2024 Grad Show

Esther Chu

AUArts Grad Show WhatsApp Image 2024-04-18 at 01.26.28_bc165e90 1

VCD – Advertising & Graphic Design

drawingpolygon.carrd.co/

Growing up in a musical household with a background in piano, obtaining a degree in Geophysics, and then obtaining my second degree in Graphic Design, my journey as an artist was one with a winding road. It wasn't always clear to me what I wanted to do in life, but after taking a leap of enrolling into AUArts I knew I could use my artistic ability for not only self-expression, but help bring to reality the ideas of other people. With my experience in both Graphic Design and Illustration, I want to become a well-rounded individual that can help others with any visual dilemmas that comes their way.

Outer Packaging Design Using PCR cardboard and a small metal chain to clip the door shut, environmentally-friendly algae-based ink will be used to print the chains and logo on the packaging.
Inner Packaging Design
For Your Eyes Only - Symbol Decoder Inside the packaging, each compartment will be marked with a symbol that specifies what candy lies inside. The owner of the box can choose to not read the envelope for a sweet surprise, or they can read the decoder for each symbol to be assured what exactly is inside the package.
Inner Packaging Design - Secret Compartment Hidden behind the cardboard jars lies one secret compartment stashed in the back of the box for an extra layer of surprise.
My Secret Stash - Logo

My Secret Stash

"My Secret Stash" is a proposal for a sweets-shipping company that seeks to reduce waste produced from candy wrappers all year round, especially during Halloween. This delivery service caters to sweet connoisseurs with a monthly subscription that handpicks candy of your choice directly from the manufacturer prior from wrapping, all packed into a box that opens up with secret compartments. Each compartment has special symbols that can be decoded with a small envelope describing what candies are included in the packaging, and the whole packaging will be entirely compostable by using PCR cardboard, sustainable molded pulp, food-friendly paper wrappers, and recyclable glass jars for candy for airtight seals.

My Secret Stash AUArts Grad Show Slide10
Outer Packaging Design Using PCR cardboard and a small metal chain to clip the door shut, environmentally-friendly algae-based ink will be used to print the chains and logo on the packaging.
My Secret Stash AUArts Grad Show Slide12
Inner Packaging Design
My Secret Stash AUArts Grad Show Slide11
For Your Eyes Only - Symbol Decoder Inside the packaging, each compartment will be marked with a symbol that specifies what candy lies inside. The owner of the box can choose to not read the envelope for a sweet surprise, or they can read the decoder for each symbol to be assured what exactly is inside the package.
My Secret Stash AUArts Grad Show Slide13
Inner Packaging Design - Secret Compartment Hidden behind the cardboard jars lies one secret compartment stashed in the back of the box for an extra layer of surprise.
My Secret Stash AUArts Grad Show Slide5
My Secret Stash - Logo
Three Flavour Profiles - Sweet, Spicy, and Smokey The colour palette and visual motifs used in each bottle reflects the flavour profile of each whiskey. Whiskey illustrations by Yike Xie.
Astrologer's Ascension Mockup of Enchanter's Whiskey - Astrologer's Ascension, showcasing the front and back profile of the sweet whiskey. Mockup by Esther Chu.
Packaging Design Whiskey bottles will be set inside a packaging made to look like a magical tome, with the brand story printed on the inside of the lid. Mockup by Jaemin Jung.

Enchanter's Whiskey

This collaborative effort with Yike Xie and Jaemin Jung created "Enchanter's Whiskey", a magically-themed liquor brand that offers an immersive fantasy narrative for the same people that enjoy Dungeons and Dragons. Using beautiful illustrations on glass bottles, we seek to give people an escapism from reality by emulating an experience of stepping into a potion shop from a fantasy novel.

Enchanter's Whiskey AUArts Grad Show ChuJungXie.VSCD329.P2.Presentation_Page_17
Three Flavour Profiles - Sweet, Spicy, and Smokey The colour palette and visual motifs used in each bottle reflects the flavour profile of each whiskey. Whiskey illustrations by Yike Xie.
Enchanter's Whiskey AUArts Grad Show ChuJungXie.VSCD329.P2.Presentation_Page_16
Astrologer's Ascension Mockup of Enchanter's Whiskey - Astrologer's Ascension, showcasing the front and back profile of the sweet whiskey. Mockup by Esther Chu.
Enchanter's Whiskey AUArts Grad Show ChuJungXie.VSCD329.P2.Presentation_Page_19
Packaging Design Whiskey bottles will be set inside a packaging made to look like a magical tome, with the brand story printed on the inside of the lid. Mockup by Jaemin Jung.
Fossil Record Mockup
The Dino: A Cultural Symbol This featured article discusses the use of dinosaurs as cultural symbols, ranging from movies to children's toys. Text, photography, and illustration by Clara Strum.
Discoveries that SHOOK the world of Paleoart Focused on eight discoveries made throughout human history, this article mimics the formatting of a textbook handled by a dino-loving researcher that's placed personalized comments throughout the page for a sense of whimsical delight and to make the condensed information more approachable. Text and illustration by Esther Chu.
How Did Dinos Walk? Taking an animator's approach and studying the bones of long-necked dinosaurs such as Brachiosaurus, a scientific and illustrator's approach helped deduce how such lumbering giants walked the Earth. Text and illustration by Clara Strum.
The Mystery of the Helicoprion This featured article unravels the mystery of the Helicoprion fossil that's eluded scientists for decades since its discovery. Text and illustration by Esther Chu.
Dino Personality Quiz - What Dino Are You? Much like the Sunday cartoons of a newspaper, each issue holds fun activities for readers to enjoy, along with sponsored ads that caters to dino enthusiasts. Text by Clara Strum, illustration by Esther Chu.

