Design Exploration-Progress Journal

 24/09/26 - 18/11/26 (Week 1-Week 10)

Chika Clarissa Widjaja / 0378636

Character Design/ Bachelors Of Design (Creative Media) / Taylor's University

Design Exploration: Progress Journal

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• INSTRUCTIONS
• TASK
• FEEDBACK
• REFLECTION

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INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK

Week 1-4 

Week 1

On the first week of class, we were briefed about this module, what to expect, and to pitch our idea next week, along with our work.

Week 2

On week 2, I presented to Mr.Hafiz on what I want to do for this module, which is to research about marketing strategies and make content for my art account, as I've always wanted to make content, but didn't have the time to, and don't know how. Through this module, I think it is a good opportunity to learn something new.

Mr.Hafiz suggested that I focus more on the marketing research instead of creating content each week which will be too much.

Fig 1.1 Presentation Slides

Week 3 

After receiving feedback, I started on my proposal to get a clear view of what I want to do for this module. I decided it was best to use this module as mostly a marketing research based study for my content in the future, and will make only 2-3 videos for the end results.

Slides Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1klUIOAk7KI46VM8NVOlJ5qVZzYfF-9xAvevQIgXVbCQ/edit?usp=sharing

Fig 1.2 Proposal Slides

Week 4-5 (RESEARCH)

From week 4-5, I started researching on marketing from youtube and several websites and took notes on what I gained:

Algorithm: an automated system of rules and calculations that decides which posts appear in your feed and in what order, based on your past behavior and interests.

People have less attention span these days, u have around 3 seconds to catch peoples attention to keep watching: Hook. Make sure the CONTEXT Is obvious within 0.5 seconds.

Hook: Textual, Visual, Sound

Text Hook: A short, bold sentence written on the screen. This is super important because many people watch Reels on mute. 

Visual:  Movement, a sudden zoom-in, a bright color, or starting right in the middle of an action. Because people scroll fast, a visual change stops their thumb.

Sound: The first spoken line, question, or sound effect. Instead of a boring intro like "Hey guys, welcome back to my channel," a verbal hook immediately addresses a problem, teases a secret, or makes a bold claim. 

Example of sound hooks:

 (https://www.q1media.com/pages/case-studies-blogs/instagram-hooks)

• Asking a question: "Why is your phone battery always dying by noon?"
• Calling out a mistake: "Stop making this one huge mistake with your skincare."
• Promising a benefit: "Here is a 30-second trick to save an hour every single day."
• Teasing a secret: "I wish someone had told me this before I started cooking pasta." 

• Use “you” to personalize the message and make it feel like you’re speaking directly to the viewer.
• Be genuine; don’t overdo fear-based hooks or exaggerate, as viewers may feel manipulated. Aim to provide real solutions after presenting the challenge.

1. Open loop: a storytelling trick where you tease a mystery, question, or surprising outcome at the very start of the video, and wait until the end to reveal the answer.

Boosts your watch time and completion rate, which tells the Instagram algorithm to push your Reel to more people.

How It Works in a Reel

• The Hook (Opening the Loop):  Start  with an intriguing statement or question in the first 3 seconds.  "I made one tiny mistake on my flight to Tokyo, and it cost me $500."
• The Middle (Holding Tension): You explain the backstory or build up to the moment without giving away the secret yet.
• The Payoff (Closing the Loop): Right before the video ends, reveal the answer.
  For example, "I forgot to check the airport code and flew into Narita instead of Haneda."

Example Vid:

Fig 1.3 Example Vid

2. Shoulder Tap Method 

A one line method that you say after your hook.

Your hook catches their attention, the shoulder tap makes them stay.

Three ways to tap: Identity, Problem, Situation

Example:

1. Beauty Creator

• Hook: "This is why your foundation is going to be cakey by lunchtime"

• Shoulder Tap: "If you have dry skin and you've tried every primer on the market, this is for you."

2.  Book Creator

• Hook: "Here are five thrillers with twists you will not see coming"

• Shoulder tap: "and if you're somebody who always guesses the ending, you're gonna love this list"

3. 3D Creator:

1. Problem-Based Tap

Hook: "Here is why your 3D renders still look like plastic."
Shoulder Tap: "If you spend hours tweaking textures and your lighting still feels flat, this quick fix is for you."

2. Identity-Based Tap

Hook: "Stop wasting money on expensive 3D asset packs."
Shoulder Tap: "If you're a solo indie dev trying to build a game on a zero-dollar budget, you need to save this."

3. Situation-Based Tap

Hook: "This one Blender shortcut will save you hours of modeling."
Shoulder Tap: "And if you're currently staring at a messy mesh with a client deadline tomorrow morning, pay close attention."

• Understand what gets you the most views/interest from people
• Be consistent in the topics that you create
• Understanding what keeps people watching and interacting makes growth much more intentional.

