Drafts,Sketches, Possible Icon Ideas:
During the draft and sketching process, I tried to keep my illustrations/doodles related to my place as much as possible. I drew things that were either elements from the place or somehow resembled the meaning of the place. (Further explanations of each icon is down below.)
Icon trials using Illustrator:
For the icon designs, I decided to test only some of the ideas that I would most likely use for my final icon design. I wanted to keep them simple yet meaningful too. In addition, I tried to keep the colour palette within the colours that were at the Lake whether it be on the signposts or around the Lake (e.g leaves, trees, ducks.) Reflection: I might possibly try experiment with more ideas or simply just try different colours for the icons already made.)
Explanations behind the Icon Designs:
Pathway: I thought of this as an icon idea because it resembled the long pathway at the Lake. Moreover, it also represents the journey of oneself through the Lake. When I walked around the Lake, I thought a lot- this could also represent the idea of thinking and self reflection because when I would walk around the Lake, I tend to reflect and think more while looking at the view. (Side note: There are 2 walkways around the Lake and you can choose where you would like to start.- could try 2 pathways- the idea of choices and decisions represent the 2 pathways.)
Leaves (NZ ferns): I thought of using this for an icon design because my place is covered with trees and leaves but mainly New Zealand ferns. (green or brown.) This also represents the nature of the place.
Tree Silhouettes: Keeping the theme of nature and the look of the place going, I decided to draw a very simple tree silhouette that I had captured at the Lake but have stripped back all the detail and kept it very simple. (I ended up incorporating this for another icon design idea.)
Lily pads/Lake: (This one was my least favourite because of the drawing.) Another thing that the Lake is covered with is Lily pads, lots of it. The idea of lily pads could resemble the thoughts of the brain, memories or struggles. (The lily pads could resemble anything from the mind/ what is on the mind.)
Tested Ideas through Illustrator:
Mental Health: This is one of my favourites for I feel like this represents my place and the theme I am trying to show, which is about mental health in relation to nature. For this icon, I wanted to show the idea of thoughts, mental health and the human mind which inspires and pushes emotions. Moreover, in the placement of the brain, I put the illustration of a tree silhouette from one of the photos I have taken, which represents my place-Lake Panorama.
Rocks: (This is another one of my favourites.) From the stories and research I have done about the rocks community within the Lake, I decided to do an icon of it. For this icon, I had used the skeleton of my typeface (Joanna) using the calligraphy brush to give it a handwritten feel rather than adding in serifs for it would make it look like it was computerised. (or basically, it wouldn’t look like it was handwritten.) Moreover, I wrote the words find me because that’s what the people do with the rocks. They hide their rocks while they find other rocks around the Lake. Whether they are hidden up high or down low. I feel like the words also represent me trying to find myself at the Lake. While some people try to find the rocks, I am trying to find myself by reflecting on what’s been going on my life, the things happening around me and how it makes me feel.
Bridge: For this icon, I had an idea of illustrating one of the bridges from the Lake. This represents the idea of connection. The connection between mind and nature. The connection between thoughts and reflections. The connection between yourself and the disconnection from the stress and worries of life.
Grey Ducks: This one resembled the grey ducks that stay around the Lake. I did the ducks because it is another thing I see at the Lake a lot. Sometimes I wish I was the ducks that stayed at this Lake. Because I had noticed that they have it easy. All they have to worry about is about getting fed which isn’t a huge problem because most of the residents that live by or go to the park always come to feed them. Whereas with humans, we have to worry about work, school, money, food, clothes and more. I’m over here worried and stressed while they’re just swimming around the Lake as they eat peoples leftover bread.
Duck Profiles: This has a similar idea to the duck icon above but is seen from a different perspective (side profile.) I thought that it would be interesting to try the duck imagery from a different view.
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