DESIGN RESEARCH DISSERTATION // FINAL COMPILATION

  DESIGN RESEARCH DISSERTATION // FINAL COMPILATION

Rebecca Thoo Hui Ying / 0350359
Bachelor of Designs (Hons) in Creative Media 
Design Research Dissertation Final Compilation

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INSTRUCTIONS: 

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ASSIGNMENT 1: RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION - DRAFT DISSERTATION

 

Fig 1.1  Matrix 

 

Fig 1.2 Draft Section 5 Contents 

Fig 1.3 Dissertation Draft 

ASSIGNMENT 2: VISUAL DESIGN PUBLICATION FINAL DISSERTATION AND TURNITIN SUBMISSION

Fig 2.1 Dissertation TURNITIN Report

Fig 2.2 E Book Art Direction Presentation Slide

Fig 2.3 Visual Design Publication Final Flip Book

FINAL ASSESSMENT: RESEARCH FOR ARTICLE PUBLICATION

Fig 3.1 KREATE Research Article

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FEEDBACK

Week 02

✧ On the first week, we were tasked to identify the themes, using data gleaned from the past module -- design research methodology. 

✧ Using that as a guide, I've summarised it into three major themes. Personally, because my research questions were clear and straightforward, I've categorised them into the themes.

✧ Whilst in class for consultation, Ms Jinchi suggested inserting related visuals as to make it more lively (so long as it is on topic), not to forget attaching picture credits as well.

✧ My current 5.1 (background & history) leans too heavily on the magazine itself, so to weave in the importance of graphic design and visual elements is needed.

✧ Advised to include retro copies of magazine brands for 5.1 history portion

✧ 5.2, the roles of visual elements on magazine cover design, should be one that lists down each element that were important (based on the data gathered).

✧ 5.3, the impacts of visual portrayed in magazines to its readers, detailed the different impacts (branching out into the original 2 sub topics: celebrity endorsements & body image) 

✧ The overall finished draft should have about 2.5k to 3k words in total. (5.1 - 500 words), (5.2 - 1k words) & (5.3 - 1k words).

Week 03

Consultation for part 5.1 (history)

✧ Write up up to (Qian, 2012) is direct and straight forward

✧ Instead of writing ‘Fig’, it is more proper to write “figure” instead. Adding a ‘:’ behind each Figure number to indicate the image showcased.

✧ In case of a comparison image, the correct way of inserting is “Figure 2 (left):” this shows clear indication of which image you are pointing out

✧ When mentioning about the image showcased, use “refer to figure_”.

✧ Could shorten paragraph written about Vogue’s history to make way for the history of the other 3 magazine brands

✧ Upon researching about these magazines, a discovery was made that 2 magazine brands (Vogue & Harper’s Bazar) both used inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement on their cover designs (researched date: 16.09.2022). Ms Jinchi suggested to make it into a design project based on the Art Nouveau movement in my final year

✧ This portion of the task is to look at primary data as well as the need to refer to more reading material to support the claims made in the primary data

✧ In 5.2, there should be more emphasis on the key visual elements

Week 04

Consultation for Part 5.2 

✧ It is important to insert how long these magazines have been around 

✧ Citation is only surname

✧  Figure number shall include the section number’s number ahead, eg: (figure 5.1)

✧ some points needs shuffling around for a better flow

✧ insert a new paragraph to wrap up what was written above

✧ Do not insert words like “this was proven” instead write “this can be said” 

✧ Insert headsup for the following visual elements that I am writing for 

✧ It is okay to use other magazine covers as well, Ms Jinchi advised that for some points, I could reuse certain covers to emphasis on the visual element. 

✧ Applying new magazine covers does not change the original goal, it still reflects back to the understanding of the topic and conveys it

✧ Ms Jinchi stated that my understanding of citation was good & remember to go straight to point and paraphrase the points

Week 05

Consultation of 5.3

✧  insert double quotation for the keywords mentioned in the primary data. Include the screenshot of the chart that mentioned the percentage

✧  Ms Jinchi helped me with rephrasing some sentences that were not smooth

✧  As for the portion about magazine covers implementing plastic surgeries, TIME is not a good magazine brand to take as an example, as it is a documentary magazine. Ms advised me to look into beauty magazine brands with headlines like “having the perfect face” or contents that encourages plastic surgery 

✧  Ms Jinchi also briefed about what to include in the conclusion portion, which areas I should look more into 

Week 06

Consultation of Conclusion

✧ Ms Jinchi briefed about the what we need to include in the final dissertation pdf

✧ Same problem as last week, the magazine cover found was still not really on par with the topic. Hence, Ms Jinchi & I went though other magazine covers that I’ve found, but still it does not really reflect on topic discussed: magazine impacting readers to change their body. Ms Jinchi then assisted me with finding the correct magazine cover to discuss.

✧ One of the sentence in Paragraph 1 in conclusion can be kept for abstract instead

✧ A good flow can be seen in conclusion portion according to the guidelines given

✧ Briefly explain the methods used and how many respondents participated

✧ I was unsure about the indicate research limitations & future research portion, after gaining approval of Ms Jinchi, I will need to put them into paragraphs. Explain more about why there was a lack in it

✧ Future research: the art nouveau movement can be branched out to Femme Fatal (dangerous women), could be talk about how men used to b scared of women who are then starting to work and study. Could talk more about the pride of women

Week 07

Public Holiday

Week 08

Independent Learning Week

Week 09

Deepavali Assignment 2 Consultation

✧ After presenting both concept ideas, Ms Jinchi mentioned both concepts have their strong good points, Ms adviced me to go with concept #1, scrapbook.

