Reflective Archive _ Communication Design Studio

AT1: GENERATIVE DESIGN

AT4: STUDIO KNOWLEDGE OBJECT

AT3 DATA VISUALISATION & STORY-TELLING: RMIT SOCIAL INNOVATION HUB

AT2: STRATEGY PITCH AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: CIJ

REFLECTIVE PUBLICATION - GRAP2657

Thuy Chi Doan

Behance: be.net/thuychidoan

Email: hi.thuychi@gmail.com

Edited by Thuy Chi Doan

Design by Thuy Chi Doan

First Edition

©2023 Thuy Chi Doan

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part of any form. No part of this report may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval methods, without written permission from the author.

Preface [GRAP2657] Communication Design Studio

PART 1

AT1: Generative Design

AT2: Strategy Pitch & Awareness Campaign

AT3: Data Visualization

PART 2: AT4 (SKO)

1. Introduction.

2. What?

3. 5 Whys?

4. How?

5. Future Plan.

CONCLUSION

Personal Reflection

PERSONAL PROFILE

About the Author

REFERENCE

DOAN THUY CHI - MC250

S3972212

Student of RMIT UNIVERSITY

Year One, Semester One - May 2023

LECTURER:

RIDA ABBASI

KIM MUMM HANSEN

MICHAEL BOJKOWSKI

Lecturers of Communication Design Studio at RMIT University

COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO GRAP2657

PREFACE REFLECIVE PUBLICATION

Starting to write means I have come to the end of semester one of my Master of Communication Design - MC250 from RMIT University. I am very grateful to start my new journey, meeting new people and making new friends in a new city.

I would like to genuinely thank all my lecturers in this module, Rida Abbasi, Kim Mumm Hansen, and Michael Bojkowski, who led me through the first semester. In addition, I am very thankful to all my classmates, especially Beth and Yula (The Click Family).

This reflective publication is a combination of the process of the Communication Design Studio module from 27 February to 5 June 2023.

* AT1: GENERATIVE DESIGN

For the first AT1, the studio has introduce me to generative design in order to learn about visual communication through experimenting with, and reflecting on generative techniques and processes.

* AT2: STRATEGY PITCH & AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

AT2 started with research, identify insights and develop a strategy pitch. For this AT2, we will be divided into group to utilise our findings as the basis to create an awareness campaign. Our partner for this studio will be the RMIT Centre for Innovation Justice (CIJ)

Doan Thuy Chi

* AT3: DATA VISUALIZATION

AT3 is about telling various stories through the visualisation of supplied data sets. Our partner for this studio is RMIT Social Innovation Hub. The two main themes of these data sets will be Climate Change and Financial Wellbeing. I chose my main theme is Financial Wellbeing.

* AT4: STUDIO KNOWLEDGE OBJECT

For the final AT4, we have two deliverables: Studio Knowledge Object & Reflective Publication.

PART 1:

AT1: Generative Design

AT2: Strategy Pitch & Awareness Campain

AT3: Data Visualization

AT1: Generative Design

* POSTER 1: “PLASTIC WASTE IS FLOATING AROUND THE OCEAN.”

→ “Feeling trap?” → Showing that we are surrounding with plastic we create. [Plastic Ocean]

* POSTER 2: “BEHIND THE PLASTIC.”

→ Seeing the world / the ocean through plastic waste. Also creating traping feeling, cannot get away of what we been created.

* POSTER 3: “WALL OF PLASTICS”

→ Creating traping feeling, cannot get away of what we been created.

“Plastic Waste is clogging the ocean.”

AT2: Strategy Pitch & Awareness Campaign

Just Kidding - A Cyberbullying Campaign

Group Project: With BETH & YULA:

→ My role in this AT2 is to do the second step in the campaign: Online Promotion.

→ What I do: Design a set of Social Media Posts & other smaller work like designing campaign backgrounds and fixing the character design.

AT3: Data Visualization

“Women in Design Industry”

* POSTER 1: GENDER PAYGAP

The Stubborn Pay Gap between Men & Women

* POSTER 3: MOTHERHOOD TAX

The financial burdens & sacrifices involved in motherhood could affect woman’s career.

* POSTER 2: MISSING MENTORS

Lack of representation & role models for women & non-binary creatives could discourage them to pursue design career.

PART 2: AT4 (SKO)

1. Introduction.

2. What?

3. 5 Whys?

