Search Results

Tertiary Education | Graphic Design, Multimedia Design  The creative industry is becoming an essential learning topic for University students in all majors. Numerous innovative multimedia tools emerge, and it is hard for the youth to keep themselves updated without proper training.  Social media marketing with amateur design appears everywhere in the market, and all industries are aware of the importance of learning a minimum level of multimedia tools.  I conceived of starting non-designer multimedia tools courses to easily and quickly guide students on the appropriate choices to learn about the design industry.

2012-2014 | Course in Adult Education | Youth Employment Start (Y.E.S.) of Labour Department This course is designed for young individuals interested in the festival decoration and production industry. Y.E.S. (Youth Employment Start) is offering this hands-on training program, which covers the materials and equipment used in shopping malls and the production and installation skills for various types of decorations. The course also includes instruction on research and design diagrams, as well as field observations. Successful participants may also have the chance to gain job experience and internships, making it an exciting opportunity for those looking to enter the industry. Course outline as reference: Course Duration: 8 weeks (2 sessions per week, 3 hours per session) Week 1: Introduction to Theme Decor and Display Design Session 1:  Overview of shopping centre decor trends and their impact on consumer behavior. Session 2:  Fundamentals of theme conceptualization and visual storytelling. Week 2: Principles of Visual Design Session 3:  Color theory, spatial arrangement, and lighting techniques. Session 4:  Practical exercise: Sketching and mood board creation for a display theme. Week 3: Material Selection and Production Techniques Session 5:  Overview of materials commonly used in decor (fabric, props, lighting, etc.). Session 6:  Workshop: Hands-on practice with material handling and basic assembly. Week 4: Project Management and Budgeting Session 7:  Planning timelines and task delegation for large-scale projects. Session 8:  Strategies for budgeting and sourcing within constraints. Week 5: Advanced Display Production Techniques Session 9:  Large-scale installations: Techniques and safety protocols. Session 10:  Incorporating interactive elements and technology (e.g., digital displays, AR) Week 6: Sustainability in Theme Decor Session 11:  Environmentally-friendly practices in decor production. Session 12:  Exercise: Designing a sustainable decor concept. Week 7: Execution and Installation Session 13:  Step-by-step process of display installation in shopping centres. Session 14:  Practical exercise: Mock installation of a small display project. Week 8: Presentation and Evaluation Session 15:  Final project presentations: Students present their decor concepts and explain production plans. Session 16:  Group critique and feedback session, awarding certificates of completion. About Y.E.S (Youth Employment Start) Program in Hong Kong https://www.e-start.gov.hk/ This program offers job opportunities for young people, including courier services, design schools, and Chinese catering. The program helps at-risk youth develop skills like communication, problem-solving, and emergency handling. Youth Employment Start (Y.E.S.) provides one-stop advisory and support services on employment and self-employment to youngsters aged between 15 and 29. It provides support to young people to start their careers on the right track, enhances their employability, facilitates them to access the latest labour market information and helps them secure a firm footing in the labour market for sustainable development. To cater for the distinct needs of the youth, Y.E.S. provides a wide range of services, including the following areas About Magzila Limited (2005-2016) Magzila Limited is a professional holiday decoration company specializing in residential areas, commercial centers, shopping stores, theme parks, and more. We offer a complete range of services, including design concepts, production, installation, and dismantling. Our staff is professionally qualified and passionate about decoration, bringing extensive experience in conception, planning, engineering, and management to every project. Decoration companies typically do not specialize in specific holidays, which positions Magzila as an expert in the unique characteristics of various festivals. Professional holiday decorations encompass a range of celebrations, including the Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day, spring festivities, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, summer events, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Halloween, Christmas, and more. More about this program: https://www.eugenieshek.com/post/balancing-leadership-and-teaching-growth-through-education-business-partnership-with-yes

2003-2007 | Higher Diploma | Department of Information Technology | Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Tsing Yi In this module, students will actively engage in the planning, acting, directing, and producing of digital studio productions. Upon successful completion of this module, students will have the following capabilities: Comprehensive understanding of the entire digital film, TV, and video production process, encompassing pre-production, production, post-production, and final delivery stages. Proficiency in operating a diverse range of equipment for studio and outdoor shooting scenarios, allowing for practical application of theoretical knowledge. Students will become familiar with the fundamental skills and responsibilities associated with various roles within a production team. This will give students a well-rounded perspective, making them feel connected and part of a team industry's collaborative nature. Ability to produce impactful videos by incorporating soundtracks and special effects to enhance the visual and auditory experience, maximizing audience engagement. Students will develop competence in creating various film, TV, and video programs. This will demonstrate versatility and adaptability within digital media production, empowering students to take on various projects confidently.

