DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING PROJECT 7: SELF-TITLED
NAME: Zhou Xinyi
I.D: 0378623
GROUP: G5
LISTS
1.Process Work
1.Process Work
1.1.1Idea Development
My name is Zhou Xinyi, and I was born in China. I'm someone who is especially passionate about fashion. This is my first semester of my degree, and I really enjoy singing, drawing, and especially shopping for clothes. Among these, buying clothes is my favorite—because I find it fascinating and exciting to match different fabrics and colors based on real-life scenarios or activities.
When it comes to what drives me to pursue my dreams, the answer is love. The love from my family and friends constantly nurtures a confident version of me—one who dares to try different styles and never backs down from challenges.
If I were to turn my dream into a piece of art, I believe it would be a bold, unconventional poster. I don’t want my style to be fixed or uniform—I want to break boundaries. That, to me, is what art truly means.
I wanted to express what I’m currently going through and my present thoughts—just like I wrote in my biography. For example, how my brain feels overwhelmed and chaotic during the first semester because of all the assignments and deadlines. At the same time, I’m counting down the days to summer break, dreaming of flying around and enjoying a carefree life. The design reflects the contrast between stress and freedom, pressure and excitement.
Seize your time, don’t let it slip away. Even when life gets overwhelming, keep your mind alive, stay curious, and make space to enjoy the small and beautiful moments. You only live once—live it to the fullest.
Carpe diem — seize the time, embrace the now, and don’t wait for tomorrow to start living.
1.1.2.Reference Piece
1.2.Draft
I used my own photo to create a sketch, which shows the effect I want to achieve.
Seize the Chaos
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I created a vintage halftone poster inspired by my current state of mind and my chaotic yet exciting university life. The concept stems from my passion for fashion and my curiosity about how different moments and emotions can be captured visually. Through this piece, I wanted to portray a sense of being overwhelmed, but also filled with hope and longing—especially my anticipation for freedom and adventures during the summer break.
The bold blue and magenta colors reflect both the stress and the vibrant energy of student life. The halftone effect represents the vintage aesthetic I love, while also symbolizing how memories and emotions blur and overlap in my mind.
The core message is simple but powerful: “Carpe diem” — seize the time, don’t let life pass you by. Even when your brain feels full and heavy, keep moving, keep feeling, and keep dreaming. That’s what this artwork is about.
Here’s the little story behind the video:
A tiny version of myself appears, casually opening up the top of my head—something that now feels like a daily routine. She gently curves her leg and jumps into my head, stepping into the "factory" inside, which symbolizes my brain. As the top part fully opens, she lands and starts working, triggering the gear wheels to begin turning—this moment marks the start of my mental activity for the day.
Gradually, smoke starts to rise from the “factory,” representing the pressure and overload I’ve been experiencing during my first semester. The top of my head slowly fades out, showing how overwhelming this process can feel. Meanwhile, the wings try to fly out of the frame, longing for freedom—just like I can’t wait for the summer break, when I can travel and live freely. I designed the inner scenes of my head like a moving artwork, representing my creative mind and emotional layers.
One small detail: the clock starts ticking even before the gears move—this is intentional. Time never stops, even if our brain does. It reminds us to seize the time, don’t waste it, and keep our inner world alive.
The entire video uses a warm-toned color scheme to express both tension and passion, creating a subtle contrast with the cool-toned poster. Together, they reflect my current reality and dreams in a unified visual narrative.
2.Reflection
For this project, I used my own photo and created a short video using Photoshop and Premiere Pro, focusing on a concept for a HONOR phone cover. This was my first time combining both tools for a video project, and although it was a bit challenging at first, I really enjoyed the process. I experimented with visual effects, color correction, and transitions to match the brand's futuristic and clean style.
Using my own image made the project feel more personal and meaningful. It also helped me think more deeply about how to represent a product visually and how to create something that feels both creative and professional. Premiere Pro allowed me to bring everything together smoothly, and I gained more confidence in video editing and layout planning.
Overall, this task pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a better understanding of how design and motion graphics can work together in branding. I’m proud of what I created and excited to explore more in this area in the future.
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