Through out my latest design process. Reflective Journal Entry.

Through out my current project,

I have learnt that research helps within all areas of your work, for example within my current design project for Turner Bianca the bedding company.

I have looked at trends from all varieties and areas of the market from Children's bedding, living rooms and kitchen ware to men's wear and adult bedding as well as looking at illustrators, screen printers and textile designers.

By doing this it has helped me develop my work in a variety of different ways and helped me strive to create a unique and different collection.

I have found the research part of my project the most interesting, and feel I sometimes get caught up in going to far fetched within my research, and then find it hard to explain my ideas.

This is something I need to work on.

Show Room- Turner Bianca

Reflective journal - Breakfast in bed.

I have come up with a synopois for my current, collection relating to the trend British Eccentric set by Turner Bianca.
My synopis derives from the name of british eccentric, my concept started by looking into traditional english tearooms, how ever I became quickly became bored of the idea of drawing floral prints on tea cups and looking at floral prints.I became more interested in the objects inside a tea room, specifically cutlery and doyleys, and playing with the idea that of these objects been made up of patterns which would be orignal used as decoration or as table coverings. After researching interior trend I found that checks and tartans are quite on trend. I am currently making prints with the items used within the tearoom/kitchen to create my own tartan and checks.
My collection is based on the idea that in modern days we think as it as a luxury to have breakfast in bed, however in the past you were considered privilged to have tohe opportunity to dine in a tea room.
My collections colours will be made up of British blues, egg yoke yellow, rose tea pink, and a various of reds I have yet to think of names for.

Results- reflective journal entry 2

Today we were given our results for our first print project, I was disappointed with mine but also surprised, my first project was very hard to grasp, I felt like I didn't fully understand the brief, although my feedback suggested I did.

I got a C which is an average grade but its one of my lowest of my uni life and I hope it gives me the kick up the but I have needed to thoroughly get into my work.

On a lighter note, I feel my turner bianca project is going better, I feel more eagar to do work now I have some decent ideas, I feel, although alot of peoples work appears to be similar, I hope this doesn't impair our results.

I feel like now, I have had one set of results out the way, I know what I need to do as a whole, I am getting myself more organised, and hope to improve and get out of my printers rut that seemed to occur in my first project.

new brief.

Yesterday we were given a new brief for the bedding company, turner bianca, we were taken round the show rooms for the autumn/winter 2010 collection and for t. j hughes next collections of bedding.

These are some of the images I took while in the showrooms :

textile horizions- reflective journal entry one.

After just completing our first project of the year, I feel I can now reflective more clearly on the year ahead. As I was optimistic about taking print for a specialism I was keen to see how my project would plan out in 2nd year.

I felt my projects had a few big ups and downs and as constantly changing, which at times I felt that hard to document.

We had influences from the trend company Scarlet Opus who was giving the brief and guiding us along the way I felt the brief was fairly open and it to me a while to grasp what was been asked for this is something I am going to work on as now getting a brief I now know to read it through thoroughly before getting in a flap about what is asked of me.

Within my market research because I was doing my own trend I found this was slightly difficult as my market kept changing as my ideas did.

On my presentation I felt nervous and didn't get all the points across i would of liked to however the experience wasn't as bad as I expected it to be and I hope this will mean I will improve as presentations become a regular routine within our briefs.

I have decided to write a blog as I felt it would be easier to reflect on all my projects in a blog rather than doing an individual journel for every project and then a separate on for everything as a whole.

where the wild things are?

From the gruffalo, to the hungry caterpillar we all have our favourites and now for them to be turned into a delightful film with magicial music and not to mention just before christmas. Where the wild things are is out in december simply 2 weeks before christmas, could we be and more gleeful and child like around this time, I duno about you but I cant wait for the where the wild things are? this christmas.

Chrissie Abbott

I love just looking for new artists and music on my spare days, and fell across the wonder of mixed media that is Chrissie Abbott after been promoted by the likes of little boots, and doing various pieces for urban outfitters mens wear collections, I couldnt help but admire her work.

Alice Alice Alice!!!!

Ok so I am sure if everyone has noticed that, Alice in Wonderland is coming out spring 2010 and has been reinvented by the genius that is Mr Tim Burton, who ensures us with just the right about of dark everytime!

The costume pieces look amazing and this set to be a big trend for summer/fall2010.

With the dark magic look books sweeping the world of trends. We will all be living magicial lives by the summer.

Leather and Lace is a combination that is set to make our hearts soar.

I duno about you but with images like this I cant help to be excited for whats to come!!

from Cyprus with love

Through out the my worldly ventures I have came across so pretty, wonderful things and I think Cyprus was no let down in terms of colour and natural objects :)

The toys for grown ups.(Not them ones)

I cannot begin to express the excitment of the next entry of toys, making a comeback into fashion the latest trends through out all levels of fashion is toys, yes you read it toys and non of these fancy new toys that children have these days. I'm talking the days of lego and Duplo.

With bold primary colours and neons covering all possible colour charts this trend is a mix of futurism and the past, with designers such as jcdc creating a range modeled purely on lego figures.

JCDC Versus LEGO from Four H on Vimeo.

The possibilities of this trend is endless. However fabric properties may have difficultly creating block colours for a/w 2010

Is fashion becoming more the geeks of the world, let it be so plesase?

Please let me get away?!?

