World of Ideas and Imagination

[anawashere05]

WOII Week 11 || Postmodernism

Today, when I scroll through social media or go outside, I realise that everything and everywhere looks and feels the same. On social media, people often follow popular trends and aesthetics, which means everything looks increasingly more similar and repetitive over time. 

Compared to 10 - 15 years ago, there seemed to be more diversity and individuality in everyday visual culture. For example, the work of David Carson stands out with its punk and grunge influences, using playful and experimental arrangements of text and images to challenge conventional design norms and expectations (Fig. 1).

Fig 1 Some of David Carson works

“His designs rejected hierarchy, formal layouts and conventional typography, essentially designing with a blank canvas. With no formal training and background in graphic design, Carson was primarily self-taught" (Miranda).

Through these approaches, Carson demonstrates that individuality in design can come from taking risks and rethinking common rules. His work highlights how designers can shape visual culture by creating something that feels original and expressive, pushing boundaries and challenging audience expectations in meaningful ways today.

Take another example, “Warhol had chosen to adorn his house with pieces that had stood the test of time, pieces that followed the old rules on aesthetic value, but most importantly pieces that would have been shunned in the art world he had created and dominated" (Newman).

In class, we were tasked with creating an advertisement using ideas from postmodernism. During the lesson, my group and I decided to promote a shark plush from IKEA. Our advertisement is chaotic and eclectic (Fig. 2).

Fig 2 The advert that my group made

(250 words)

Works Citied:

Miranda, Paul. “David Carson: Surfing the Unconventional Waves of ZAPFS Dingbats | by Paul Miranda | Medium.” David Carson: Surfing the Unconventional Waves of Zapfs Dingbats, 28 June 2020, medium.com/@yopaulmiranda/david-carson-surfing-the-unconventional-waves-of-zapfs-dingbats-52a520186c64.

Newman, Jason. “Postmodern Art Is Vacant.” Quillette, Quillette, 15 Mar. 2026, quillette.com/2017/09/12/postmodern-art-vacant/.

[anawashere05]

My experience in WOII over the 12 weeks has helped me become more critical and mindful of my work. For example, modern design focuses on keeping things clean and simple, while postmodern design uses creativity to create new forms and reflects how the art ecosystem affects today’s world. 

Some parts of the course were challenging because we had to translate ideas into visual form behind the design, such as how effective it is and how it attracts people.

During class I think about how the lessons affect me as a designer, how they relate to my future career, and whether group work helps me. As a shy person, I do not really enjoy group work, but now I understand why it is important and how it helps us connect ideas with other designers. For example, everyone explaining ideas and combining them into one idea. (Fig 1)

Fig 1, One of the works I did with a group

By the end of the course, I have a better understanding of critique and how to apply critical thinking to my work.I will continue using these skills in future projects. lessons help me develop stronger ideas, improve decision-making, and approach design tasks with greater awareness and intention, strengthening creative thinking in future practice.

[anawashere05]

WOII Week 12 || Art ecosystems

You may have heard of ecosystems, but have you heard of art ecosystems? At first, I thought ecosystems only referred to nature, but there is also an ecosystem in art. It is a dynamic network of people, organisations, and resources that support the creation and sharing of art. It also depends on how well artists present and communicate their work to audiences and communities, shaping connections and influencing how art is experienced and understood across contexts. 

Charr mentions “As the sector experiments with new materials, new workflows, and new value systems, pioneering organisations are showing what sustainable practice looks like in action”.

PHUNK Studio is an example of a art eco-system in Singapore. I chose PHUNK studio because I like their illustration style and storytelling. I selected some of their works as examples to better represent their visual approach (Fig 1) and creative design process in detail.

Fig 1. Some examples of PHUNK Studios works (PHUNK).

A successful art ecosystem depends on collaboration. “Embracing collaboration, and the, ‘creative meeting of the minds’, their joint efforts have resulted in the establishment of a studio and gallery that works with a range of artists and brands to produce innovative.” (Root)

In Year 2, I intend to join the Illustration specialisation course, as I believe it will further develop my skills. I have a strong passion for illustration and storytelling, and I hope to pursue a career as a comic illustrator in the future while continuously improving my creativity, experimentation over time, and building stronger visual communication skills and expression through practice.

(250 Words)

Works cited

Charr, Manual. “Designing for the Planet: Lessons on Sustainable Exhibition Design.” MuseumNext, museum next, 17 Nov. 2025, www.museumnext.com/article/lessons-on-sustainable-exhibition-design/.

PHUNK. “Collections.” PHUNK Studios, www.phunkstudio.com/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

Root. “Phunk Studio.” Friends of Friends / Freunde von Freunden (FvF), 15 Dec. 2025, www.freundevonfreunden.com/stories/phunk-studio/.

[anawashere05]

WOII week 1 || Phenomenology

Phenomenology, when I first heard it, I thought it would be a study of design. However, it is actually the philosophical study of structures of consciousness as experienced from a first-person point of view. I was initially focused on design theory, but the suffix “-logy” refers to “the study of,” “the science of,” or “the knowledge of.”

Phenomenology in design refers to understanding and designing for the lived, subjective experience of users, emphasizing sensory perception, emotion, and meaning over functionality or aesthetics. After researching it, I was still unsure how to apply it in my work.

“In his seminal work “Phenomenology of Perception,” Merleau-Ponty delves into the subjective experience of time, rejecting the notion of time as a series of disconnected instants” ( Alec Borislow).

For class, we were asked to choose a category and create a Google Slides presentation. The category was time and balance. I developed my first attempt (Fig. 1).

