Process : How to Visit A Japanese Shrine
A 2 weeks project in November 2021 (in Chicago)
IIT Institute of Design (Educational purpose)
Visual representation of how to visit a Japanese shrine
Course - Introduction to Visual Communications
This course provides the fundamentals for conveying visual information in a way that is effective and clear. Through a deep understanding structure and context of content, we learned to apply visual elements, techniques, and principles crafting effective visual messages.
This two-week project entailed showing a process at the how-to level. Using various sign systems(text, images, and diagrams), represent the process of your choice on an 11in*17in page. We were supposed to assume that we were teaching an audience with minimal knowledge of the process. I decided to explain how to visit a Japanese shrine.
My Role
Communication Designer
Instructor
Tomoko Ichikawa
Jody Campbell
Intent
Visiting a Japanese shrine is not easy. There are a lot of rules that many of us Japanese people are not even aware of. There is a specific flow of visiting a shrine and what to do there. I targeted those are not familiar with that process, including foreigners visiting Japan.
I intended to provide a clear start and end points and flow direction. Also, since I wanted to explain the process and introduce some unique objects you will encounter in the shrine(such as Komainu and Chozu-ya), I tried to clearly differentiate between description and directive information.
Approach
Once my intent is clearer, I started with sketching my idea and then moved in to high fidelity design with InDesign and Illustrator. Through a series of critique by our instructors and classmates, I kept reiterating and improving the work.
Sketching out rough ideas and getting a feedback
Visualizing my thoughts in InDesign and Illustrator. (The background is a photo of broccoli, which I thought was a genius idea…🥦)
Outcome
Finalizing the visuals based on the feedback
Below is a finalized poster!
