Summary

I chose to do a foundation as I felt that I wasn't clear on what type of career path I wanted to go down, and I felt that I hadn't explored all the different possibilities such as 3D Design and Graphics. I came to Ravensbourne thinking that I would choose Fashion and Textiles, however I have currently chosen Graphics, due to my rotation weeks.

I overall enjoyed the whole process, however felt that three days wasn't enough to fully explore each pathway in detail. I think my least favourite rotation was Lens Based Media as it was very much focused on the film and storyboard side, which I don't enjoy. I think there could have been more focus on the photography element and elements such as sound design which I didn't know was part of the course. I thoroughly enjoyed both the Fashion and Graphics pathway as these relate to my interests. It was very difficult deciding. I enjoyed exploring typography and layout in graphics and the meaning behind a poster or advert. Although in fashion I enjoyed designing on the magazine models.

Overall I feel I have learnt things that I would have never of though of, and have learnt new techniques on how to come up with ideas. 3D helped me learn this as we were shown that you could draw a random shape and design it in to a building. I am hoping that as I have never experienced graphics before I can learn about the software and create interesting promotional pieces that still link in with fashion.

Workshop

For this task we had to create a poster for 2033 of our future hopes and ambitions. We created this by using Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. In the workshop we learnt the basics on the Adobe Suit and this helped me learn new skills as I had never used illustrator or indesign before. 

My poster was based around my dream to open up my own shop with handmade gifts and crafts. I designed the logo in indesign using the touch screen computer and was able to write my name the way I wanted using the pen tool. I chose a photo of a boutique for my background and in photoshop I edited it so that the colours were more viberant. I also took an image of myself and used the magic wand tool to cut myself out of the original image and paste myself on my new background. Finally in illustrator I adjusted the size of my poster and wrote a short summary of my hopes and aspirations.

My Final Poster

(Author's own photo)

My Logo

       

(Author's own photo)

Overall all in this task my logo designs were successful as I had a wide variety and I learnt new skills such as how you can manipulate a shape using the black and white arrow.

(Author's own photo)

Shoes

For this task on the final day we had to created a final garment using the techniques that we had learnt over the week. I decided to create shoes, however I decided to adapt the shape of them and create a wedge effect. I used rolled magazine to create texture. I though carefully about the colours used and made it symmetrical. I really enjoyed this project and think it worked well I changed the illusion of the shape of the shoe and used recyclable material to create something new. To improve I could have experimented with other materials and shoes to see if the shape still worked.

(Author's own photo)

After this task we then had to photograph our garment. Jenny modelled mine around Ravensbourne however I then realised that sticking the magazine on to the shoe with masking tape was not a good idea as the magazine fell off the the design collased. If I used stronger tape or glue this wouldn't have happened however I didn't want to ruin the shoes I was working with.

(Author's own photo)

(Author's own photo)

Clothes

For this task we had to use the magazine structures that we made and photocopy two different designs into A3. Then we used this as the pattern for different top and bottom designs. This was enjoyable as we had to think about how we placed the design on the paper. 

(Author's own photo)

Jumper and skater skirt.
The design of this skirt went surprisingly well as the rolls of the magazine fitted in well the size and the shape of the skirt.

(Author's own photo)

Crop top and pencil skirt.
This design went well with the top and the design has a variety of colour in it and is eye catching.

(Author's own photo)

Blazer and pencil trousers.

To improve this one I could have positioned the jacket on the paper better.

(Author's own photo)

Shirt and wide legged trousers.

Designs

As a follow on from the magazine figures we had to develop ideas and make them larger, included accessories. I created 6 different pieces of headwear that inspired me from my magazine creations. I enjoyed this task as each one was different. 

(Author's own photo)

For this I created a headband that has large strips extending outwards. I used a solid colour and a pattern together so that you could see the different elements of the headband. For this I would probably use wire so that the strips would stand up and cover it in material.

(Author's own photo)

This creation reflects a crown with the shape of the triangles layered on top of each other. I again layered a solid colour with pattern so that you could see the different depths of layers of the crown. I also used different sizes of triangles so that the levels were different.

(Author's own photo)

This creation was a simple head fascinator that could be used at weddings ect. This creation was 3D spirals that came off the page. I linked two spirals together so that the colour and pattern were linked. This idea was simple but eye catching for the viewer.

(Author's own photo)

Here I used the cut out effect using tracing paper and covered the face to represent a veil. I used tracing paper so that the models face was still visable. I liked this idea as the teared effect is edgy and the shapes cut out are unconventional to the circles that are normally used.

(Author's own photo)

For this creation I used an oversized flower on the side of the head. This could be used to clip onto the hair. I only used one flower to make a statement piece. This idea could have been improved by making the flower 3D and have different components attached to it.