Fig.1. This photo shows what I did in class within the hour.

After the presentation, I realised I had misunderstood the task and revised my work (Fig. 2). Even after redoing it, I was still unclear about how it connected to the brief. Through further reflection, I came to understand that phenomenology in design is about creating subjective experiences for viewers rather than focusing only on visual output and emotional depth and deeper user experience understanding context.

Fig.2. This photo shows the updated version that I have done in class.

“Reflecting on strategies from phenomenological research practices and design, this article suggests ways in which design can benefit from a phenomenological perspective in the problem framing process as well as prototype testing” (Weizenegger)

(250 words)

Works Cited:

Borislow, Alec. “I Belong to Time and Space: Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Time | by Alec Borislow | Medium.” I Belong To Time And Space: Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Time, medium, 30 July 2023, aborislow.medium.com/i-belong-to-time-and-space-maurice-merleau-pontys-phenomenology-of-time-8b233304ef77.

weizenegger, Claire Florence. “Phenomenology as an Epistemological Resource in Design Research | by Claire Florence Weizenegger | Medium.” Phenomenology as an Epistemological Resource in Design Research, 25 Mar. 2022, medium.com/@cweiz/phenomenology-as-an-epistemological-resource-in-design-research-563f8b135541. 

[anawashere05]

WOII week 5 & 6 || Design Analysis and Field trip

Design and analysis are two distinct terms. Design refers to planning, creating, and shaping products, systems, or experiences to solve problems, while analysis refers to the detailed examination of elements or structures. When combined, design analysis involves breaking down a product, system, or environment into different categories to evaluate its effectiveness, functionality, and suitability.

This process helps designers make more informed decisions and understand the purpose behind each design choice more clearly. It also improves critical thinking in design practice. In one week, we organised items into categories such as useful or non-useful, comfort or discomfort, and lasting or temporary (see Fig. 1). At first, I did not understand how this related to design analysis.

Fig. 1. The photos of the organisation activity.

During the activity, I questioned how this connects to being a designer whether we were analysing works, taking notes, or arranging elements to communicate a message.

In another week, we visited New Bahru (Fig. 2), where we explored the building and different stores. The mall featured independent Singaporean brands, and we closely examined how products were displayed, marketed, and visually presented (Fig. 3). Through this experience, I began to understand how design analysis applies in real-world contexts.

Fig. 2. The photos of New Bahru, the shopping centre

“Creativity is one of the only psychological qualities linked to helping us develop meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and joy, among many other health benefits. And guess what? Every single human being has it hiding in their DNA, no matter if you believe it or not" (Bajaj).

Fig.3. The photos of the items that I have photographed

After these two weeks, I developed a clearer understanding of what design analysis is and why it is important for designers to apply it in both current and future projects.

“Living artfully means approaching the ordinary with awareness and appreciation. It’s about noticing the play of light on a building, the rhythm of footsteps on pavement, the color of leaves in autumn" (Anna).

(300 words)

Works Cited

Anna. “The Art of Living: How Lifestyle and Creativity Shape Modern Life .” Thisisnotamovie.Com, This is not a movie, 13 Jan. 2025, thisisnotamovie.com/the-art-of-living-how-lifestyle-and-creativity-shape-modern-life/.

Bajaj, Katina. “How Everyone Can Benefit from Creative Living.” The Good Trade, The Good Trade, 23 July 2021, www.thegoodtrade.com/features/am-i-creative/.

[anawashere05]

WOII || Week 2 Aesthetics

In the past, technology was simpler but meaningful and enjoyable. As it improved, older devices seemed less interesting. Today, new technology often overshadows retro items, yet many young people still enjoy vinyl records and Polaroid cameras, showing their lasting cultural appeal and significant importance in modern creative communities.

Sometimes I think about why teens and young adults like things from the past, because now everything is easy and convenient, and everywhere looks aesthetically pleasing. I thought it was because of Stranger Things on Netflix. 

Fig. 1. These are the photos of the store that I have chosen

Today in class, we were tasked to photograph shop signboards and create a mood board. I chose a store called Hear Vinyls (Fig. 1). I pictured nostalgic scenes of people from the 1970s and 1990s browsing albums. 

"Vinyl collecting has been quite the rave in recent years – everyone wants in on the analogue experience. Digitalisation being the future is inevitable, but many people find themselves looking backwards instead" (Mingli Seet).

Fig.2. This photo is my completed mood board for class

After completing my mood board (see Fig. 2), I looked at it and reflected on each image, and understood why teens today are drawn to the 80s aesthetic. This made me realise that older visuals feel more authentic and less polished, offering a different emotional experience compared to modern digital culture overall today globally.

“Thus, record sleeves themselves should be seen as a graphic identity. To this day, people still seek record sleeves as a treasure: it is not only nostalgic, but also is a part of how one is meant to experience music" ( Nicole Ong).

(250 words)

Works cited

Ong, Nicole. “Designing Record Sleeves in 1980s Malaysia.” Designing Record Sleeves in 1980s Malaysia, O for other, 14 Apr. 2020, oforother.malaysiadesignarchive.org/designing-record-sleeves-in-198-m0salaysia/.

Seet, Mingli. “Ronggeng Records: This Record Store Tucked Away in Tiong Bahru Has Rare Southeast Asian Vinyls.” Time Out Singapore, Time Out, 6 Feb. 2024, www.timeout.com/singapore/music/ronggeng-records-this-record-store-tucked-away-in-tiong-bahru-has-rare-southeast-asian-vinyls.