Month: March 2008

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Abstracts

For those that facing difficulties to view my discussion outline poster, I hope at this moment, you will manage to view it through this blog.

If you don’t please do let me know..

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This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.




1. Can an online discussion be used as a new research practice?

Searchers, to communicate findings between research centers, research and development departments, and universities, developed Internet. With the rise of web 2.0, and collaborative web sites, the temptation is great to make use of these innovative technologies as tools in new research patterns and practices.

As part of a practice-based PhD research, the author used an online discussion forum to gather a selection of designers, artists and people involved in creative areas, to start a discourse and confront ideas about Malaysian identity. As both participant and facilitator, the author proposed the participants to further discuss on specific topics related to her research to broaden her reflection.

This paper aims to explain how an online tool can be used, for a research perspective, to experiment and confront ideas, to find new directions of investigation or to have a general opinion on a specific subject.

The forum malaysianidentity.com will be used as a case study to explore the advantages and challenges such a solution may present.

Abstract proposal for ASAA conference in Melbourne, June 2008


2. Looking behind the print from Graphic Designers eyes

Throughout history, the field of graphic design has evolved often in direct relation to evolving technologies. For example there has been the transition from hand-drawn to computerized illustration method, the use of digital or still images, new types of font systems, techniques for animation all of which, have evolved the craft and outcomes of this field of design.

This proposed paper is based in research that has emerged from a practice-based research project which is investigating the Graphic Designers contribution in shaping national identity. Based on Malaysias 50 years of independence as a case study, this research concentrates on cultural artefacts, mostly printed material, such as magazine and newspaper advertisements; and traces this contribution to Malaysian identity.

With that framework in mind, this paper will examine how printed material can reveal the evolution of the designers work with a particular focus on the evolution of printing processes and technologies in shaping and directing new styles and methods of communication. This paper aims to compare the design and printing techniques use in the practice of creating advertisement within that period.

Consequently, it will provide a visual analysis using the selected advertisements that will facilitate this discussion of the designers work.

To conclude, this paper will question the meaning behind the use of these technologies in the production of advertisements, and its relation to the economic status and perceptions of national identity.

Abstract proposal for SHOT meeting in Lisbon, October 2008

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E-volution – thanks to the voices and the voters!

Been away from my computer for quite sometimes, or should I say I been busy digging some news about Malaysia (election) and been spending time reading for my writing. I would like to wish Happy Women day although it have passed few days ago, but still it’s never to late to wish. There’re two things I would like to put on my blog today.

First of all is a story of a strong women who decided to join politic at the age of 89 years old. This might is not shocking for some of you but for the people in Malaysia, this is really something. I don’t know what you guys think but for me this is the awaken of the dragon. The situation must be critical or vulnerable position in Malaysia for a granny to rise and voice up. This in unusual. We (Malaysian) hardly or perhaps never had any women in that age with that courage to challenge and team-up with other younger politician. She called her self ‘Tok’ which is a common call for grandma in the northern side of Malaysia. She’s a candidate for Malaysia 2008 Election and she presenting the free party. Have a look at her poster. Apart from going around promoting her ideas and plan for her areas in future, she also been busy contributing information and converse with her supporter through her blog and you tube. I am inspired! Thanks to the designers who contribute in the making of the project. Good Job guys! Nice poster too ;).

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Poster 1 – Maimum Yusuf – vote for free party Poster 2 – Step Down Mr. Prime Minister! “We don’t want to work with you.” – Malaysian Citizens taken from http://angan-angan.blogspot.com/

The second things I wanted to write is about the elections in Malaysia. Another shocking news! Boy..Malaysia have grown! 50 years of independence does mean something to us. It seems very important to many people including myself, to reveal our stand and what we believe in. The voices of the people are rising. I saw many visual artifact through the election campaign. Videos, poster, e-card, banner and advertisement are everywhere. The evolution of design have emerged. These processes must be a challenge for designers to visualize their ideas and thoughts; and how to communicate with others. What ever your objective, remember we designers do play some part in making the changes for our future.

If you interested to see some of the comedy scene from some creative Malaysian (one thumb up for you!) visit this site – www.bolehnation.com

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com – I’m Malaysian
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http://bodohland.wordpress.com

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http://mob1900.blogspot.com/ You could find more interesting posters in this blog.

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Design Dialogue #1

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I found these dialogue in one of Heller’s book (Design Dialogue) and it’s sort of give me an inspiration while reading it. I thought would be nice to share it although it might not mean as much as it mean to me.

This is the dialogue between Steven Heller and Jonathan Barnbrook on Experimentation. Barnbrook is a graphic designer, type designer, live-action director and run his own font foundry. His most popular fonts are Mason and Exocet released by Emigre Fonts. They discussed about his experiences, his type design and his personal opinion on graphic design. One of the dialogue that interest me is this :

Q by Heller:
How do you see graphic design as having changed – stylistically, philosophically, ideologically – from when you begin to now?

Barnbrook:
In many ways, graphic design has changed very little since the 1920’s. It is and always will be about problem solving a communication problem; it’s just that the definition of the problem and the many differing ways of communicating have changed. I think technology has obviously had an effect, both bad and good. It has allowed people to greater access to the tools of graphic design, but the education about how to use these things has not happened along with them. People should be fundamentally educated about the basis technology and typography, which is , first and foremost, that just because you can do something doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea. One very positive side is the fragmentation of the industry. There are many smaller design groups and font foundries than there ever had been before. This has produced more diverse work and allowed back-catalogue of typefaces to be released, allowing more particular typography. It is also true that graphic design has taken on the complexities of philosophy in much more mainstream work- ideas such as deconstruction. Despite the world generally turning more toward capitalism, graphic design has opened up to a much wider range of people rather than just big marketing-led design companies.

Watch Barnbrook video based on Typography