IDENTITY PROJECT EVALUATION

Starting this term at Ravensbourne was great fun. At the start I was quite nervous as to whether I would be able to keep up with the fast pace and high demand of work. Nonetheless I enjoyed it thoroughly and learnt new key skills to help develop my understanding of the fashion industry and all the different roles within it. My favourite weeks in this project would have to be the styling/promotion week, design development and knitting. I enjoyed the styling/promotion week because it was a completely new learning experience but I felt very comfortable and confident in doing it. I became a stylist, photographer, casting director and many more roles within this week but didn't feel overwhelmed. Secondly, design development was more suited to what I wanted to do and what I knew I could do. Being a designer is what I aspire to do in the future so this taught me a lot about the development process. In terms of learning techniques and textiles, knitting was also one of my favourites because I was starting from scratch. I learnt how to use a knitting machine and knitting decorative techniques, all in one week which was very impressive despite the many mistakes I had made.

The most stressful parts of the project would have to be the digital print and my final outcome. Digital print, although fun to learn, was a nightmare in some cases. Being a Photoshop amateur in the first place didn't help and having to come up with my own print was difficult in itself. However none of this compared to the challenges of the final outcome. I had to gather what I had learnt in the past 8 weeks and come up with a final garment and photo shoot or film. I think it was the freedom that was a bit daunting as I did not know where to begin. Also the idea that not only did I have to make a garment but I had to then come up with a shoot as well.

For the final garment, my new found knowledge in design development came in handy for coming up with the design concept and how to come up with something truly unique. Whereas for the final photo shoot, the styling/promotion week gave me a structure of how to set it up and ideas for location, photography and visualising my final concept.

If I could improve some aspects of this project it would be time management. I wish I could've given myself more time for the development to see where I could've taken my designs even further and also my final outcome because I do feel it was rushed a bit towards the end. I was given a lot of positive feedback for my progression as well as constructive criticism from my tutors. Overall this term I have learnt more than I could ever dreamed and hope to take this knowledge through to future projects. I cannot wait for the next few terms on this fashion foundation course.

FINAL OUTCOME: Garment & Photoshoot

The final garment I made is a modern style cocoon coat made from a black cotton jersey, complete with batwing sleeves and an oversized hood. The overall shape is quite alien and star-like. Also with it being a cocoon shape this reinforces the isolated/bubble idea.

 

 

FINAL SHOOT

 

These are the initial images for my final shoot that I shot using my digital camera but I plan to edit and refine them on Photoshop to give the images a better quality and really enhance the artistic direction I was going for.

 



FINAL OUTCOME : Development

 For my final outcome I went through a series of development processes. I tend to work visually and take inspiration through images, my own drawings and mark-making. I also drew inspiration from quotes I had gathered from poems, plays and books I had read. The quote that inspired these two pages was from John Milton's Paradise Lost, book IX:

'Mindless the while, Herself, though fairest unsupported flower'

To me it represents isolation and a lost state of mind. I often find myself lost in my thoughts and oblivious to reality (at times).

The following designs are responses to research and development throughout my work. Star-like imagery is present in the designs and links to a outer space theme. My designs are minimalist and I tend to not use colour in my designs. I prefer to look into structure and silhouette, with colour following later on in the design process.