Techniques: Traditional Drawing (Draft Sketches)

Digital Illustration (Final Poster)

Materials: 2H Mont Marte Pencil, Staedler triplus fineliner (Drafts)

Program: Adobe Illustrator (Final)

Sketch 1: Reaching Out

Reflection:

Although 'reaching out' is an already used sentence meaning to ask for mental support, I decided to draw it as a 'drowning' depiction. The water is the text of words that many sufferers, including myself, think or are told. The self-destructive thoughts, the comparisons, the name calling and hopelessness, even lack of understanding and judgement that really makes you feel like it's not worth it. Like you're drowning in your own thoughts. The hand is literally 'reaching out', depicting seeking help, breaking through the 'sea' which is struggle itself.

Sketch 2: Open Up

Reflection: This is meant to be a depiction of 'opening up' to someone, to share your burdens and anxiety, stress, depression before it's too late. I was comparing the head and steam to a boiling pot, where you need to open the lid to release the steam out before it explodes. I could have depicted this better, but if I decide to choose this for my final poster, I'll definitely add the improvements/feedback given by my tutor for this.

Sketch 3: Build Up

Reflection: A direct ode to Tetris, I attempted to cater this specifically for mental health. To reflect the ever-growing list of 'burdens' piling on top, similar to Tetris. Eventually it becomes harder to control the tetris pieces (burdens), leading to 'game over'. The 'game over' in this context is mental overwhelm. 

Poster Draft: Reaching Out

Reflection: I chose this sketch because I felt it would be the easiest to create on Illustrator. Not previously having Illustrator experience, it took quite a while and many challenges to learn the techniques. For example converting the text into waves, and overlapping them over the hand to blend in. I know this can do much better, but this is a start.

Poster (Scrapped Final): Reaching Out

Reflection: An updated version of the original draft. This time I cleaned up the 'word waves' and used the word 'shame' to depict the ocean, while the other words make up the changing wave levels. I added an extra hand, to represent that many others feel the same way. I added a sky background and drew the helicopter, although I couldn't cut out the bottom space below its body. Personally, I am not happy with the result as it looks basic and unblended. What I hope to learn is experience and more practice with Illustrator skills.

Note: This poster has been scrapped and replaced with the final image below. This was due to discussion which the lecturer felt that the image had detracted the message and meaning, and also due to its unpolished, messy appearance.

Final and Updated Poster.

Techniques and Program: As used previously.

Reflection: Following discussion with the lecturer, I had reverted the colours back to black and white, and greatly simplified the text. The shape is simply a wave, with the thoughts and stigma words superimposed into it, to represent an ocean. The meaning of the poster is to be clear and concise, not necessarily realistic. Hence this better reflected the intentional message, about 'reaching out' before you drown in your own thoughts.

#oneperday2022

The week's listed concept focused on persuasion, creating a poster. The topic was by personal choice, as long as it was a social cause that affected an age group, class or ethnicity. In this case, mental health in youth was the chosen cause for this week. To adhere to the task of 'persuading', a bold, visual message had to be produced. A unique approach that draws the viewer's attention to a common issue.

Three sketches were produced before one was chosen to be finalised into a digital media. For the draft ideas, traditional drawing was applied, with a 2H Pencil for mapping, a fineliner for drawing over, and for the third image, coloured with a graphic marker. The final idea, the program Adobe Illustrator was used, superimposing text and collaging. The first sketch listed became the final product, depicting 'drowning' in thoughts and stigma associated with depression.

Furthermore, while the three drafts were produced clearly and without hesitation, converting the drawing into digital art was very challenging. With amateur experience in Illustrator, many techniques had to be learned through tutorials, lecturer assistance and practice. As a result, the final poster had to be redone twice, due to negative feedback regarding its visual quality and meaning. The second edition was much simplified, to allow the message to be visualised much better.

It is important in the design industry that the visual message is simple and clear to understand. It must not be over or under its expectations. (Siegler, Bonnie. 2018. Design Observer.) Too little effort would result in an unfinished, unpolished project. Whereas the opposite would result in a messy appearance and confusion to the viewers. Through much practice and experience including setbacks, it would lead to better approaches to designing.

https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-open-hand-image17041261

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1464588/mediaviewer/rm2524978432

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-illness-stigma

https://designobserver.com/feature/signs-of-resistance/39759