Jewellery marks
The marks came back in last week, I had heard the day before of other people in the group getting some pretty low marks, so I was a bit worried when I went to pick it up. Thankfully I got 70%. I was really pleased with this, and I did feel that I had worked hard on my jewellery and my final piece was worth a first.
This also pleased me because I just missed out on a first for the project that we did before hand, so in a way I felt like this had made up for it in a way.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Oh hurry up Christmas!
It’s two weeks until Christmas!
Uni is nearly over for the Christmas holidays, and I couldn’t be more excited to have some time off, get home and see my friends and family.
It’s been pretty difficult to keep myself motivated over these past two weeks, as we haven’t had any scheduled sessions, just studio practise... so basically we can come in whenever we like. I find myself sleeping in until ten and then not getting to uni until one in the afternoon....ooopsy! Oh well there’s nothing much I can do about it now. HAND IN ON WEDNESDAY! I can’t wait to get this project out of the way.
However saying that I have enjoyed this project, I like the fact that we could pretty much make anything we wanted and as crazy and as out there as you could possibly think of. I have nearly finished my garment now, just the hem left to do. I am pleased with how it has turned out, it is not quite as I expected but it still looks really good. If I had more time and patience I would have perfected the pattern and made sure that it fitted perfectly, I probably would have taken more time over choosing suitable materials. The materials I have used look really good, but I had to sew each piece to collar stiffener to make it stand out and give the piece structure. If I had thought about this more I would have chosen a more steady fabric to start with, because this did take up a lot of time and has only really worked for half of the garment. Because I have added so much extra weight, the bottom two layers pull down the top two layers making it not stick out as much and it starts to lose its shape a bit, which is sort of the main theme of the garment.
I still have a few more bits to do in my sketchbook, like some design development (working backwards a bit I know) and some more annotation and what I was thinking when I was doing each idea. Apart from that I am nearly there.
Woooop.... Roll on CHRISTMAS!
Uni is nearly over for the Christmas holidays, and I couldn’t be more excited to have some time off, get home and see my friends and family.
It’s been pretty difficult to keep myself motivated over these past two weeks, as we haven’t had any scheduled sessions, just studio practise... so basically we can come in whenever we like. I find myself sleeping in until ten and then not getting to uni until one in the afternoon....ooopsy! Oh well there’s nothing much I can do about it now. HAND IN ON WEDNESDAY! I can’t wait to get this project out of the way.
However saying that I have enjoyed this project, I like the fact that we could pretty much make anything we wanted and as crazy and as out there as you could possibly think of. I have nearly finished my garment now, just the hem left to do. I am pleased with how it has turned out, it is not quite as I expected but it still looks really good. If I had more time and patience I would have perfected the pattern and made sure that it fitted perfectly, I probably would have taken more time over choosing suitable materials. The materials I have used look really good, but I had to sew each piece to collar stiffener to make it stand out and give the piece structure. If I had thought about this more I would have chosen a more steady fabric to start with, because this did take up a lot of time and has only really worked for half of the garment. Because I have added so much extra weight, the bottom two layers pull down the top two layers making it not stick out as much and it starts to lose its shape a bit, which is sort of the main theme of the garment.
I still have a few more bits to do in my sketchbook, like some design development (working backwards a bit I know) and some more annotation and what I was thinking when I was doing each idea. Apart from that I am nearly there.
Woooop.... Roll on CHRISTMAS!
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Half way through the project
Innovative cut – making the garment
I am now just over half way through my innovative cut project, and I am really enjoying it. There is so much freedom and experimentation that it really suits the way that I like to work.
I have come up with some really good, solid ideas quite early on, which will give me enough time to develop them and then continue with the strongest idea.
I have chosen three fabrics for my final garment, but I am not sure yet of how I am going to choose the combination of what goes with what. I am not sure whether to have just two fabrics to give contrast or to add a third fabric and add dimension, but then I do not want to over complicate things and I don’t want it to look too much and take away from the shape and structure of the piece.
I decided to use quite unusual fabrics; I think they work well with the main theme of new future. I have chosen shiny, reflective and metallic materials and also a clear plastic. To add stiffness to the fabrics I am going to sew a piece of collar stiffener to each pattern piece to help make the garment keep its structure.
I had a really good idea of using foam within a garment to create shape and volume, in my samples and experiment it worked really well, but I think that it is too much of a challenge to work out the dimensions and fabric allowances with the short time I have left for the project. I don’t want to start something and then end up rushing to get it finished and then not being pleased with the final outcome.
Today I learnt how to use some new technology. I made a half scale pattern for my final garment, and used a digitizer to put the pieces into the computer and then blow the pattern up to full scale. It worked really well, and is a really professional way to create a pattern, and I think that I will use this in the future now that I know how to use it.