2003-2007 | Higher Diploma | Department of Information Technology | Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Tsing Yi This subject gives students a basic understanding of planning, acting, directing & producing a digital studio production.  Production Management Digital Film and Video Studio Production Post-production & Creative sound design Output and Delivery Equipment | DVCam, studio lighting setup, digital capturing process, editing process with Adobe Premiere 5.0 and digital console.  Adobe Premiere 5.0 , released in 1999, was a significant upgrade to Adobe’s non-linear video editing software, enhancing features for amateur and professional editors. This version introduced several key improvements, making video production more versatile and efficient. Premiere 5.0 featured a more streamlined and customizable interface, with a familiar timeline-based editing system allowing users to drag and drop clips easily, rearrange sequences, and apply transitions. The addition of real-time previewing  was a major upgrade, enabling editors to see their work without rendering, which saved valuable time. The support for multiple video and audio tracks  allowed for more complex projects, enabling editors to overlay video, insert audio tracks, and sync them effortlessly. Premiere 5.0 enhanced compatibility by supporting a broader range of video formats and codecs, such as MPEG-2 , improving the workflow for various digital and analogue media. A notable new feature was offline editing , which let users work with low-resolution proxies of their video files. This is a valuable tool for large-scale projects where storage and processing power are limited. Adobe Premiere 5.0’s stability expanded capabilities, and improved user experience made it a favourite among video editors in its era, laying the groundwork for future advanced versions.

2003-2007 | Higher Diploma | Department of Information Technology | Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Tsing Yi This course was introduced before YouTube became popular and is designed to provide students with practical skills in on-demand content and live broadcast streaming technology. Students learned about the MPEG video standard, digital rights management, TCP/IP architecture, packet switching, routing methods, and multimedia over the Internet. The course will also include tutorials on using media streaming tools such as Windows Media Encoder and RealPlayer streaming. Packet switching is a communication method in which messages are broken down into smaller parts, known as packets, to send them over a network. The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model uses packet switching to support communication between devices over an IP network, such as the Internet. In 2003, media streaming technology was in its early stages but had made significant strides from the previous decade. Streaming had begun to revolutionize how people consumed content online with the rise of faster internet connections and advancements in compression technologies. RealNetworks  was one of the pioneers in media streaming, and its RealPlayer  software allowed users to stream audio and video content. Windows Media Player  and QuickTime  were also popular platforms supporting streaming. By this time, broadband internet was becoming more widespread, allowing users to stream higher-quality video and audio without the long buffering times associated with dial-up connections. The MPEG-4  codec introduced a few years earlier, played a crucial role in making streaming more efficient by compressing video files while maintaining good quality. Streaming services for music, like Napster , had already gained traction but were shifting towards legal models, with platforms like iTunes  beginning to dominate. The early 2000s also saw the rise of live streaming for events and online radio stations. YouTube had not yet been founded (that would come in 2005), but services like Flash  video streaming were paving the way for more sophisticated platforms. In 2003, streaming was still in its infancy but already shaping the future of digital media consumption.

