Mr. Kannan expected to see next week. We are supposed to
work with our chosen thumbnail, use that as our main subject, break it down into
6 different angles, and then block it out. Keep an eye on the elevation,
journey, and experience we are trying to capture with our illustration. As we
develop this, do sketches of our Hero asset. Explore the uniqueness by referring
to our cultural design, symbols, motives, etc. Important notes of functions
shown via sketching and tags are to be shown for our assets. Do practice value
painting as we block.
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Fig.3 Example of Value Study
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Week 5
We should complete the task below:
1. Mood board (week2)
2. Thumbnail sketch (week2)
3. Composition studies (week3)
4. Value studies (week4)
5. Ambience studies
What we show Mr. Kannan this week is basically sketches from a far angle to
show the whole environment of the world and how the building has been placed
in that environment. I've got a few versions for the same sketch because after
I finished the first version of the sketch I realized that the angle was not
far enough, so I smaller the image and try to move the angle further. It is
really a waste of time so I learned that I need to block it out first before I
start to sketch.
Feedback: Do pay attention to the perspective, it is really important,
use the perspective tool to help you with it. Do not choose a perspective that
has something that blocks your view (sketch 3). Can work with Sketch 7, start
to work on hero assets, and don't forget about the backstory.
Week 6
We should complete the task below:
1. Mood board (week2)
2. Thumbnail sketch (week2)
3. Composition studies (week3)
4. Value studies (week4)
5. Ambience studies (week5)
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Fig 1.1 Main Building Sketch
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I did a design sketch for the main building, it is still the first version
of the design and needs more exploration and study. I tried to create a
tremendous and majestic atmosphere for the building.
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Fig 1.2 Main Building 3D sculpture
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Since I am really bad at perspective and last week Mr. Kannan suggested I
get some help from 3D software, so I created a simple 3D sculpture for my
building, it does help a lot for me to learn the perspective but I do know
that it is better and easier if I can directly draw with a correct
perspective without any help from other software.
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Fig 1.3 Hero Assets
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I also started to do the hero assets, and when I did my hero assets, I
realized how important is the backstory and the use of the building. We have
to first understand what is the function of the building and how is the
environment and the backstory, then finally we can come out with the design
of the hero assets that can convey the feeling or the atmosphere we want
when people look at our building.
Feedback: The roof was too big, think about it in a logical way. Need
more study and exploration for the function of the building, thinking about
the function is helpful for you to get the backstory and to help you with
your design. The hero assets are good to go but don't go into the detail
first, try to make it recognizable.
Week 7
I continued working on my hero assets while studying for the function of the building, I found that maybe my workflow was wrong and that I should done with my function study first before I started my hero assets, but on the other hand, I also think that I need to start whatever I can do now first to help me with the exploration. Not sure what is the correct workflow, but now what am I doing is that I created both the hero assets and function at the same time, it does help me to gain more ideas but it also causes me to work slower as I am not sure about what to do when I can't confirm the design for the building.
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| Fig 1.4 World Map |
I also created a basic world map for my building because it helped me get more ideas and also helped me confirm everything. As I was able to identify more and more things, I was able to know more precisely what I wanted, which saved me a lot of hesitation as well as confusion.
Feedback: Everything is fine and good to go, but can identify the lower ground and upper ground for the world map. Do more exploration for the fish statue. Do a value sketch for the composition, quick sketch is enough, and can start with the coloring.
Week 8-10
Mr Kannan happened to have something going on, plus ran into independent learning week, so I finally had time to finish my previously accumulated homework.
I started sketching compositions this week, as well as coloring the buildings. I think I'm going to run out of inspiration, it's been a bit of a struggle for me these past few weeks, no matter how I draw it just doesn't feel right. So my progress has actually been a bit slow these past few weeks, and I've had to spend more time looking online for references to help me with my work.
Feedback: Separating the different rooms by purpose and thinking about their use or story will help you design and conceptualize them.
Week 11
Since week 11 I have officially entered project 2, Interior Design. The whole interior design process was a disaster because I didn't do much research on interior design in environment design in the beginning, so I spent a lot of extra time correcting that mistake.
This was in the beginning before I realized the problem, I started with a floor plan and made some sketches.
Feedback: Need to add some uniqueness to the design, and try to put a character in the building to check the scale.
Week 12
In fact, Mr. Kanan had told me to put a character in the lobby to check the scale, but I don't know why I didn't, which led to a lot of regrets afterward...
Instead of checking the proportions, I started 3D modeling as well as more sketches.
Feedback: Scale, uniqueness.
Week 13
Week 13 already and I'm still in the wrong direction, I've been blindly continuing to do it thinking it will result in finding a way out, but it's just a waste of time for myself.
I don't know what to write about, I just keep doing the wrong thing... Why don't I rethink what the mistake was at the time!!!!
Feedback: The stairs are too narrow, can try to play with the texture.
Week 14
It was only in the last week of this semester that I finally realized this biggest mistake. I look back and get really mad at myself for not realizing this after so long.
Anyway, this week I started consulting with a friend who studied interior architecture and then finally started to fix the problem with my ratio.
The only thing I'm still happy about is that I learned how to apply texture, and even though I didn't end up using the function, I at least know the basics of how to use it.
Feedback: Better, but try to add more uniqueness to the interior.
Week 15
After finishing the course, I redid almost everything because the finished product was really bad and I didn't want to submit something like that.
So before handing in the assignment, I redesigned the interior and decided to focus on the kitchen part and add details.
I learned how to make a translucent texture for a lantern so that the light can come through. This one is actually a bit similar to the transparent glass I made last week, but the glass is transparent while this one is translucent and you need to adjust the transparency to achieve this effect.
After completing the 3D model I went to Photoshop to do the final coloring and add some details and textures.
Below is my final product, and while I think there is still a lot of room for improvement, I really didn't have the time and I spent too much time repeating the same mistakes all the time. After this incident, I will learn my lesson and I shouldn't make similar mistakes next time.
But at the same time, I'm glad I decided to redo my interior design, I think the finished product is really so much better now than it was before.
Also, we were asked to create an art bible.
Reflection: This 14-week course taught me a lot of things, including the use of software and the basics of environment design, I realized the importance of storytelling for concept design, storytelling can help the overall design as well as make our design more interesting. Also, I learned a lot through the problems I encountered this time, I should stop and think about what the root cause of the problem is first the next time I encounter a problem instead of just blindly continuing to do it, which resulted in me spending almost 3 weeks doing the wrong thing all the time. I'm glad I decided to take the time to redo it, and while I was really stressed and anxious about the process of redoing it, I don't regret it. I'm happy now that I don't have to turn in that original design!
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