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Fong Graphic Design Year 1 by Fong Chin | Make Your Own Book

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Project 24 - Jazz Band

I had to design, brand and make a musical instrument that has never been created before. It can't really resemble an instrument that currently is in existence. It took a while before I came up with an idea that I was content with. I can't say that it's the best design for an instrument but it looks different from a lot of instruments. It's a relatively simple, and is a somewhat hybrid String and Percussion instrument.

I originally drew a sketch of what I thought would be a good place to start and then I made a prototype of it using card. It looked a little too simple and perhaps a little messy and the shape wasn't very interesting. So I decided to draw out another sketch in order to see what would interest me as an instrument. After initial sketches of different ideas I thought the simpler the instrument the easier it would be to make and it would still work as an instrument.

I had drawn out my design and thought I'd try to make it out of clay to give a proper feel of shape and depth of the instrument. I wanted the shape to be relatively interesting and also it was fairly ergonomically shaped so there were also indents in the instrument for holding the instrument comfortably. I'm not sure if I'm completely happy with the instrument at this stage, however it does seem to make some audible sound and does seem to be relatively interesting so I may see how it goes. 

I have yet to think about exactly how I will graphically brand the instrument, however with the shape to resemble a frog (of sorts), the instrument is called Frogbalooka (for no actual reasons behind the name and just the relation to the frog. I think that, it will be branded as a musical instrument that is frog themed - as the sounds that it makes does have a low tone to it, almost like a frog (if you believe it does).

Blazing Biographies Part 3

My original idea for the project was to make a Photobook. I was really certain of the idea until last minute, but I thought it would have been nice to go for my own style of work rather than to use the same as Larry Clark. When I was making my Photobook it felt like I was copying his work style, so I thought I'd go for my own way of thinking.

Photobook Idea

The new idea I came up with was a guide booklet. Using the photographs I had taken for the photobook idea, I used Larry Clark's idea of Youth and my own idea of documenting my friends very simple life but presenting it in a way so others would know and could do the same thing. After realising that we don't tend to go out and tend to save our money, I thought it would be somewhat amusing to create a guide book for students who are in need for ideas to survive University without spending too much money. I thought this idea would be more interesting to see and would allow me to be more creative with my work.

Guide Booklet Idea

Blazing Biographies Part 2

For part of my research I watched Larry Clark's film 'Kids'. It was a rather interesting watch and it was to be expected from what I had read about the film's synopsis. It really had a very raw and one sided view on youth culture, from what I had witnessed in the movie. The characters were young and yet were delving into illegal drug use, which was Larry Clark's theme throughout his work. Despite not being able to relate to any of the characters shown, I didn't feel offended by any of the content within the film, as I understand that youth culture is filled by characters like those depicted. However, I still find that even though the characters were shown this way and it may accurately depict some (or even a majority) of youth culture, not everyone are like those in the film and that I still strongly feel like my project should be based on my own experience with my friends rather than those 'risky' themes that Larry Clark presents in his work.

Although my friends and my life are very different from those in Larry Clark's work may not seem interesting and in comparison may appear 'boring' due to the lack of risktaking involved. However, after watching 'Kids' although I found it to be a good film, I really felt the urge to give Telly a punch and made me feel thankful about my life and the friends that I have. So with this, I wanted to take natural and 'normal', everyday photos of my friends doing things they would usually do. What do me and my friends do for fun people may ask, we don't need to go drinking or take drugs or anything of the sort. Watching something on television, playing games, chatting casually can be just as entertaining if you make it entertaining.

Blazing Biographies Part 1

Larry Clark, born Lawrence Donald Clark is an American Film Director, Photographer, Writer and Film Producer. He was born on 19 January 2943 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

Best Known: 

Film - Kids

Photography Book - Tulsa

Common Subject - YOUTH

• Especially illegal drug use
• Under-aged sex
• Violence

His mother was a baby photographer, so he was exposed to photography at an early age.

In 1964 he moved to New York City but was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War soon after. This led him to publish his Photobook Tulsa which was about his young friend's drug use.

In 2002 he spent several hours in a police cell after punching Hamish McAlpine, head of Metro Tartan. As McAlpine described that the 9/11 attacks were the best thing to ever happen to America.

His film Ken Park was banned in Australia due to graphic content which the film contained. Film Critics who do not find social or artistic value in Clark's work labelled them obscene, exploitative and even borderline child pornography. 

Brief information about his work

Kids - It is a film that has boys as young as 12 casually drinking alcohol and using other drugs. It is about an amoral HIV-Positive Skateboarder who sets out to deflower as many virgins possible. While a local girl who contracted his disease tries to save his next target from her same fate.

Tulsa - It is a photo documentary about his young friends back in his hometown, Tulsa. It documents aimless drug use, violence and sexual activities of Clark's circle of friends in his hometown.

Project 22 - Too Sweet

I designed packaging for chocolates. These chocolates are to be shaped as robot parts which you can then put together and build different robots. The packaging has a very futuristic and metallic appearance to suit the theme of the chocolates.