For my final out come for this project I really wanted to create a poster for a game while adding textiles pieces to the poster to add detail and texture, which you don’t normally find in a poster. For this poster I wanted to create a a metaphoric game that allowed you to choose your path. Being able to choose your path allows you to consider more about your next move. I wanted this game to be for educational purposes to teach the younger generation to be more aware of their choses, to prevent them from making that decision. As always in a game, the monster is the ‘bad guy’ that persuades you to join them and you have to defeat the monster by choosing to say no and being about to make your own decision. For my poster I wanted to use dark colours to show the dark side and the shadow like approach to the monster. Creating the monster into a big form, to create that large, luring shadow always hanging over your shoulder or pestering you.  Using sharp objects inspired me to create the unusual shape of the monster. I wanted to use sharp objects to show the danger of the creature, so using the line drawings of knifes, scissors and sticks and laying them together to create the outline of the monster. With the monster I could change the shape of the eyes to make the monster look more scarier to match with the mouth. I also could of adventured more with using a variety of medias to create the Creature. I could of used what I used for my other responses to create a ruff texture that would fit in with the purpose of the Creature. However, I really like the sewn parts on the poster especially the mouth because it creates a layered effect making it stand out more to the viewer focusing on the boy and the mouth. With the main character I wanted to keep as a silhouette  so that it was gender neutral, as this game will be played by all genders. Keeping the character as a silhouette. This made me feel that the character was vulnerable and an easy target as for having no identity and being alone with this monstrous shadow trailing behind. I can develop more with my drawing of the silhouette, finding out that drawing is one of my weaknesses especially proportions of the body I have always struggled with. Practising more with looking at proportions and drawing the body is what I need to practise and follow through in my developmental stage. I do really like the font style dragging down the letters to follow through with the shadow effect and the constant falling. I feel that it really puts a mysterious and scary effect to the poster which is what I wanted to achieve. In conclusion I feel that the poster did capture the message that I wanted to put across about my game idea of leading the vulnerable into danger and by doing this in a game form it will appeal to the younger generation, however I feel that I needed to develop further with my drawing skills and add more media. 

I created some drawings that I want to add to my final piece in my game poster. I wanted to use characters that where used as metaphorically. Looking at creatures and monsters hiding in the shadows. I wanted to explore the way in which I can create this monster whether its simple, or detailed or which colours I wanted to use. I really like how the oil pastel has created a ruff effect making the creature look messy and shadow like as I with the small eyes, making him almost look mysterious. I wanted to add some further texture by adding constant layering of thread. I like the thread hanging down from the creature as it adds more detail and texture making it more real life as though the creature is coming alive. However, I wanted to experiment with looking at different shapes and sizes but this drawing of the creature I don’t really like. These creatures look more like cartoon characters instead of something mythical which is what I wanted to capture I could develop them further by using some of the facial features such as the teeth or the eyes and developing that further so that I could use these to help me with explore more ways when it comes to drawing further with my final creature.

For my Prevent project I wanted to look into something that captured the interest in the younger generation for my target audience. I thought what was the one thing that would capture young peoples attention and I thought of Gaming. Gaming has a huge influence on the younger generation especially with the violent video games. For example the violent school shootings in America. For my research I went and visited the ‘Video Games’ exhibition at the V&A to see the variety of video games and what the main reason  for them. Each video game had a different response to why they created their game, some was made for art purposes, one looked at clothing and presenting different styles on an avatar instead of using a human model, some was created as a fantasy world defeating creatures and monsters, others was about killing zombies or other people in war situations or just for fun. The exhibition also explained about racism in gaming how some can be quite explicit. Also looking at violence which I feel is really important because its such a big issue especially now the school shootings. I also found the really liked the variety of different styles of characters for each game. Every games style was different and thats what I wanted to focus on most how there isn’t a correct way of drawing and creating a character. I also liked how they structured the exhibition each section was about a different game this allowed you to get a feeling and an understanding of the different variety of games. Also including actual phones that had the game downloaded so you where able to play it and let you experience it. Overall this instantly gave me the idea to create a poster to sell my game that I would use to help prevent something from happening.

