Unit X

After the practice unit there were two main aspects I wanted to focus on, being more brave in the initial stages with colour and investigating the materials to take my work to a more professional level. I did a lot of drawing motifs and mark marking in the practice level so I felt that a lot of these would still be relevant in unit x.

By this point I know that the prints I create will be for interiors/soft furnishings so this will be where I start my research. In the practice unit I was advised that by using bright bold colours you are aiming at a more expensive audience, so I will be aiming my work to a higher price point and this will reflect in what I make. This is why I want to do a lot of material investigation to ensure every aspect is following the higher price point.

Matthew Williamson uses bright colours nicely and his prints and used cross over from sofas to stationary to fashion which inspires me as I like the idea of patterns having more than more use. This is also a good mind set for after university as if I was to work freelance being able to offer a service which crosses over different areas. In unit x I aim to create versatile prints than can cross over. 

Evaluation

Throughout my practice I have been creating a range of prints mainly for interiors. As the last project I wanted to ensure I worked on the faults I’ve had in another projects and establish the style and techniques I am good at and enjoy. At this point in my practice I should know what I’m good at. Looking back at my first blog post I was still unsure but I felt this unit has helped me significantly. I have discovered new ways to create a body of work which makes designing patterns and prints a lot easier.

From the start of the project, I regret that I wasn’t as brave as I was towards the end because I would of got a lot of unique results that reflect the work that I enjoy making. At the start I was using more muted colour schemes and focused a lot more on the motifs. I found that when I came out of my comfort zone and moved away from Photoshop I found techniques that made my practice a lot easier and more enjoyable. When I broadened my techniques, especially by using the inks I found a new colour scheme that really reflected what I enjoy making and how I want to be as a professional, this resulted in a large body of work in comparison to previous projects. In Unit X I can take this new found confidence and reflect it in work.

As I had such a big body of work, looking back I wish I had managed my time better so that I could of explored certain aspects more, as I said previously I developed a new colour scheme from my ink mark making and I enjoyed it so much I think it took up a lot of my time and I didn’t develop my other colour schemes as much. Saying this, the mark makings I did within this colour scheme was some of the best work I think I have created so far and helps me see what kind of work I want to make in Unit X and after university as well.

Although I have done a lot more traditional techniques rather than just the digital techniques I usually do, there needs to be more material investigation in Unit X. I didn’t take my material investigation that far so I need to see how my prints transfer to different materials. Within interiors it’s really important to have good quality materials that fit their purpose as well as the aesthetic so I need to investigate this more in Unit X.

In Unit X, I want to ensure I investigate materials in detail, I already have a body of final prints that I want to develop into a product and make them into a collection of potentially soft furnishings. The final prints I made could potentially reflect my work after university as a professional designer so I want to ensure I show them in the most professional way at my degree show to showcase my own style.

Rucksack Concepts

Although I was taking the interiors approach to my practice, I still wanted to explore the idea of doing something fashion/accessory related as I'd done this in previous projects. I think my final prints could easily cross over between interiors and fashion but when I was developing my motifs I couldn't see the final image of having motifs which would be traditionally only suited to interiors on fashion. This is something in Unit X I need to steer away from as these are only limiting my work and how much I can explore certain designs and motifs. 

I feel like I also limited myself with colour schemes, as I set my mind on one colour scheme or design it stopped me from exploring the option of having any of my colour schemes on fashion/accessories. The dark blues I used in colour scheme 3 are a good example of learning not to limit myself to one area (see below). Here there is the same print on a rucksack and a sofa both with interesting results. I think the pattern works well on both but looks completely different and gives a completely different feel. In Unit X I will look back at this blog post to remind myself that in my practice I don't necessarily need to limit myself when it comes to prints, motifs or colour schemes.

Colour Scheme 3 Rucksack Concept

Colour Scheme 3 Sofa Concept