Design. Research. Technology. Experience. Life. – Page 21

25 September 200723 October 2007

4th GRC – moved on!

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Nurul Rahman poster for October GRC2007, the image haved been modified from the original add that she found from “Malaysia Year Book 1967”. An advertisment from Strait Central Agencies LTD., a travel agency.

Another GRC is coming this Oct 22. I decided to changed again my title from “Branding Malaysia? Thinking to understand the evolution of Malaysian Identity 1957-2007” to this new title “Design in Malaysia 1957-2007? Understanding the participation of Communication Designer in shaping the Malaysian Identity”.

Why? Well after the trip, I spent time looking at the collection of images that I collected during my field trip in Malaysia. Even during the trip, while collecting the images I realised that I can be out of track somehow if i keep on following the same path. I’m not trying to find Malaysian Identity, or trying to define what Malaysian Identity is/are. This topic is too broad. I’m also not trying to do research about branding in Malaysia. Yes this two topic is very much seductive because this is what i been long to know, but it’s not really what i want to do.

I’m a communication designer and a graphic designer. This is my areas of knowledge. I’ve been practicing graphic design, collobarate with others in design, and shared my practices, and knowledge of design with others (students, friends, client etc.) All of this happen when I was living in Penang, Malaysia. Studying and practicing graphic design and creative areas inspired me to seek for more about design. Further more, to be explicit it is all the way about communication design, and not fine art. I’m aware of the lack of understanding about communication design in Malaysia. Therefore, I tried to make some people understand the important of my role as a communication designer in some cases/project in practicing and in teaching.

In Malaysia (1994), especially in Penang, it’s very hard to find a designer position for career. I remembered when I told my father (who was a lecturer in automobile engineering department, in one of the college in Penang) that I wanted to study Graphic Design. He responded “What will you be doing after you graduate? A street artist? Can you get a job with this course?”. Wow! that was shocking. But, of course I insisted. I’m lucky at some point because although my father didn’t like the idea of me studying Graphic design, he still encouraged me to go on with what I really want.

What I’m trying to say here is, in Malaysia, the term of graphic design is still blur, perhaps not much people know what communication design are. Seriously, I understand the reason why i decided to do my PhD. I wanted to start a design culture in Malaysia. I hope the designer position will be acknowledge and recognise by others as one of the important position in creative department, in advertising department, in school etc. There are not much lecturer have the knowledge in communication design in Malaysia. That the gap that perhaps we can fix. The teaching curriculum strategies in the higher education.

I hope somehow and someways I can contribute to Malaysia by having this PhD. In order to do this, I’m will investigate the development of communication design in Malaysia and how communication design participate in shaping Malaysian Identity?.

24 September 200724 September 2007

‘Graphic Design’ Versus ‘Visual Communication Design’!

I got this book called ‘Communication Design – Principles, Methods and practice’ by Jorge Frascara. This one particular topic that always interest me, moving from Graphic design to Communication design. I’m a graphic designer myself. I’m also a communication designer. These two term is common, but is the meaning and the role are the same? Recently the role of graphic designer have moved, or expend to broader areas. Graphic designer have looked into interior design, product, events etc. There are more and more collaborative work involve between graphic designer and client. Or sometimes even others from different disipline. This particular paragraph from Frascara explain more about what I wrote above.

‘ It is necessary to recognize that the term ‘graphic design’ has contributed to the obscure profile of the profession. Although better than ‘graphic artist’ and far better than ‘artist’, the term still places too much emphasis on the graphic, physical elements and omits more essential aspects of the profession – the main aim of which is not the creation of graphic forms but the creation of effective communications. Although the most widely accepted term indeed ‘graphic designer’, it is more discriptive and appropriate to say ‘visual communication designer’, because this defination includes three ensential elements of the profession: a method (design), an objective (communication) and a medium (vision).’

17 September 20071 October 2007

Design in Malaysia – 50 years of independence!

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I know I should have wrote in August 31, but forgive me for not being able to do that, as I was in my field work trip in Malaysia, experiencing the moment when Malaysia celebrates her indipendence. Of course it is big and well plan, for this year also is a year for visit Malaysia.

From the trip, I can see many advertisments, promotions, posters, banners etc. related to celebrates and promotes the nationhood. Newspaper, tourism, hotels and goverment department, each one of them plays their part in this show. I can also see each state in Malaysia compete with each other promoting their authentic products and speciality.

Malaysia have changed. If the main objective it to show the other Malaysia is changing, then it is succesful.Looking from designer eyes, i can see the evolution. The changes the design movement in Malaysia. Design is always there in Malaysia. It is just the acknowledgement that is lacking.

My first work in design is in 1994. I started as DTP(Desktop Publishing) Artist with a very low pay (RM350), although my Diploma is in Computer Graphic and Commercial art ( I got two diploma). I guess it does sound similar. My work is not much designing, it is more about cleaning the layout from client ( this is to make sure the layout is ready for printing film-color separation). Sometimes I get to do the small design work like creating logo for a product, but still this process is under monitor by the client. In a way I have to follow what the client want. After a year I’ve moved to another company that require a graphic artist. It is much better position as I get to do the design job, no more cleaning the layout for film processing. Then so on..moved and changed work. Through my working experience I always tried to make others understand the role of designer (at that time). The importance to trust the designer. And to differentiate between ‘designer’ and an ‘artist’. I guess in a way I’m educating others about the importance of design in society.

What I wanted to say here is, it’s been 50 years Malaysia gets her independence and I can see there are acknowledgement in the design field in Malaysia. Designer are much more appreciated than 20 years ago, not to the extend that it is much more appreciated than the professional position like doctor, engineers etc. but this should be enough to get going. There are ‘designer’ position in the goverment areas. More University and collages teaching design in Malaysia. And more people trying to define and understand the different between an ‘artist’ and’ designer’.

This lead me to this question- How can this knowledge contribute in creating the culture of design in Malaysia?

16 September 200724 September 2007

End of the trip – mouthful tasting!

Roti Canai, one of Malaysian favorite dish.

After the long 6 weeks trips, partly holidays and partly research, I’m managed to be back in Melbourne, although its hard. I have visited France and Malaysia in this trip. Places, historical building, people, food, fruits and desserts are mainly our target when we arrived in a country for. I found similarity in these two countries (France and Malaysia) when it comes to food.

One of the best dessert in Reims, France. Of course there arae more!

French people loves their food and dessert not more than the Malaysian loves their food. I would say crazy for food. In Malaysia, food is easy to get, much easier than in France, 24 hours food anywhere, it all depend what kind of food you guys looking for. If you need a typical Malaysian hawker food, it’s available anytime. Easy. In France, for typical french food, we need to book in advance. But it’s worth booking, because the food is soo good. Once, a friend of mine in Malaysia asked me about the different of food in Malaysia and France. Personally I would say that French care more for fresh food and will try to maintain the food fresh when they cooked it. As for Malaysian, we tend to cook the dish well, for example if we cooked the meat, it always cook in curry or some dishes that need to cooked the meat for long time. Malaysian loves to tastes the heavy flavour in the meat. As for the french, the taste of the meat is much better appreciated than the flavour. Of course every state have their own speciality in preparing the food. This goes the same in these two countries.

Please dont get me wrong, I’m not trying to compare the food differences, pro and con between Malaysia and France, but I’m just writing my journey experience visiting this two countries. I will continues to write more about the journey in this blog later. Hmmm…I might have some snap shot from the trip that will make you dream of tasting this food. What do you think?

‘Teh Tarik’ or pulling tea is a must try if you go to Malaysia.

Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice mixed with anchovies, cucumber and chili sauce) is known as one of Malaysian ‘anytime’ dish.

Pai-Tee (deep fried flour with cucumber, slice fried eggs, fried shalots, and ‘mengkuang’)
We had this in Malacca, one of the Baba-Nyonya speciality. It comes with sweet sauce.

1 August 20076 June 2010

Designers Research Trip!

