Documentation

First Exercise

For our first exercise, each of us took a square sheet of paper and started sketching freely, making sure to leave some space around the edges. We then cut the sheet into four pieces and swapped the diagonally opposite parts. After gluing the pieces back together, we continued filling the sheet with matching elements to create a cohesive design.

Afterwards, we imported our drawings into Illustrator and used the pattern tool to create a repeating pattern.

Second Exercise 

For our second assignment, we needed to have already chosen a story, poem, book, or song to work with for our pattern. I chose the song Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai, which describes a dystopian future where society has become so dependent on technology that it would collapse without it. I found it particularly interesting that we are now living in the very future the song envisioned almost 30 years ago. Plus, I simply really like the song.

Based on our chosen theme, we were tasked with creating two vector icons, which didn’t need to be overly complex. I designed a tech-inspired tree and a pixel character. We then had to arrange these icons freely in Illustrator and use them to create a pattern.

Mindmap

Now it was time to start thinking about my final pattern. I began by creating a mind map and collecting keywords. As I tried to visualize the content of the song Virtual Insanity, the first thing that came to mind was interfaces — specifically, how users are sometimes bombarded with information on their computers. Stylistically, I associated the song with a Y2K and overall retro aesthetic.

Moodboard

I continued by creating a mood board. I found the old, various pop-up windows that appear on a computer screen particularly interesting. At the same time, this gave me the idea to include a key element in my pattern. I thought about drawing an avatar and then pixelating it to fit the aesthetic.

Final Pattern

For my final pattern, I started creating icons and other elements. I then experimented with different arrangements on an artboard. To complete the pattern, I added a grid as a background to tie everything together.

Later on, I decided to arrange my pattern using a half-drop layout. I also changed the white background to an off-white tone to better capture the retro vibe

POP_UP

Colours

At the end of the Expertise week, I was able to present three different versions of my pattern. All three versions shared the same black and off-white base, differing only in the choice of contrast color.

Mock Ups

In the final step, we applied our patterns to mock-ups. I wanted the products to look cohesive and match the Y2K aesthetic.

Reflection

It was an exciting week, and especially on Friday, I found it fascinating to see the processes and working methods of the others. It was particularly interesting to observe the different approaches and to see how each of us developed a pattern based on our chosen themes.

I would have loved to have more time to experiment. I would have liked to try out different color combinations and various arrangements of my elements. Unfortunately, time was especially limited during this Expertise, as Monday was a public holiday and we only had four days. Nevertheless, I’m very happy with my result. Even though I don't think the inspiration behind my pattern is immediately obvious, I believe the concept is coherent and that the pattern successfully conveys the spirit of Virtual Insanity.