Digital Publishing - Editing is a stressful job

We have to create a magazine of our own, and we were supposed to choose a theme for our magazine. For our group, we included a mix of themes and subjects, which we then titled our creation - Swirl (read: Sworl)

It's tone is supposed to be messy, with more than one voice of its own. Regarding different themes, its voice changes, but we managed to keep our magazine whole instead of it breaking into bits and pieces.

I drew our group, and made us the front and back covers. The concept was similar to a gang trying to wreck havoc/change the world's values through secretive means. Loosely inspired by Bansky, no spray paint was involved, but I used hoodie as a symbol of seclusive and secretive.

I changed the yellow colour, and used the colour of each of our palette for highlights instead. Similar to a neon signs on a black background.

These are the pages I did, aside from all the advertisements I've put in.

The concept for these cut-in pages are train stops, going from one different place to another while giving someone time to take a breather before continuing with the magazine.

One of my group mates did the layout, in reference to my sketch. I later did some editing.

Inspired by bubbles and dreams, I design a simple and pure layout for the front page of this section of our magazine.

Due to it being a factual and educational article, the layout is a systematic and symmetrical, providing only an image or two as extra bits of details and information.

Below are the question and answer sheets for a particular interview from one of our magazine's column - Love 2k15. Due to them being unable to understand English, it was translated to Chinese for them instead. I also re-translated their answers from Chinese to English.

I used emoticons as stickers to create a space where we're all familiar with - social apps, with a subject that's usually sidestepped or ignored due to the severity and sensitivity of it. I tried to make the overall atmosphere clean, sweet, yet straight to the point.

I'm truly grateful for them being such an open-minded and generous friends.

Last and final stop.

This is purely satirical. Made using Paint. 

After much hours of eye strain while looking for typos, touching up, editing, making sure all the designs are aligned and images embedded, we finally went and print this monstrous creation out. 

Epilogue: We forgot the page numbers.

Design Principles Final Assessment

Like I've stated before, I originally planned to illustrate a cover myself instead of looking up images online.

I was told to wind the pocket watch chain over the back, so that the back of the card will look less empty. I was also told to venture forth beyond papers and go about exploring other mediums. This got me stuck for a while because I was confused whether to use this piece or not.

As a back up, I made another version of name card I would use if the above didn't turn out right.

These two are the original colour choice, which I later changed slightly due to invisibility.

Originally I wanted the card to have two colours:

The disc in the middle gave the whole image a glossy kind of feel. However, I thought something was missing.

I go for a grainy texture because the clipping mask for these dots are too pixelated if it's left alone. The grainy texture helps cover up the extra pixels.

I also switched their colour palettes closer to each other for harmonic balance between the two sides. 

I see myself as more of an illustrator type of designer, and Mr Tham told me including my phone number is unnecessary. To sum it up, I think my card is simple yet it has just the right amount of information for my client to get in contact with me.

The font chosen for the front side info is Republik V Exp whereas for the more vital information, Courier New was chosen. Both of these font has a techno effect to it that suits the whole music generic illustration of my card.

Design Principles

Mr Tham told us to make something that utilises the principle of designs he taught us in class. This is a project I started long ago, about a girl who's insecurity and low self-esteem; puberty and rebellion made her life seemingly harder than normal.

No dialog was used, as suggested by Mr Tham. He told me to let the comic do the talking...I hope it's doing it correctly?

The first three panels give little about the character, only the fact that she's dressed elegantly, nothing doubtful or cunning. The last panel shows the protagonist meeting one of the Twin Dealers for the first time. Panel is enlarged to show a simple yet fateful encounter.

The Dealer knew the protagonist would be her next target, for whatever reason we don't know.

This page shows several time skips, and how puberty changed the protagonist's view towards people around her and of course, herself.

The other Dealer is shown this time, giving the protagonist a sense of safety and harmlessness due to his child-like form. The Twin Dealers then offer her a safe house, her own personal refuge.

Being vulnerable to vicious emotional changes, she believes in their kindness and generosity easily. This shows the protagonist's personality --- unsure, afraid of making mistakes, extremely low self-esteem and how she gets tricked by other people's kindness easily.

This page shows how she spends her days, believing in the Hamster Ball, protecting herself while she keeps on running, keeps on living. All without doing permanent damage to herself or the people around her.

However, pressure built up and she couldn't help but shatter little by little. Unknowingly, she has created something she cannot undo, some kind of alter ego that fully replaces her true self.

Sensing that she needs to break out of her safe bubble, she tries hard. Nothing seems to work because deep down, she's still too afraid of getting personally involved with other people's lives, scared of the burdens and responsibilities that will be placed on her shoulders. The Twin Dealers appear to show just how weak-willed the protagonist is.

This page shows how she's drowning in her regrets. her fake interactions and emotions towards people, friends or strangers alike. The mistrust she puts in them and in herself dragged her deep into the depths of sorrow and regret.

Two of the protagonist's friends show up, and one reached out their hand. This shows that no matter how alone a person feels, there will always be someone out there who is willing to share your pain and sorrow, someone who stands by you. Even if it's just one or two.

Sensing their love for her, she's finally able to break free from the Hamster Ball, as easy as bursting a bubble once you realise you don't have to act like someone else to get people to like you.

The protagonist opens her eyes and is showered with her friends' openness and kindness towards her.

Moved by their unwavering support, the protagonist is able to laugh out loud for the first time in a while. Her Alter Ego is shown to be confused by her change of emotion, but soon realised how happy and lighthearted she laugh sounded. This woke the Alter Ego, showing how she ignores the Dealer's instructions, bypassing her.

The Alter Ego is confused and scared, but she knows that this would be for the best, if the protagonist wishes to keep on living a fulfilling life. Trembling hands indicate insecurity and guilt, but the smile shows acceptance and kindness.

The protagonist pats the Alter Ego's head, showing her how she appreciates the other even though it caused her trouble. Her acceptance of her other self made them merge into a whole, making the protagonist much more confident and full of vigor. The last panel shows the Alter Ego smiling, disappearing with hints of tears.

Time skip happened, and this page shows how the three friends were supposed to meet up. How much time has passed is unknown. The steady pace of a normal morning is carried out by different characters yet somehow retains the smooth flow of the story.

The last panel shows difference in appearance for both of the protagonist's friends, which could mean that more than a year has passed. This shows how true friendship lasts, and it's not all that bad to stick around with people who truly understands and appreciates you.

The flying bird symbolises the protagonist's freedom from her own depressed and unmotivated thoughts, moving on with life with a fresh new perception of the world around her.

Below are some sketches I made before setting down the permanent personality and outfit for the Twin Dealers.

Below is a height chart between the major characters and a growth chart of the protagonist:

Additionally, this is actually for the name card. I want people to see me as an illustrator more than a graphic designer, so I've illustrated a simple piece for myself. The witch shows how an illustrating is can create ever changing pieces like magic, and it's their passion to do so for others and themselves. The various objects scattered creates a cheery atmosphere. The timepiece with its chain act as the boundary and information about me.