Reflective Journal

In analyzing the study of the MA course, I think that different projects that I did compelled me to find inspiration from a great deal of sources by researching on successful artists and design and seeing lots of exhibitions in London, subsequently building on my imaginative capacity as well as my practical knowledge.  Therefore I feel I have gained and developed many skills in terms of my own personal creativity and development, and meanwhile I gradually found my own style in terms of composition and construction of communication.

At the beginning of the MA course I thought in the coming one year I will focus on the innovative forms of graphic design. In other word, I will try to breaks through the traditional expression of graphic design.  The design is boundless.  All accessible things are visual arts. So, the application of elements will not be limited to two-dimensional expression. It will reach the design of products, clothes or space.  What’s more, I will focus on the integration of art and design.  The final presentation of a work will not be limited to the printing technology or the expression of two-dimensional medium. It will be combined with more forms of art expression such as drawing, collage, devices and spatial hand painting. It will give people strong visual compact and shock to heart. The graphics is not just in two-dimensional space. The multi-dimensional application of visual elements could express actively and effectively the concepts of the works.

Now, the final show is coming, I think my final work follows my original thinking.  At the term one and two of the course, I was confronted with many challenges and hardship about understanding the difference between the questioning aspects of art and the communicating and problem-solving aspects of design.  But at last, thanks to some tutorials with Sigune and Silke, I tried to combine these different aspects in my final work ‘Brutality’. I was really pushed to think conceptually and found this project challenging, enjoyable and, most importantly, a significant step in furthering my creativity.  It not only questions the value of products and communicates with viewers by the form of ‘sale’ from the first day of the final show 10% off to the last day 100% off, but solves the problem of how to reuse discarded things as well by the medium of blue oil.  Thus, I think my final work achieves the integration of visual art and design, but it still needs to be examined by the viewers when they see my work in the final show.