Thursday 24 November 2011

Design Process Brief______________________

Project Title: Design Process
Project Duration: 8 weeks
Course Credit: 10 (100 student hours/10 teaching hours)


Project Aims 


* Identify and challenge existing perceptions of the design process.
* Monitor, record and reflect upon your development.
* Acquire research, analytical and critical abilities appropriate to the task of examining design practice. 




24/11/11


Today I was given out my new project brief based on recognising, improving and implementing my design process. Over the course of 8 weeks I have to record at regular intervals (ideally daily/or every second day): what I have done that day, what was good/bad, how can it be improved etc...etc... Basically reflective writing that will help highlight and define what my strengths and weaknesses are. Thus, helping me to improve my design process into a much more productive and fulfilled outcome. 

I have done some similar reflective writing whilst at Cardonald College. At the end of two projects we wrote an essay on our journey through the brief. Analysing what I had done, what went wrong, and what could be improved aloud me to focus on some key areas of improvement of my design process. The knowledge I gained from these reflective essays were about my time management.  I learned how to split and manage my time between Research, Development, and Final Development in order to complete my briefs on time. 

I am really looking forward to this more in depth form of reflective writing as i gained a lot of knowledge from my brief stint at Cardonald. 

So........ 

For the 1st 2weeks I have to write my thoughts in a diary so until then.........




Box is the constraints of the brief. The branches are different directions of thought/ideas. 

Vx 

Thursday 3 November 2011

Symbol, Logo & Slippage_____

My first brief at The GSA.  Length: 3 weeks


I had to look into Signs, Symbols & Slippage. The outcome of the brief was to have 3 proposals of wearable objects. 




RESEARCH


I gathered primary source research via wandering around Glasgow City Centre taking pictures of all the signs and symbols I could see e.g.


      

It wasn't long before I became aware of all of the scaffolding within the city centre obstructing and disrupting my view. At first scaffolding is seen as a nuisance and an eyesore. However, when I really though about it scaffolding is a very positive symbol of improvement, regeneration and renewal. I was sold!! Scaffolding was my "symbol" I choose to work on. 


DEVELOPMENT

The more I observed scaffolding the more engrossed in it I became. There were 3 main attributes of Scaffolding which attracted my attention. 


1. Accidental spillage of paint from previous jobs the scaffolding had been used on. This created beautiful variation of colours clashing against the grey, cold industrial scaffolding. The textures created by layers of paint and man handling of the poles made interesting markings. 



2. Projection of objects through the scaffoldings "skin".




3. Overlapping and layering of poles, colour and textures.





PROPOSAL 
My presentation boards. Picking out the key images and areas that inspired me:


...and my proposal for developing a ring, brooch and upper forearm bangle:




Experiment Stage

My proposal was approved so I then experimented with non precious materials to create from, texture, colour etc... 

Below are mock-up examples of brooches:




Rings: 


Upper forearm bracelet: 




Neckpiece: 




I am really happy with the outcome of this project. I think there are many more design possibilities to be considered at a later date. For now, scaffolding has been put to bed as I am about to embark on my next brief...cross school project. I have a feeling that scaffolding may be my inspiration/muse in years to come. 



Monday 19 September 2011

Enrolment day______

19th Sept 11

The date I enrolled at The Glasgow School of Art. My day started very normal. I woke up and did the house work then went to the gym in a daze. I hurriedly got back from the gym leaving myself only an hour and half to get ready. I skipped some of the shaving to save time lol. I surprised myself by being ready in under and hour! ...that has never happened before :) A very proud moment. 

I jumped on the train and was on my way to Charing Cross (Glasgow). I made the journey up the massive hill to get to The GSA which knackered me! I am quite glad that I will not need to venture up this hill everyday as the Design School has moved to Skypark. Although, it would have been a good daily workout for my ass!

I quickly ran in to The Mackintosh building to have a quick fix in the toilet mirror....vainnnnnnn i know lol but i was nervous and wanted to look my best for first impressions. As i approached the Bourdon Building I spotted a few people that I had meet through "facebook stalking" lol. Everyone was lovely and really friendly. We stood outside for a few minutes as the staff were running late. We then got in and were ushered into a little lecture hall where we filled out a form. I was the person who didn't have a pen :(  22 and didn't have a pen... how silly.

Pen dilemma sorted we then went into another room and stood for a further hour to get our student cards. Once I got my card I went down to my new Union (previously Capitol) with a couple of other students and had a drink to celebrate. One drink on an empty stomach and I was tiPsy. I forgot to mention I AM i lightweight! It gave me an excuse to get a big dirrrrrty half pizza out the chippy to sober up on the train ride home. :D It was amazing! i can see it becoming a regular occurrence. 

I am so happy :D! I feel like a weight has been lifted from my mind now that i am finally in. No more wishing to be at The GSA ...i've actually MADE IT. :D 



Im looking forward to tomorrow......




Wednesday 7 September 2011

Animals in Jewellery______

Two of my favourite jewellery campaigns are Bvlgari and Cartier's ones that include lions and lion cubs. They make me coooo and awwww and look absolutely luxurious, and incapsulate my idea of the unattainable. 





I was interested to see if there was much use for animals in jewellery advertisement...so by the wonders of the 21st century...i googled it! :D Below is what I found.
















Some of the beautiful images above are from Laura Loveday aka thefoxling on Flickr. 

Monday 5 September 2011

Pick of the bunch__________

I didn't manage to make it down to New Designers or the Dazzle exhibition in Edinburgh this year so I took a look on their websites to see which fledgling designers caught my eye.




Julie Lockhart 


Fun and executed well 


Lauren Davies



Kirsten Mackie



Josephine Adebolu

Materials are interesting. 


Amy Logan


Stains - I really like the idea of this piece, i think its fun and innovative. 




Rose Warner






JAHYUN RITA BAEK





Stacey Bentley



Yoko Izawa