Design Principle / Project2: Sense of Place

 Project2 : Sense of Place

Riko Matsuyama (0351470)

Bachelor of Design in creative media

Brief

Sense of place refers to the emotive bonds and attachments people develop or experience in particular locations and environments, at scales ranging from the home to the nation. Sense of place is also used to describe the distinctiveness or unique character of particular localities and regions. Those characteristics that make a place special or unique, as well as to those that foster a sense of authentic human attachment and belonging. 

< The power of observation >

1. Highten Awareness 

2. Identify Trends

3. Discover Opportunities 

4. Speak Innovation 

5. Enhance Skillset

Connects to you, identify a place that is a lot more relatable to yourself. 

☺Visual research 

I decided to incorporate several elements into one work. 

Fig2-5 : several elements of my healing place

First is my grandparents' house. I lived in their house, which is relatively close to high school. It was my favorite because of the traditional Japanese shoji and the old-fashioned room with tatami mats. It wasn't large, but it was very suitable for me, who likes small spaces. I also liked to rest with a radish-shaped pillow. There were many tough events every day in high school, but this room healed my tiredness.

Fig6-7 : grandparents house

Next is the station near the high school. It's in the countryside and usually there aren't many people. Therefore, the number of trains was small. The memories of waiting for the train while talking to friends at the end of club activities are very relevant to me. I also like the yellow-green retro trains. And I feel that the atmosphere of the station is also good.

Fig8-11 : station

The last is Osaka Castle Park. I like this picture of the castle and the autumn leaves. I really like the time I come here and look at the autumnal trees, so I think this park is my healing place.The second one is not the one I took, but not only in autumn, but also in the spring cherry blossom season, it's very beautiful. 

Fig12 : Osaka castle park in autumn

Fig13 : Osaka castle park in spring

I think each has its own healing place that everyone wants to visit. I like to remember "old memories", "people who came with me that place", "How I felt at that time", and looking at the scenery.

Fig14 : idea sketch1

It might be a simple construction design, but I tried sketching my image

Fig15 : idea sketch 2

The view from the actual window is different, but I drew a green train running. On the left is me relaxing with a radish pillow. And on the left is the red tree that can be seen at Osaka Castle Park. It's not realistic, but in the case of this work, I think tree in the room. 

Fig16 : process

Fig17 : train

I thought this image was similar to my school route, so I used it as a reference.

Fig18 : process

Fig19 : gradation of tree

Gradation is added to the tree to express the unique power of the tree.

Fig20 : balcony

I like to open the balcony and let the wind through on a nice day so I drew it

Fig21 : process

Fig22 : autumn tree

I added the leaves of autumn leaves. It is characterized by having leaves of various colors, so I expressed it.

Fig23 : autumn leaves

I put the shadow of the leaf on the shoji to show how it is flying. The autumn leaves are beautiful, including the appearance of the leaves falling, so I expressed that.

Feedback1&2

Dr. Charles said, I especially like what you said about the healing place. I can imagined when I saw your work with some background ambience and soft music. And consider about lighting, shade and shadow. Just some finishing touches and enhancement.

The teacher sent me a video and I listened to it. I feel glad because I sketched while imagining similar music and landscapes.

If this can be a long video loop in YouTube with the right music and some animation like the train and the field or the leaves. Its would be really good but this is already very nice.

Fig24 : feedback

And I worried about where to enhancement. Actually, before receiving this feedback, I thought this sketch was flat and unpowerful. I didn't know which was the main, me or tree. 

Fig25 : balance

In this work, the main is hard to understand. It lacks a sense of unity.

The teacher also pointed out the foreground. So, I decided to emphasize me.

Fig26 : process

Removed the desk to make the center stand out.

Fig27 : comparing before and after

When comparing the two, the latter is more cohesive.

I used purple for the bed, which goes well with orange and green.

 Next, I sketched night scenery version so that express lighting, shade and shadow.

Fig28 : night sky

We can see the lights from the train running on the night road 🚃🌟

Fig29 : process

When I turn off the lights in a room, sometimes the outside looks brighter than in the room. 

I expressed this situation.

There are 4 seasons in Japan. 

Fireflies are famous in summer. However,  There is an autumn firefly that remains until autumn. 

It is also common in the fields near my grandparents' house.

I often saw fireflies with my grandmother during holiday night. So I added these.

Fig30 : Tenno Hachiman Shrine in Okayama

In fact, I've never seen such a large number of fireflies, but there are places in Japan where I can see them.

Also, I changed the size of them to create a three-dimensional effect.

Fig31 : fire fries 

Fig32 : final outcome

「A healing place with nostalgic scenery」

Reflection

I did a project called Sense of Place. In the last project1, I reflected on 'thinking softly', but when I made my first sketch this time, I couldn't make much use of it. 

Before I show my sketch to the teacher, I wasn't very satisfied with my work. Because there was no intonation on the whole, the composition was too simple, and it was not interesting. 

However, after receiving feedback from the teacher, I decided to make a major change rather than making some adjustments. Curiously, when I made a big change in my work, I came up with some new ideas that I hadn't thought of before. I thought it was important to take on the challenge. 

Going back to the blog, I found only one first idea sketch for this project. At this stage, I wish I could come up with a lot of ideas. 

Before the correction, all the color layers were overlapped, so the work after that was difficult. I will be careful about the timing in the future. 

This project, I was able to devise color harmony. Especially the autumnal trees and outside and inside. I was able to express the unique gorgeousness with the harmony of colors and I feel that I was able to devise the contrast between light and shadow.

Instraction 

References 

Fig30 : Tenno Hachiman Shrine

Video : A peaceful space