The only problem is, because my pattern is not a standard name or shape, it did not recognise some of the names that I have put in for my pattern pieces, so some have come out without the piece name on, and now I have to figure out which piece is which. This is really difficult because they are all so similar, in shape and size, so before I make my garment I am going to test each layer in calico to make sure that the right pieces are being sewn together.
I am now just over half way through my innovative cut project, and I am really enjoying it. There is so much freedom and experimentation that it really suits the way that I like to work.
I have come up with some really good, solid ideas quite early on, which will give me enough time to develop them and then continue with the strongest idea.
I have chosen three fabrics for my final garment, but I am not sure yet of how I am going to choose the combination of what goes with what. I am not sure whether to have just two fabrics to give contrast or to add a third fabric and add dimension, but then I do not want to over complicate things and I don’t want it to look too much and take away from the shape and structure of the piece.
I decided to use quite unusual fabrics; I think they work well with the main theme of new future. I have chosen shiny, reflective and metallic materials and also a clear plastic. To add stiffness to the fabrics I am going to sew a piece of collar stiffener to each pattern piece to help make the garment keep its structure.
I had a really good idea of using foam within a garment to create shape and volume, in my samples and experiment it worked really well, but I think that it is too much of a challenge to work out the dimensions and fabric allowances with the short time I have left for the project. I don’t want to start something and then end up rushing to get it finished and then not being pleased with the final outcome.
Today I learnt how to use some new technology. I made a half scale pattern for my final garment, and used a digitizer to put the pieces into the computer and then blow the pattern up to full scale. It worked really well, and is a really professional way to create a pattern, and I think that I will use this in the future now that I know how to use it.
The only problem is, because my pattern is not a standard name or shape, it did not recognise some of the names that I have put in for my pattern pieces, so some have come out without the piece name on, and now I have to figure out which piece is which. This is really difficult because they are all so similar, in shape and size, so before I make my garment I am going to test each layer in calico to make sure that the right pieces are being sewn together.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
mydressingroom.com - our business
Enterprise and innovation
The enterprise and innovation lectures I find quite slow sometimes; I feel like we keep going over and over the same thing, I suppose that way it is sinking in though. I am not really a fan of the lecture format because it doesn’t give us the opportunity to talk and discuss the topics that the lecturer is talking about, so sometimes I feel that I don’t understand and just end up switching off. We do have seminars but they are so spread out by the time it comes round to the next one you have forgotten what you were confused about so don’t have the chance to discuss it and understand it.
For our next seminar we are to do a group powerpoint presentation on how we spend the cash we were awarded in our previous seminar. We are to focus on set up costs not launch costs, so we have to consider every detail of our business so that we give ourselves the best start.
The enterprise and innovation lectures I find quite slow sometimes; I feel like we keep going over and over the same thing, I suppose that way it is sinking in though. I am not really a fan of the lecture format because it doesn’t give us the opportunity to talk and discuss the topics that the lecturer is talking about, so sometimes I feel that I don’t understand and just end up switching off. We do have seminars but they are so spread out by the time it comes round to the next one you have forgotten what you were confused about so don’t have the chance to discuss it and understand it.
For our next seminar we are to do a group powerpoint presentation on how we spend the cash we were awarded in our previous seminar. We are to focus on set up costs not launch costs, so we have to consider every detail of our business so that we give ourselves the best start.
Contextual and theoretical studies
Critical studies
This year critical studies has been a lot more enjoyable, for two main reasons, the lecture we now have in the morning, gives us a focus for our seminars in the afternoon, so we can go in prepared and ready to talk and discuss what we have just learnt, and also I now have more of an understanding of what the different concepts and terminology mean So I find it a lot easier to understand what’s going on and I don’t feel in over my head.
I think the new format of this module is a lot better than last year, I feel a lot more comfortable having our sessions in the fashion studio as well, It feels a more comfortable environment, and actually having the seminars at 4 – 6 is a time when I am most awake and alert so I feel that I am getting the most out of the sessions.
This year critical studies has been a lot more enjoyable, for two main reasons, the lecture we now have in the morning, gives us a focus for our seminars in the afternoon, so we can go in prepared and ready to talk and discuss what we have just learnt, and also I now have more of an understanding of what the different concepts and terminology mean So I find it a lot easier to understand what’s going on and I don’t feel in over my head.
I think the new format of this module is a lot better than last year, I feel a lot more comfortable having our sessions in the fashion studio as well, It feels a more comfortable environment, and actually having the seminars at 4 – 6 is a time when I am most awake and alert so I feel that I am getting the most out of the sessions.
Innovative cut. starting the module
Innovative cut
We are now half way through our taught sessions for innovative cut, and I am really enjoying it. I like the freedom that comes along with this module, and the fact we can go in any direction and make something crazy at the end of it.
The two main themes that I chose were; New future and Old wisdom. I chose these two themes as I felt that they made a good contrast and I would be able to create something that may be a bit of both or in-between.
