Category / Reflective Review

by Olivia Kate Violet

Design for the real world?

Thursday 23rd October 2014

Today we covered what this title means in relation to the contemporary culture that we live in today. What makes the world a better place in terms of design in relation to this topic? Key questions asked in the seminar afterwards were how realistic is realistic? What does the word mean in relation to being successful? What is success?

During the lecture we initially looked at Mary Quant and the creation of her mini skirt. I found the fact that the Mini Cooper, the car, influenced her mini skirt. I also loved the comment made by our lecturer, Damon Taylor that “our hem lines are constantly changing in relation to changes in the economy”.

Further more we looked at how Papanek believed we were using up the worlds resources and that our creativeness is striped from us the older we get. “until they enter school, most people seem to be about equality adept at solving problems. Then the inherent ability to creates becomes inhibited by perceptual, cultural and emotional blocks.” (Papanek)

Overall, I found today really enlightening and it made me question what it is want and would consider being successful in terms of my ambitions from life. Damon Taylor closed his lecture with the comments of “Everything you do is about the real world and how big you make it. It’s not about you today but who you will be.”

What do I want? When will I consider myself successful? Is it money? Is it the title I have? Is it where I am and who I am with in the end? Honestly, I don’t know yet. All I do know is I will work my very hardest to hopefully be able to have the choice of deciding one day.

 

by Olivia Kate Violet

Project Development

Monday 20th October 2014

Today we all had our practise presentations on the garment we chose from the Renegade collection. The presenations were meant to last 4-5 minutes, mine however ended up dragging out for an entire 45 minutes (the feedback section lasted a good half an hour of that time)!

From the collection I had chosen to focus on the Teddy Boy outfit as the little saxophone broach around the collar of the shirt, caught my eye. I have always been one to appreciate the smaller, more detailed things in life and so I decided that was something i’d be really interested in researching and also drawing!

The feedback I received today has really helped me to focus my project in a direction i’m happy with. We talked about objects and the attachment you can form to them (I am a hoarder and so keep most things and thus am attached to quite a few objects already at the age of 20 years old). Furthermore we linked this idea of people possessing an emotional connection to objects to the branding essence of a business and then talked about theoretical stains and scars. Due to this session I have decided to look into this area of attachment in more depth and in particular, linking it the vintage subculture evident in Brighton.

by Olivia Kate Violet

Renegade Exhibition: Reveals alternative styles of clothing.

Tuesday 14th October 2014

Visiting this exhibition held within the Pavilion Museum was really intriguing in that the display of garments were so diverse, which from the title of the collection you’d expect. From the outgoing, multicoloured patched trousers paired with a grey oversized jersey top to the pinstriped smart trousers covered in belt straps set with worn-looking, leather military boots, everything caught your eye.

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For my critical analysis I chose to look at the pin striped trousers covered in straps. The combination of a typically smart pair of trousers,the casual straps along with the personal red thread around the front pockets, just grabbed me. I also really enjoyed the way in which a pair of black military boots sat next to them adding to this personal, rebellious feel of the outfit. 

Sketches of my chosen outfit:

 

by Olivia Kate Violet

Reflective Journal: The Third Brief

Monday 13th October 2014.

Our 3rd brief consists of a drawing accompanied by a 500 word critical analysis. Initially my thoughts were, ‘What on earth will I draw?’, ‘How will a critically review it?’

My group spent a good hour or so going through what it is to critically review a piece of work and looked at the work of Jennifer Moon, in particular ‘The yellow Wallpaper’. This outlined different pieces of writing and we then discussed whether they were descriptive or critical in the way they were written. Furthermore we then had to write our own piece of writing (approximately 50 words) 3 or 4 times, each time trying to make it more critical. I feel this task really helped me to prepare and feel more confident in carrying out this brief.

I look forward to visiting the Pavilion Museum tomorrow and hopefully creating some drawings I will be able to critically review successfully.