2004 | Short course for Adult Education | Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) Playing animations in a web browser was quite a challenge in the early days of the internet. Some ways to accomplish this included creating GIF images using Adobe ImageReady or writing a Java program, although the latter was very slow. Macromedia Flash gained popularity due to its small file size, improved performance, and the fact that the Flash Player plugin was freely available, making it perfect for the slower dial-up internet connections of that time. This is a beginner-level course for early animation. Students learn the fundamental principles of animation using Macromedia Flash 4.0. The course guides students through the fascinating world of animating vector graphics, showing them how to breathe life into static images with captivating movements such as upward and downward transitions, left and right shifts, subtle fades in and out, dynamic scaling, and a variety of other compelling animation techniques. About Macromedia Flash Macromedia Flash  was a popular multimedia software platform widely used for creating interactive content such as animations, games, websites, and web applications. Originally developed by Macromedia , it became a cornerstone for delivering rich online experiences during the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, Adobe Systems  acquired Macromedia, integrating Flash into its product suite. Key Features of Macromedia Flash: Vector-Based Animation:  Flash enabled developers to create scalable, lightweight animations ideal for web use. ActionScript:  A scripting language integrated into Flash allowed for dynamic and interactive applications. Cross-Platform Support:  Flash content could run consistently across different browsers and operating systems using the Flash Player plugin. Rich Media Integration:  It supported multimedia elements like audio, video, and graphics, enabling immersive user experiences. When Macromedia Flash was popular In 1999, Macromedia released Flash 4.0, a groundbreaking multimedia software version that significantly impacted web animation and interactivity during the late 1990s and early 2000s. This innovative software, which Adobe later acquired, empowered web designers and developers to produce dynamic content using vector graphics and a relatively lightweight file format (.SWF). With Flash 4.0, users could create a wide range of engaging multimedia content, including intricate animations, interactive games, and dynamic websites, thus revolutionizing how content was presented and experienced on the web. The Rise and Legacy of Macromedia Flash Macromedia Flash  was a revolutionary multimedia platform that dominated web development from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Initially developed by Macromedia , Flash empowered developers to create interactive websites, games, animations, and applications. Its ability to deliver vector-based graphics, smooth animations, and multimedia content on minimal bandwidth made it a cornerstone of early web experiences. In 2005, Adobe acquired Macromedia, expanding Flash’s reach and capabilities. Flash’s key innovation was its ActionScript  language, which allowed developers to add interactivity, enabling advanced features like interactive forms, quizzes, and dynamic multimedia. The platform’s Flash Player , a browser plugin, ensured consistent performance across different devices and operating systems. However, its dependency on plugins became a significant limitation as web standards like HTML5 , CSS3 , and JavaScript  emerged. Decline of Flash: Flash’s reliance on browser plugins and security vulnerabilities contributed to its decline. The rise of HTML5 , CSS3 , and JavaScript  offered native solutions for interactive content, rendering Flash obsolete. In 2020, Adobe officially ended support for Flash, marking the end of an era. By the mid-2010s, security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and lack of mobile compatibility hastened Flash’s decline. In 2020, Adobe officially discontinued Flash, urging users to transition to modern web technologies. Legacy: Despite its obsolescence, Flash’s legacy remains influential. It pioneered interactive web design and shaped the tools used for multimedia development today. Today Flash Professional is now Adobe Animate Starting with the February 2016 release, Flash Professional has been renamed Adobe Animate. This change more accurately represents Animate's position as the premiere animation tool for the web and beyond. For more information, see  Welcome Adobe Animate, a new era for Flash Professional. Want to learn Adobe Animate? Click this link from Adobe Animate and start learning with by watching the video: https://www.adobe.com/uk/learn/animate References Adobe Systems. (2020). “Flash End of Life FAQ.” Smith, J. (2018). The Evolution of Web Animation Technologies.  Web Development Journal, 12(3), 45-60.

2003-2007 | Higher Diploma | Department of Information Technology | Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Tsing Yi In the early 2000s, during the dot-com bubble, the media industry struggled to find web designers with proper education in web design, motion graphics (GIF), and multimedia tools. Students will learn to create web pages using the latest software and technology trends throughout this course. The curriculum covers fundamental programming using HTML 4.0 and CSS2 and practical design skills for producing web graphics in Adobe Photoshop 5.5 (JPG) and Adobe ImageReady 1.0 (Animated GIF). Students will apply their technical skills to complete final projects and class exercises in web design. To create a website using HTML 4.0  and Adobe Photoshop , you would follow a process that integrates web development with visual design. Here is a step-by-step guide: Design the layout in Photoshop , slice it into image assets, and export those images. Create an HTML 4.0 structure  for your website, using or basic CSS to organize the layout. Insert images and content  into your HTML structure and style the page using CSS if desired. Preview, test, and upload  your website to a web server for public access.

2000-2003 | Short Course in Adult Education | YMCA Young Men's Christian Association of HK In the early 2000s, many media companies experience the digitalization process by changing their system from analog to digital.  Many digital production courses were introduced to the market.    Students learned the complete process of digital video production, covering essential stages like Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. The lecture focused on planning and documentation, while tutorials provided hands-on experience in live video production, including news production, green screen techniques, and video editing. Students also gained practical skills using Adobe Premiere 5.0 for professional video editing. This comprehensive approach equipped them with both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in digital video creation. Adobe Premiere 5.0 , released in 1998, marked a significant milestone in the history of video editing software. As part of Adobe’s Creative Suite, Premiere 5.0 introduced several key features, including real-time video editing, enhanced multi-track capabilities, and improved integration with other Adobe products like Photoshop and After Effects. It built upon the foundations of earlier versions, offering a more stable and professional toolset for filmmakers, video editors, and multimedia creators. This version also saw improvements in its user interface, making it more accessible to both beginners and advanced users. Adobe Premiere 5.0 played a pivotal role in shaping modern digital video editing workflows.