4. How?

5. Future Plan.

1. INTRODUCTION: STUDIO KNOWLEDGE OBJECT

→ Ideas:

* AT4: STUDIO KNOWLEDGE OBJECT

For the final AT4, we have two deliverables:

a. Studio Knowledge Object:

→ Can be develop and extend my practice in relation to one of the previous three briefs (Communicating Digital Ethnography, Data Visualisation, Design for Protest) → Or combine aspects of 2 or 3 of the previous briefs. → Or use this is an opportunity to initiate a potential project, which could be developed as your capstone project in GRAP2627 Research Methods and COMM2784 Professional Research Project.

b. Reflective Publication:

→ To reflect-in and -on my own design processes + practices, required readings/theories in GRAP2657, including the Studio Knowledge Object and provide a concluding reflection on your personal expanded practice/tool belt of Communication Design within & out with GRAP2657.

* NEW BRIEF: Creat a potential project which can develop in the future.

→ My original idea for SKO was to recreate my Personal Branding Website. This idea was only temporary, and I don’t think it could be developed with more potential in the future. (except for updating new projects and a few adjustments)

→ Instead, I was driven by another idea of creating a COLLECTIVE ARCHIVE of Portfolios / Personal Branding of RMIT Communication Design Studio participants. [Can be a website or a publication]

* Designed by Thuy Chi Doan built with cargo.site (2021)

2. WHAT?:

→ WEBSITE COLLECTIVE ARCHIVE

a. Collect portfolio & personal branding from RMIT Communication Design studio participants. → Asked everyone in GRAP2657 [Monday Class] for their Portfolios (Mostly) | Personal Branding.

b. Create the Website with Cargo.site.

→ Create a community for students who is or going to be a designer and people who are interested in design in general.

→ A contribution website for Designers. (in general)

WEBSITE AIMS: Learn | Explore | Reference | Inspiration

* cargo.site (N.D.)

CONTRIBUTED TO: Beth | Aseye | Echo | RongRong | George | Rosie

| Gayatri | Yew-Qi | Yula | ZhiXuan

→ Everyone who has sent me the portfolio / personal branding.

3. FIVE WHYS?:

→ Project challenged:

_ Create a professional website (Simple and Modern)

_ Finding the right way to showcase every participant’s works [portfolio | personal branding]

_ Identify the portfolio | personal branding’ framework for students who is or going to be a designer and who needed it.

→ 5 Whys:

*INSPIRATION:

_ To inspiration students who is or going to be a designer | People who are interested in design in general.

_ Exposure to different ideas and approaches inspires designers to think outside the box, experiment with new design elements, and evolve unique style.

*CONTRIBUTION:

_ Contribution is valuable because it encourages graphic designers to share their work and contribute to the design community.

_ Fosters a culture of collaboration and mutual support, where designers can learn from each other and collectively raise the bar of design excellence.

*COMMUNITY:

_ Designers can showcase their work and establish a professional online presence.

_ Creates a supportive environment where graphic designers can connect with like-minded professionals.

*EDUCATION:

_ Empowers Designers to learn and grow in their craft.

_ Offering a structure for designers can follow and create their own portfolio or personal branding.

*EXPLORE:

_ Benefits graphic designers by exposing them to a wide range of design work.

_ Exposure to diverse styles and approaches enhances design repertoire, allowing them to create more impactful and innovative work.

* Figure 1: The Five Whys for SKO Project

4. HOW?:

→ Create a Collective Website:

a. Framework - Sketches.

c. Build prototype.

→ Inspirations:

Inspiration coming from:

→ “It’s OnGoing” by RMIT Master of Communication Studio.

→ Old website that I made with Cargo site from 2021 - 2022:

Negotiated FMP & Professional Practice in Graphic Design

b. Basic structure. [Web-flow]

d. Built the real website. → Sketches | Framwork:

* ITS ON GOING by RMIT COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO (N.D.)

* Negotiated FMP by Cheese (2021-2022) * Professional Practice (2021-2022)

Basic Structure | Web-flow:

*

* Future Development [ Short-term Plan]

Still in Development Process [ Short-term Plan]

→ Visual Elements:

WEBSITE LOGO

* Main Logo:

* Sub Logo: (Stamp Logo)

WEBSITE COLOR PALETTE

Light Grey #e7e7e9 Black #000000 Fortress Grey #b7b7b7

→ Using MONO COLOR PALLETE to create a simple and modern feeling to the website.

→ The mono pallete is also use to set the focus to designers projects.

WEBSITE TYPOGRAPHY

→ Mainly for website (Title/Subtitle/Body Text)

→ Use for Website Logo Design

Website Showcase:

→ Here is the link to the website that help you can fully see and experience it: collectivearchivermit.cargo.site

→ The website is not fully finished in designing and pages but most importantly is you can see the website and understand it. The website right now is only laptop friendly and not for phone yet.

5. FUTURE PLAN

* Short-Term Plan:

_ Finished designing the website.

_ Continue develop more and expand the website further.

→ User-friendly with Phone.

_ Develop an action plan to propose the website more to designers & non-designers. [Social Media Account]

* Long-Term Plan:

_ Update every three months with new portfolios and personal brandings.

