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JUMPING FISH

Client:

2016 Hornet Watersports Dragon Boat Paddle Design Competition

Tools:

Adobe Illustrator

Being part of the SFU Shockwave Dragon Boat team, I was encouraged to enter the design competition where the winner will have their design printed on a carbon-fiber paddle.

The graphic is designed to visually complement a Dragon Boater's entry and exit of the water. From the audience's perspective from the shore, it will look like a school of fish jumping in and out of the water.

PROCESS

The first version was inspired by my dragon boat team's inside-joke where the caller would slur his words so that "hold" sounded like "whole". Although my team liked the design, I needed a design that catered to the judges.

After I researched the designs that Hornet Watersports sold on their online store, I noticed that a large number of designs use only one pattern. I created a green cubic version to accommodate this method but since the competition is focused on stylistic designs, I decided to start over.

I was buying groceries at the supermarket and passed through the fish section. Inspired by the captured fish, I imagined what a free happy fish in the water would look like and decided to create it for the design competition. Although I was happy with the vector style, the use of blue creates a calming effect which did not seem to match the intensity of dragon boat practices and races.

With the theme of intensity and energy in mind, I changed the colour palette to warmer tones to align with the vision that the fish is jumping out of the water into the warm rays of the sun. The vision was starting to come together but it still seemed relaxing rather than bold and dynamic.

Inspired by traditional Japanese art styles, I decided to change the colour of the fish to a strong red so that it contrasts with the warm rays of the sun. Finally, I changed the wave shape and bubbles to complement the curvature of the fish to enhance the sense of motion in the design.