For new future I looked into different designers and architects. I went out and took lots of photos of new buildings and buildings that are more artistic and radical.
I have looked into new materials, and materials that I think are futuristic. I have a lot of shiny and metallic materials as I think that they best perceive new future.
For Old wisdom I looked back in history to ancient Egypt. I had used photos from a previous holiday, of pyramids, hieroglyphics, towns and statues. These gave me great ideas for shape and the silhouette that I would try to achieve.
I have tried to finish my research off this week so that next week I can focus on designing and sampling, then I can spend the two weeks studio practise time creating my garment.
I have some ideas in my head for my garment, and it’s getting more difficult by the minute, so I am going to have to try out a lot of ideas to see if this is going to work. I am not completely sure yet if it is what I am going to do, because I have some really other good ideas that I want to try out too. So I will see what happens after I have done some sampling to see what looks the best.
We are now half way through our taught sessions for innovative cut, and I am really enjoying it. I like the freedom that comes along with this module, and the fact we can go in any direction and make something crazy at the end of it.
The two main themes that I chose were; New future and Old wisdom. I chose these two themes as I felt that they made a good contrast and I would be able to create something that may be a bit of both or in-between.
For new future I looked into different designers and architects. I went out and took lots of photos of new buildings and buildings that are more artistic and radical.
I have looked into new materials, and materials that I think are futuristic. I have a lot of shiny and metallic materials as I think that they best perceive new future.
For Old wisdom I looked back in history to ancient Egypt. I had used photos from a previous holiday, of pyramids, hieroglyphics, towns and statues. These gave me great ideas for shape and the silhouette that I would try to achieve.
I have tried to finish my research off this week so that next week I can focus on designing and sampling, then I can spend the two weeks studio practise time creating my garment.
I have some ideas in my head for my garment, and it’s getting more difficult by the minute, so I am going to have to try out a lot of ideas to see if this is going to work. I am not completely sure yet if it is what I am going to do, because I have some really other good ideas that I want to try out too. So I will see what happens after I have done some sampling to see what looks the best.
Monday, 16 November 2009
The end of one the beginning of another...
This week I have had a few days off, which has been nice to relax for a while, but it did seem strange not having any work to do for once.
I received feedback and my mark for my project on Friday, and I have to say that I was a bit disappointed, I got 68% which is equal to a 2:1, which is a good mark but I really felt as though my work deserved a first. After all the hard work that I had out into it, and my jacket and presentation turning out really well I thought that would have made up for the extra two marks to get a first.
This has put me in two minds about our next project because I am not really sure now on how to approach it, or where to start. I feel a bit lost and I think it may take a while to get back into things.
However I have started to look into the new project, I have chosen the themes, New future, Old wisdom and unconventional. I feel that these themes give scope for contrast and also to create something out there and really innovative.
I have jotted down some ideas, but I haven’t got as far as creating any sheets yet, I feel that I am just going to wait until the brief is recapped and then start from there. I don’t want to get ahead of myself and go off in the wrong direction. I am going to closely use the handbook this time and make sure I really follow the brief and include everything and every detail.
I have also started to really make headway with searching for my work placement, the weekend just gone, I sat down and found some addresses and email addresses of companies that I thought may offer work experience.
I will probably have to send out lots more emails and letters but I will just have to keep trying and wait and see what happens.
I received feedback and my mark for my project on Friday, and I have to say that I was a bit disappointed, I got 68% which is equal to a 2:1, which is a good mark but I really felt as though my work deserved a first. After all the hard work that I had out into it, and my jacket and presentation turning out really well I thought that would have made up for the extra two marks to get a first.
This has put me in two minds about our next project because I am not really sure now on how to approach it, or where to start. I feel a bit lost and I think it may take a while to get back into things.
However I have started to look into the new project, I have chosen the themes, New future, Old wisdom and unconventional. I feel that these themes give scope for contrast and also to create something out there and really innovative.
I have jotted down some ideas, but I haven’t got as far as creating any sheets yet, I feel that I am just going to wait until the brief is recapped and then start from there. I don’t want to get ahead of myself and go off in the wrong direction. I am going to closely use the handbook this time and make sure I really follow the brief and include everything and every detail.
I have also started to really make headway with searching for my work placement, the weekend just gone, I sat down and found some addresses and email addresses of companies that I thought may offer work experience.
I will probably have to send out lots more emails and letters but I will just have to keep trying and wait and see what happens.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Illustrations for application of design
I found doing the illustrations very difficult for some reason with this project. Usually I can illustrate easily and I get lots of different ideas straigh away, but not this time.
I tried to illustrate in my usual style, quite freeley and loosley with inks and pens, but the style just did not fit with the concept.
My illustrations in the end, turned out quite harsh and I used a thick pencil and a combination of water colours and fabrics.
