During this project I feel I have really pushed myself, working in a group put pressure on me to produce a lot of work at a high standard to keep up with everyone. I used a wide range of media to express my thoughts/ideas, and learnt new techniques to support these concepts. I learnt how to use the laser cutter, Final Cut pro, and Vector works knowing how to use these programs and machinery allowed my to communicate the ideas from my mind into reality. My research includes all different areas - from museum and library visits to going to the tip. A lot of my research I did over the Easter break and going back in London where there is many different places of inspiration really helped me. I am also well versed with London so I knew where to go to get what I was looking for. Picking up that extra project High Street 2012 has added extra stress but also opened my eyes to more places and cultures that are out there. It has also demanded me to organize my time effectively to get everything finished on time. Creating personal deadlines made sure I finished everything early or on-time, it also gave me piece of mind that I wasn't missing anything out.
Personally this project has been my favorite of the year, working with people made me feel comfortable and let me really express myself. I enjoyed having a group of people I could talk to about the work I was producing and get honest useful feed back from them.
Thursday 17 May 2012
Working as a group
For the most part I really enjoyed working as a group. Being part of the group pushed me to do more work, so I wouldn't feel like I was letting them down. As a group we had a variety of inspiration and thoughts which made us all produce such different samples and pieces. Seeing all these different pieces allowed up to bounce off each other and gain inspiration from them. Talking with each other was a key part, we would get together almost every day and discuss and show each other what we were working on, which I feel was really helpful. Because each person would have something different to show and say about the work and discuss ideas about takeing the ideas further. Being all different people, personalities, backgrounds and ages meant we all had different strengths and weaknesses which we could pay off of. Beth was really good at Photoshop, David knew how to use the laser cutter and had loads of ideas with manipulating samples, and April always had something different to say about what you could do with your samples.
Communication was a huge part of our project- the idea of collaboration with the community as a community was key- I feel we really did work as a community- bringing with each person different angles of the project.
Deadlines as a group was another factor, when we did the swapping of samples we made deadlines so we could all take part in the process, making sure we all finished on time was huge. Because if one person was not finished we would have change the deadlines and it effected everyone.
David was a strong member of the group, he was the rock - almost the dad of the group! He was really good at organizing and planning events for the group. I don't think we would have gotten so far with out him- towards the end he personally kept me sane.
Throughout the project everyone had equal roles, but towards the end I ended up taking a bigger role with getting everything finished. At times I felt bossy, but I think if I had not done this we wouldn't have gotten everything finished especially the movie (with everyones images in it) and at the event,with setting up and organization of it.
Communication was a huge part of our project- the idea of collaboration with the community as a community was key- I feel we really did work as a community- bringing with each person different angles of the project.
Deadlines as a group was another factor, when we did the swapping of samples we made deadlines so we could all take part in the process, making sure we all finished on time was huge. Because if one person was not finished we would have change the deadlines and it effected everyone.
David was a strong member of the group, he was the rock - almost the dad of the group! He was really good at organizing and planning events for the group. I don't think we would have gotten so far with out him- towards the end he personally kept me sane.
Throughout the project everyone had equal roles, but towards the end I ended up taking a bigger role with getting everything finished. At times I felt bossy, but I think if I had not done this we wouldn't have gotten everything finished especially the movie (with everyones images in it) and at the event,with setting up and organization of it.
Film editing
For our digital outcome we decided to use the footage of the event mixed with some of the stop motions from throughout the project and the music Davids friend mixed for us that we played at the event. Originally we had this plan of putting loads of still images mixed with the stop motions and footage from the event to show the full progress of the project. However all of these different elements made the film to long and it was very time consuming to get everything formatted and learn how to edit them in.
First time round of editing the film we couldn't get it to save properly and Jan (amazing edit technician) had gone home, and we lost the film. The next day Jan managed to find some of the footage so we had the footage we had chosen, just not edited.
Bethany did the actual cutting and pasting of the video and a few of us helped choose the clips and helped with the music out.
In the end we used the stop motions and footage from the even mixed with the music, the video turned out perfectly. We managed to use three of the tracks during the film and credits (not all the full tracks but sections of them) the beat of the music went perfectly with the setting and mood of the footage.
The whole editing process was a major learning curve, I had never done anything like this before, but now I feel confidant in working with Final Cut pro (the program we used). The editing and filming process made me aware of how long it all takes to get it all done. I feel like we had just amount of time, but it would have been nicer to spread the editing over a few days rather than cramming it into two. Jan the edit technician helped us so much, im not sure what we would have done with out him! None of us new how to use any of the editing programs before he showed us. He guided us through converting and editing the footage, effects, sound, and to be honest the whole process !
