internship abroad documentation
DESCRIPTION
Description of inspiration used during design works while working abroad in Europe.TRANSCRIPT
Sources of InspirationThe effects of travel on creative output.
© Victor Khramov 2013
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The Need for InspirationMy time as a foreign designer.
Inspirationisthesourceofmanydifferentkindsofcreativepursuit.Itisthesparkthatignitesthefuelofskillandtalent.Despiteitsimportance,itisoftenanintangiblething.Similarlywhatmaybeinspiringtoacertainperson,atacertaintime,maynotbeasequallystimulatingtosomeoneelseinadif-
ferentenvironment.ForthisHonorsProject,IdecidedtoexaminemypersonalsourcesofinspirationasIworkedandtraveledinEurope.
ItraveledtoEuropeinordertocompleteaninternshipasperthere-quirementsofTheUniversityofCincinnati’sIndustrialDesignprogram.Itwas
myfourthsuchexperience,butthefirstwithaEuropeanfirm.Inadditiontomydailyprofessionalwork,Itookadvantageofmysurroundingstocompletesomepersonalwork.Thefollowingisaconcisesummaryofwhatinspiredme
tocreateduringthethreemonthsthatIlivedandtraveledinEurope.
About
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The Making of InspirationThree parts that form the whole.
Contents
Forthedurationofthisexperience,Ibelievethefollowingthreethingswerethemostusefulinmysearchforinspiration:sourcesofinformation,
changinggeography,andtime.Iwillelaborateonthesefurther.
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SourcesLooking out and in.
Making Of
MymainpurposeinEuropewastoperformatwork.Myprimarygoalsweretosupportmyemployerandimprovemydesignskillsinaprofessional
environment.AssuchIcouldalwayscountonmyworkenvironmenttoengageandstimulatemythinking.Afterworkandonweekends,thetime
wasmyowntopursuemyowninformationandmakemyownconclusions.Learningnewthingsatworkallowedmetobetterquestionthedesign
choicesinmypersonalwork.AssuchIdeemedthesetwoseparateenvironmentsimportantforthestimulationofinspiration.
Belgian Comic Strip Center; Brussels, BE
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GeographyDrawing upon wide and varied influences.
Making Of
Europeisaparticularlyfantasticplacefortravelbecauseitofferssubtlydifferentexperiencesinrelativecloseproximity.Thecountriesthat
makeupthecontinentvaryinarchitecture,culture,andgeneralimpression.Travelrevealstheseminutedifferencesamongstthesimilarbackdrop,which
enhancestheirdistinctness.Thisisasamplingofthevarietythatcanbefound,sourcedfromthefourcountriesItraveledbetween.
A street in Bruges, BE
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TimeAllowing for experience to accumulate and distill.
Making Of
Thefinalingredientnecessaryfortheenticementofinspirationistime.Idon’tbelieveI’maloneinknowingthevalueofsittingonanideaand
lettingallthatyouknowworkitsmagictowardresolvinganoutcome.Often,allthatislefttodoisallowtimeforthemindtoputthepiecestogetherinthebackground.InEurope,timewasoftenplentifulonthetrainsandparksofthe
Europeancities.
Train arrival; Antwerp Central Station
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The ResultsCollected works from time spent abroad.
Output
Thisdocumentandthephotoscontainedwithinareasmuchtheoutputfromthisexperienceastheworksdetailedfurther.Asdesignis
mypassionaswellasmyprofession,nearlyeverythingIdohasadesignapplication.Assuch,thisexperiencewasachancetoimprovenotjustmy
designskills,butmyphotographyaswell.Withintheenclosedworks,you’llfindinstancesofstory-telling,iterativedesign,andsketching,allskillsthat
standalonewhileenhancingmyskillsasadesigner.
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Story Book ConceptStory and illustration.
Thisprojectistheproductofmylong-standingdesiretosimplytellachildren’sstory.Theexercise,whileappearingsimpleatfirst,demonstrates
designthinkinginthecreationofthestoryoutline,iterationofcharacterdesign,andtheemotionoftheactualstorytelling.Thisstoryconceptalso
featuressimplelinedrawingsinblackandwhiteallowingthechildtocolortheirownstorybookastheyseefit.Onlythemaincharactersarecoloredto
excitetheimagination.
