Art Direction / Project 3

25.11.2025 - 30.12.2025 (Week 10 - Week 14)
Ng Kar Yee / 0367743
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Art Direction / Project 3


INTRODUCTION

PROJECT 3⇒ ART DIRECTION GUIDE SERIES

For project 3, Mr Kamal introduced Art Direction Guide Series to us where we need to continues with the same concept and SDG theme, but now develops a set of individual Art Direction Guides as one per focus area that together form a complete product launch system.

Each of us becomes the Art Director for one specialization (focus area), responsible for research, visual development, and production of a professionally printed guide. Although each guide is submitted individually, we must share s common brand identity (logo, color palette, tone, type system), a consistent visual and conceptual theme established by the group and clear documentation showing coordination and project management between all team members.

EXERCISE INSTRUCTION

WEEK 10

This week focused on applying the established design system across branding, card game, and website components. Emphasis was placed on translating concepts into practical applications while ensuring visual consistency and structural clarity across physical and digital outputs.

BRANDING

Branding applications were produced across various formats, including merchandise and social media visuals, to test consistency and real-world application. The outcomes confirmed that the visual identity translated effectively across different media.

Figure 1.0 Merch Design By Huiyi

CARD GAME

This week focused on card game packaging and category design. Different packaging structures and visual hierarchies were explored to ensure clarity and brand alignment. Card categories and icon systems were finalised to improve gameplay readability and organisation. The evaluation showed that the packaging design aligned well with the established brand identity, providing a cohesive and engaging presentation. The following step was to begin developing a high-fidelity prototype of the game.
 
 
Figure 1.1 Packaging Progress

Figure 1.2 Final Packaging Design 

Figure 1.3 Final Packaging Mockup

WEBSITE

Key website pages were refined to improve layout, content placement, and navigation clarity. The structure supported a clear user journey and maintained brand consistency.

Figure 1.4 Highfy Design By Melvin

WEEK 11

This week marked a shift into high-fidelity development across all components. Branding applications, the card game, and the website were refined and produced at a higher level of detail to closely represent the intended final outcomes.

BRANDING

Branding applications were refined and polished to achieve production-ready outcomes, requiring only minor final adjustments.

Figure 1.5 Merch Design By Huiyi

CARD GAME

The primary focus of the week was the development of a high-fidelity card game prototype. High-quality card designs and packaging were produced, allowing for clearer evaluation of visual hierarchy and usability. Visual clarity was tested to ensure information could be easily understood during gameplay. 

Figure 1.6 Final Power Card Design


Figure 1.7 Final Emoji Card Design

Figure 1.8 Final Scenario Card

Figure 1.9 Emoji Card Mockup

Figure 2.0 Power Card Mockup

Figure 2.1 Scenario Card Mockup

Figure 2.2 Back Of Card Mockup

In addition, a manual guide booklet was designed to support rule explanation. The evaluation showed that the high-fidelity prototype significantly improved player engagement and comprehension. The next step was to conduct final refinements.

Figure 2.3 Booklet Page Pg 1
Figure 2.4 Booklet Page Pg 2
Figure 2.5 Booklet Page Pg 3

Figure 2.6 Booklet Page Pg 4

Figure 2.7 Booklet Mockup

Figure 2.8 Booklet Mockup

WEBSITE

A high-fidelity website prototype was developed, refining screen designs and interactions to accurately represent the final digital experience.

Figure 2.9 Hifi Design By Melvin

WEEK 12

This week focused on documentation and system consolidation. Art guides were developed across branding, the card game, and the website to ensure consistency and clarity in the final deliverables.

BRANDING

A branding art guide was developed, documenting key visual elements to support consistent application across platforms.

Figure 3.0 Art Guide Design By Huiyi

CARD GAME

This week focused on developing the game art guide. Card layouts, icon systems, and packaging guidelines were documented to standardise visual application and production. The completed art guide ensured consistency across all card game components. Final refinements were scheduled before submission.

Figure 3.1 Card Game Art Guide Section

Figure 3.2 Development & Collaboration Section

WEBSITE

A digital experience art guide was created, documenting the UI system and interaction guidelines to maintain consistency in the website design.

Figure 3.3 Art Guide Design By Melvin

WEEK 13

The final week focused on refining all deliverables, completing documentation, and preparing the project for submission. Attention was given to quality control and consistency across all platforms.

FINAL CARD GAME SET

FINAL ART GUIDE

FINAL FLIPBOOK ART GUIDE

Flipbook Art Guide Link

https://online.fliphtml5.com/Rainn00/FINALFINAL-Art-Guide-Booklet/




FINAL PRESENTATION VIDEO

Youtube Link

LINK TO GOOGLE DRIVE SUBMISSION (DOC / PDF)


FEEDBACK

WEEK 10
  • For Scenario Card, instead of black try to explore with other colours as black give a different feel then the others
WEEK 11
  • Overall art guide design looks good


REFLECTION

EMO:TION gave me a valuable experience in developing a cohesive art direction system across multiple design outputs. Working as a team strengthened my ability to collaborate, make decisions, and maintain visual consistency throughout the project.

Focusing on the card game and its packaging design highlighted the attention to detail required to create visually coherent and user-friendly materials. I learned that effective design is not just about aesthetics, but also clarity, usability, and clear communication with the audience. Time management became a challenge, as I often spent more time than intended refining the packaging design. Besides adapting to printing requirements, such as precise dieline measurements and accurate CMYK colour palettes, was also a steep learning curve, as we had no prior experience.

Through this process, I strengthened my skills in prioritisation, planning, and iterative design, while improving my ability to articulate design decisions and maintain cohesion across a multi-component project. Overall, the experience reinforced the importance of structured workflows, collaboration, and reflective practice lessons I will carry forward into future design work.


CHALLENGES FACED AND ACTION PLAN TO RESOLVE

Throughout the project, several challenges emerged that influenced both the workflow and decision-making process. One of the main difficulties was managing time effectively within a tight schedule. Balancing this project alongside other academic commitments often resulted in limited time for exploration and refinement, placing pressure on the later stages of development. This constraint required the team to make quicker decisions, sometimes limiting deeper experimentation.

Another significant challenge arose during the development of the card game packaging. Differences in design opinions within the team, combined with ongoing feedback from the lecturer, led to extended discussions and multiple revisions. While this process improved the final outcome, it also consumed more time than initially planned. Repeated changes to layout, structure, and visual hierarchy highlighted the challenge of aligning creative vision with practical expectations and assessment requirements.

In addition, preparing files for printing presented a new learning curve, as it was the team’s first experience with print production processes. Issues such as die-cut alignment, trim and bleed settings, and colour conversion from RGB to CMYK required careful attention. Initial uncertainty in these technical areas caused delays and revisions, emphasising the importance of understanding production requirements early in the design process.

To address these challenges, the team implemented several action plans. Time management was improved by prioritising key deliverables and setting clearer internal deadlines to prevent bottlenecks. For the packaging design, decisions were streamlined by consolidating feedback and agreeing on a final direction before moving into detailed refinements. Lecturer feedback was carefully analysed and translated into actionable design changes rather than reactive revisions. To overcome print preparation challenges, the team conducted additional research into printing standards and cross-checked files before final output. These actions helped ensure accuracy, reduced errors, and strengthened our confidence in handling production-ready designs.

Comments