_ Organize offline/online design showcases / workshops and talks about personal branding / portfolio.

→ Shared knowledge and experiences.

→ Phone Prototype for Collective Archive website.

CONCLUSION

* Personal Reflection:

Twelve weeks of year one - semester one has been a great start. Robin S. Sharma (N.D.) said, “Greatness comes by doing a few small and smart things each and every day.” I am satisfied with what I have done for this first semester.

as the basis to create a strategy pitch and awareness campaign. I am very proud of the group I was in. Our group have Beth, Yula and me. For this project, we developed a cyberbullying awareness campaign for teenagers. Compared with other groups, I believe we were lucky as everything worked well from the start. When stating AT4, which has one brief about expanding ATs projects further, there is not much for me to develop AT2.

Since embarking on GRAP2657 - Communication Design Studio, my knowledge has expanded tremendously. For the first time, I have done lots of projects in just one semester. From AT1, I was doing generative design. AT2 is about creating an awareness campaign and working with a client - RMIT Centre for Innovation Justice. For AT3, we also have a chance to work with the client again - RMIT Social Innovation Hub and create a data visualization poster. Finally, with AT4, it was all about coming back to one of the first three ATs and expanding it or creating a new project I could develop further in the future.

AT3 is about telling various stories through the visualisation of supplied data sets. Our partner for this studio is RMIT Social Innovation Hub. The two main themes of these data sets will be Climate Change and Financial Well-being. I chose the theme of Financial Well-being. My topic for this project is about women in the design industry. For this topic, I designed three posters which are the problem of the gender pay gap, missing mentors and motherhood tax. I am pretty sad as I was not thoroughly developing my design for this project. I was intending to expand this project further in AT4 instead I was choosing a new brief to do.

For the first AT1, the studio introduces me to generative design to learn about visual communication through experimenting with and reflecting on generative techniques and processes. My design theme for this project is “Plastic Waste is Clogging the Ocean.” After the presentation in front of the class, I felt satisfied with what I have produced. Another thing is I was making mistake when I was not developing it thoroughly enough. After that, I learned my lesson for future projects.

At4 is our last project in this module. For the final AT4, we have two deliverables: Studio Knowledge Object & Reflective Publication. For this project, I was developing a website named Collective Archive which contains portfolios and personal branding from designers. (first start with RMIT Communication Design Studio participants) I am fond of this project and very passionate about it. I believe there is so much potential that it could give to everyone. Although there are still some regrets and expectations that I have not touched yet, still I proud of myself to able to conquer and finalize what I could have done.

AT2 started with research, identifying insights and developing a strategy pitch. For this AT2, we will be divided into groups and use our findings

Overall, I am satisfied with what I have done for this first semester and cannot wait to start my second semester.

PERSONAL PROFILE

* About:

Doan Thuy Chi is a young graphic designer based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Right now, she is an RMIT Master of Communication Design student. With an open-mindedness for creativity, and new ideas and always “hungry” for more, she has always developed herself in the creative industry as a passionate designer for the contemporary arts and projects with deep cultural insights. Her main focuses are branding and editorial design. She is also very interested in packaging, typography and website design.

In the second semester, the Master of Communication Design will have a module about internships. That is why she has applied for a Graphic Design internship for ‘Robot Specialist’ company. She will start working for them from June to August - 2023.

REFERENCES LIST

Cargo Site (N.D.) Available at: https://cargo.site/ (Accessed: 20 May 2023).

Cash, P., Stanković, T. & Storga, M. (2016) Theory Building in Experimental Design Research. In: Experimental Design Research. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing AG. pp. 209-231. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-33781-4_12.

Thuy Chi Doan (2021) Negotiated FMP. Available at: https://nfmpchi.cargo. site/ (Accessed: 27 May 2023).

Thuy Chi Doan (2021) Negotiated FMP. Available at: https://nfmpchi.cargo. site/ (Accessed: 27 May 2023).

It’s Ongoing (N. D.) Available at: https://itsongoing.com/ (Accessed: 20 May 2023).

Lawson, B. (2018) The Design Student’s Journey : understanding How Designers Think . First edition. Boca Raton, FL, Routledge.

McCormack, J., Bown, O., Dorin, A., McCabe, J., Monro, G. & Whitelaw, M. (2014)

Ten Questions Concerning Generative Computer Art. Leonardo (Oxford). 47 (2), 135-141. doi:10.1162/LEON_a_00533.

REFLECTIVE PUBLICATION - GRAP2657

Thuy Chi Doan

Behance: be.net/thuychidoan

Email: hi.thuychi@gmail.com

Edited by Thuy Chi Doan

Design by Thuy Chi Doan

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part of any form. No part of this report may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval methods, without written permission from the author.