Results
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Initial inspiration and my surroundings.
ViewsofthecityofAntwerpformedmyinitialimpressionsofEurope.Thesettingwasfascinatingenoughtoalwaysholdmyinterestnomatter
whereIexplored.
Results
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Setting the scene.
pen on paper; Photoshop
Thecitywouldbecomethesettingforthestory.Herethebuildingsthatformthebackdropforanearlypageareenhancedwithcolor.Thisstyle
choicewasultimatelyonlyreservedforthemaincharacters.
Results
Results
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Story outline and page mock-ups.
Anystorystartswithanoutline.Herethenumberandcontentofpagesismappedouttoensurethestoryiseasilyunderstood,while
maintainingastrongvisualdynamic.
pen, pencil
Results
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Old and new sources of visual style.
EverywhereIwent,Iwasstruckbythecontrastofoldandnew.ThatwasmostevidentinthevarietyofgraffitiallaroundEurope,combinedwith
thestained-glassartofancientchurches.
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Exploring character visual style.
Thecharactersweredrawnuntiltheyfeltright.Ultimately,tofitthemoodofthestory,theanimalsbecamefullbodied,andnearlyrealistic,with
humanexpressionsandmovements.
Results
Results
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People watching: dress & pose.
ThestreetsofEurope,werefullofinteresting,andinterestinglooking,individuals.Fromstylishfashiontotraditionaldress,therewasnoshortageof
inspirationtobegleanedfromEurope’sresidents.
Thecharactersinthestoryareveryactive.Toensuretheposescorrespondedwiththeactions,extensiveiterationwasdonetoensurethemassesofthe
animalsmovedasclosetoreality.Here,themotionofthecatisexploredandfinessedashetugsonthetailofadog.
Results
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He did his best to keep dogs from peeing on it.
Exploring character motion.
marker; pen & Photoshop
Exploring character motion.
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Old world luxury and intricate detail.
Richdetailsandextravagantuseofmaterialisaqualityintheartofthearistocracy.TheseworkscanbefoundinmuseumsalloverEurope.
Time-Honored Craft
Results
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Watch IllustrationsFreelance visualization.
Thesesketchesweredoneinpreparationforpresentationdrawingsforadesignerofaparticularhigh-endwatch.
Results
graphite on paper
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Forms in glass and steel.
Tocontrasttheelaboratedetailsofoldarchitecture.Moderndesignsfavorthestraightlineandhigh-techmaterials.
Cutting-Edge Modernity
Results
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Results
graphite, pen on paper
Upcoming portfolio projects.
Thesearethebeginningsoffutureportfolioprojects.Examinationsoftraditionalformsonmodernappliances.WorkbegunwhileinEurope.
Modern Appliances
wwwv
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Professional WorkA brief overview of work for my employer.
ThemainfocusofthispresentationandclientNDAspreventmefromshowingallbutthemostbrieflookatwhatIdidintheoffice.Nonethelessit’snoteworthyasaproductofthesameenvironmentresponsibleforthe
aforementionedworks.
Results
graphite, pen on paper; Photoshop
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The Tools The mechanics of design work.
Beforemycamera,andbeforemypreferenceforpens,theultimatenecessityforencouraginginspirationismynotebook.Theonepicturedfits
comfortablyintoajacketpocket,allowingmetotakeitanywhere.Shownhereisoneofthefirstexplorationofscenesforthestory,andtheveryfirst
sketchesfortheteakettle.
graphite, pen
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Final ThoughtsLast remarks and contact information.
Thisisbynomeansanexhaustivestudyoninspiration,insteadthisismeanttoresembleadiaryentrythatreflectsonmytimeinEurope.Icanbe
contactedformoreinformationat:[email protected]:khramovr.tumblr.com
Thefullstorybookcanbefoundat:http://db.tt/7DDwiaCj
Allphotos,text,andillustrationscopyrightVictorKhramov2013.
Epilogue