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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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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

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What is Graphic Design?

Graphic design is the most universal of all the arts. It is all around us, explaining, decorating and identifying : imposing meaning on the world. It is in the street,
in everything we read, it is in our bodies. We engage with design in road, signs, advertisements, magazines, cigarette packets, headache pills, the logo on our t-shirt, the washing label on our jacket. It is not just a modern or capitalistic phenomenon. Streets full of sign, emblems, prices, sale offers, official pronouncements and news would have been just as familiar to Egyptian, mediaeval Italians or the People of Soviet Russia.

Graphic design performs a number of functions. It sorts and differentiates “ it distinguishes one company or organization or nation from another¦. It acts on our emotions, and help to shape how we feel about the world around us. – NEWARK, Q. (2002)

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Nurul Rahman, Graduate Research Conference (GRC), Autumn, 2007.

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Malaysian Comic Magazine

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Being away from home is not easy. Staying years in overseas far away from Malaysia is very difficult. Adopting in others culture and ways of life somehow makes me more and more close to my own culture and ways of life. First few years its not too bad, Im curious and excited to know more about others. After a while I started to looked back to my childhood times, high schools and valued most of the time I spend back there. Sometimes I feel like Im trap in that space. Between my childhood and high school. It used to be so hard to go through. Lots of gloomy times and less happiness. But it seems that small amount of happiness tend to capture me in that space. I have to admit, I missed it. I know even if I go back and go to the same spot I used to play with my friends; things will not be the same. I really missed the food, the atmosphere, the jokes, the stupidity of some people and how they react to things (that really makes me laugh sometimes), and further more the comic magazine that I used to read, ˜Gila-Gila.

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‘Gila-Gila’ February, 2008.

I stopped reading Gila-Gila when I was preparing for my final year exam in high school. My parents disapproved reading it. Apparently, from their point of view its a bad influence for teenagers. Anything that doesnt have the academic appeal seems ˜not very healthy for teenager. Until now, I still disagree with it. ˜Gila-Gila does have some ˜rude language in the content but it will open up a healthy discussion between the parents and the children. This can only happen if the parents enjoy reading it. It also contains some social and cultural issues, national problems, etc. It is not only ˜stupid jokes. Well, there are, but overall its fun and I can say educational in some ways. Furthermore, Gila-Gila communicates to their audience with visuals, images, colors and everyday conversation (informal).

In Gila-Gila, I can see the cartoonists imitate some action from what’s happening in Malaysia. Sometimes, the authors make fun of silly things that happen in the country nationally (e.g. the increasing of the petrol, house price, education, medical, etc.). It is also the author/cartoonist personal point of views and most interestingly its comic. I got here the photos of the Gila-Gila magazine from their latest edition. In this cover the cartoonist illustrate the common situation in Malaysia, what we call in Malaysia ‘sembang-sembang di kedai mamak’ chatting in coffee shop owned by ‘mamak’*. This is a very common atmosphere in Malaysia, mostly in the city. People talk about anything, sometimes it is also the place for people to throw out their anger or sympathy about national issues, worlds problems etc. The scenario held in ‘Kedai Mamak’, ‘Mamak Stall’, perhaps for lunch or snack. Behind there is a menu with noodles but not stir fried, only boil or steam. Recently Malaysia face the problems with increasing the price of the cooking oil. Some rumors said that some people hide the stock of cooking oil to increase the price. Mr. A, dresses in punk fashion with angry tone said ‘Kalaulah aku dapat tukang yang sorok minyak ni memang aku rebus.!‘ ‘If I get hold on the person who hides the oil (cooking oil), I will boil him!’ (Perhaps because he himself has to eat boiled food since the price of cooking oil increased). The other, Mr. B looks like they’re both in the same fashion zone trying to calm down his mate said ‘Telan ajelah’, ‘Just eat it!’ ( I guess he can’t do much more). If you’re interested to know more of Malaysian comic magazine go to this website.

*Mamak is a friendly name to call an Indian Muslim especially the one who works in the Indian stall. It’s a common slang used in the Penang state.

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Useful links

Here’s are some of the useful link related to design + research + practice.

Design Conference
Torino World Design
New Views
Participatory Design
Research Into Practice Conference
Design+Emotion
Love+Object=Engaging Material Culture
AsianCreativity

Asian Studies Conference
SHOT – Society of the History of Technology
ASAA – Asian Studies Association of Australia

Journal
Agda online journals
International Journal of Design

Design Website
Design Observer
Design Archive
Design Writing Research
 Thinking with type

Arts, Design and Communication Schools
Arts, Research and the state of play
University of Gothenburg
Linkoping University
School of Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia

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Does identity matters? (+,-)

I know that Ive been discussion quite often about identity, culturally and nationally. At some point, more and more now, I dont think identity really matters anymore. Why? For one of the reason, I think we belong to certain images of identity without our agreement. Were born in it. We belong to our ancestors identity even if we disagree with the contents. We then continue living with the identity that been perceived but without us realizing it, we seldom try to make changes, adjusting and fitting it in our way of life. We then alter it and perhaps in future it might become another identity. I dont think anyone can preserve an identity. It’s all up to us!

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Malay Apple!

