Old Town Bangkok
Hospitality, Travel
Purpose
A project focuses on composition studies for DSGN 105: Visual Design Systems.​
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To create a travel promotional poster for Saphan Han (the turning bridge) area in Bangkok, Thailand. The historical bridge is fading away by the urbanization of the modern city.
Responsibilities
Researcher Visited Saphan Han and urban spaces in Bangkok to record visual samples and interviewed the locals about the narrative of the area.
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Graphic Designer Conceptualized and visualized the poster to present the narrative collected from the research.
Duration
2 weeks
Tool
Contextual Inquiry
Competitor Research
Photography
Traditional Sketches
Armature Composition
Google Workspace
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Key Takeaways
Connecting with the local: I was able to connect with the existing locals after the major renovation a few years back, as well as how they have been affected by modern development.
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Composition system: Practiced mathematical structure using the armature to make a dynamic composition.
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Reference gathering: Observe and record historical, visual, and essence of the space through photography, sketch, and conversation with the local.
Saphan Han
Why an old bridge?
The bridge is known as Saphan Han, or the Turning Bridge. It is an intersect of a 3 major markets, and 4 ethnic groups.
It was inspired by the bridge in Italy when King Rama V of the Chakri dynasty visited Venice. The art direction is show this fading narrative that is eaten by the surrounding urbanization of the city through the missing architectural parts.
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Walking around the bridge area, the neoclassical style lamp and bridge is decorated in traditional Thai pattern. The Chinese incense holder is stuck on the wall next to a mural of a Theravada buddha in the Indian community area. There are Thai, Chinese, and Indian restaurants in every alley. The chaotically organized sector of cultures, which lives peacefully in the same space results in an interesting environment. I explored the area and records the visual elements.
The local's tales VS The internet data
The local data
I interviewed several shops in Saphan Han area including the Sampheng wholesale market and the Pahurat fabric market. The majority of them has been running the business for over 40 years. The information are more directed towards their story of opening the business and the most prominent memory of the reconstruction in 2015, when many smaller vendor shops were forced to relocate elsewhere.
The internet data
Directed towards the original story of the bridge, the internet data provides the information of Saphan Han as one of the oldest bridge in Bangkok. It was a single plank of wood when the city was first appointed as the new capital. In the year 1962, King Rama V then remodeled the bridge based on the Rialto bridge in Venice and the Ponte Vecchio in Florence to boost the economy and to show the Westerners that the country is civilized in order to avoid colonization. Now it has become a part of Ong Ang Canal walking street.
The urban culture, Bangkok's malls
The foreign influences on the concept of modernity
Catching on the bridge's renovation that affected the locals' lives, I looked further into the modernization of malls and see what observe what considered trendy in each eras. Each time the mall was built, it is based on the foreign influence started with Japanese (Thai Daimaru), then American (Nightingale), and international (Terminal 21). It was not until 2018, when ICON Siam created a reinterpreted modern and luxurious Thai mall.
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In parallel to the bridge, I believe it is the time to not just recklessly renovated the historical landmark without considering its narrative and the affect it has on the locals.
Design system
Mathematical design: squares, armatures, and compass
I went through a set of exercises in mathematical design using compasses to develop different compositional ratios. Starting with drawing a square measured by compass, which allowed me to practice precision and craftsmanship. The next challenge is the armature. I realized the relationship of squares and how it builds into different composition with proportions. Each exercises took me at least two A4 sheets to get the sense of how the system works and I believe I still need to rework on it to remember the system.
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Applying the armature into the composition helps creating the complicate design without sacrificing the pleasing visual.
Creating squares using a compass. Practicing precision and proportions.
Applying the precision and proportion practice from the square to the armatures.
Creating squares using a compass. Practicing precision and proportions.
Visual development
Sketches and mood board
Incorporating the local elements, especially the old neoclassical architecture and cultural items into the piece led the direction of the visual.
A compilation of the photographs that lead to the color palette and common shapes as well as the typeface.
A compilation of the photographs that lead to the color palette and common shapes as well as the typeface.
Value and color study
Seeing the contrast
Starting the composition with the value studies allows the contrast to shines through and designates the color and value focus in addition to the implied lines.
Final thoughts
Looking back
Diving into the research made me realized the more tangible aspect of the location but I wish I could integrate more of their narrative into the final poster. Some of the earlier sketches shows potential of human involvement, which would be well supported if added the armature system to complement the urbanization concept.
