Design Research Dissertation - Visual Design Publication Final Dissertation and TURNITIN Submission

⭐ 4/11/2024 - 2/12/2024 (Week 7 - Week 11)

🎀 Yan Zhi Xuan | 0369425 

💜 Design Research Dissertation | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media | Taylor's University

📚 Visual Design Publication Final Dissertation and TURNITIN Submission

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1. LECTURES & WORK PROGRESS

Week 7: Lecture on Visual Design Publication

During this week, Dr. Noorhayati Saad introduced us to the visual design publication. The lecture focuses on the key steps and considerations for creating a visually compelling dissertation design that aligns with the written content.

Doc. 1.1 Module Information Booklet - Design Research Dissertation.

Doc. 1.2 Lecture - Visual Publication Design.

Preparation for the Design Process

Design preparation begins with thoroughly reviewing the written dissertation to grasp its central themes and key points. Visual elements, including images, should be evaluated for relevance and quality. A preliminary template sketch helps organize the layout, ensuring a balanced and structured design. Adjustments to pagination, cover design, and text sections are necessary to align with the overall visual presentation.

Design Principles

The dissertation design should be unique and reflect personal creativity while maintaining an intuitive layout. It must effectively highlight the critical points of the dissertation. The choice of paper size is essential and should be finalized before proceeding with the layout design.

Binding Considerations

For printed publications, selecting a suitable binding style, such as saddle stitch, perfect bound, spiral, or wire-o, is vital. The binding choice impacts the layout and margins, which should adhere to recommended measurements: 0.5 inches for outer margins, 0.8 inches for binding areas, and a 0.125-inch bleed.

Typography
Appropriate font sizes enhance readability:

• Larger headers: 30pt or more
• Primary headers: 16-24pt
• Sub-headers: 12pt bold
• Body text: 10-12pt regular
• Footnotes/Page numbers: 8pt

Careful attention should be given to paragraph adjustments, such as leading, avoiding widows and orphans, and maintaining alignment to eliminate rags.

Week 8: Mood Board

This week, I created a mood board using Canva, drawing visual references and inspiration from Pinterest and Google. The mood board served as a foundation for the design process and included key elements such as the overall aesthetic inspiration, a cohesive color scheme, layout ideas, and typeface selections. This step was essential for visualizing the creative direction and ensuring all design components aligned with the desired theme and tone of the project.

The following is the Visual Design Publication Mood Board:

Click HERE to view the Canva slide in the new tab.

Fig. 1.3 Mood Board.

Week 9: Design Book Cover and Design Elements

This week, I began the process of designing the book cover, carefully considering how to create a visually compelling and cohesive design that aligns with the overall theme of the e-book. I focused on selecting and preparing the design elements, including the images that would be incorporated into the e-book. This involved curating high-quality pictures, editing them to enhance their visual appeal, and ensuring they complemented the content effectively. The goal was to create a polished and professional visual presentation that would engage readers and provide a seamless aesthetic experience throughout the e-book.

Book Cover:

Fig. 1.1 Book Cover.

Design Elements:

Fig. 1.2 Design Elemets

I started designing the e-book via Adobe InDesign. Firstly, I created margins and columns as guidelines for the document.

Guidelines:

Fig. 1.3 Margins and Column.

Chosen Typefaces:

1. Nulshock

2. Lucida Sans Unicode

Fig. 1.4 Typefaces.

Work Progress in Adobe InDesign:

This week, I progressed with the e-book design using Adobe InDesign. I began by importing the cover to set the tone and overall aesthetic of the project. Following this, I structured the layout based on the table of contents, ensuring a logical and visually appealing flow for the content. To enhance the presentation, I incorporated various visual elements, including pie charts, bar charts, and images, strategically placing them to complement the text and improve readability. This process required careful attention to detail, aligning the design elements harmoniously to create a cohesive and professional-looking e-book.

Fig. 1.5 Work Progress #1.

Fig. 1.6 Work Progress #2.

Fig. 1.7 Work Progress #3.

Fig. 1.8 Work Progress #4.

Fig. 1.9 Work Progress #5.

Fig. 1.10 Work Progress #6.

Fig. 1.11 Work Progress #7.

Fig. 1.12 Work Progress #8.

Fig. 1.13 Work Progress #9.

Fig. 1.14 Work Progress #10.

Fig. 1.15 Work Progress #11.

Fig. 1.16 Work Progress #12.

Fig. 1.17 Work Progress #13.

Fig. 1.18 Work Progress #14.

Fig. 1.19 Work Progress #15.

Fig. 1.20 Work Progress #16.

Week 10: Refined Final Dissertation and Publication Design

This week, I focused on finalizing the dissertation, making necessary refinements, and preparing it for submission on myTIMES. Additionally, I downloaded the completed visual design PDF and uploaded it to FlipHtml5 to create an interactive e-book version.

Fig. 1.21 Cover of Final Dissertation.

Fig. 1.22 Uploaded Visual Design Publication.

Fig. 1.23 E-book: Online Flipbook.

Weeks 11: Final Dissertation with Turnitin Submission and Visual Design Publication

Final Submission

Visual Design Publication:

Click HERE to view the Flip Book.

Doc. 1.3 Visual Design Publication (PDF).

Final Dissertation:

Doc. 1.4 Final Dissertation.

Final Dissertation Turnitin Submission:

Doc. 1.5 Final Dissertation Turnitin Submission.

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2. FEEDBACK

Week 7-8

No remarks.

Week 9

The Taylor's logo initially used was for Taylor's College instead of Taylor's University, so I needed to update it to the correct logo for Taylor's University.

Week 10

Ensure that data is translated into a better scheme; ensure that the visual style is bold, simplistic, and artistic. Choose fonts wisely.

Week 11

None.

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3. REFLECTION

Experiences

The journey of working on the visual design publication was both challenging and rewarding. It was an opportunity to bridge creativity with practicality, translating complex ideas into visually engaging layouts. Each phase, from concept development to final submission, required a mix of technical skill, creativity, and perseverance. The process was not without hurdles—tight deadlines, design revisions, and aligning visuals with the written content demanded focus and adaptability. However, completing each step felt deeply fulfilling, especially seeing the final design come together as a cohesive and meaningful piece.

Observations

Throughout the process, I observed the importance of planning and iterative development. Starting with a clear vision helped, but flexibility was crucial as unexpected challenges arose. Sketching layouts and testing designs revealed that even minor adjustments could significantly enhance the overall presentation. I also noticed how critical feedback became a tool for growth—listening to others’ perspectives often led to innovative ideas I hadn’t considered before. Time management emerged as a key factor; balancing creative exploration with practical deadlines required careful prioritization.

Findings

This project underscored the interconnected nature of design elements. Typography, color schemes, and imagery all worked together to support the message and engage the audience. I found that simplicity and clarity were as important as creativity—overly complicated designs often detracted from the content. Additionally, using professional tools and techniques, such as adhering to typographic hierarchy and color profiles, elevated the quality of the final output. Most importantly, the experience highlighted the value of persistence, adaptability, and embracing feedback to achieve a polished and impactful design.