Multimedia Design, since the term was coined in tandem to the rise of computing machines, comprises five elements; Text, Image, Audio, Video, and Interactivity. The last principle were challenged by animators, debatably valid as moving images or animation (by animating to interact) enforced a minimal benchmark to 'communicate' with users and audiences. A decade later we normalise using the label Digital Media as an umbrella term to reference a wider spectrum to create, again propelled by electrical hardwares and electronic devices to put screens into easily accessible hands.

     What began as a mere mix-matching of five singular element adequately, with intentions to create limited screen experiences (a long time ago), has now shifted into creators being the 'consumers' themself, way before their audience is prepared for a distributable consumption of digital contents. Creators in the present day are spoilt for choice in their tools inventory; Software, application, template, automation, stock-image, brush, preset, plug-in, screen-resolution, device, gadget, control, synthesiser, projector, just naming a few and the list would break the layout of this page to include sub-categories, versions, and functions wrapped within each variable mentioned above. 

     This sets a tone indicating that there is no stop to the limits of digital content creation. As long as our cravings for both improved and advanced technologies remain, there is no taming our consistent appetite that follows, if not grow. Moreover, we are lenient to what is provided and fed to us, that there will be parties deeply invested in pushing limits for gain, in return of what is deemed beneficial for the mass. Is it ever good or bad for digital creators? Let's just say we now have widened options, paid or unpaid, although most seemingly perceived so. So what might be the consequence? Who cares? So long as there exist potential eyeballs potentially leading to capital gains, it is advertised by instilling the context of 'creation is for all, every creator deserves a chance, it is purely for entertainment.' Innocent, but effective.

     I used to believe some sort of protocol and system should be put in place to safeguard with check and balance, judging right and wrong while advocating for what is proper or not; Associations, regulations, containments, memorandums, guidelines. Yet I am now constantly reminded by myself of the conversation between Kong Zi and Lao Zi, in exchange of a neutral approach where all seemingly chaotic digital creation and its designs should be left to venture its own course, whether to prosper or end in demise. Remember the cutesy crypto-currency coins and artsy NFTs? There you go. 

     Meanwhile, as a digital designer and creator, I put my faith to the balance of it all. As noise grew, take a few steps back. As calm stagnates, put a few punches ahead. The landscape of everything digitally designed and created might be presently overwhelming, yet I say embrace the chaos even if it leads to burst at its tipping point. We are now creating in an era that is 'free-for-all' and 'everyone-for-themselves'. Hence what really matters could be traced to each creator's intention, yet again regardless of opinions. Didn't we agree that unique individual traits were the pre-requisite to a collaborated creativity? What mattered is for each creator to be selective of methodologies they utilise to apply, and one day be absolutely aware of their intention though it is bound to be time consuming for experimentations with trial and errors. 

     I decided to return to graphic designing and whenever possible or given the opportunity, blended with hand-crafted materials. The digital interactive scene felt distanced away as I find its endless possibilities to be personally unbearable. It used to be such a hard pill to swallow, reminiscing my past of majoring in multiple-media designing nearly two decades ago. Yet times change, I changed, we change. Perhaps that is why I now seek pottery and coffee roasting as the balance to both ends off my scale in visual designing. Or indeed changes to creation is only natural as much it is inevitable. Allow others to be who they are in creating what they will, as they allowed you to be who you are in creating what you truly love.  



▼ Posters designed with former students during simpler teaching days.
Those days felt nostalgically far away, yet paved the way to what is today.