(Author's own photo)

This idea was a headband that had a bubble like shape layered ontop. These would have been 3D ball shapes that sat on top of each other. This idea could have been more creative with the size of the headband as I could have made bigger and more eye catching.

Dressing magazine figures

For the second day we created out own designs on magazine cut outs. We had to make the creations in 3D form so that they stood off the page. I really enjoyed this task as you could create whatever you want and make designs exaggerated and extravagant. We could also used the techniques that we had learnt making the small 3D structures.

(Author's own photo)

For this idea I used the folding effects that I had used in the small models. For this model I created a bow for the hair that was over sized, a peplum folded belt for the trousers to enhance the waist and folded trousers. I used two colours that were contrasting, but also that fitted in with the image. I think this worked well the creations were broken up and balanced out on the page.

(Author's own photo)

This was my favourite model outfit as this created an hourglass shape for the model. Also the random choice of magazine worked well together and the different lengths created volume and a ragged effect. This worked well with the shape and the model however to improve I could have covered the whole body.

(Author's own photo)

This creation was inspired by Cruella Deville from 101 Dalmatians as the use of leopard print and the shape of the design. I used circular shapes to create this with rolling the paper to create a cylinder effect. I liked this creation however I realised that it wasn't realistic, although it was eye catching.  

(Author's own photo)

I created this by scrunching up newspaper and sticking it down on the model. This created a structures 8 shape on the model. I liked this design as there was lots of structure and texture to this image. To improve however I could have been more inventive with the shape of the outfit.

Mannequin Outfits

Here we worked in groups and used our larger scale structure to create different outfits tailored to different words such as organic, futuristic and symmetrical. 

(Author's own photo)

This was my groups final creation. My structure was the brown paper star shapes that feature on the shoulder and bottom of the dress. This creation was one shouldered and backless for the customer. It was highly 3D and had texture and volume. To improve I think we could have considered the balance between the brown paper and the white paper.

(Author's own photo)

This creation focused mainly on the bottom part of the mannequin. We made a 'Rara' type skirt by layering the folded pieces of paper on top of each other so that the skirt came outwards. I liked the use of brown, white and orange paper and the different sizes. I think this creation worked well and was realistic.

(Author's own photo)

This creation was focused around the work organic. Although the whole body was not covered, elements of this design could be used on a garment. We used the coloured twisted bits of paper to wrap around the body as this represented plant roots and the folded white bits of paper represented flowers, dotted across the body.

(Author's own photo)

This creation focused on the shoulders, so we made the focus on one shoulder. I really liked this creation as the shoulder piece could be bought separately and used to make a statement. Also the textures worked well together.

(Author's own photo)

I liked the skirt of this creation as it reminded me of a 'Hula' skirt. This creation was based around symmetry and balance. The centre of the top is the main eye catcher as it's very bold. I liked also the back of this creation as it represented wings and was also eye catching for the viewer.

(Author's own photo)

This creation was my least favourite as I feel the components didn't work well together. The main area that I didn't like was the front of this creation as the bow in the middle didn't match with the shoulder pieces. However I liked the back of this creation as the simple tie at the back was subtle and non messy and complicated. 

(Author's own photo)

This creation was extremely exaggerated and had connotation with madonna's costume wear. This has lots of different components , however they all seem to balance each other with the colour of paper used. I liked the hat the was added as non of the other creations included head wear.

Overall I think the creations worked well and this task was challenging as you had to work with what you had been given. This made you think outside the box and explore all the different possibilities of ideas.

Fashion Structures

For this task we had to create 5 small 3D samples that showed structure, pattern, texture and form. Here I used a range of techniques that I have learnt through graphics/ 3D and lens based. The star structures worked as they were sturdy and supportive however the weaving technique with paper didn't work so well as the paper was too flimsy. To improve I could have attempted origami or linking the paper together as this would have created different shapes to work with.

(Author's own photo)
For this structure I folded the paper and cut triangles out. This then made symmetrical shapes on the paper which could have been used for material for an outfit. 

(Author's own photo)
This structure was teared strips of paper stuck together and then curled with scissors. This gave the structure volume and texture. I made the strips of paper different lengths so that the curls were different lengths.

(Author's own photo)
I made this structure into an actual garment, a skirt with a peplum waist. I curled the paper so that it was 3D and teared the peplum so that the skirt had texture.

(Author's own photo)
This structure looked like stars placed together as I folded the strips of paper like origami. Then I scrunched the folds together to make a star shape and attached them all together to make a chain. This could have been used for jewellery. I then made this structure into larger scale.

(Author's own photo)
I made a flower shape for this structure by cutting paper out in oval shapes and creasing the middle so that the image wasn't flat. I then attached the paper together in the middle.


(Author's own photo)
Here I weaved the paper together. Even though this was flat there was some raised texture to the paper. This would have been successful in using with stronger material, however the paper was hard to work with.