1999-2000 | Short Course in Adult Education | SingTao Daily | PC Market Club In the late 1990s, during the dot-com bubble (the Internet bubble), there were only 3 million websites on the internet. Education institutions strived to offer courses with the newest technology - web design & multimedia media tools.   An introductory course on creating webpages with notepad and modifying images with Adobe Photoshop.  Basic programming structure of HTML 4.0, CSS2,  and work with web graphics in Adobe Photoshop 5.5. Creating a website using Adobe Photoshop 5.5 and Notepad involves combining graphic design and basic HTML coding. First, in Adobe Photoshop 5.5, design the website layout by creating individual visual elements like buttons, banners, and backgrounds. Export these elements as optimized images (GIF, JPEG, or PNG) to ensure fast loading times. Next, using Notepad, write the HTML code to structure the website. Insert the exported images, and apply styles through basic CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for layout and design consistency. Links, text, and other elements are added in the code to create an interactive website. This process teaches fundamental web design principles.

(Post created in 2019 and updated in 2024) (Post originally created in 2020 and updated in 2024) Adobe Illustrator, launched in 1987 , revolutionized digital graphic design as the first vector-based drawing program. Initially crafted for Macintosh , Illustrator provided designers with tools to create smooth, scalable graphics that seamlessly integrated with Adobe’s PostScript  technology for professional printing. History of Adobe Illustrator: Key milestones include the introduction of Bezier curves , which enhanced precision in path creation, and its eventual availability for Windows  in 1989 , expanding its audience. Over the years, Adobe Illustrator introduced groundbreaking features such as gradient meshes , live effects , and support for web graphics  like SVG. With the advent of the Creative Cloud  in 2013 , Illustrator embraced cloud-based collaboration and AI-powered features like Adobe Sensei, keeping it at the forefront of design technology. Today, Illustrator is a cornerstone tool for creating logos, illustrations, and complex vector art, shaping industries from branding to multimedia. Adobe Illustrator’s evolution reflects its commitment to empowering creatives with cutting-edge tools. Its ability to adapt to trends and integrate seamlessly with Adobe’s suite ensures its place as a leading solution in modern graphic design. Early Beginnings: Development and Release : Adobe Illustrator was initially developed as a companion product to PostScript , Adobe’s page description language. It was designed to work seamlessly with printers using PostScript, enabling the creation of smooth, scalable graphics. Version 1.0 (1987) : Released exclusively for Macintosh , Illustrator 1.0 focused on vector-based drawing tools and set a foundation for scalable graphics, an innovation in a world dominated by raster graphics at the time. Major Milestones: Expansion to Windows (1989) : Adobe released Illustrator 2.0 for Windows, bringing vector design to a broader audience. Introduction of Bezier Curves : Illustrator refined the use of Bezier curves for creating smooth and scalable paths, a concept borrowed from earlier software like Aldus FreeHand but refined in Illustrator. Integration with Adobe Suite : By the 1990s, Illustrator became a core product within Adobe’s Creative Suite, tightly integrating with Photoshop and InDesign. Key Features Over Time: Illustrator 6.0 (1996) : Introduced support for plug-ins and offered features like gradient meshes and transparency, which expanded its design capabilities. Illustrator 9.0 (2000) : Brought advanced web graphics tools, supporting SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) and HTML export. Creative Cloud Era (2013-Present) : Transitioned to a subscription model under Adobe Creative Cloud, providing regular updates and cloud-based features such as real-time collaboration. Modern Influence: Today, Adobe Illustrator remains a leading tool in graphic design, offering advanced features such as: Artboards for multi-page design . 3D effects  and enhanced rendering tools. Seamless integration with AI tools  like Adobe Sensei for smarter design workflows. Adobe Illustrator’s development reflects broader technological shifts in the digital arts industry, from desktop publishing to the rise of digital marketing and multimedia design. It continues to evolve, serving as a critical tool for creating everything from logos to complex illustrations. Some Learning Materials for Adobe Illustrator: Click here for more information on Adobe Photoshop , Adobe Illustrator , Adobe Indesign

Tertiary Education | Web Design, Graphic Design Practice, Motion Graphic, Photography Thanks to the enriched Internet, Web Development, and Business practical experience; that enabled to swift in Tertiary education.  By sharing years of hard work with students in detail, discovering the learning process while educating is unlocked.  Not only did I fell in love with the education industry, but I also found the ultimate passion in the career path.  Years of project management experience in administrative works also applied.