First time round of editing the film we couldn't get it to save properly and Jan (amazing edit technician) had gone home, and we lost the film. The next day Jan managed to find some of the footage so we had the footage we had chosen, just not edited.
Bethany did the actual cutting and pasting of the video and a few of us helped choose the clips and helped with the music out.
In the end we used the stop motions and footage from the even mixed with the music, the video turned out perfectly. We managed to use three of the tracks during the film and credits (not all the full tracks but sections of them) the beat of the music went perfectly with the setting and mood of the footage.
The whole editing process was a major learning curve, I had never done anything like this before, but now I feel confidant in working with Final Cut pro (the program we used). The editing and filming process made me aware of how long it all takes to get it all done. I feel like we had just amount of time, but it would have been nicer to spread the editing over a few days rather than cramming it into two. Jan the edit technician helped us so much, im not sure what we would have done with out him! None of us new how to use any of the editing programs before he showed us. He guided us through converting and editing the footage, effects, sound, and to be honest the whole process !
Wednesday 16 May 2012
The Event
The event at Hotspur House turned out so perfectly!
While we were setting up during the day there was a bit of doubt because the large sheets of white fabric looked out of place, the floor was messy, there was stuff everywhere around us, and our garments looked weird standing alone in a messy warehouse. But once it got darker outside, turned the studio lights off, turned the music and filming lights on the entire mood of the place was set and when people started showing up it turned into a proper event.
As soon as it was dark we set the lighting up, because we waited to the evening there was nothing to distract the setting allowing us to completely control all of the lighting.
Although there was only five lights and seven of us. We had to angle the lights in such a way that every one got some. I think we should have gotten two extra lights, so each piece could have had the exact lighting they wanted. We got some jels from the AV store and started messing around with them, although only when it was very dark did they work. We got a yellow, blue and white one (which just made the lighting softer). I did experiment with the jels but the blue made it feel to cold, the yellow gave it to much of a tint, and the last one did not effect my garment at all. I ended up just using a light with no jels, the background (door) and angle of the light gave off a really nice cream colour which was the perfect shade.
Filming and the angle of the camera was a tough one, originally we tried to angle the two camera so everyone's work was in them. We had planned on keeping them still in the locations, but we could not get everyone's work in them and moved the cameras several times. We worked with two cameras to give us a variety of different angles of the event, and also double the footage so we could pick and choose shots for the film.
In our original idea we had planned on projecting our images and samples onto the large pieces of fabric and our garments. Although we could not figure out how to get the projector going. It would have been nice to have that little extra idea, but in the end the event turned out perfectly so im not particularly gutted we couldn't get it working.
The music was brilliant, David friend is a DJ and mixed us six tracks. He used modern music with older music (Happy Mondays, Gwen Steffani, Beastie Boys and many others). The tracks portrayed our concept for our project perfectly, and the beat helped set the mood for the event.
To keep with our idea of a community event, we set up a comment board where every one who was at the even wrote a thought, statement, or feeling about the pieces. This element was very small and though up at the last minute, but it added a nice little touch to really get 'the community' involved.
I personally am so happy with how everything has turned out. This was the first time I had shown my work outside of a school related event, it was stressful, annoying, and I felt like giving up at times when we were setting up and clearing everything. But in the end it was worth every minute of it, it was exiting, fun and thrilling to discuss and show our work. All the pieces worked so well together and really portrayed our concepts. It was also nice to sow our work as a group because there was that 'in it together' mentality and it allowed us to feed of each others vibes.
While we were setting up during the day there was a bit of doubt because the large sheets of white fabric looked out of place, the floor was messy, there was stuff everywhere around us, and our garments looked weird standing alone in a messy warehouse. But once it got darker outside, turned the studio lights off, turned the music and filming lights on the entire mood of the place was set and when people started showing up it turned into a proper event.
As soon as it was dark we set the lighting up, because we waited to the evening there was nothing to distract the setting allowing us to completely control all of the lighting.
Although there was only five lights and seven of us. We had to angle the lights in such a way that every one got some. I think we should have gotten two extra lights, so each piece could have had the exact lighting they wanted. We got some jels from the AV store and started messing around with them, although only when it was very dark did they work. We got a yellow, blue and white one (which just made the lighting softer). I did experiment with the jels but the blue made it feel to cold, the yellow gave it to much of a tint, and the last one did not effect my garment at all. I ended up just using a light with no jels, the background (door) and angle of the light gave off a really nice cream colour which was the perfect shade.
