Pick and Mix- Week 2

TUESDAY- Today I started to do quick drawn designs developing from last week thinking about incorporating different shapes together to create a more interesting structure which could be incorporated into a garment. I have found this quite difficult today drawing the structures as it is hard to imagine how they would actually work on the figure. To help this I am going to put my favourite shapes from Frank Stella's work on the stand to experiment further and help with my designs.

WEDNESDAY- Last night I started to experiment on the stand using shapes. This was much more helpful than the flat drawings I had been doing and started to help me imagine more what my final design will be like. Today I also started to think more about fabrics and colours. The colours I want to use are the three primary colours as they are a bold combination. For fabrics I wanted to incorporate my word of plastics so I started looking at PVC's and also foam for my surface decoration. I started looking at coloured PVC's but I didn't like the colours and they didn't have much of a contrast to the foam so I decided to try using clear PVC as it was more rigid so I could manipulate it.

THURSDAY- Today I started working towards my final garment. From my designs I chose a sixties style dress so it was a more simple base for the surface structure. I wanted to create quite a simple structure so it had a clean look and because you can see all the construction inside. I am quite pleased how it turned out, it is quite different to anything I have made before. I did struggle a little with using the fabric as it didn't always stitch well so they were loose at times and because it marked with the needle so only had one chance at stitching it. This mainly worked out fine but I think practicing with the material and different tensions a bit more may have helped with some parts of the garment.

If I were to repeat this project I think I would research some of my other words more thoroughly. I mainly focused on Frank Stella but I think if I had more roundly researched I would have had more inspiration for the project and more ideas to work with. I also struggled with designing in this project and I think this would have helped me to do design more.

(Stand work, Authors Own, 26/02/15)

Pick and Mix- Week 1

This week I started the pick and mix project. For the project I have chosen the words:
Twins
Frank Stella
Drawing
Sculpture
Plastics

I chose the words that I thought would be a challenge to myself so are colourful and playful and unlike other projects. I also chose these words as they gave some initial ideas such as the idea of an outfit that would join two people like conjoined twins and also creating something quite 3D and abstract on the body like a type of sculpture.

TUESDAY- I started the week by researching my chosen words particularly Frank Stella, gathering images of his work. I didn't know his work and chose him because of the shapes in his prints and the bold colours. From his work I particularly liked the shiny element to his sculptures which felt plastic like as well as the mix of bright reds, yellows and blues. I then began by dissecting his work, picking out shapes in his pictures as well as the colours I liked which I could then incorporate into designs.

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY- I cut out shapes from his work and collaged them onto a figure to start to generate quick design ideas as well as drawing round shapes and seeing how they could work joining two figures. I think these have given me some ideas to now work with and develop. Although this was helpful in creating some initial designs to work with I need to develop this further as they feel very basic and not overly wearable. They also feel very flat and I need to develop the ideas to create something more 3D incorporating the sculpture word. I can use these shapes to work on the stand which can help overcome the flat appearance of the designs so far. By cutting out a number of these shapes I can pin them together on the mannequin to create more ideas and something more sculptural.

I am also going to think more about fabrics. I want something quite rigid so that I can create a 3D shapes, I have started to think about foam sheets which have a good strong colour and are easy manipulatable. I also need to research more into plastic materials such as PVC next week that I could use for the 3D outcome. Next week my aim is also to work faster I am finding this project quite difficult so have unconsciously been working a lot slower than normal and I need to pick up the pace in order to generate many more designs.

(Sketchbook pages, Authors Own, 20/2/15)

Detail- Week 3

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY- I used my research and initial design collages to develop my ideas towards my final line up. I used my collages which had the details I liked most on and did quick sketches incorporating the detail but which were more garment like than the collages. I tried to exhaust each idea, drawing ideas quickly so I didn't get caught up with the drawing just trying to generate many ideas. I also incorporated more flats to practice my technical drawings as this is something I haven't included in previous projects. I think these quick sketches worked well, they enabled me to get down ideas quickly and meant I had more to work with when creating my final six looks. I also think I managed to use more colour which is something I have been trying to improve.

THURSDAY- I drew and worked out my final six looks today using all my initial sketches to pick the looks and details I liked best before working out specifics on the stand and creating flats to understand construction. I am pleased with the colouring of my final six looks, I thought more clearly about colour and how it runs through the clothing and links with my theme of Victorian mourning. I had also been trying to think more about fabrication which I have been trying to improve, I have been thinking more about the combinations of fabrics, wools with matte silks, to get the essence of the Victorian era through but in a more modern way.
What I think I can improve on now is more stand work, I used a small amount in this project but I think I could have developed this more which could have meant I ended up with a more conceptual and maybe more extravagant outcome, this is something I will try and work on more in the next project.

(Line Up, Authors Own, 12/2/15)

Detail- Week 2

This week I focused on generating ideas for the detail project using my collected research and imagery. I also had to focus on creating my portfolio both online and physical which has slightly interrupted the project. I'm really enjoying this project so I am doing it as a three week project meaning I can use this week to fully develop my ideas rather than create the outcome too.

TUESDAY- After collating all my research and drawings I started by photocopying the details and collaging them together to generate ideas that were quite conceptual but that I could then work from when designing. This worked out really well for generating ideas as I could create them quickly layering the photocopies and meant they pushed my ideas to creating abstract and quite interesting silhouettes. Although these didn't create wearable ideas and were too busy in places I can take elements from them which I can develop into further designs. I started to do this by photocopying the collages and drawing into them to create garment ideas from them, this allowed me to see how the victorian details could be combined with more simple shapes to create a modern end outcome.

WEDNESDAY- I then created similar collages as yesterday out of blocks of colour and fabrics from gathered images to generate more ideas to then design from. I found creating these collages very helpful as it made me be more creative with silhouettes which is something I found I needed to work on from previous projects where I have gravitated towards similar silhouettes. It also helped me to work out how I could use colour in the project which is also something I have been trying to improve throughout this course. Having a clear colour scheme throughout this project has helped me with this as I have been thinking through the whole of my design development how I can combine the colours and what works well rather than just deciding at the end of the project which is something I have done before.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY- I started to design from the collages I created the past two days, thinking about my favourite details such as ruffle trims, covered buttons and oversized sleeves. However I only started the designs quite roughly expanding on one or two of the collages as I spent the majority of the rest of my week finishing my portfolios for submissions and interview on Monday.

Next week continuing this project I am going to work towards my final six outfit line up by creating many quick sketches to decide what details and features I shall work on most. I need to remember to think about colour and fabrication especially nearing the end of the project.

(Online portfolio pages showing detail project development so far, authors own, 6/2/15)