Key Takeaways:

After researching how social media algorithms actually work, my biggest takeaway is that growth isn't just luck, it's a chain reaction where human retention drives algorithmic reach. To grow intentionally, here are the core rules I'm keeping in mind:

• Stop the scroll fast: Give clear context in 0.5 seconds and layer visual, text, and audio hooks within the first 3 seconds.
• Make it personal: Use the "Shoulder Tap Method" (calling out a specific identity, problem, or situation) and talk directly to "you" so the right audience feels seen.
• Hold the tension: Use open loops to keep people watching till the end, signaling to the algorithm to push the video further.
• Stay real and consistent: Skip the clickbait, stick to core topics, and repeat formats that actually hold attention.

Week 6 (Content and Personal Account Analysis)

On week 6, I started to analyze 3D instagram accounts that actively make contents. List of instagram accounts I observed:

• @ryankingslien
• @baran.sculpts
• @byon_art
• @fomnia.art

I ask this one question: 

If I keep making 3d reels, the algorithm will push my videos to people who does 3d or likes 3d. But what do they like watching? 

This was a fairly easy question to answer as my friends and I are also one of the target audience. I analyze reels that catch my eye, and what makes me stop watching until the end. 

Here's what I gathered:

• Hacks of a software thats easy and fast to follow 
• Hacks and Tutorials
• Interesting sculpts
• Brushes every 3D artist should know and their function
• Quick transformation of sculpts with trendy audio
• Fast, easy to follow
• Sharing your own method like the walnut "method" : makes ppl wonder what is tht method?
• Timelapse of your work
• Process of your work
• Relatable Videos when doing 3D

What I noticed is that everyone is learning, even the art directors and pro 3D sculptures. They still join courses, watch youtube tutorials, and actively learn. For example, Vitaly Bulgarov, a senior 3D designer for Blizzard and DreamWorks, said in an interview: 'I enjoy learning and went through a bunch of tutorials on UE4 on Epic Games' official YouTube channel.' (https://thegnomonworkshop.com/blog/vitaly-bulgarov/)

Marketing Strategies 3D Artists Use:

Connecting My Week 4–5 Research to Week 6

• 0.5-Second Context & Visual Hooks: They start right in the middle of sculpting or zoom into a mesh immediately so you know it's 3D content right away.
• Text Hooks for Mute: They put short, bold text on screen at the very start so you still get hooked even with the sound off.
• Genuine Sound Hooks: No boring intros. They call out a mistake or promise a quick tip using "you," then actually give a real solution instead of clickbait.
• Shoulder Tap Method: Right after the hook, they target a specific identity, problem, or situation (like "If you're a beginner struggling with face topology...") so you feel called out and stay.
• Open Loops: Naming things like the "walnut method" or starting with a rough sculpt makes you curious, so you watch till the end just to see the final result.
• Algorithm Boosters: Fast timelapses and easy hacks make people rewatch and save the video, which tells the algorithm to push it to more 3D artists.:

My Instagram Account Analysis:

I’ve made a habit of posting regular Instagram Stories to build natural familiarity first, so my main feed posts land with an audience that already recognizes me.

When posting stories, I showed my process, design choices, and some fun time

lapse videos.

Fig 1.4 Instagram Story Compilation

By changing my art account to a business account in instagram, I can see the statistics and see what my audience likes from my account.

Fig 1.5 Instagram Account Analysis

• The Overall Numbers: I got 621 total views from 76 unique viewers (a drop from the previous month, mostly because I focused less on high-reach content).
• Stories Carried My Page: Stories brought in 390 views, more than half of my total traffic, compared to 219 on feed posts and 12 on Reels.
• Strong Followers: Almost all my views came from existing followers, meaning each active viewer watched my content around 8 times on average.
• Biggest Spike: My views peaked at 178 right after October 26, showing that specific updates really caught my audience's attention.
• Key Takeaway: My Story warm-up strategy is working to keep my current followers engaged. 
• 
  

Next, I’ll mix in a few Reels to reach new non-followers.

Week 7 

On week 7, Mr.Hafiz briefed us on our week 8 submission, and held a progress check. 

Feedback: 

How are you going to push your work, come up with a marketing plan, Have a structured market research, How do you market your social media, etc.

Rough Content Planning:

Content Ideas

1. Introduction reel:

-Explain what is 3D sculpting/what u do in an easy way since my audience right now is only friends/family who isn't familiar.

• Try to make it as simple as possible to understand, give examples from famous movies. 
• This makes ppl less distant and confused, good as an introductionary, and to educate ppl more on how much effort this it goes to movie/games

2. Day in a life of an art student 

• Start from morning to night
• Voiceover in the background talking about your plans, about your art, etc.

3. Behind the scenes/sculpting process

• Process from start to finish
• Talk about the struggles and interest
• Zoomed in clips of sculpting

I also started filming myself and documenting my sculpting process on Z-brush for potential videos in the future.

 Fig 1.5 Recorded Sculpting Process (1)

 Fig 1.5 Recorded Sculpting Process (2)

Week 8 (Finalizing Content Planning and Script)

Timeline

Week 8-9: Finalize Content Ideas & Scripts

Week 10-12: Filming Content

Week 12-14: Editing & Polishing

Week 15: Uploading