Filming and the angle of the camera was a tough one, originally we tried to angle the two camera so everyone's work was in them. We had planned on keeping them still in the locations, but we could not get everyone's work in them and moved the cameras several times. We worked with two cameras to give us a variety of different angles of the event, and also double the footage so we could pick and choose shots for the film.
In our original idea we had planned on projecting our images and samples onto the large pieces of fabric and our garments. Although we could not figure out how to get the projector going. It would have been nice to have that little extra idea, but in the end the event turned out perfectly so im not particularly gutted we couldn't get it working.
The music was brilliant, David friend is a DJ and mixed us six tracks. He used modern music with older music (Happy Mondays, Gwen Steffani, Beastie Boys and many others). The tracks portrayed our concept for our project perfectly, and the beat helped set the mood for the event.
To keep with our idea of a community event, we set up a comment board where every one who was at the even wrote a thought, statement, or feeling about the pieces. This element was very small and though up at the last minute, but it added a nice little touch to really get 'the community' involved.
I personally am so happy with how everything has turned out. This was the first time I had shown my work outside of a school related event, it was stressful, annoying, and I felt like giving up at times when we were setting up and clearing everything. But in the end it was worth every minute of it, it was exiting, fun and thrilling to discuss and show our work. All the pieces worked so well together and really portrayed our concepts. It was also nice to sow our work as a group because there was that 'in it together' mentality and it allowed us to feed of each others vibes.
Finshed garment
For the event at Hotspur House lighting and the location of my garment were key element in its final presentation. I chose a spot up against a cream door, the colour of the door was perfect. The cream did not take away from the garment and helped with the general mood of it. The door was slightly inset in the wall and created some amazing shadows when the lights were put on it. I used one of the large lights, and had it lower pointing up at the garment to create shadows against the wall.
For the lighting to work at its prime we had to wait until the evening to take pictures, and when we help the event. When we turned all of the lights off, we could control the lighting completely to get the exact look and mood.
I had originally set it up beside a grate covering a window, up against a piece of white fabric. But this location did not work well with it, the sharp white looked weird with the piece (because even the white fabric was more off-white than pure white).
I chose a mannequin with the bodice hanging from a steel rod. The dark colour of the metal and yellowish colour of the bodice worked well with the piece, and personally I liked the unconventional look of it.
For the lighting to work at its prime we had to wait until the evening to take pictures, and when we help the event. When we turned all of the lights off, we could control the lighting completely to get the exact look and mood.
I had originally set it up beside a grate covering a window, up against a piece of white fabric. But this location did not work well with it, the sharp white looked weird with the piece (because even the white fabric was more off-white than pure white).
I chose a mannequin with the bodice hanging from a steel rod. The dark colour of the metal and yellowish colour of the bodice worked well with the piece, and personally I liked the unconventional look of it.
above images of the first location
above images of secondary and final location of garment
Zoomed in image of the shorts
After a very tidious/stressfull sewing session I managed to sew the shorts together. The connecting bits of fabric where they had been laser cut were so fragile then when I was sewing them together alot fo them ripped- very annoying! Another problem I came across with the shorts was that I had cut to much out that they would be completely see-through if someone put them on, so for underneath them I made a pair of simple light weight slightly opaque cotton shorts. I used the white to tie in with the shrit, and also to not take away and almost frame the blue cut out sections. Originally I made the white shorts a bit longer than the blue ones, but it just looked messy and the edges of the laser cute blue shorts were lost. I ended up cutting-while on the mannequin about half an inch off, so the white shorts are just a bit shorted than the blue. Im glad I id this because now you can see the lovely delicate edges of the shorts. When I had made the design I planned it so all along the bottom of the shorts the design went over the end of the shorts, to create the delicate raw edges.
-images taken by David
-images taken by David
Shadows using paper stencil
Zoomed in images of the top
Process of making the top
When making this top I came across a problem, I had to figure a way out of attaching all of these small pieces. I could not sew them on because the stitching would take away from the little bits, and would not stay still under a sewing machine just making it look messy. There was also the concern of time, I had a limited amount of it, to get the piece finished, and sewing would have taken ages!
I came to the conclusion of using bondaweb. I put all of the pieces so they slightly over lapped each other and ironed them all on, this was very time consuming but I imagine the sewing would have taken longer, and with the bondaweb it did not add anything extra to the pieces- as to not distract from the small pieces.
I am really please with how the top has worked out, the bondaweb worked perfectly and they have stayed on completely. Using the iron to bond them on burnt the edges even more which added a lovely effect.
