Degree Show Reviews- Helen Birchall

Helen Birchall

Helens work was new and experimental; it was a mix of print and 3D design. She focused on architecture. This is a theme I love to work with as my eyes are automatically drawn to lines and textures within buildings. What I like about Helen’s collection, is that it’s not obviously focusing on architecture; you can’t see a repeat of windows! She experiments in a more abstract and contemporary way. The strong, deep colours add an intense mood against the delicate, frayed shapes created with the printed fabric.

I feel that using something new and different within your designs puts your work on a higher level to everyone else’s. It adds a different layer to your work; making it stand out. I really want to push myself within third year; although I love digital print, I would really like to include embroidery and styling within my work. I want my work to stand out and exploring work within the degree show has made this even clearer to me. I don’t want to blend in.

Degree Show Review- Ruth Murray

Ruth Murray

‘My work explores the relationship between the drawn, printed and stitched mark.'

In my latest project, I experimented with using embroidery within my prints.  I felt like this really created a new depth to my work; making it stonger and more interesting. This is why Ruth’s work stood out to me. The mix of hand and digital print against the embroidery creates a strong collection.

Ruth’s collection focused on ‘the energy of the coastal landscape’ this was expressed through mark making and vibrant colours. It was clear, looking at her portfolio, that Ruth has experimented and explored different techniques as much as possible so that her final work was perfect. I feel that embroidery within print develops a new level to print design; new shapes can be created on top of initial designs, adding texture and detail. 

Degree Show Reviews- Hollie Davies

Hollie Davies 

Hollies work was one of the main student that stood out for me in the graduate show. Her display was professional and her folder was filled with amazing highlevel work. Hollie uses a mix of digital print and screen print to create new, contemporary fashion prints. Hollie focuses on trend forecasting, fashion design and art direction. This therefore adds more to the collection as she’s thought about the styling and the context of the work extra carefully.

S/S AW 15 Lookbook
http://degreeshow.mmu.ac.uk/2014/HollieDavies/

The colour palette within her portfolio was strong thoughout and you could see the development; her ideas getting stronger and theme pushing forward. I love how Hollie uses a mix of photography and artwork to create a print.

Hollie’s work was inspirational; it made me really want to produce work at the same level as hers. The layout of the portfolio was professional and crisp. I am aiming for my portfolio to be ready for working world; clean, crisp professional and more than anything innovative. 

Final Presentation

Today, we presented our work in front of Debbie from Digetex, our tutor and other students. I'm not going to lie, I was quite nervous! Nevertheless, once I got into, it wasnt too bad. I'm pleased with how I presented my work; I feel I explained things clearly and picked out the key techniques and development work appropriately. I'm pleased I planned my  presentation before hand as it meant I was more confident and it made sure I remembered everything key thing I wanted to explain. I had organised my presentation boards so everything was in the correct order, and also bookmarked key pages of my sketchbook. Debbie's feedback was positive and she seemed to like my work and how I displayed it. It was such a good experience to have, as that it what the working world will be like. I feel with the more practice I get, I will become more confident talking about my work to others. I feel I've pushed myself throughout this project and I am confident with my final presentation. 

Unit Evaluation

I feel I have pushed myself throughout this project. The colours I used, the style of technique and overall end look has been out of my comfort zone, however I am pleased with the final outcome. My final designs are different from anything else I've done, and more quirky as prints. I would have never thought I would have brought embroidery into my work because I have always been adamant that I  work within print alone, nevertheless I have really enjoyed working with embroidery. I have always said that I want the audience to feel like they want to touch my designs because they look textured and not just two dimensional, therefore adding fabric layers and embroidery has pushed this idea even further. You can't help but want to feel the samples. The three dimensional prints also make it easier to see the designs working on garments. Maybe this is because in a way they are more physical. 

Print sample- Cotton Voile with machine embroidery

Print Sample- Cotton Voile with a mix of machine and hand embroidery

Print Sample- Cotton Voile with machine embroidery

When choosing fabric to print my designs onto, not only the feel and look of it was important, the quality and price was too. I usually print onto fabric such as Silk Habotai, to get the sheen and silky quality, however this fabric is more pricey. When choosing the fabric I had to think about the customer. I know that a 'working woman' would have money, however if I want my design in the high streets shops, the cost has to come into to play for the prints to be successful. This cotton voile is perfect; as from a distance it looks quite silky,  it holds the colour well but also softens it in a light summery sort of way. 

Looking at designers work has really pushed my designs within this unit; I have seen how important contextual research work is. Without coming across Valentino's striking dress, my work wouldn't have looked like this. I confidently know what aspects are key throughout the designing process: knowing what designers are producing currently, up and coming trends, knowing what your client wants and sticking it to it and finding inspirational images that push your design and create a theme. 

Illustration Board

I always find that placing my designs on fashion illustrations helps me see if my designs work as part of a collection. I'm pleased with my final collection; every design is different but works as a group. I feel that the colour palette works well; I've used the palette differently  within each design, this creates what looks like two different colour collections adding variety within the designs. 

