Design Studies I - Group Assignment
Seoh Yi Zhen (0328497)
Design Studies I: Communication Theory
Group Asssignment - Song Interpretation
Group Members
Chloe Myra, Felicia Koey, Heba Arif, and Seoh Yi Zhen.
INSTRUCTIONS
Assignment Brief
Communicate with a target audience, in a visual form, the emotions or the message in a song or a poem.
Requirements
In this group work, you are to decipher the meaning or emotions of a given song or poem. Utilising the elements of design and the principles of organisation, create a work of design that communicates the message or emotions of the given song or poem. The work of design can be in any form, deem fit by you, in the context of the song or poem. However, do consult in your lecturer the size of the design work before finalising your idea.
Each member of the group must contribute to produce a collective sketchbook that records everyone’s research, ideas, opinions and sketches.
The final outcome is to be accompanied by a rationale of about 250 words, stating what you understand from the song or poem (your deciphering) and explaining about the idea behind your final design. You are to present your work on the submission day.
Duration
4 weeks (Briefing: Week 1; Deadline: Week 4).
Submission Format
Digital submission (in one PDF file) through TIMeS:
Assignment cover sheet, image(s) of the final design work, idea sketches, rationale and reference list.
Assignment Goals
1. Students to demonstrate research skills.
2. Students to employ effective visual communication skills.
3. Students to solve problems with relevant design solutions.
RESEARCH
Song
For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield
There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking' their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly saying, "hooray for our side"
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Now, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield
There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking' their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly saying, "hooray for our side"
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Now, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
Interpretation
This song was inspired by the Sunset Strip Riots in the mid-1960s, started by young people against a 10 o'clock curfew set by the Los Angeles city officials. The entire lyrics describe the situation during these riots, where there were armed people on the streets, and youths actively involved in the protests. The chorus is essentially a call for public response to end the violence and madness.
Despite this song being inspired by the Sunset Strip Riots, the lyrics are written so generally that they can be used to describe just about any other riot. This goes to show that no matter how much time passes, human nature will never really change and history always finds a way to repeat itself.
Research
This song was inspired by the Sunset Strip Riots in the mid-1960s, started by young people against a 10 o'clock curfew set by the Los Angeles city officials. The entire lyrics describe the situation during these riots, where there were armed people on the streets, and youths actively involved in the protests. The chorus is essentially a call for public response to end the violence and madness.
Despite this song being inspired by the Sunset Strip Riots, the lyrics are written so generally that they can be used to describe just about any other riot. This goes to show that no matter how much time passes, human nature will never really change and history always finds a way to repeat itself.
SKETCHES
 |
| Sketches for my poster. |
FINAL OUTCOME
 |
| Final posters. |
 |
| Designed by everyone. |
 |
| Designed by Seoh Yi Zhen. |
 |
| Designed by Chloe Myra. |
 |
| Designed by Heba Arif. |
 |
| Designed by Felicia Koey. |
RATIONALE
The song "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield was inspired by the Sunset Strip Riots in the mid-1960s, started by young people against a 10 o'clock curfew set by the Los Angeles city officials. However, the lyrics of this song are very general and can be used to describe any other riot. The main intent of this song can be found in the chorus, which signifies a cry for peace in turbulent times.
We decided to create a series of propaganda posters because this art form can attract a wide audience and it enables us to convey our message effectively through simple but striking imagery. Propaganda is also commonly used to perpetuate violence in wartimes and riots, but now we have modified it to be a public call for peace instead. The timelessness of this song is portrayed through our series of five posters, one for a notable riot of each decade since 1960 until today.
We also utilized a "less is more" concept to emphasize the main meaning of the song, so that the audience is able to easily understand the message. In a visual sense, we used a limited colour palette as well as flat illustrations. The colours that we chose were red, black, white and blue as these colours have a high contrast between each other and are attention-grabbing. We used flat illustrations to keep our design simple- that the audience will only focus on the form and not get lost in unnecessary details. Our tagline for all five posters is a line from the chorus- "it's time we stop", because this lyric effectively conveys the intended meaning.
En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Jackson State killings. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_State_killings [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
Guity-novin.blogspot.my. (2017). Chapter 29 -- Propaganda Posters. [online] Available at: http://guity-novin.blogspot.my/2010/05/chapter-29-propaganda-posters.html [Accessed 18 Sep. 2017].
Jones, J. (2015). Wonderfully Kitschy Propaganda Posters Champion the Chinese Space Program (1962-2003). [online] Open Culture. Available at: http://www.openculture.com/2015/01/vintage-posters-of-the-chinese-space-program-1962-2003.html [Accessed 18 Sep. 2017].
Stokoe, C. (2017). 51 Powerful Propaganda Posters And The People Behind. [online] Smashingmagazine.com. Available at: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/06/100-years-of-propaganda-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ [Accessed 18 Sep. 2017].
Today I Found Out. (2014). The Jackson State Massacre of 1970. [online] Available at: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/05/jackson-state-massacre-1970/ [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
WHHA. (n.d.). Racial Tension in the 1970s. [online] Available at: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/racial-tension-in-the-1970s [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
Wyckoff, W.B. (2010). Jackson State: A Tragedy Widely Forgotten. [online] NPR.org. Available at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126426361 [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
REFERENCES
Dawood, S. (2017). World War Two propaganda posters – from art form to psychological science - Design Week. [online] Design Week. Available at: https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/4-10-may-2015/world-war-two-propaganda-posters-from-art-form-to-psychological-science/ [Accessed 18 Sep. 2017].En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Jackson State killings. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_State_killings [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
Guity-novin.blogspot.my. (2017). Chapter 29 -- Propaganda Posters. [online] Available at: http://guity-novin.blogspot.my/2010/05/chapter-29-propaganda-posters.html [Accessed 18 Sep. 2017].
Jones, J. (2015). Wonderfully Kitschy Propaganda Posters Champion the Chinese Space Program (1962-2003). [online] Open Culture. Available at: http://www.openculture.com/2015/01/vintage-posters-of-the-chinese-space-program-1962-2003.html [Accessed 18 Sep. 2017].
Stokoe, C. (2017). 51 Powerful Propaganda Posters And The People Behind. [online] Smashingmagazine.com. Available at: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/06/100-years-of-propaganda-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ [Accessed 18 Sep. 2017].
Today I Found Out. (2014). The Jackson State Massacre of 1970. [online] Available at: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/05/jackson-state-massacre-1970/ [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
WHHA. (n.d.). Racial Tension in the 1970s. [online] Available at: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/racial-tension-in-the-1970s [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
Wyckoff, W.B. (2010). Jackson State: A Tragedy Widely Forgotten. [online] NPR.org. Available at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126426361 [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017].
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