✧ The typogrpahy example I’ve presented with the “JOKER”- a san serif font with a paper tear in the middle showcasing a different colour in the torn part. Ms gave an example idea of inserting an image in between the tears, though the image would need to be one that is not jarring.

✧ I’ve provided Ms Jinchi with a few headline fonts, i mentioned i was mainly leaning towards these 3 fonts: Pirata One, Bebas Neue & Dela Gothic One. Ms pointed out that Bebas Neue would look good as a headline.

✧ As for the body text, I’ve provided 2 choices: Maven Pro & Titillium Web. Ms Jinchi & I are leaning towards titillium web as the kerning n spacing between alpahbets are nicer to the eye.

✧ Images need to be sourced to be on the safe side. It also works for us to find royalty free images to use.

Week 10

Consultation of Draft Ebook

✧ Scrapbook idea application:

✧  Feedback: Layout is consistent with the scrapbook idea, without looking too informal, baed on the typeface chosen. 

✧  The tearing effect was not over done so it balances out

✧  It is better to include the sub headlines on top of the book, take out the ones included in the scrap book visual as the words are kind of drowning in the visual. 

✧  Scrapbook idea can be made cleaner

✧  Title in vertical is not so effective, so keep it in horizontal.

✧  The visual of Tom Hardy could be swapped out as it is too messy.

Figures 4.1.1 to 4.1.4 are well done, clean looking. 

✧  the formation of magazine brands needs rewording, “mag brands 

✧  could insert a small GQ cover for the last page

✧  needs to work on the cover more

  ✧  could introduce red colours into the title

✧  Overall, it os very close to my intended concept

✧  for the cover. Ms suggested I could try utilising torn paper effect behind the title text, so it looks like I tore the paper to show the title.

Week 11

Consultation of 2nd Draft Ebook

✧ for section 05, amend it to make 5.1 & 5.1.1 on the same page, 5.1 shall be above 5.1.1

✧ Consistency shall be implemented (regarding the tear out masking tape on page 14 - 19 & the tearing effect on page 23 - 24). Ms suggested I reuse the tearing effect on page 23 - 24 on some occasional pages and remove the masking tape

✧ Page 60 -61, the image can align it centre so it will not look like the image is floating.

✧ Pages 64 - 65, same comment as the 1st point. 5.3 shall be above 5.3.1

✧ Remove the extra pages I’ve added in, Ms suggested I upload it up onto the e book publication site to evaluate

✧ Cover page: remove the torn edges, & instead stretch the frame to make it bigger. Change the red back to the maroon red shade to retain consistency

✧ Overall: design looks fine ~

Week 12

KREATE feedback

✧ I had a few errors and mistakes in my wording, Ms Jinchi assisted me in correcting them

✧ Ms advised I could add more “meat” if there is more relevant information for the Abstract section

✧ I should also check to see which keywords were used most, “body representation” or “body image”. It is better to stick to one keyboarding

✧ As for Problem Statement, Ms suggested I insert in my RQs & ROs.

✧ I misunderstood the Methodology section, hence Ms Jinchi gave me pointers as to what I should include in this section: to give a recap of RP & the method used, why it was chosen, what was the survey about, demographic of questionnaire, the platform of survey and how many respondents responded.

✧ Conclusion portion just needs a bit more information on the limitations to resources

Week 13

KREATE online feedback (due to public holiday)

✧ Ms Jinchi suggested to change all red wordings into black, bold & also remove the word count once the article is ready for submission

✧ Ms also reminded us to submit final work in WORD document. (Note to self so hence the capital letter)

✧ There were minor grammar and spelling errors I made, in which Ms pointed out

✧ Some sentences were repeated, so Ms suggested I remove them to avoid repetition

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REFLECTIONS

I've heard that dissertation is one of the hardest modules to have from people that i know. From my experience, it was relatively manageable. As a huge chunk of this dissertation was already completed in design research methodology (last semester). This semester was to focus on gathering all the information gleaned in DRM into a final document. The creation of the e-book was a fun task to work on. It allowed me to dive deeper into how I could bring out the magazine vibes through the visuals I inserted in. When someone thinks about magazine-esk design, they might thought of scrapbook, which was what I have implemented in my e-book! I like how the end results showcased a mix of scrapbook aesthetics for the visuals and also remaining a sense of formality in a minimalistic manner. I had fun gathering the art direction for this portion of the task!

I reckon, as compared to my peers, my topic could be one that is more challenging. In terms of research paper, I had to work with limited resources for the design research methodology part. Magazine is something I had always like, its the vibrant colours and beautiful fashion that first attracted me. Same as my research topic, visual elements does in fact retain a consumer's attention! When i was younger, I could always flip through magazines while my parents were busy paying for groceries. I'd still remember how I wanted to be as thin as the girls depicted in the magazine. Many years later, this dissertation topic that I choose targeted the issue of body representation and how magazines visually impact consumers! Looking back, I never really realised how the topic was born of something that I've personally felt when i was younger, looking at these magazine covers.

The semester is coming to an end, and I'd sincerely like to thank my lecturer, Dr Jinchi on my DRM & DRD journey. Under her guidance, I managed to complete the module on a good note! I also really appreciate Ms's reminder to always remember to write feedbacks after our sessions! It not only helps to remind us of what needs amending but also helps me a lot in this final compilation! 

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