I tried to illustrate in my usual style, quite freeley and loosley with inks and pens, but the style just did not fit with the concept.
My illustrations in the end, turned out quite harsh and I used a thick pencil and a combination of water colours and fabrics.
If I had had more time I would have liked the whole of the background to be fabric and the illustration was sewn on top, but I did not want to risk doing this and then it ending up in the bin like so many others did.
I may try this experiemnt however for my portfolio.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Finished the project!
Application of design
Ok so now the project is finally over. Finito. Finished. Done! What a relief that is. This project has caused me more stress than any other project in anything I have ever done has.
Working in a group near to the end of this project when we were trying to prepare our presentation was a nightmare to be honest. As I had already finished my personal portfolio and completed my section of the slides for the presentation, I was just waiting around for other people in my group to get there work together so we could finish off the presentation and actually have a chance to practise it.
I am a very prepared person and I always finish my work before the deadline, so that I’m not running around at the last minute, because you end up forgetting things and you don’t get as much done, and it’s just not good. So that’s what happened yesterday, waiting for my group on the last day to put the presentation together. I even ended up having to do other parts of the presentation myself, which i didn’t really have much choice otherwise we would have never got it finished.
I felt really unprepared for the presentation, and I felt like we needed a lot more time to practise and to go through it. But I think that it was the same for all of the groups, that no one really had enough time to get together what they wanted.
Altogether though I think that the presentation was a success, and we had good feedback from our peers and tutors, so I was happy.
I feel that this project wasn’t really timed very well, and we didn’t have enough time to get everything how I would want it. It felt very rushed and like there was always something else to do, and I think it was just a bit too much. I know that second year is a step up from last year, but I think this is too overboard.
Elective week
Jewellery elective
Last week I completed my elective. This year instead of being able to choose out electives, we were put into them, from what we did last year and the way the college has decided to change the course layout.
So I ended up doing jewellery again for the second year, but of course this time we advanced to level 2.
I thought that I was going to not enjoy this elective, because of doing it before, it wasn’t something new and exciting to learn about. After last year at the end of the elective I had really started to not like it as well, so I wasn’t really looking forward to it.
However it did not turn out to be that bad, we had a wider brief, meaning that we had a better choice of materials and types of jewellery to make.
The brief stated that we had to make a piece of jewellery that was for the body rather than just a standard piece of normal jewellery that you would wear on a day to day basis.
After researching into some designers, I decided that I wanted to create a neck piece. But I wanted it to be quite restricting, so it would force the wearer to be in a particular position.
I also chose to use fabric, instead of traditional jewellery materials, such as wire. I felt that this pushed the boundaries and really rejected the idea of traditional jewellery.
I made my final piece from dark blue/black leather. I wanted to laser cut a pattern out of it, but for that week the laser cutter was out of use, so I had to cut the pattern by hand, which did not only hurt my hand a lot, but also took a very long time to complete.
To keep my neck piece structured, I boned all of the seams and around the top layer to keep it stiff and make it so the material would not fit to the body.
I am pleased with how far I have got with mu piece, all I need to do now, is place mesh underneath some of the cut outs to add variation and texture.
Hopefully I will be finished by the end of this week, so I can then spend a nice weekend at home relaxing and not having to worry about anything.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Deadline approaching!
Its nearing the end of the project now, we have just over a week to finish everything off and get everything together.
I am pretty much there with my research/design/branding sheets. I am just putting the finishing touches to it... adding fabric samples, adding photos, and creating swing tags and deciding on my final range.
We still have quite a lot to do on our presentation, it’s become quite difficult with timing, because we have our elective this week (which we also have to do preparatory research and work for) and it doesn't leave much time for us to get everything together and have time to practise and make it presentable.
This week as a group we went to take photos of the garments that we had made. I think that the shoot went really well, and the model that we had for the shoot was really good and I felt that she really fitted the image we were going for.
Even though the photos have come out really well, I do think there a bit too pretty. I think we could have made them more intense and used a stronger background. I think some of the poses look a bit catalogue and could have been better if they were stronger which would have made them more high fashion.
I was worried before the shoot that the garments wouldn’t fit together well as a collection, but they really look good together, with the colours really being bought out.
We have also now decided on the final fabrics for our collection, I think we have a good balance of fabrics, and they suit the Autumn/winter season. Some of the fabrics are really interesting, and give the collection an injection of energy.
I have started the research for my jewellery elective, and I think that this year it’s going to be a lot more interesting because we have more of a choice of which path we choose to follow. I am going to work in softer and more appealing materials this year, I think I will enjoy it a lot more this way and won’t be complaining about hurting myself!
I am pretty much there with my research/design/branding sheets. I am just putting the finishing touches to it... adding fabric samples, adding photos, and creating swing tags and deciding on my final range.