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Courtesy image: http://en.wikipedia.org/

‘Jambu Merah’ botanically identified as syzygium malaccense, the fruit is also called Malay rose-apple and mountain apple. Recently I’ve read an articles from News Strait Times about Malay apple. I was shocked thinking when did Malaysian manage to produce an apple? We can’t even get the apple tree growing because of the climate. It is an interesting column wrote by K.P Waran with the title: Go Global with the Malay Apple. Apparently not many Malaysian knows what fruit is it, not by this name for sure.

A very beautiful fruit, usually deep red in color, pear shaped, with a waxy skin, about the size of an apple. Flesh is crunchy, often juicy, with a mild sweet flavor. Some varieties have white or pink skin. Surprisingly Malay apple even have its name in French ‘pomme de Malaisie’ and Spanish ‘pomarrosa Malaya’.

Quote (Morton, J. 1987. Malay Apple. p. 378“381.) In: Fruits of warm climates about the origin and distribution of Malay Apple, “‘The Malay apple is presumed to be a native of Malaysia. It is commonly cultivated from Java to the Philippines and Vietnam, also in Bengal and South India. Portuguese voyagers carried it from Malacca to Goa and from there it was introduced into East Africa. It must have spread throughout the Pacific Islands in very early times for it is featured in Fijian mythology and the wood was used by ancient Hawaiians to make idols. Indeed, it has been recorded that, before the arrival of missionaries in Hawaii, there were no fruits except bananas, coconuts and the Malay apple. The flowers are considered sacred to Pele, the fiery volcano goddess. Captain Bligh conveyed small trees of 3 varieties from the islands of Timor and Tahiti to Jamaica in 1793. The tree was growing under glass in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1839, and specimens were fruiting in Bermuda in 1878.

Eggers, who studied the flora of St. Croix, reported seeing naturalized trees in shaded valleys during his stay on the island from 1870 to 1876. The Malay apple was unknown in Puerto Rico in 1903 but must have arrived soon after. Britton and Wilson observed 2 trees 43 ft (13 m) high at Happy Hollow in 1924. Thereafter, the tree was rather frequently planted as an ornamental or wind-break. Perhaps the Portuguese were responsible for its introduction into Brazil, for it is cultivated there, as it is also in Surinam and Panama. Dr. David Fairchild sent seeds from Panama to the United States Department of Agriculture in 1921. In 1929, young trees from the Canal Zone were transported to the Lancetilla Experimental Gardens at Tela, Honduras, where they flourished and fruited. The Malay apple is sometimes seen in other parts of Central America, including Belize, El Salvador and Costa Rica, much more frequently in parks and gardens in Venezuela. The fruits are sold in local markets and along the streets wherever the tree is grown.”

Since the Malay apple has a strong historical link to Malaysia and countless documents exist calling it by the name, it would be appropriate to return to the name and promote it as a Malaysian product. As been suggested by K.P Waran in NST column, and I completely agree with him, I think it’s about time we give back the name ‘Malay Apple’ or in Malay might be ‘ Jambu Melayu’ to ‘Jambu Merah’. It will be an excellent way to promote Malaysia as the fruit country’s of origin and Malaysian product. Perhaps in few years it might increase the plantation of ‘Malay Apple’ in the country.

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Typography

Its been quite sometimes I didnt visit this blog. After the short break, Ive started my new chapter this year with teaching, learning and researching. Pretty much of that stuff. Ive started my beginners 2 French class this week. I also continued teaching my Typography class in one of the college in Melbourne CBD.

I didnt have much experienced in teaching, apart from part-time tutoring I did few years back in Malaysia. My parent, they taught, both of them are teacher, mom was in primary school and dad was in polytechnique (skill-based). As far as I know I never thought that I would teach. One of the reasons is, I still see myself in the learning process therefore, I dont think I have enough to offer to anyone. I could share my knowledge, if I have some, but to teach is far away from me.

But I did, some how and to be honest, my reason is experience and some cash. I needed some pocket money to buy books and other ˜not so important things for me. Apart from that I need to save up, for future. It looks like I really need the money in this paragraph Im writing. I think the real reason why I looked up for some teaching job is because I want to get some experience teaching. Most of my post-grad friends teach. I heard some interesting issues and scenario that I find interesting. I helped them in their classes. And several problems, I even thought I could offer some assistance. I found myself enjoying the moment in class. These students are not that bad at all. Therere just like me, looking, searching, confused and sometimes found something that could generate the energy and motivation to move on.

Now, Im happy to say that I enjoyed teaching very much. I find teaching motivated me to continue learning and its rewarding. Im teaching Typography. Yes, its been a while I didnt look at my typography book. Sometimes I even thought Im losing my typo skills. So teaching these classes updated myself in Typography. I started to browse through these names such as Ellen Lipton, Emil Ruder, Adrian Frutiger, Michael Bierut and many more. Its like going back to time, fixing and filling the gap. I started to remember the questions in the very first Typography class I went while my teacher show me some images with type and some scenario with type.

Who choose these words? Why did they choose these particular words? Are these words still relevant today? What is this typeface? How would these words appear in lower and upper case? Can it be readable? What effect could this little words make? Would it change something? I’ve found it fascinating and it motivates me to continue…

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Courtesy Image by Nurul Rahman. Collage of logos and typefaces from Malaysian printed material 60’s to present.