Project Introduction

During this unit I want to expand my practice to produce a number of digitally printed collections that explore scale, composition and colour.

I particularly want to explore scale as this was something I started  experimenting with in the Practice unit. I'm going to look at using the full width of a furnishing fabric (140cm), whether it’s scaling up my motifs or creating large abstract feature designs. 

Creating a number of collections with different colour moods will be a challenge for me as I am used to creating one collection with one colour palette, but pushing myself to do different colour moods will broaden my design portfolio.

Practice Unit Evaluation

I feel I have continued to challenge myself throughout this unit. To begin with I was quite hesitant to move away from the linear drawing style I had adopted and challenge myself with the unfamiliarity's of abstract mark making but I'm so glad I did as it has really pushed and developed my practice. I'm proud of the work I have produced and feel that it is reflected in how I have applied myself throughout this unit. 

Initially I was concerned about the quick turn around of each project, having 4 weeks for each, doesn't seem long at all, but I've been so surprised by the amount of work I have produced and how it has developed from my initial ideas. I'm pleased that I have managed my time quite well, generating outcomes for three projects. I do however wish I had made some more time for the development of my self initiated project since Christmas but I do feel I have started something quite interesting and have shown the potential of an idea I plan to develop into unit x.

Having the Bradford textiles Society Competiton brief and the Adamley live brief to complete gave me a chance to engineer prints for different audiences as well as my own self initiated brief. Being able to Complete different briefs is a huge part of being a designer in the industry, especially a freelance designer, so having such short turn arounds has been an eye opener for what the industry might be like.

I feel that I have improved my understanding of the print for interiors industry, getting to grips with printing to scale samples and also complimentary designs. 

If I was to compare where I am now to where I was this time last year or even at the end of last year, I would say my practice has developed hugely. I take the time to consider what I am doing a lot more, especially now as I am producing work that will be in my graduate portfolio. I feel that I have developed a characteristic style that is unique and exciting, I'm looking forward to unit x as it will be a further opportunity to develop my skills and understanding. 

Week Beginning 1st February

As this is the final week of the unit, my time has been focused on preparing for assessment. It's been really interesting to see how much work I've  generated over the unit and how my ideas have developed. I'm glad I've been quite organised throughout, it's meant I've not had to catch up on too much work at this late stage. 

In terms of my self initiated project I have begun to develop ideas for the scaling up aspect I've discussed in my learning agreement.  This has been something I've really wanted to explore but having only a week or two left after completing the live brief and wanting to start preparing for assessment, this development has taken a back seat. Saying that I have generated 2 feature designs that are 140cm width and experimented with visualising them on cushions in different placements. In the mood board below you can see how I have developed the idea, the cushions are a really exciting starting point. This is an interesting development that I plan to continue with into unit x.

Process Moodboard

I have also been working on complimentary designs for the collection I produced in the first 4 weeks as this was something I originally planned to do. I've generated a number of designs, in different colour ways, that I believe compliment but also contrast with my 4 upholstery designs. Until this unit I'd never really thought about complimentary design and now when I look at a designers collection, i'll look out for the main designs and those that are coordinating with them.

 

Week Beginning 25th January

This week I've finalised my designs (below) for the Adamley live brief. I have printed them to scale, on paper (40cmx40cm) as they are designs for pocket squares.

Print Collection

As a collection I think the designs compliment one another, there is enough variation in terms of motifs and compositions but at the same time they still look like they belong together. I have varied the compositions, incorporating the boarder into some of the designs but then also having a block boarder and even no boarder, this is an improvement from my initial designs that had no regard for the boarders.

Initially to create visualisations I had considered having samples printed and photographing them in context but with the time constraints I felt creating a visualisation on the computer would be easier. I tried using an image I found on the internet but I felt it looked really unrealistic.

Edited photo visualisation

I then created a digital visualisation, the difference between this visualisation and the one above is remarkable. Although this is a drawing it looks a lot more professional than the earlier attempt, it also looks more realistic. This kind of realisation that something isn't right is key especially as I am now producing work for my graduate portfolio. I want my portfolio to represent the best of my work so producing professional visualisations is important.

Digital visualisation

Week Beginning 18th January

Following this weeks tutorial, Ive had a lot to think about in terms of my Adamley pocket square designs. Rather than using an image I found on the internet as my colour reference, I've been advised to find a colour palette that is on trend, looking particularly at menswear trends. I have looked for either mustard or orange to be in the palette as these are strong and popular colours for menswear accessories. I found two images that really caught my eye whilst on WGSN looking at the menswear SS17 colour trends, the orange is vibrant and contrasts well with the blue tones.

Colour Palette

As this is my first experience with designing for accessories, I'm learning new things all the time. In terms of composition I've started to reconsider the boarders of my designs, as the majority of them are a block of solid colour and quite harsh in comparison to the central patterned area. With this in mind I've been placing different pieces of my visual research together and photographing them to give me some ideas for patterned boarders. 

Generating compositions

In the image below you can see how I have taken the right composition above and developed the design (below, left) in terms of colour and composition, altering the layout and incorporating motifs into the boarder to create the design (below, right). In comparison to the earlier design there is more variation and when the pocket square is folded, in use, it could look really interesting as there are a number of different motifs at work next to one another. I will continue to experiment with different layouts, using the whole canvas and not just the central area.

Week Beginning 11th January

I've chosen to spend the next few weeks focusing on producing an outcome for the Adamley live brief to produce a print for men's silk accessories. I have chosen to generate designs for pocket squares. In terms of a starting point I didn't see anything that particularly inspired me in the Adamley archives, so I've decided to use less obvious references in the form of photographs of interesting compositions, shapes and textures, that I took whilst on the mill visit.

Using the same abstract, painterly drawing technique I have been using throughout this unit, I've created a number of potential design motifs. To develop it on from my previous drawing work I have brought in the contrast of linear qualities, looking at the finer details. I'm doing this so that the work in my portfolio doesn't all end up looking too similar.

Visual research

To get a good idea of the types of designs Joanne from Adamley might be interested in I've conducted research into the high end independents they have supplied to for example Doherty Evans and Stott and Turnball and Asser. The key thing to remember from the briefing is definitely colour, when wearing formal/workwear men will often use a pocket square or neck tie to show off their personality. I'm going to try to include orange or mustard as it was mentioned in the briefing that they were strong colours.

Doherty Evans and Stott

Week Beginning 30th November

The review presentation took place on Monday. I prepared a digital presentation with key images of my development since the last review session, I also presented all the visual research I had produced. 

Things for me to consider going forward include:

• Instead of bringing all of the visual research and presenting it like a 'bring and buy', I should select key work that supports what I'm saying.
• As a development I could consider what I can do with 140cm (furnishing width) of fabric before the print repeats, creating large, abstract feature designs.
• I have edited the spot design (below) as it was commented on that by only using two motifs I've lost the difference that makes the other designs effective.

Design Before

Design After

Last week I created some fabric samples using sublimation printing but the fabric wasn't the right weight to portray a cushion fabric. I had them digitally printed onto Cotton canvas, which has the right weight for what I'm looking for . 

Fabric Samples

My next priority is to complete a live brief before the end of the unit. I plan to begin to develop my self initiated project but I also want to focus enough time on a live brief.