Environment Design

25/9/2025 - 4/1/2025 / (Week 1 - Week 14)

An Hongzheng / 0378415

Environment Design / GCD61904

Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

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TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Instruction

2. Weekly Progress
3. Exercise : Fundamentals
4. Project 1: Exterior and Landscape Design
5. Project 2: Interior and Set Design
6. Project 3: Complete Environment Design Bible
7. Reflection

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INSTRUCTIONS

Figure 1.1: Module Information

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Weekly Progress

Week 1 - Week 8

- After Mr. Kannan introduced the basic information of this module and each project, I began to study this module.

- Beyond the basic exercises, I first tried to draw a large-scale basic scene for project 1, including shadows.

- Next, I drew the city hall from the established world view.

- I designed the power plant for the city in my self-created worldview because Mr. Kannan suggested that our design should have more specific functions.

- I designed a relatively small scene, inspired by an open-air bath. Starting with this painting, I began to focus on the design of small details.

- This is a design for a hotel, and the background also showcases the shapes and characteristics of most buildings within this worldview.

-  Try narrowing down the scope of the design and creating a smaller-scale environmental design.

- Add shadows to my concept sketches.

- At Mr. Kannan's suggestion, the design with more suitable proportions and selection range was further refined.

- After the overall design was polished (color ), some breakdown design was carried out.

- More detailed designs were carried out on some important buildings.

-Mr. Kannan believed that the environment in which my building was located (the cave) still had much room for improvement and demonstrated methods for improvement to me. Based on this, I continued to significantly optimize the overall design and quality.

- Added shadow.

- Ambience 1

- Ambience 2

- Ambience 3 ( Regular Colormatch)

- The complete information was compiled, including who lives in the building.

Week 9

- I started to move on to the interior design for the environment design.

- I chose the most effective and clear angle to sketch out the interior design.

- perspective 1

Week 10

- Based on the first drawing, I kept the interior design and objects unchanged and drew other angles.

- Perspective 2

- Perspective 3

- Perspective 4

- Perspective 5

- Shadow 1

- I added shadow to my 5 perspectives drawings

- Shadow 2

- Shadow 3

- Shadow 4

- Shadow 5

Week 11

- After selecting the hero persvective, I refined the entire sketch.

- Added color, shadows, and highlights to my design.

Week 12

- The items and decorations in my interior design were disassembled to showcase the design breakdown in greater detail.

- Added ambience. 

- Ambience 2

- Ambience 3

- Ambience 4

Christamas

- Start 3d modeling by making items for interior design.

Week 14

- Creating the outer shape was relatively simple. After that, I started placing the previously created objects' subtools inside.

- Then I added colors and materials, and did some simple polypainting for some details.

- I adjusted the lighting and rendering properties, ready to render.

Week 15

- Finishing the final poster design in Photoshop.

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Exercise 1 - Fundamentals

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Project 1 - Exterior and Landscape Design

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Project 2 - Interior and Set Design

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Project 3 - Complete Environment Design Bible

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REFLECTION

Experience: 

This module was actually quite challenging for me. My lack of passion and observation for environmental design meant I didn't have enough knowledge or experience to support my design work. I realized my abilities were very limited, and my knowledge of 3D modeling software was also very limited.

From beginning to end, I felt I might have made some progress, but I remained very confused and frustrated. I believe I need to continue learning to distinguish and absorb good design principles.

Observation: 

Good designs, even those that appear complex, are actually composed of many simple elements. Furthermore, in the process of design and creation, designs gradually evolve and improve from simple foundations. Therefore, when designing, one should calm down and focus on the fundamentals, such as correct perspective and a logical structure.

The distribution, arrangement, and placement of graphics and colors are also crucial in design; we should have initial ideas in the early stages.

Good design differs from ordinary concept illustrations. Generally, each object in a good design has a corresponding practical function, rather than simply serving an aesthetic purpose.

Findings: 

I've discovered that creating truly good designs requires consistent, ongoing learning. Environmental design demands rigorous logic, such as considering the intended functions of each building, the people living in it, how it reflects cultural characteristics, and ensuring that proportions are not merely aesthetically pleasing but also truly functional.

Perspective is paramount in environmental design. If you can't draw accurate perspective on your own, you can use 3D software to assist you.

Overall, although this semester has been very frustrating, and I feel my design, drawing, and modeling skills are far from sufficient, I will continue to strive.