3 Words: week one.

We started the projected by going to two exhibitions, Only in England by Tony Ray Jones and Martin Parr  and the Sarah Lucas exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery. I found that the only in england exhibition went over my head but the sarah lucas exhibition was engaging. Upon entry I dismissed it, thought nothing of it and missed every sexual innuendo possible. But as I walked upstairs I started to notice my surroundings more. Her work was very aggressive and in your face, lacks subtly and tact. She has a very masculine approach to intercourse, blunt and to the point. No romance or chivalry just sex. Lucas tackles the subject matter in a plain and obvious way, not too intricate to decipher, nevertheless I enjoyed it.

Over the course of the first week of 3 words I managed to get a lot done, I took photographs and drew from them, I used them and the images from my mood board to create more interesting shapes and things to look at. It was a very organic and intuitive way to start and over the course of the first three taught days I began to think about print. Many things fell in place for me and it was just about developing those ideas further. I don't feel I ran out of fresh ideas to do. I feel that I engaged with the theme and concept of 3 words very well. I chose nick knight, magnify and chaotic. On the 3rd taught day we were given 2 workshops to complete, the first was inspiring and got me to think about how I could challenge exhibiting silhouettes but I felt the second workshops wasn't as inspiring. It felt very childish but I understand the point was to get us to work in different and more interesting ways.

In hindsight I don't think I should have spent the first week of a two week project doing research for a print when I am not a textiles or print designer. This was a major waste of time as I have no sketches, roughs or initial ideas. Prints will not showcase my core designing skills. next time I will spend 1-2 day on collating research then head straight into designing.

For next lesson I need to have starting thinking bout shape and silhouette and start to create initial ideas.

Industry- day 6/ Crit

Even though i was disappointed my group didn't win anything i was pleased with the fact that I did well in my first group activity. i proved to myself that i can work in a group with no drama and still take the lead and be 'bossy'. I was able to make my voice heard without be too over baring. However I think in a group like the one I was in a strong voice was necessary as everyone wanted to be diplomatic and friendly.  I like that amongst all the chaos my ideas are prevalent, we were able to merge everyones ideas together and you can tell straight away.

I am disappointed that we didn't have enough time for feedback during the crit but during the 2 week we were told out concept was strong.

In hindsight i feel as if i could have completed more work for my sketch book. I recognise that i did relax abit and let my sketchbook book work slip.

Industry- day 5

As a group we successfully completed our  individual tasks. we had a group meeting at the beginning of the day to feedback our work and concerns. Everyone was given the opportunity to again voice their opinions as communication is key in group work. It seemed as though everyone had completed the tasks they were set. 

I pushed everyone hard to give me their pictures for the development board as it was one of the last things that needed to be done. Once we had this completed we then made a start on the presentation.

Industry- day 4

By the end of the day I had completed my tasks for the group work. Myself and Flavia drew up the final collection ready for them to go to the print designer. We worked quite well together, no complaints and we got the job done.

For my own work i started looking at origami and structured shapes you could made with paper. It suited the stiff and rigid look of the designs inspired the greek columns. I found out that the photocopier is a way to create interesting shapes and patterns very quickly. My findings will help me design the final collection, from the laying and overlapping of the origami folds to the juxtaposition of shapes.  

Next time I will do more interesting research like the origami just so i have more references to draw from. 

For the next lesson I will make a start on drawing up the final collection and use photoshop to make prints using the photo's I took.

Group Finals:

Photos I took:

   

Industry- day 3

By the end of the day I completed 50 or so rough roughs which enabled me to then start developing them further. I shared my ideas so far with my group, suggesting that one designer in the group take the responsibility of drawing up the final designs, just so we have a cohesive collection. The other designer took this responsibility. We called a group meeting so that they could pick their favourites and input ideas. Communication amongst the group was good, I felt that I gave everyone the opportunity to speak and voice their opinions, good or bad. they decided my drawings needed to be adapted for autumn/winter and I needed at least one trouser outfit or jump-suit to stay within the parameters of Katrantzou. 

Next time I do a group project like this where everyone has very different tasks I will try to keep my self up to date in what the other team members are doing on a regular basis, just so I know things are progressing at an efficient pace.

 

In preparation for next lesson I will have completed the design development for my book consisting of 24 design variations. Also photograph flowers for prints.  

Industry- day 2

I had a successful day completing all the tasks i set for my self. I went to the fashion and textile museum   to see the Glamour of Bellville Sassoon. I took pictures of the silhouettes and shapes of the dresses. Bellville Sasson dressed many high society women in the 50's and 60's but one of their main high profile clients was Princess Diana. I also took photo's around London Bridge.

If i could do it again I would spend the day gathering lots of pictures, more than necessary. i have a habit of only taking a few, reviewing them at a later date, then not liking the photos I took or not being inspired by the photo's I took. I did my best to draw as much inspiration from the the forms and lines I saw in the architecture. 

At the end of the day team Mary K. got together to discuss the days work. Everyone had made a start on their tasks and it seemed like everyone had a clear idea of they needed to do. We then discussed what need to be done for the next lesson.  

For next lesson I will need to print out my research as well as try to collate and bring together all of the different elements (the mood board, the museums and the pictures around london). I will need to have made a start on the 50 rough ideas.

Industry- day 1

Our brief for the industry project was to develop a fully resolved concept for A/W 15 using a quote and a designer. I was put in a group of 7 to tackle Mary Katrantzou and together we chose the quote 'There are massive gaps in this essay, it is broken and re-wound, not always knowing yet searching.

Respond, exchange, converse. Be a traveller in this novel, even if only for a while' 

As a team we worked okay together, not bad. We brainstormed Katrantzou and the quote and came up with a theme quite quickly. I soon found out I was in a group with many quite personalities which was a contrast to my loud personality. I immediately took a back seat as I know I can be bossy and over powering. Next time I will not be submissive and take the back seat just to ease other peoples feelings, if necessary I will be 'bossy' and delegate so i am 100 percent sure things are getting done. 

Working our way through many different concepts and combinations we decided to explore the words broken and traveller. Katrantzou was born in Greece but moved to both the US and the UK, just like many of us, she is multicultural. London was our starting point because it is the epitome of multicultural. we began looking in book and gathering pictures. 

For the next lesson i will research current exhibitions I feel will be influential as well as locations in london to take photographs.