I enjoyed having the aspect of group work at the beginning of the project. Experiences like this is key for preparing yourself to go into the design world. I would have liked to have experienced more group work as I feel it could have pushed me. It would have been interesting to see how our group would have worked when designing and researching a theme together. As we all have different ways of working and key techniques we use; designing together could have taught us each new things that could have been brought through to our designing in the future. Having group tutorials has been good as you get feedback from other students; new ideas come to the foreground, ideas that you wouldn't have come up with. Additionally working in the studio means I can ask for others feedback of what works and what doesn't. It's so important to come out of my 'designing bubble', otherwise I'll just get into a routine of producing the same stuff. Seeing others motivation to do well and create new and exciting designs pushes me...also I am a tad competitive so  seeing great work pushes me to be better..! 

Overall, I have really enjoyed this project. It has been exciting designing for a company as it   has challenged me to think not just about designs that I would prefer as the client is the only one that matters.  I am confident that my final collection meets the brief Debbie gave us, and I believe that I taken in all of the advice and feedback I have been given throughout the project to produce a strong collection and ensure the client is happy.I have driven myself to work in a more three dimensional way and I would really like to explore this aspect more within my future work. I have also learnt how important research is and I want to continue to make contextual research a big part of my work. It has been interesting to see how my work has moved forward throughout this project. Initially I wanted to produce designs based on the theme 'Dark Blooms'; I collected research focused on this idea. Nevertheless, as I started to use my colour palette and develop prints, I realised I wanted to go in a more vibrant route so my work could work for the summer. Even though my theme changed, I don't feel this is a bad thing as my work has just developed and become stronger throughout the project. I feel, I have learnt to be more flexible and relaxed with my designing development, and in turn this has made my designs and research stronger. 

Design Development

Colour Palette

I have decided to use one of the colour palettes that was given to us by Debbie. I feel like is a good idea as I don't tend to work with colours like these and also I want to produce designs that the 'client' would prefer. As a designer, it is important to work with key themes that the client has set. This colour palette will challenge me and push me to work out of my comfort zone.

Colour Board- Including experimental photographic overlays

Before starting working with layering, I wanted to create designs that I could then work on top of with embroidery. Using the idea of blurred against bold, I started to design a range of prints. 

Blurred/bold

Incorporating spot repeat within the prints

Bold spot repeat against line motif

Claire Coles

'Claire designs and produces embroidered wall panels and couture wallpaper murals for interior designers, architects and private clients.

Leather, silks and vintage papers are collaged and intricately embroidered to create a range of decorative surface patterns inspired by flora and fauna.

Combining a range of textures and materials with the use of stitch, Claire has developed an innovative textile process. Her unique and luxurious embroideries transform walls into works of art.'

http://www.clairecoles.co.uk/about

Claire Coles work has inspired me greatly; it's her use of layered materials and embroidery to create simple, yet beautiful furnishings. The machine embroidery; just a single line creating fluid movement throughout the designs, adds detail to block colours.

Sourced from http://www.clairecoles.co.uk

Sourced from http://www.clairecoles.co.uk

Sampling 

So I started to work in a 3D way. Initially I worked with paper designs to see how I could use the technique. After seeing the final outcome, I was clear that I needed to work with a  mix of cut out block colour fabric and printed. It gave me an idea of how I could compose the block floral shapes within my final prints.

Paper layered sample

Paper layered sample

Fabric layered and embroidery sample

I feel that sampling in this way has helped me to explore my designing skills. Working with paper first, gave me flexibility; I was able to experiment with placement of the shapes and see what worked and what didn't. This meant that when producing fabric samples, I had an idea of how I was going to use embroidery, so again, I could experiment with a mix of printed fabric and block colour. This process made my final designs perfected, as I knew what worked best. Throughout this year, I have learnt that things arent going to go right first time, and they shouldn't because that could just make you lazy as a designer. What you need to do, is keep working on something, and then maybe you'll find a technique that is even better. Don't settle with something! Practice makes perfect! 

Digetex Interim Review

Debbie McKeegan, creative director and co founder of Digetex visited MMU yesterday for individual tutorials. She popped round everyone as we were working, looking at the work we have produced so far. This was a really good thing to get involved in as it was first hand experience working with and discussing ideas with the client.

Debbie seemed to like the ideas I had and the boards I had produced; she said she really liked my mood and photography boards. This meant a lot as mood boards are key within the design industry; when we visited the studio, the walls were covered in them. Mood boards are the basis of your work; it's where your ideas originally come from and where designing begins.

I explained how I was really inspired by the mixed media, 3D work within designers work and also the idea of using blurred images against bold block motifs. Straight away Debbie pushed me to try it; experimenting with hand embroidery and machine line stitch to create motifs. I was pleased she pushed me to start working in a 3D way. I knew I wanted to go down this route however I think I needed someone to  encourage me to pursue it.