Words through photos

For this task we had to take photos that represented six words, echo, crush, happy, sad, jump and fall. Some of my images worked better than others such as my echo as I though this image was creative. My sad image was also good as this was a random person that I took who had the emotion that I was looking for. Some of my images such as jump are staged and this is noticable. To improve if I had more time I would have explored different areas of London, not just the o2 and would have used more colour. I was surprised by how hard to task was as the worked had to be recognisable in the image and some words were hard to establish in image.

(Author's own photo)

HAPPY

I chose this image as it had words and images related to the word happy. I positioned the image not in the centre to draw your eye to the word and image.

(Author's own photo)

SAD

I chose this image as the character looks upset and distressed, however she is far enough away to not make the emotions noticeable. As the viewer you have to study the image to recognise her emotion,

(Author's own photo)

JUMP

I chose this image as the action is physical and my character is jumping from a height. 

(Author's own photo)

FALL

I used this image as although it doesn't show something falling the image is taken from a height looking down, which could represent that the character is about to fall from a height. 

(Author's own photo)

CRUSH

I chose this image as the wall looks like it has been crushed. I took this image landscape so that the viewer could see the detail so the cracks to show the power of the object that crushed this wall.

(Author's own photo)

ECHO

I chose this for echo as there is a repetition of the same object in a row, which could show an echo of objects. This is what happens with your words when you talk in an enclosed place so I just portrayed it through image.

LBM Stories

For our second day we worked in groups and explored stories with beginnings, middles and ends. We watched short films and disused the sequences of the stories and the effect of the events. We then produced a number of drawings of characters that we had seen and places that we had been to on a large A1 sheet. After we then chose different characters and places and create 3 storyboards with these ideas on top of the other images. This create a colourful and interesting piece of paper that held lots of ideas. 

(Author's own photo)

(Author's own photo)

We then had to choose a idea that we liked, that used the beginning, middle and end effect with a problem in the beginning and gets resolved at the end. We then had to go home and shoots a series of photos that created a story. My idea was a character that does her daily routine and gets up, goes out and then dies. 

(Author's own photo)

This was my first storyboard of images that I created. To extend this we then had to rework into the storyboard and create a better story and thing about framework and the plot. I changed mine by adding in a scene so the story was more breathtaking.

1. Character gets up and eat breakfast.

2. Character is on her way to the shops but then sees another character struggling to cross the road, so stops to help.

3. Character is now running late and is on her way to the shops.

4. Character is too late for the shops as they are now shut and there was a 50% sale off.

5. Character is desperate to get in so climbs the shop to look for another way to get in.

6. Character is on top of the shop and looks over the edge to see if the police are looking for her.

7. Sadly the character looses her balance and falls off the building.

Here I have created a scenario so that the audience feel sorry for the main character as she stopped and helped a character and did a good deed but then dies. I then drew on to my story board to explain my ideas that I would change. 

(Author's own photo)

(Author's own photo)

(Author's own photo)

Overall I think my planning and ideas that I created worked well as working in a team made it easier to construct varied plots and themes and working in a team allowed people to discuss what worked well and what didn't. However I did struggle creating an exciting story on my own as I find story telling hard. I feel that I could have improved on my story and images as I felt that I couldn't get my story across. I enjoyed making that moving animated video that we did as a class as I had never created something like that before and it showed me how easy it is to do. 

Lens based media - Day 1

For this task we had to select one image from a selection of our memory photos to draw. I selected my pink converse as the colour was striking and the positioning of the shoe was interesting to me. We had to make our drawing fit onto an A1 sheet. For my drawing I firstly drew and coloured in pencil, then I went over the drawing in felt tip, and used water and a paintbrush to create a water coloured effect.

(Author's own original photo)

(Author's own photo)

(First drawing of image above)

For our second task we looked at John Hilliard's 'Cause of Death' 1970 work, where the same image has been manipulated in different ways to create different meanings. We cut out a boarder for our image and placed this on different parts of the page to create a varied image.

(Author's own photo)

(Rectangle)

(Author's own photo)

(Ripped)

I think this image worked best as there is enough information in the photo for the audience to guess what the image is supposed to be, however the shape is not conventional of an image which makes it interesting to view.

(Author's own photo)

(Square)

I like this image as this part of the drawing was my favourite as it looked the most realistic interpretation of the shoe I was drawing.

(Author's own photo)

(Triangle)

I don't think this image worked as well as the shape was structured and didn't hold enough information for the audience.

Overall I was surprised with the effect that the felt tip and water gave to the image. I liked the effect of the colours merging together and creating different colours and textures. I also was surprised by the way I managed to scale my image larger as normally I struggle at this and the image look out of proportion. To improve I could have scaled my frame into smaller and larger ones and compared how the size varies what the image looks like.