We still have quite a lot to do on our presentation, it’s become quite difficult with timing, because we have our elective this week (which we also have to do preparatory research and work for) and it doesn't leave much time for us to get everything together and have time to practise and make it presentable.
This week as a group we went to take photos of the garments that we had made. I think that the shoot went really well, and the model that we had for the shoot was really good and I felt that she really fitted the image we were going for.
Even though the photos have come out really well, I do think there a bit too pretty. I think we could have made them more intense and used a stronger background. I think some of the poses look a bit catalogue and could have been better if they were stronger which would have made them more high fashion.
I was worried before the shoot that the garments wouldn’t fit together well as a collection, but they really look good together, with the colours really being bought out.
We have also now decided on the final fabrics for our collection, I think we have a good balance of fabrics, and they suit the Autumn/winter season. Some of the fabrics are really interesting, and give the collection an injection of energy.
I have started the research for my jewellery elective, and I think that this year it’s going to be a lot more interesting because we have more of a choice of which path we choose to follow. I am going to work in softer and more appealing materials this year, I think I will enjoy it a lot more this way and won’t be complaining about hurting myself!
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Making my jacket
Pattern cutting and making
This week feel like I have really achieved something. This week we have been focusing on, drawing and cutting our patterns, making our toile and then transforming this into our final garment.
I have always had trouble with pattern cutting and have always dreaded making my own patterns. I find it hard to look at books and actually be able to understand what they are saying and how to create the pattern. I find it a lot easier having someone explain it to me and work through it with me so I know that I definitely understand. I don’t like to go and do things again so I would prefer to get it right the first time.
I was lucky with my pattern that I had spoke to one of the technicians about how to create pointed shoulders from a basic bodice block, I then adapted the bodice pattern rather than use a jacket block to create my pattern.
As I knew what I was doing with my pattern and the rest of it I was making up to my specification , I felt like I could just get on with it on my own and just make head way with it independently.
I think because I was able to do this it gave me a real confidence boost and I was feeling like I had achieved what I wanted and actually from this I have a lot more understanding of pattern cutting and how things change to create different shapes and styles.
I then went onto make my toile which turned out really well and you can see the photos above.
I was really pleased with what I was creating and after I had finished my toile, I was really looking forward to actually making my final garment.
I think that challenging myself with the construction and the materials that I had chosen for my jacket really made me want to make my jacket well and make it something that I would be proud of.
My main material is like a stretch waterproof PVC so the material is quite thick and the stretch tends to give in the direction I was sewing in, so I had to be careful with where about I was placing pattern pieces together – if they needed to be central I had to put them slightly off central so be in the right place.
I did find it tough actually sewing my garment, especially when there were a few layers together, the fabric kept slipping against each other and it was quite hard for the needle to actually manage to get through the layers. Pinning it was the hardest thing and really started to hurt my fingers, but I was pleased that I didn’t get frustrated with it and just kept myself focused on creating something good.
I have now learnt about facings and how to fit them into a jacket, so I have learnt a lot from this project. I also fixed the facing into the lining, which was another challenge. Especially sewing the lining into the garment, there were so many layers, that it actually took about 6 times for me to get it in because the sewing machine just kept un-threading because it couldn’t handle the amount of layers.
I have now pretty much finished my jacket; I just need to hand stitch the opening of the lining so that everything is concealed.
I now have to focus on the photographs that I am going to take of my garment and my groups garment and really work on a brand image. I think that I have found a really good place for the photos to be taken; I just need to find a model that will be suitable for the type of shoot.
Also now as a group we have to start focusing on our presentation and how we are going to go about promoting and selling our brand. I think this could be tough as everyone will have different ideas. Also I am not too keen on presentations so I want to be really good so I know that I will feel confident when delivering it.
This week feel like I have really achieved something. This week we have been focusing on, drawing and cutting our patterns, making our toile and then transforming this into our final garment.
I have always had trouble with pattern cutting and have always dreaded making my own patterns. I find it hard to look at books and actually be able to understand what they are saying and how to create the pattern. I find it a lot easier having someone explain it to me and work through it with me so I know that I definitely understand. I don’t like to go and do things again so I would prefer to get it right the first time.
I was lucky with my pattern that I had spoke to one of the technicians about how to create pointed shoulders from a basic bodice block, I then adapted the bodice pattern rather than use a jacket block to create my pattern.
As I knew what I was doing with my pattern and the rest of it I was making up to my specification , I felt like I could just get on with it on my own and just make head way with it independently.
I think because I was able to do this it gave me a real confidence boost and I was feeling like I had achieved what I wanted and actually from this I have a lot more understanding of pattern cutting and how things change to create different shapes and styles.
I then went onto make my toile which turned out really well and you can see the photos above.
I was really pleased with what I was creating and after I had finished my toile, I was really looking forward to actually making my final garment.