I did a rectangle of them in the middle, because it is a simple shape that would not distract from the garment and show the fabric pieces of nicely, and it gave them a nice border of white. I personally am a fan of semitry and I think that is a another reason I chose to do this.
Ironing the piece on was fairly simple, although a few bits got stuck to the underside of the iron and I manged a ruin it (well the iron). Some of the bondaweb in the spaces between with no fabric on top got stuck and bunt to it.
I came to the conclusion of using bondaweb. I put all of the pieces so they slightly over lapped each other and ironed them all on, this was very time consuming but I imagine the sewing would have taken longer, and with the bondaweb it did not add anything extra to the pieces- as to not distract from the small pieces.
I am really please with how the top has worked out, the bondaweb worked perfectly and they have stayed on completely. Using the iron to bond them on burnt the edges even more which added a lovely effect.
I did a rectangle of them in the middle, because it is a simple shape that would not distract from the garment and show the fabric pieces of nicely, and it gave them a nice border of white. I personally am a fan of semitry and I think that is a another reason I chose to do this.
Ironing the piece on was fairly simple, although a few bits got stuck to the underside of the iron and I manged a ruin it (well the iron). Some of the bondaweb in the spaces between with no fabric on top got stuck and bunt to it.
Illustrations
I wanted to incorporate the left over pieces from the laser cutter in my final out come but I was not to sure how I would do that. I did some experimental illustrations using the actual pieces on a plain figure to see if I could get some inspiration. As seen in the illustrations all of the idea are on a large scale using lots of the pieces. These ideas are very unrealistic, not only on the scale, but the amount of pieces I would need to make these. Obviously I had a limitation (because of how many small pieces I have). I needed to make a smaller scale piece that would tie in with my shorts, these illustrations gave me the idea of putting them onto a crop top the was donated.
The amount of left over pieces should just about cover a section of the top, I think the white with pale blue on it will show the pieces off nicely, and bring out the slightly burnt edges of the fabric (burnt edges from the laser cutter).
The amount of left over pieces should just about cover a section of the top, I think the white with pale blue on it will show the pieces off nicely, and bring out the slightly burnt edges of the fabric (burnt edges from the laser cutter).
Relevance of my project
Looking in a series of magazines I have been assessing my project, to see if it fits in with modern fashion. The powder blue looks like it is one of the main colours for SS2012 and this concept of beauty, fragility, and femininity, which I feel the light weight pale fabric I have produced starts to show signs of these ideas seen in this season fashions.
Pages from ELLE magazine;
Pages from ELLE magazine;
Louis Vuitton
In the Louis Vuitton SS2012 collection expresses ideas of femininity, delicacy, beauty, and youth. I felt like this campaign linked very well to my personal ideas for my final outcome. The fabric are all powder/pale colours- like my usage of powder blue- and very delicate. There is a series of designs using an enlarged lace cut out fabric, this gave me inspiration for my laser cutting ideas- although theres is on a much larger scale it is a similar idea. A blog I found online is very nicely layed out with images from the show- which is where I got this image from - http://golden-slumber.tumblr.com/
Swapping samples
Seeing as our project was about the 'community' and working together as a group producing work that reflected more than one persons culture-personality-thoughts; and blending different cultures. Swapping the samples was a fantastic idea, the outcomes were brilliant. The samples were unique to begin with- but in relation to each of our own projects. Swapping the samples allowed them to transcend the personal projects and become part of the 'community' project expressing more than one idea. The idea of taking someone else's personal sample (and therefore thoughts) and then finding a unique way to relate this already existing piece of fabric to our own projects is an interesting thought- actually if you think about it this exercise represents our entire project- in that we started off experimenting with existing fabrics to work with- using different companies and people ideas and working them into our ow projects. Waiting to see the samples added a scene of excitement to the who thing, we did not discuss to a full extent what we would be doing to each others work so when we all saw them after it was very cool seeing how they had changed.
I feel we should have done this earlier and more often because they turned out so well and tied the project together.
I personally swapped with two people; David and Beth. Their samples were beautiful and I did not want to alter them to an unrecognizable level- Also now focusing on pale washed colours (like the power blue) I felt it would be relevant but still not take away from their designs, to bleach the colour out of them.
David's Sample
Beth's Sample
I feel we should have done this earlier and more often because they turned out so well and tied the project together.
I personally swapped with two people; David and Beth. Their samples were beautiful and I did not want to alter them to an unrecognizable level- Also now focusing on pale washed colours (like the power blue) I felt it would be relevant but still not take away from their designs, to bleach the colour out of them.
David's Sample
Images above when the sample was wet
Beth's Sample
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