My final Garment for my Black History Month Project. I really enjoyed learning about the Windrush Generation. I originally wanted to look at this particular story because of the recent news of some of the Windrush generation not being able to come back to their homes in the Uk. This made me feel uncomfortable that a society would let this happen to people, which is why I wanted to express these stories through fashion and textiles. For my outcome I really wanted to focus on identity, because I believe that identity shows a lot about your story and the experiences through marks and wrinkles. I also believe that the  main feature of the face can really tell your personality, so by this I wanted to look into a few peoples stories.  I wanted to focus more on the detail of the top than the silhouette, however I could of expanded on with different shapes that I haven’t yet tried. This could also be another way of expressing my project then just the detailing. However, I really liked experimenting with the dissolvable muslin for the faces. I felt that by having nothing behind the faces allowed the features to stand out as they hang down. I also really like how the layering of the fabric has created volume which is what I wanted to achieve. I really wanted to achieve the volume effect with the fabrics to show the tradition that you would find in a home, but also, by cutting the fabrics different lengths, to show the unsettled effect that this generation has had to go through. Using the bright and bold colours that I have seen from images of wallpaper and parts of furniture really fascinated me so I wanted to present this by layering them together. I could of developed this further by really expanding on a variety of materials that I wouldn’t normally use, get myself out of my comfort zone and really expand on my uses of materials.

Looking at identity I wanted to test different media with my responses to see which worked well and which didn’t. Using the constant line drawing method (because I like how you are left with random shapes giving the face more detail.) I wanted to look at layering, using oil pastel in orange behind of a serious face and then sewing on top him laughing. I really like that I have chosen to use a bright colour behind the black because the black stitching can be quite dominating but with the use of the tracing paper really makes it clear that I am layering two faces. I really liked the two different emotions because it make the piece more interesting but also it implies more about the character and creates a stronger connection with the character and the viewer. I could improve by make the image behind bigger so that it is clearer to see the face behind. Another response that I really liked was using the different medias to draw different parts of the face so that when I placed it together it created his face. When looking at this piece it makes me feel content as using the different medias has connected perfectly creating a clear face and the layers imply the different layers to their character. I could develop further with the faces by using different materials to create a face or look at layering with different techniques such as heat pressing my print, then embroidering, then using different material in which to create volume or textures.

Researching into the Windrush generation, I came across the photographer Jim Grover. His work expresses the stories of some of the Windrush generation from the Caribbean that now live in South London. His work presents the significant of relationships amongst friends and family and the importance that has as apart of the Windrush generation. I really like his idea of focusing on the meaning of relationships and the importance that it has on the people in the images, he’s displayed this through the emotions expressed from the raw images showing insight into their lives. He explores their everyday lives, focusing on what they like doing as apart of a community or with friends and family. When looking around the exhibition I really like how he placed the images of the some of the people that he interviewed in traditional picture frames as though you would find a frame like this is in their house. This shows the importance of them and their story that they are sharing with the world and to imply that these are actual stories that these people have been apart of. I also loved how he had some images in black and white and some in colour which to me when viewing the images implies a personal connection with the people in the image because it have a more natural and realistic effect.