I think that challenging myself with the construction and the materials that I had chosen for my jacket really made me want to make my jacket well and make it something that I would be proud of.
My main material is like a stretch waterproof PVC so the material is quite thick and the stretch tends to give in the direction I was sewing in, so I had to be careful with where about I was placing pattern pieces together – if they needed to be central I had to put them slightly off central so be in the right place.
I did find it tough actually sewing my garment, especially when there were a few layers together, the fabric kept slipping against each other and it was quite hard for the needle to actually manage to get through the layers. Pinning it was the hardest thing and really started to hurt my fingers, but I was pleased that I didn’t get frustrated with it and just kept myself focused on creating something good.
I have now learnt about facings and how to fit them into a jacket, so I have learnt a lot from this project. I also fixed the facing into the lining, which was another challenge. Especially sewing the lining into the garment, there were so many layers, that it actually took about 6 times for me to get it in because the sewing machine just kept un-threading because it couldn’t handle the amount of layers.
I have now pretty much finished my jacket; I just need to hand stitch the opening of the lining so that everything is concealed.
I now have to focus on the photographs that I am going to take of my garment and my groups garment and really work on a brand image. I think that I have found a really good place for the photos to be taken; I just need to find a model that will be suitable for the type of shoot.
Also now as a group we have to start focusing on our presentation and how we are going to go about promoting and selling our brand. I think this could be tough as everyone will have different ideas. Also I am not too keen on presentations so I want to be really good so I know that I will feel confident when delivering it.
Friday, 9 October 2009
Second week of the project
This week is over all ready!
The time seems to be going too fast. We are half way through our first project and I feel like I’m lagging already. I thought the way that this timetable was going to work would be better, but now I’m not so sure.
I feel like I am churning out work, just because I have to, and I have so much more that I want to do but there just isn’t the time to do it. I also feel like my work is not how I want it to be, but I don’t have the time to go back over it and make it perfect and exactly how I want to present it.
I feel that my design development has gone quite well, but I think I am going to struggle with making my garment. I have chosen to make a jacket, but I want a big double collar and layers on the bottom half, which I am going to have to figure out how to do, without it becoming quite big and bulky.
I have selected the fabric that I want to use for my jacket; I just need to get the lining material and then some yellow cotton/polyester to go on the underside of my layers.
I feel that working in a group was ok to begin with, but I am now starting to feel the strain. When someone wants one thing and you want something different, it’s hard to compromise when you know that It will affect the designs that you have done.
I am trying hard to compromise, but it is very difficult, because I know how I want things to look and you always see your way as the best way (even if it isn’t)
I haven’t felt to well this week either, so it’s been really tough completing my work and making it into college and getting everything don. It has also turned very cold and I don’t like it one bit, because it makes you so tired and dreary.
I am aiming to over the weekend, to complete my design development sheets and finalise exactly how I want my jacket to look and also start and practise some flat drawings ready to put into my look book.
The time seems to be going too fast. We are half way through our first project and I feel like I’m lagging already. I thought the way that this timetable was going to work would be better, but now I’m not so sure.
I feel like I am churning out work, just because I have to, and I have so much more that I want to do but there just isn’t the time to do it. I also feel like my work is not how I want it to be, but I don’t have the time to go back over it and make it perfect and exactly how I want to present it.
I feel that my design development has gone quite well, but I think I am going to struggle with making my garment. I have chosen to make a jacket, but I want a big double collar and layers on the bottom half, which I am going to have to figure out how to do, without it becoming quite big and bulky.
I have selected the fabric that I want to use for my jacket; I just need to get the lining material and then some yellow cotton/polyester to go on the underside of my layers.
I feel that working in a group was ok to begin with, but I am now starting to feel the strain. When someone wants one thing and you want something different, it’s hard to compromise when you know that It will affect the designs that you have done.
I am trying hard to compromise, but it is very difficult, because I know how I want things to look and you always see your way as the best way (even if it isn’t)
I haven’t felt to well this week either, so it’s been really tough completing my work and making it into college and getting everything don. It has also turned very cold and I don’t like it one bit, because it makes you so tired and dreary.
I am aiming to over the weekend, to complete my design development sheets and finalise exactly how I want my jacket to look and also start and practise some flat drawings ready to put into my look book.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Lectures!
Business and enterprise
We had our first lecture for business and enterprise the other day; it was quite a weird situation, as we have never really had the lecture /seminar structure before. It was packed full of people too, all different people from second year.
I found it quite hard to concentrate in that sort of environment and I prefer being in smaller groups and being able to discuss things and ask questions, rather than feeling silly if u wanted to ask something and all of the other 399 people looking at you.
I found some of the information quite interesting, but I did know quite a lot of what was being talked about already. Just from general marketing and business discussion had on our course previously.