Hey, I’m off for my research trip to France and Malaysia, so don’t expect me to write regularly. I will send some link for the photos that I took while I’m on the trip. This is a research trip. As Laurene said, my supervisor said, this is a designer trip.

As a designer, apart of my usual practice when ever I have a new project, before the project started I will spend time going around some where or visiting the country side to refresh my mind. I think most of designers do that. We glean information. We are the gleaners. That’s is part of our research practices. Research before the research.

This trip is part of the ‘research field trip’. It will be parts of the methodology that I undertaken in my PhD. I will collect anything that crosses and attracts my eyes, taking photos, observing society, visiting places and human behavior and most of all experiencing the process.

I will try to post some of my experience in the trip regularly.

In this trip I have lost some of my images, due to the lost of my hard drive that stored the collection I gathered along my trip.

25 July 200725 July 2007

Change of plan..KIV ‘Siapa Kita?’

Hmmm…unfortunately ‘Siapa Kita’ project has to KIV for future plans, not for my PhD research. Why? 1st the project is out of my research track after spending times thinking about the possibilities that i might get if ‘Siapa Kita’ project happen. 2nd I know the project sounds interesting but I dont think I have enough time to focus on this project. I need to turn back and focus on Visual Mapping Malaysia project and I need to organise and plan this once in the life time research trip.

I’ve been reading interesting essays from John Berger called Uses of Photography in About Looking. He discusses about the use of photography and the various views that can be created by camera. Did you know camera was invented in 1839 by Fox Talbot. Since then, photography has been use for nearly everything (e.g. war reporting, journalism, pornography, documentation etc.). The first period of its existance photography offered a new technical opportunity; it was an implement. Now instead of offerring new choices, its usage and its ‘reading’ were becaoming habitual, an unexamined part of modern perception itself.

‘Through photographs, the world becomes a series of unrelated, free-standing particles; and history, past and present, a set of anecdotes and faits divers. The camera makes reality atomic, manageble, and opaque. It is a view of the world which denies interconnectedness, continuity, but which confers on each moment the character of a mysery”. (Susan Sontag)

Meaning from photo can be interpreted in different ways depending on one cultural background and histories. Some people said ‘images never lies’, to what extend will it be? If histories can be map and deliberately structured, what about images?

16 July 200716 July 2007

‘Siapa Kita?’

˜Siapa Kita? is a sub-project that I created under the umbrella project Visual Mapping Malaysia 1957-2007. Apart from collecting the images from other resources (e.g. Libraries, Arkib Negara, Museums, National News Agency, Galleries etc.) ˜Siapa Kita? also collaborate with the participants/audiences to gather object.

The objective of this project is to encourage Malaysian to think and visualize their identity from their point of view through visual images (using any media – digital, screen shots, graphic, painting etc.). The question ‘why this image represent my Malaysian Identity’ is important. The process of finding an object that symbolized Malaysia will be an interesting method to develope later in future.

The challenge is to identify aspects of Malaysian cultures that need to be maintained in order to ensure a meaningful future. The outcome of these processes might lead to confident identities, resilient and capable of sustaining cultural norms, meaning, values, and traditions.

12 July 200712 July 2007

Comm.Design Posgraduate

I realised that I didn’t have any visual images of our postgraduate members. Here it is, Miek, Yoko, Tania and Lizzie.
This images was taken last year when we’re busy withour Fashion City project. This is a normal situation in our room, all gather together and critiqs about wha ton the screen.

11 July 200712 July 2007

Siapa Kita?..

I’m in the making of ‘Siapa Kita?‘ online project. The objective of this project is to encourage Malaysian to define their identity from their point of view through visual images (using any media – digital, screen shots, graphic, painting etc.). It is also to re-introduce the young generation to ‘Malaysian Culture’. The images have to come with a bit of rational (still working on how many words) why the image represent their Malaysian identity. Part of this project will be ‘Siapa Kita (Malaysian’)? Competition. There will be some prizes to be won!

