Design Exploration | Final Compilation & Reflection

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20.4.2026 -_____ (Week 1 - Week__)
Caitlin Ong Lynn Dee / 0343801 / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Design Exploration
Final Compilation & Reflection

INSTRUCTION



Design Exploration

The module itself is collaborated with Centre for Counselling Services (CCS) where we have to create an original work for an upcoming wellness campaign for an artist/creator exhibition at the university. The theme for our creative work is mental health, and the work is based on our designated specialization. With the concept in mind, we have made sure it supports the message clearly and appropriately. The message intent ranged in so many different ways.

Message Intent:
  • Raise Awareness 
  • Educate 
  • Comfort 
  • Encourage Empathy 
  • Start Conversations 
  • Reduce Stigma 
  • Inspire Hope 
  • Express Personal or Collective Emotional Experiences


Fig 1.1 Design Exploration Project Brief


Portfolio Blog Entry 1 - Potential Idea So Far

Week 2

In terms of mental health, I am aiming to tackle the most overlooked problem currently happening in our society which parental estrangement. This type of phenomenon is rising issue due to being perceive as a stigma. Cause people in the younger generation to stay quiet or unable to recognize the toxic dynamic between their parents. 

I choose this topic is because from my own experiences where I starting to develop a straining relationship with my parents. Where I felt outcasted and treated as a burden to them and a lot of my insecurities stem towards them.


My goal is to create a mascot that comfort the adult child who is estranged from their parents. The message I had in mind is to celebrate individuality rather and enconcorating reconsile with the partent. The reason for this message is because some partents denied their toxic behiover making it imposible to fix relationships.

Initial Sketches 
As for the mascot, I choose it to be a bird to represent individualism, and it is design to be ugly to represent imperfection. Enhancing the message that it is Ok to be imperfect. 





Week 3

To make sure the mascot is better represented I did further research on causes and effects on parental estrangement, and I even did some research on comfort IPs and how to make sure my IP is different from them.




Panda Sketches
From the feedback I was given I was instructed to do a turnaround. From that moment I realized that I am not good at drawing bird anatomy. So, I use a panda as alternative. But unfortunately, this plan backfired because according to Ms. Anis bears are oversaturated and misrepresent parental estrangement. 





Week 4

I go back to the drawing board and expand the bird idea. I did some reflection and that's when realized I was fixated on the anatomy because I am thinking of realistic bird for a mascot and that approach is wrong. I notice that as longs as my character has the key elements of bird then it is fine.

As for the ugly aspect, I realized I was looking at it in a narrow point of what is consider ugly in mascot creation. I research kimo kawaii (gross cute) characters such as Cogimyun, Gudetama and Kogepan on how these characters fit in that category while being minimalist. I can sum up into two defining features such a depressed facial expression and asymmetry in their design. 

Updated Bird Sketches 

  • Sketch #1 - based on the idea of a dunce hat. This is meant to represent that the parent views their child as foolish and the coat represent insecurities. 
  • Sketch #2 - based on the teru teru bozu. It is a Japanese charm hung outside of the house to hope for sunny weather. The rainy weather is a metaphor to depression, and the sunny weather is a metaphor for finding peace.
  • Sketch #3 - the shape is inspired by a bedsheet ghost. To represent the adult child feeling neglected around their parents.
  • Sketch #4 - the shape is based on a mushroom. A metaphor to depression


Portfolio Blog Entry 2 - My final, confirmed idea

Week 5

From Ms Anis and Ms Eunice feedback they prefer Sketch #1, but I prefer Sketch #2. At that point I couldn't pick one. So, I though may be those two can coexist by making the Sketch #1 bird the main mascot white Sketch #2 bird is the tiny companion. I thought the characteristics look dull, so I experiment on different body types or costumes 



Portfolio Blog Entry 3
 
Week 6

We were tasked to prepare a presentation for our proposal. One of the requirements is to come up with a brand for my mascot. come up with a rational for my project and most importantly I have to provide a turnaround for my character. In addition to that I have to plan timelines for the project. Given my specialty I do not have much experience in creating a turn around to my mascot, so I spent a few days trying to figure out how to do it right, but at the end I did. As for the brand identity for the mascot, I wanted to have the art direction inspired by folklore genre. I added in what I had in the presentation. 


















Week 7

Throughout the few weeks, I struggled in figuring out, a proper application for my character. Ms Anis suggested that I did a comic book to communicate the theme of parental estrangement. Starting to look into the comic book idea, I found out it was more challenging that I thought it would be, so we had a brainstormed and my dad suggested to have the mascot on some merchandise. I then proceeded with the plan. Planning the collaterals, I stumbled upon a few challenges, it seems I am not able to make poses and expressions on the mascot. I had to do a complete overhaul of the mascot and made some references to a cartoon character, Mordecai from Regular Show. With that reference in mind, it helped me understand the anatomy and expressions for the character. In addition, I started designing the brand logo.













Week 8

Had a session with Ms Eunice, on the change of plans form comics to printing merchandise. She had to consult with Ms Anis. Ms Eunice also shared a few pointers with different colours on the logo from the black and white idea. Ms Anis then confirms the change is fine as long as I have rationalise the reason for changes.


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