We were set a task by our course, to create a hypothetical business, and to choose what product/s to sell and where to set up. We were again put into groups, but this time we were able to choose who we wanted to be with, which I think is a good idea, because you can go with people who you feel comfortable with and are able to work with.
We have some rough ideas at the moment, we are thinking of being a photo shoot and makeover stall as part of the vintage fashion fair. We will tour around with them going to different parts of the country, the clothes would be loaned from the stalls for the photo’s and then these photos and make up tips would be produced in a magazine. The stalls then get there business name printed by the clothes and we were also going to use student makeup artists and photographers so it also gives them a chance to have their name published.
We have to have a group meeting after our lecture next week, so that we can finalise our ideas and start to think of our business plan.
We had our first lecture for business and enterprise the other day; it was quite a weird situation, as we have never really had the lecture /seminar structure before. It was packed full of people too, all different people from second year.
I found it quite hard to concentrate in that sort of environment and I prefer being in smaller groups and being able to discuss things and ask questions, rather than feeling silly if u wanted to ask something and all of the other 399 people looking at you.
I found some of the information quite interesting, but I did know quite a lot of what was being talked about already. Just from general marketing and business discussion had on our course previously.
We were set a task by our course, to create a hypothetical business, and to choose what product/s to sell and where to set up. We were again put into groups, but this time we were able to choose who we wanted to be with, which I think is a good idea, because you can go with people who you feel comfortable with and are able to work with.
We have some rough ideas at the moment, we are thinking of being a photo shoot and makeover stall as part of the vintage fashion fair. We will tour around with them going to different parts of the country, the clothes would be loaned from the stalls for the photo’s and then these photos and make up tips would be produced in a magazine. The stalls then get there business name printed by the clothes and we were also going to use student makeup artists and photographers so it also gives them a chance to have their name published.
We have to have a group meeting after our lecture next week, so that we can finalise our ideas and start to think of our business plan.
Second year has started.. full speed ahead
Second year... what a lot of work.
We are now fully underway with our first project of the year: application of design. This consists of us being in groups with people from our selected pathway and bringing our ideas and concepts together to create a designer diffusion collection for the brand that we researched over the summer – Comme des Garcons.
I was worried about working in a group because I am very independent when I usually do my work and I like to just get on with things. I am also very organised so I am usually ahead of the session schedules when it comes to work and deadlines. However it has not been to bad so far, we have collaborated well as a group and produced a really good group story board to carry on our research with.
The people in my group offer suggestions and ideas, which I am glade about because sometimes you just get the people that like to float along and agree with everything else that you say.
So far we have decided that the main theme for our collection will be geometric shapes, we have all decided on an area of fashion that we are going to design- mine section is tailoring. I wanted to do this as I felt that it will really work with the theme and concept and I feel that I can bring the Comme des Garcons style into this range. Whilst choosing a section and a theme we have all taken a different sub theme under this, my sub theme is layering.
I have now completed my research, and at first I was really struggling to get to grips with to how I should structure my pages and the ideas that I wanted to follow. Also with the way that our timetable has now been organised so that we do one project solidly until it’s finished, it means that you have less time tom complete certain tasks so there isn’t really enough time to even have a creative block.
Hopefully today I will start my design development, I have got some pretty good ideas of where I want to start and I am trying to bear the fabrics that we have chosen in mind whilst I am designing.
I am going to try and complete my design development by the end of Wednesdays sessions so that I can spend some time thinking about my look book and also making sure that I have selected the right design to make for my garment.
We have named our brand emergency reaction, quoting from something Rei Kawakubo said. (head of Comme des Garcons) We have chosen this brand to be a reaction to the current climate so that The Comme des Garcons brand can still be seen on people but it will be at more affordable prices. It will also be based in a pop up shop saving on costs, and will only be available just before and then as sale item at the end of the autumn / winter season.
I am really looking forward to making my garment, we are going to take a trip to Dewsbury Fab works to buy our fabrics as a group, so that all of our collections can be miss matched together to create an entire range.
We are now fully underway with our first project of the year: application of design. This consists of us being in groups with people from our selected pathway and bringing our ideas and concepts together to create a designer diffusion collection for the brand that we researched over the summer – Comme des Garcons.
I was worried about working in a group because I am very independent when I usually do my work and I like to just get on with things. I am also very organised so I am usually ahead of the session schedules when it comes to work and deadlines. However it has not been to bad so far, we have collaborated well as a group and produced a really good group story board to carry on our research with.
The people in my group offer suggestions and ideas, which I am glade about because sometimes you just get the people that like to float along and agree with everything else that you say.
So far we have decided that the main theme for our collection will be geometric shapes, we have all decided on an area of fashion that we are going to design- mine section is tailoring. I wanted to do this as I felt that it will really work with the theme and concept and I feel that I can bring the Comme des Garcons style into this range. Whilst choosing a section and a theme we have all taken a different sub theme under this, my sub theme is layering.