The prizes will be a free stay for few days (max. 3 days, still working on this too) in Malaysian Resorts (still working on this), voucher for Malaysian Cuisines (restaurant, stall etc), ticket to Cultural shows (e.g. Makyung, Bangsawan, Lion Dance, Dikir Barat, Zapin show, Chinese Opera, Kadazan Dance, Baba and Nyonya tradition etc) and several Malaysian Products (e.g. batik, labu sayong, wau, tikar mengkuang, kebaya, etc). Sorry to say this guys, this project only applicable to Malaysian in Malaysia.

What do you think about this? Any thought?

7 July 20077 July 2007

Design : Problem-solving or Impetus?

Ever since we know, problem “solving is innate in our everyday life. Were facing with different kind of problems since we start to understand what is the meaning of problem. But when it comes to design problem solving is more than making decision and handling client’s problems. Design is part of problem solving, we create a logo for a company because they want to identify themselve in certain image. We design a comfortable chair that can fit different kind of people, with special handle so the handycap people can also use the chair for the same purpose. In other words, designers contribute in the process of problem solving. Like everybody else in their own ways.

Problem: How do I get the information about design?
Solved: Start by going to library.
And that’s what i did. After I solved my easy problems, I started to read more of design books, article, magazine and anything that relates to design and communication. That’s how I meet this book about problem solving. Problem Solved. Very interesting book by Micheal Johnson. Through this book I get to know John Berger (Ways of seeing) and Bob Gill. I can’t say much about both of them yet because I’m still reading their books. My problems is not solve yet. Back to Johnson, and I’m sure many other author that I dont know yet wrote about similar things about problem solving.

Qoute:
We all know about problem-solving is, surely? We problem-solve constantly. Wake up, problem “ bath or shower? Then another problem “cornflakes or muesli? Then another : bus or train to work? Problem: Latte or cappuccino? Problem: take lift or walk up the stairs? (Johnson, 2002)

True and indeed agree with what Johnson said. For sure problem solving is part of our day-to-day life, culturally. How about in design? Are we solving problems in design context in the way we solved our day-to-day problems? Problems can be viewed in different angle etc. Some can be solved easily, some might take a while, others might take years. In design, solving problems is about getting the job done and making the client happy. Are we seeing the problem here? I guess another important part in problems-solving is, can we see the problems. How can we solve problems if there is no problem appear? How do we discribe the problems? How do we see the problems?
I had a very interesting discussion with Neal last few days about this and it took me a while to finished writing up about this topic. Is design a problem solving or a impetus? I started with design as part of problem solving. Just to make things clearer here that Im not saying design is a problem solving but it is part of it. It could also be argued that design can also create another problem after solving the problem.

In my last post I wrote about how we define problems and then solved it. I also try to make a comparison with the day-to-day problems and design problems, which can be quite a huge different. Personal and professional problems, the solving process is a lot different. Although Johnson (2002 p.6) argued that solving problems is innate; it doesnt need teaching. I would argue that solving problems in design is not natural. It is something we have to learn through experiences and it doesnt come naturally.

Neal Haslem, a friend of mine and one of Masters candidate argued in our discussion, that design is a impetus not a problem solving. What is impetus? According to new Encarta® World English Dictionary 1999 the meaning of im·pe·tus (n) is something that provides energy or motivation to accomplish something or to undertake something or a force that causes the motion of an object to overcome resistance and maintain its velocity.

In Better by Design edition October 2006 “ Return on Ideas, the author claim that ideas were the impetus for the economic and social changes in 20th century and ideas will be the impetus for change in the 21st century. What is idea anyway?

Ideas can be synonyms as thought, design, plan, suggestion, brainstorm etc. in Encarta® World English Dictionary 1999. Design in the same dictionary means de·sign (v) to work out or create the form or structure of something, to plan and make something in a skillful or artistic way, to intend something for a particular purpose or to contrive, devise, or plan something.

How do designer solved problems through/with design? Is there any option if there is no design? Is design the only solution? Or design is only a form of energy to support the accomplishment? But might not solved the problems. What do you think?