Illustration and Visual Narrative - Project 1: Exercises

Chan Wan Qing / 0350928 / BA of Design (HONS) in Creative Media
Illustration and Visual Narrative
Project 1 (Exercises)

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INDEX:

Exercise 1: Vormator Character 

Exercise 2: Illustration Typography

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EXERCISE 1: VORMATOR CHARACTER

In the first exercise, we are required to design and create ONE unique character by using the given sets of shapes with Adobe Illustrator (Ai).

We have to trace out the shapes using Adobe Illustrator (Ai) to create the character with the rules which are:

• Can rotate, flip and duplicate the shapes
• Not obliged to use all the shapes
• Can scale size, but only proportionally
• No skewing or free transform
• No altering the original shapes
• Can add, subtract, intersect and group elements as you see fit
• Unlimited colour use
• Can use gradients and texture
• NO OUTLINE STROKES!
• No background

Following the instructions from lecturer, I traced out the shapes as the picture below. As I was new to Adobe Illustrator, I made a few attempts to make the shape looks smoother especially the curve parts. 

After tracing out the shapes, I started to placed the shapes and arranged them into characters. I roughly did some sketches in Adobe Illustrator by arranging the shapes randomly. I made 4 characters with the outline and filled in colours.

I chose the 3rd character and continue to develop it. In our classes, we are advised to add shadow and take note about the proportion of the character. I think my 3rd character is a little too plain so I tried adding other shapes to develop it. The figure below showed how I develop the character, the outlines also show how the shapes combined and create a new shape in the character. 

I tried to add shadows on the character to make it looks better. I also attempted to texturise the outfits of the character. 

Final Character: 

Final Character Outline

Final Character Design

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EXERCISE 2: ILLUSTRATED TYPOGRAPHY

In exercise 2, we are going to continue our Ai tools mastery. We are required to design and create an aesthetically pleasing illustrated typography by using words generated from the Pictionary Generator.

1. Sketches

I did a few sketches for both of the words, sign and eel. I tried to think about everything related to the words while I'm sketching as we were allowed to use as many graphic as we wanted in this exercise. 

Sign

For the word sign, the first impression that I came out with is road sign. So I tried to do some researches and sketched out according to the references. While I was researching, I found another idea I can use to illustrate and express this word, which is sign language. After researching, I started to sketch out my ideas digitally. I sketched out 3 ideas for the word 'sign' and choose one of them to develop as my final submission. 

Eel

The other word I got is eel. The first impression for me to this word is unagi that we eat in sushi. So I decided to go on with this direction. I searched some drawing reference for eel as I'm not confident to draw out eel. 

2. Development / Digitisation (Outline)

Sign

After sketching, I started to digitised it using Adobe Illustrator. Like what had been taught in the previous lectures, I tried to use different tools while digitising the sketches. Most of the time I use pen tool, pencil tool and curvature pen tool to draw the outline of my sketches. I chose 2 of my sketches that I like to digitise them, starting with outline.

Outline Digitisation

Eel

For the word 'eel', I also draw out 2 of the sketches in Adoble Illustrator using pencil tool and curvature pen tool. As I follow the sketches to draw the outline, they did not have much differences except for the lines that became smoother than my sketches. 

Outline Digitisation

3. Development / Colouring + 3D + Texture

Sign

For 'sign', I created 3D for the road signs one by one and arranged them according to the sketches. I took a lot of time as I need to create the shape and transform them into 3D with different depth one by one. After that, I tried coloured the forms with different colours to try out different effects. I changed the colours a few times as I wanted the letters of 'SIGN' to stand out more. 

Attempt(s) 1 (3D-colour)

After trying a few times, I tried out different texture on the forms and applied different colours that matched with the textures. I also added background colour to see whole the effect. I used red colour for the letters to make it stand out from the other signs, but I think I will try more different colours. 

3D-colours-textures

I also feel like the word is too plain and it's hard to see. So, I also wondering to change the position of the word and try another style. I'm quite unsatisfied by the outcome for the figure above. Therefore, I tried another attempt for this idea. I tried to include arrow sign in 'S' and 'N' and connect the pole to the 'I', like the pole is extended from it. I think this is better than the previous one as the word 'SIGN' can be seen clearly. 

Attempt 2

Eel

I started to add colours after drawing the outlines. I also added shadows and some patterns on the eel, rice and also chopsticks. After adding colours, I also added texture on the illustrations to make it look more realistic. 

Attempt (Colours-Textures)

After adding colours and textures, I tried the 3D effects on the illustrations and see the outcome. I used inflate effects for this illustration. However, the 3D effects look more obvious on the chopsticks and make the chopsticks looks more realistic, for the eels, I feel like the effect did not have much differences. But I'm quite satisfied with the outcome. After getting feedbacks, I tried to increase the brightness and use darker colours for shadow. 

Final Outcome

Sign:

Eel: