Design communciation summary

Reflective Writing: Exploring My Growth in Design Communication

Initial Perceptions

When I first entered this module, I immediately felt a strong sense of insecurity. I’ve never been confident in my drawing or sketching skills; it’s actually one of my weakest areas and something I often got made fun of. The idea of expressing architectural concepts through visuals felt incredibly intimidating.

Hearing from Mr Adib and others that this was a “hardcore drawing class” only made things worse and did not help to assure me whatsoever. It greatly amplified my fear, not just of producing subpar work, but of being made fun of, looked down on or just to be left behind. Honestly, I experienced a lot of imposter syndrome during the first few classes with Ms Dee, seeing peers who seemed far ahead in their abilities.

First Introductory Lecture From Mr Adib (24/9/24)

Key Learning Moments

Assignment 1: Sketching Assignment

The sketching assignment shifted my whole mindset. At first, even simple objects felt daunting to draw. I struggled to get proportions right and often second-guessed my ability to capture details accurately. But I pushed myself to keep practicing every day, even when it felt frustrating. Slowly, I started to see progress. My lines became more confident, and I found joy in sketching as I learned to observe and translate what I saw onto paper. By the end, I realised sketching could be a creative way to communicate ideas.

Assignment 2: Architectural Drawings

While I was familiar with orthographic drawings, paraline and perspective drawings were entirely new to me. I tackled this learning curve by breaking tasks into smaller steps and seeking feedback from Ms Dee, which helped me refine my work. These skills marked a turning point in my ability to communicate architectural ideas effectively.

Assignment 3: Design Presentation and Drawings

This final assignment brought together all the skills I had developed so far and allowed me to explore them in a more creative context. One of my strengths has always been curating clean and clear compositions. However, throughout this project, I learned that while my compositions were clean, they lacked the ‘wow factor' as Ms Dee advised me. It wasn’t a bad thing, it just showed me that I’m close to achieving a balance between clarity and creativity, I just needed to push myself further to get there. This was also my first time learning how to use watercolours, which was a completely new medium for me. It was challenging, but I discovered how tonal values and subtle gradients could bring depth and emotion to my work. This project reminded me that growth's an ongoing process, and even small improvements can make a big difference.

Challenges and Growth

One of the most significant challenges I faced was overcoming my lack of confidence in drawing. Starting from a place of insecurity and fear, I had to push through the intimidation of seeing more skilled peers. Still, I knew this was something I couldn’t avoid, so I decided to face my fears head-on. For the first two weeks, I committed to drawing every single day, even when I felt discouraged. I embraced trying new methods and tools, practicing and practicing, and following YouTube tutorials video after video. I reminded myself that growth only happens through consistent effort, and doing the hard work now would only make things easier later. This mindset carried me through the semester.

Feedback played a crucial role in my growth. Early critiques from Ms Dee and peers helped me pinpoint areas for improvement. Although receiving criticism was initially nerve-wracking, I learned to see it as an opportunity rather than a setback. I began to see drawing not as a test of talent but as a skill that could be improved with effort and persistence. This journey has taught me resilience, the value of stepping out of my comfort zone, and the importance of trusting the process.

Below are some of the photos from the first of many sketchbooks that I practiced with.

The tutorials I followed were mainly from The Pencil Room Online
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-i_GDP6hCKlsQCrB7SW0qKyXBNMocDar
(Would highly recommend for any beginners like myself to start off. They've helped a lot in my
journey through this module and I definitely think that it could help others just like me.)

Future Goals

Looking ahead, I want to build on my new skills, such as using watercolours, and integrate other creative mediums into my workflow. By balancing technical precision with expressive artistry. My ultimate goal's to keep growing as a developing designer/architect, consistently pushing boundaries and embracing the process of learning and self-discovery in hopes that I can achieve that "wow factor" one day.