Performative media-As1

 Name: TANG YUYING

Student ID: 0370676

Programmed: Interactive special design

Module name: Performative Media (202504-LLecture)

Introduction    

    In this blog, I will document what I’ve learned in each class, my reflections, the progress and collaboration of group assignments, as well as the feedback given by our lecturer. I hope that through this record, we can continuously improve the quality of our group project and witness how our work grows step by step.

Table of Content

1. Week 1-Introduction
2. Week 2- Software Introduction and Artist Introduction
3. Week 3- Software Introduction and Artist Introduction
4. Week 4- Practice operator "Top" section
5.  As1

Week 1-Introduction

    In the first week of class, I was really happy to see our two lecturers, Mr. Shakir and Mr. Zeon, again. I had previously taken the Lighting Interactive Design course with them and gained a lot from that experience. Since I’m already familiar with their teaching styles, it was easier for me to follow along this time.

    During this first week, the lecturers mainly introduced the overall course structure and the assignment requirements. They also announced our project theme for this semester — “Mirror.” When I first heard the theme, my mind immediately went back to our group project from last semester, which focused on mental illness and also incorporated the element of mirrors. Reusing the concept of "mirror" this semester feels like a big challenge, but it also opens up new possibilities for creative exploration.

    One of the most important parts this week was forming our groups. Just like last semester, the assignments will be done in teams, and we were given one week to either form or join a group. This time, however, there will be more frequent and structured peer evaluations within each team, and those evaluations will carry weight in the final grade. I feel this is a much fairer system, and I really appreciate the lecturers' thoughtful planning and understanding.

    Another pleasant surprise for me was discovering that our BISD program now has its own Instagram account. The account shares group photos and other moments from our journey, which made me really happy to see myself featured. It gave me a strong sense of belonging. More importantly, it serves as a great way to promote our program. Since BISD is still a relatively new major, having more exposure like this can help people better understand what it’s about and potentially attract more students to join us.

Week 2- Software Introduction and Artist Introduction

    In the second week of class, Mr. Shakir introduced us to the main software we’ll be using — Touch Designer. He explained some of its core features and gave a simple demonstration on how to operate it. This was especially helpful for those of us who are not confident in coding, as Touch Designer allows us to skip writing code and instead create visual effects by simply “connecting boxes.”

    While watching Mr. Shakir work with the software, I realized that the overall workflow is quite similar to programs like Blender and Unreal Engine — especially the process of adding materials. However, what truly amazed me was how Touch Designer can generate images or dynamic visuals and directly map them onto 3D models. The resulting effects felt seamless and visually compelling, which really caught my attention and sparked my interest in learning more.

    That said, one of the challenges was the large number of unfamiliar terms — I still need to memorize and understand the functions of each section (which can be a bit overwhelming, haha). But I’m grateful to Mr. Shakir, who patiently helps us both in class and online, saving us a lot of time trying to figure things out on our own.

    Another highlight of the session was Mr. Shakir’s introduction to interactive media artists from Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the world. He shared some of their design works with us, and it was truly eye-opening. The projects were incredibly creative and inspiring — many of them were based on simple, everyday ideas, yet the artists managed to turn them into sophisticated and unique pieces.

    For example, Jun Ong’s work really stood out to me. His use of light beams to create the feeling of light piercing through objects was striking. It gave a strong sense of spatial interaction and connection, and left a deep impression on me.

（This one is a light art installation that leans more towards a star）

    As I looked at more and more inspiring works, I truly felt the meaning behind the phrase, “Art comes from life.” It reminded me of the importance of training ourselves to develop an eye for discovering beauty in everyday things.

    At the same time, we also began working on our Assignment 1 this week. Each of us was tasked with researching one local, one Southeast Asian, and one international interactive designer. Our group’s plan is for everyone to find five potential artists, and then during class, we’ll consult the lecturer to help us narrow down the list. Once we get feedback, we’ll select the one with the most unique design style for our Assignment 1 — where we’ll analyze their works, design concepts, and creative process.

Week 3-  Software Introduction and Artist Introduction

    In the third week, we mainly learned about the usage and functions of Touch Designer. During this process, the instructor explained the main features and various effects in great detail.

    For example, in the "OP Create Dialog," the instructor clearly demonstrated the functions and their visual effects. "TOP" is commonly used for image and video processing, compositing, and visual effects; "CHOP" handles timeline-related data, such as audio, animation keyframes, and sensor input; and "SOP" is used for 3D geometry modeling and transformation.

    During the instructor’s demonstration, we also followed along with the video exercises to observe how the effects change the video. The whole experience felt quite magical—especially the fact that we could achieve such effects without programming. It made me realize that it wasn't as difficult as I initially thought. Instead of feeling pressured, I became more interested in exploring these features and their possibilities.

（Practice special effects videos by yourself）

    After the class, the instructor helped us choose three artists for our AS1 assignment. Our group selected five artists from each region as potential candidates. We also kept records of their websites, notable works, artistic styles, and frequently used software, so the instructor could help us evaluate which artist would be the most suitable. We’re very grateful for the instructor’s help, as it allowed us to make a more accurate and appropriate choice for our artist analysis.

（The 15 artists we pre-selected）

Week 4- Practice operator "Top" section

    In Week 4, we mainly learned about the "TOP" operators in Touch Designer. The instructor first gave us an explanation and then demonstrated the functions of each part. After that, we entered the interface to begin our first hands-on practice.

（The part of TOP）

    In the hands-on practice, we mainly used operators such as "Mirror," "Blur," "Noise," "Composite," "Edge," etc. For me, it was really interesting—we experimented with different effects based on the images we initially adjusted ourselves, and in the end, everyone produced a completely different video. The whole exploration process was very engaging. Of course, while using the software, I also realized that some steps can effectively replace traditional programming, which makes it very beginner-friendly, especially for students like us who are not strong in coding.

Here are some images from my in-class practice：

（Initial animated video created on 5/14/2025）

（This is the result after adding multiple effects, created on 5/14/2025）

（This video was a result of an effect I discovered by chance during the practice session. I thought it looked great, so I decided to save it）

(This is the final product (5/14/2025)

    The overall classroom experience gave me more confidence in completing the final project. It wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined, especially when adding various effects—since the process skipped over complex programming, it became much simpler.

AS1:

PPT Link: Canvas

   In Assignment 1, we were only required to choose one artist from each of the three regions. I believe everyone has different preferences when it comes to artists, so our plan was to create a Google document where each group member could list the artists they liked—choosing one from each of the three regions. Then, during class, when the teacher reviewed our selections, they gave us some suggestions, and from there we chose the final three artists to study and analyze.

    Some other groups might have thought that having every member go through this process was a waste of time. But for us, it was actually a very valuable learning experience. If we didn’t do the research ourselves, it would’ve been difficult to discover the brilliant artists shining in each region. Simply listening to the teacher’s introduction isn’t enough. When you personally come across an outstanding artist, you naturally want to explore more about their work and the ideas behind it. So, for our group, we all felt that this was a meaningful and effective way to learn.

    In our group, I was mainly responsible for researching and analyzing a local Malaysian artist—Wei Lun ROGER NG (Roger Ng). His works often reflect his thoughts on current Malaysian society and his vision for the nation. Many of his creations are made using Touch Designer, a software used for creative visual design. He’s truly an impressive and inspiring artist.