I have now completed my research, and at first I was really struggling to get to grips with to how I should structure my pages and the ideas that I wanted to follow. Also with the way that our timetable has now been organised so that we do one project solidly until it’s finished, it means that you have less time tom complete certain tasks so there isn’t really enough time to even have a creative block.
Hopefully today I will start my design development, I have got some pretty good ideas of where I want to start and I am trying to bear the fabrics that we have chosen in mind whilst I am designing.
I am going to try and complete my design development by the end of Wednesdays sessions so that I can spend some time thinking about my look book and also making sure that I have selected the right design to make for my garment.
We have named our brand emergency reaction, quoting from something Rei Kawakubo said. (head of Comme des Garcons) We have chosen this brand to be a reaction to the current climate so that The Comme des Garcons brand can still be seen on people but it will be at more affordable prices. It will also be based in a pop up shop saving on costs, and will only be available just before and then as sale item at the end of the autumn / winter season.
I am really looking forward to making my garment, we are going to take a trip to Dewsbury Fab works to buy our fabrics as a group, so that all of our collections can be miss matched together to create an entire range.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Second year.... bring it ON!
The NEW year begins....
The summer has been long, and to be honest dragged and I am glad to finally be back in Leeds.
I have moved into my house, with my friend Jordan and we had loads of problems with it over the summer, so it’s good that it’s finally sorted. We have been house shopping to funk it all up a bit, and it looks pretty jazzy and homely now.
The summer project that we were set was quite a struggle for me, and I’m just finishing off the last bit now. I felt that there was a lack of information for the things that I was looking for, but I think we were set that on purpose so that we had to use different sources to find information... But I think that this has really affected my work.
I finished the creative research and mood board quite quickly, well after I had got myself into the frame of mind of actually doing some work, But the brand research on Comme Des Garcons and for the competitors/new brands I have found really hard.
I think it is because I don’t enjoy writing that I just haven’t had the will power to do it, and written research just isn’t appealing to me, and the fact that I haven’t been able to find what I wanted has put me off it even more.
In the end the designers/brands that I researched into were... Alexander Wang, Surface to air and Ji Yun Lapthorn. I picked designers that were all at different stages of establishment - Alexander Wang is an independent designer with collections in boutiques and department stores, Surface to air have their own shops and sell throughout the world, and Ji Yun Lapthorn has just recently graduated and has been picked up to open a new concession in Harvey Nicholls as of next autumn.
I’m hoping that the first project that we do when we return properly will not be based so much on the designer research but more on the creative themes and inspiration from the image sheets that we were also given.
I am looking forward to the first project, it is a group project which I think I will find quite challenging because I will want control over all of the stages, and if the other people in my group don’t pull their weight It will all be left to me, like it usually is in a group project.
Anyway we have our first proper lesson on Friday, so we will have more information about what’s occurring this year, and hopefully I will really be able to progress from last year and end up with a decent mark... as this year it starts to count.
The summer has been long, and to be honest dragged and I am glad to finally be back in Leeds.
I have moved into my house, with my friend Jordan and we had loads of problems with it over the summer, so it’s good that it’s finally sorted. We have been house shopping to funk it all up a bit, and it looks pretty jazzy and homely now.
The summer project that we were set was quite a struggle for me, and I’m just finishing off the last bit now. I felt that there was a lack of information for the things that I was looking for, but I think we were set that on purpose so that we had to use different sources to find information... But I think that this has really affected my work.
I finished the creative research and mood board quite quickly, well after I had got myself into the frame of mind of actually doing some work, But the brand research on Comme Des Garcons and for the competitors/new brands I have found really hard.
I think it is because I don’t enjoy writing that I just haven’t had the will power to do it, and written research just isn’t appealing to me, and the fact that I haven’t been able to find what I wanted has put me off it even more.
In the end the designers/brands that I researched into were... Alexander Wang, Surface to air and Ji Yun Lapthorn. I picked designers that were all at different stages of establishment - Alexander Wang is an independent designer with collections in boutiques and department stores, Surface to air have their own shops and sell throughout the world, and Ji Yun Lapthorn has just recently graduated and has been picked up to open a new concession in Harvey Nicholls as of next autumn.
I’m hoping that the first project that we do when we return properly will not be based so much on the designer research but more on the creative themes and inspiration from the image sheets that we were also given.
I am looking forward to the first project, it is a group project which I think I will find quite challenging because I will want control over all of the stages, and if the other people in my group don’t pull their weight It will all be left to me, like it usually is in a group project.
Anyway we have our first proper lesson on Friday, so we will have more information about what’s occurring this year, and hopefully I will really be able to progress from last year and end up with a decent mark... as this year it starts to count.
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
15 of my best pieces of work PPD1
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