Fossil Record

Partnered alongside Clara Strum, Fossil Record is a dinosaur magazine made for nerdy adults. Unlike National Geographic and other dinosaur magazines that have a broader focus on science, our primary focus are on artistic and visual elements of paleontology, offering a window into the minds of daydreaming Paleo Artists.

Fossil Record AUArts Grad Show Fossil Record Mockup
Fossil Record Mockup
Fossil Record AUArts Grad Show FossilRecord.MASTER 1_Page_12
The Dino: A Cultural Symbol This featured article discusses the use of dinosaurs as cultural symbols, ranging from movies to children's toys. Text, photography, and illustration by Clara Strum.
Fossil Record AUArts Grad Show FossilRecord.MASTER 1_Page_05
Discoveries that SHOOK the world of Paleoart Focused on eight discoveries made throughout human history, this article mimics the formatting of a textbook handled by a dino-loving researcher that's placed personalized comments throughout the page for a sense of whimsical delight and to make the condensed information more approachable. Text and illustration by Esther Chu.
Fossil Record AUArts Grad Show FossilRecord.MASTER 1_Page_08
How Did Dinos Walk? Taking an animator's approach and studying the bones of long-necked dinosaurs such as Brachiosaurus, a scientific and illustrator's approach helped deduce how such lumbering giants walked the Earth. Text and illustration by Clara Strum.
Fossil Record AUArts Grad Show FossilRecord.MASTER 1_Page_09
The Mystery of the Helicoprion This featured article unravels the mystery of the Helicoprion fossil that's eluded scientists for decades since its discovery. Text and illustration by Esther Chu.
Fossil Record AUArts Grad Show FossilRecord.MASTER 1_Page_18
Dino Personality Quiz - What Dino Are You? Much like the Sunday cartoons of a newspaper, each issue holds fun activities for readers to enjoy, along with sponsored ads that caters to dino enthusiasts. Text by Clara Strum, illustration by Esther Chu.
Introduction (right page) Conceptualization of Quorese in fighting form (left page) Early prototype designs
Exploration (right side) Growth cycle and clothing concept (left side) Sketch Refinement
Comprehensive Designs - Planar Form
Comprehensive Design - Skeletal Form
Comprehensive Design - Muscle Form
Comprehensive Design - Final Render

Quorese Anatomy

Based on an alien species in Zenkora, a fantasy creation about a fictional universe with countless stories, the Quorese are one of the many intelligent races that evolved faster than the human race. With the appearance of a humanoid bird with morphing capabilities, human encounters with this alien species would oftentimes be mistaken for an angel.

Quorese Anatomy AUArts Grad Show Portfolio Book_Page_02
Introduction (right page) Conceptualization of Quorese in fighting form
(left page) Early prototype designs
Quorese Anatomy AUArts Grad Show Portfolio Book_Page_04
Exploration (right side) Growth cycle and clothing concept
(left side) Sketch Refinement
Quorese Anatomy AUArts Grad Show Portfolio Book_Page_05
Comprehensive Designs - Planar Form
Quorese Anatomy AUArts Grad Show Portfolio Book_Page_06
Comprehensive Design - Skeletal Form
Quorese Anatomy AUArts Grad Show Portfolio Book_Page_07
Comprehensive Design - Muscle Form
Quorese Anatomy AUArts Grad Show Portfolio Book_Page_08
Comprehensive Design - Final Render
Underwater Buffet Infographic Poster

Underwater Buffet

This family-friendly infographic poster makes learning about whale falls more approachable, especially for those that are sensitive to gore.

Underwater Buffet AUArts Grad Show VSCI329B_Chu.Esther_proj2FINAL_fall2023
Underwater Buffet Infographic Poster

This site may contain artworks with provocative content that some viewers may find uncomfortable or upsetting. AUArts supports a culture of non-censorship and ongoing conversations about contemporary art.