Looking ahead to the developmental stage, I really want to develop further with the silhouette of a garment and pattern cutting looking at new shapes instead of the basic toile shape such as designers Au Jour Le Jour and Each X Other. They develop basic shapes by adjusting small pieces to make it really effective. I also was influence by Maison Margiela and Facetasm from their garments of adding on already made garments that they have torn apart and then added back onto each other. I find this really interesting and can’t wait to develop further with this idea to relate it with my themes and really explore into different ways of attaching the garment. Im really interested in mix matching patterns, adding in volume and detail such as looking at different textiles and materials. In addition, I’m really fascinated in looking into the theme of people and how we become who we are, what influences us to be become and make us, I can see this really being influenced by drawings and portraits so looking at different styles of drawing, like when not lifting the pen off the page and creating new and interesting shapes but it also looks at the constant way that we live our lives and how we constantly growing to create us as a person. Another theme that I want to look into is ‘Gaming.’ Its become such a big influence on the younger generation and has become almost an addiction. Now showing at the V&A an exhibition called ‘Video Games’ which I am really interested to see. To see how it has developed through time, design wise. Looking back to the very first video games and the progress that has happened from those very first games, especially being influenced by Steven Spielberg latest movie ‘Ready Player One.’ In which he combines modern games and life style with very old and traditional games. These ideas are very out of my comfort zone because I mainly look at Romance and nice pretty themes but now I want to engage myself with more problematic themes.

Looking back on my diagnostic stage I believe that my strengths where developing on from the work shops that we done especially the draping. I really enjoyed the draping and using different ways for inspiration especially listening to music and using certain words that inspire me to create these shapes on the mannequin. One of my other strengths would be keeping a narrative throughout my research, from my first stage to when I finish my garment, my tutor told me. Constantly referring back to my research and looking closer at the shapes and then problem solving the image so that I can make it into a garment. Furthermore, having never done knitting before I believe that I have found a new strength being able to use a knitting machine and successfully without the tutor, looking at different styles and techniques shown in my final garment and my book.  However, I can develop on really exhausting my designs and research by looking closer and closer into my research and theme by constantly expereimenting until there is literally nothing else to look further into. Also advised by my tutor, I should have my research that has inspired me to design this garment next to my drawings and combine them together, so that when my tutors look through my research they have a clearer understanding of how I have come up with this design and how I have then gone on to develop it further. I also need to develop on the way I write my blog. Instead of just writing what I have done on that particular day, I need to be more critical with my work looking at the strengths and weaknesses, what I liked and what I didn’t like, how I can develop further on with this idea and how the piece makes me feel in comparison with my particular theme. However, overall the whole diagnostic stage has really helped me to develop my skills and take on design further than before I started this course.

Crunch

weaving using duck tape, old shirts, bandages thread, wool, plastic bag

Volume

Off-Centred Escape final image

I have finished my final garment from my diagnostic stage on Descent. I have really enjoyed making the garment and problem solving it so that it fits with my final design. I love problem solving such as fitting the barbed wirer on to the mannequin and how to attach it onto the garment. Also how to create the volume with the Organza to fit with the shaping of the barbed wirer so that it still keeps with my theme of war. The problem solving made me feel more connected and involved with my theme. To be able to problem solve I would need to research more into my theme of war and test different silhouettes and shapes out which lead me to look into deeper ideas and areas of my research that I hadn’t yet thought about. My tutor said I could have developed more with my designs by really exhausting them and my research further, trying out different shapes for my garment so that I can really explore different options for my final outcome. Also looking into using different materials, more than just a couple. Really explore the wide variety of fabrics and how I can develop them further.

Cildo Meireles Babel 2001

Cildo Meireles Babel 2001

Today for my essay research we were given the task to look at work at the Tate modern that inspired us which we will use to write our essays. However, while doing our research in one of the exhibitions called Media Networks I came across an artist called Cildo Meireles whose work was placed in the middle of a dark room with faded blue lighting shining just at the top of it to show how high the tower was. However, this tower has been built by layering different radios from across the ages starting with the oldest radios at the bottom and the newest at the top. Each of them generated their own lighting  from the screen on the radios which showed the station that was on, showing a mixture of oranges and yellows. Each of the radios were all playing at once to address the ‘ideas of information overload and the failed communication‘ I really like the piece from Meireles and found it really interesting especially the overlapping of each station playing together. I felt a bit overwhelming by the different noises at first but then understood how we have developed our communication to across the world and with the tower being so tall implies that its continueing to grow and develop everyday.