(Post created in 2019 and updated in 2024) InDesign is a comprehensive desktop publishing software application that enables users to create a wide range of professional-quality materials, such as posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers, presentations, books, and ebooks. This versatile tool offers a rich set of features that facilitate the design process, including layout customization, typography control, and image placement. Primary Use : Desktop publishing and layout design. Strengths : InDesign is optimized for multi-page documents like brochures, magazines, and books. It allows precise control over text, typography, and page layout. Ideal For : Print designers, publishers, and marketers working on projects that involve large amounts of text or multi-page layouts. Hold on! Could there be a connection between Adobe PageMaker and Adobe InDesign? Yes, Adobe PageMaker and Adobe InDesign are related, as InDesign was developed as the successor to PageMaker. Both are desktop publishing software aimed at professional layout design, but they cater to different technological eras. Adobe PageMaker : Released in 1985 by Aldus Corporation and acquired by Adobe in 1994. One of the first desktop publishing tools, PageMaker was revolutionary for creating brochures, newsletters, and other print materials. However, it struggled to adapt to evolving needs, such as more complex layouts and modern operating systems like macOS X. Transition to Adobe InDesign : In 1999, Adobe introduced InDesign to replace PageMaker. It offered advanced features like transparency effects, OpenType support, and compatibility with modern systems. InDesign was built to compete with QuarkXPress, dominating the market at the time. Connection : Adobe targeted existing PageMaker users by offering a seamless migration path to InDesign, including importing PageMaker files. The release of InDesign marked Adobe’s shift toward Creative Suite and later Creative Cloud, integrating tools like Photoshop and Illustrator for cohesive workflows. Timeline of Adobe PageMaker Adobe PageMaker was one of the first desktop publishing software applications, playing a pioneering role in the evolution of digital publishing. Below is a timeline highlighting its key milestones: 1985: Launch by Aldus Corporation PageMaker was introduced for the Apple Macintosh, revolutionizing desktop publishing with its WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface. This version enabled graphic designers to create print layouts with unprecedented ease. 1986: Windows Version Released A Windows-compatible version expanded the user base, making PageMaker accessible to a broader audience of PC users. 1987: PageMaker 3.0 Enhanced features included better text-handling capabilities and compatibility with additional printers, improving workflow for designers. 1994: Acquisition by Adobe Adobe acquired Aldus Corporation, integrating PageMaker into its product suite. This move aligned PageMaker with other creative tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. 1995: PageMaker 6.0 Introduced improved templates, support for PDF, and better integration with Adobe’s PostScript technology. 1999: Transition to Adobe InDesign With the launch of Adobe InDesign, PageMaker started being phased out. InDesign offered advanced features and adaptability for modern publishing needs. 2004: Discontinuation Adobe officially discontinued PageMaker, focusing entirely on InDesign as its flagship desktop publishing software. Adobe PageMaker remains a milestone in the history of digital design, remembered for its role in democratizing publishing and paving the way for innovative tools like InDesign. InDesign is now the industry standard for professional publishing, while PageMaker has been officially discontinued. This progression highlights Adobe’s evolution in responding to market demands for robust and versatile publishing software. 1999: Introduction of Adobe InDesign 1.0 Released as a successor to Adobe PageMaker, InDesign introduced advanced features such as multi-page handling, transparency effects, and compatibility with modern macOS and Windows systems. Positioned as a competitor to QuarkXPress, it aimed to redefine professional publishing. 2002: InDesign 2.0 Introduced support for OpenType fonts and advanced transparency effects. Became the first desktop publishing software to run natively on macOS X. 2003: Integration into Adobe Creative Suite (CS) InDesign became part of Adobe Creative Suite, offering better compatibility with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat for streamlined workflows. 2007: Adobe InDesign CS3 Enhanced interactivity with GREP search capabilities, table styles, and streamlined user interfaces. 2013: Adobe Creative Cloud Transition (CC) Shifted to a subscription-based model through Adobe Creative Cloud, enabling regular updates and access to cloud storage. Introduced features like Adobe Fonts (formerly Typekit) and improved EPUB export for digital publishing. 2020–2023: Collaboration Tools and AI Enhancements New features like “Share for Review” allowed real-time collaboration and feedback. Added support for machine-learning tools, such as automatic content-aware adjustments. Adobe InDesign remains the industry standard for print and digital publishing, known for its versatility, continuous innovation, and commitment to professional design excellence. For a deeper dive, explore resources like Adobe’s official history and user tutorials  . Some tutorial notes on Adobe Indesign in the year 2000: One of InDesign's key advantages is its ability to produce projects that can be easily shared in both digital and print formats. This means that users can create visually appealing documents suitable for online distribution or physical printing, ensuring their designs reach a broad audience in the preferred medium. The application is widely utilized by graphic designers, artists, publishers, and marketing professionals who require a powerful platform to bring their creative visions to life. With its intuitive interface and robust capabilities, InDesign is a vital tool in publishing and design. Click here for more information on Adobe Photoshop , Adobe Illustrator , Adobe Indesign