These are the colours for, interiors for spring 2010, they remind me of the british coastline pastell like and calming.

After having a day at work that can only be described as hell, advising a woman that can not make sense of any situation she was in, I just wanted to leave and get away with the beautiful images of the red sea infront of me my 6 o'clock finish time seemed like years away. I wanted nothing more than to be clean and wash away this dreadful scenerio which I can now thank fully say I have, I want to take a look into interior trends as I have not looked at this yet.

I'm going look firstly in to the colours for spring 2010 this is scarlet opus trend prediction.

Photograph by Alicia Bock

There is a bracing feeling of being on the brink of positive change.

The winds of change bring optimism - the ebb and flow of the tide washes away negativity of the past and delivers simplicity.

Spring Summer 2010 sets us many challenges - not only in terms of design, colour, form, balancing pattern and creating newness - but most significantly in attempting to express and produce something genuine that makes a real connection with consumers and ultimately inspires and facilitates re-evaluation and change.

This might seem like an impossible mountain to climb but we must at least begin to establish a base camp from where we can move upward. And we can start to do that during Autumn Winter 2009 / 2010. We can attempt to create conscientious design in order to motivate conscientious consumerism: offering the right product, supported and enriched by the right sentiments and intentions, at the right time.

Half Full by Alicia Bock

Spring Summer 2010 will bring much change; a brighter perspective, new hope for the future and a determination to right wrongs. But we must lay the groundwork for this change now, leading by example, answering the concerns of consumers and offering designs, products and schemes that address their evolving wants, needs & desires.

Now is the time for individual choice, turning away from globalization and homogenization. Making our own decisions and being content with our choices: Inner Calm & Outer Confidence. Freedom.

A relaxed attitude emerges that allows us to breathe easy, free from constraints and convention.

We move forward into Spring Summer 2010 with calm determination.

Simplicity - Purity - Honesty

what sandals?

Just when we thought summer was all about sandals............along come these beauties

alas if only I had silly amounts of pennies to spend on shoes.

Useful links

links for research.....

www.just-style.com

www.wgsn-edu.com

www.drapersonline.com

www.fashionweekdaily.com

www.net-a-porter.com

www.dressforsucess.nl

www.contemporaryfashion.net

www.trendstop.com

www.style.com

www.thefuturelaboratory.com

www.trendhunter.com

www.thecoolhunter.net

www.agendainc.com

www.vintagetextile.com

www.fashion-era.com

www.spode.co.uk

www.sailsburymuseum.org.uk/galleries

www.metmuseum.org

www.vam.ac.uk

www.vam.ac.uk/collections/prints_books/Wallpaper

Useful Journals

Design mangement Journal

Drapers

Elle

Vogue

Harpers Bazaar

Marie Claire

Fashion Business International

Interior

Elle Decoration

Selvedge

Wallpaper

Viewpoint (design and marketing)

Eco Textile News

Textile View

international

Fabrics and Furnishings

Visual culture in Britain

home decor & furnishings

Pop

Nylon

Punk is making a comeback say it isn't so

Through out the last few days, after browsing the summer trends around town, I have noticed an reoccurring theme thought the highstreet stores.

Patriachal punk?? thought various stores such as topshop, river island, to name put a few.

However this trend is mainly seem mainly based in highstreet stores starting with items which

screams a resemblence to shirts worn in the days of sid vicious and the sex pistols

1

Although the most unique take on the patriachal idea has to be by a jewellery designer

by the name of "anna Lou of London"

www.annalouoflondon.co.uk

Take a look at her wonderful collection I have to admit

I want all of it not to sound greedy but its wonderful.

Is this the start of a punk revolutoion I do hope so!!!

Long Live Rock and roll!

Recycling its the done thing.

After trolling through the catwalk shows pictures for the season of fall 2009 it seems to be the only designer not sticking to "sensible" fashion with designer upon design recreating the office look on the catwalks in what can only be described as a sea of black.
McQueen qives us a breath of fresh air with critiques describing his models as been over sexed dolls, however mcqueen has not totally ignored the idea of credit crunch chic despite appearances just simply taking it to a new level, is that not what we need in this time and age something to aspire to?
McQueen is recycling elegance in a way we haven't seen done before using classic dogtooth weaves within his collection and recycling the Victorian waist lines using a stage built of props from previous shows and models make up done with recycled cans and various recyclable items used for head gear it comes to the conclusion as what is waste?

With TV shows such as Mary queen of charity shops coming out with Mary Protas recycling charity shops into must stop high street shops is it finally becoming fashionable to recycle.

Are we ready for the machines to take over?

So for my summer project I have been told to look at the trends coming and present for 2009/10. To ease my self in gently I am going to start with the obvious sci-fi/ machine obsession that it just about to hit us not only at the movies but through out the fashion world/textile world which as is obviously has an effect on the music and music industry that is coming out in this season. The question I  ask are we ready for such diversity with our wardrobes or will we stick to our traditional flower prints for the summer I guess only time will tell. 

With films like terminator salvation,transformers and Star Trek coming out design is looking more in to the fictional aspects of life as opposed the reality of recession and depression that we are currently facing, making fashion more fictional based and less realistic could this be a good thing or will we all end up looking like super heroes or some beautiful creation that Gareth Pugh has dreamt up.

 
With design pushing  the way for change could this trend be just thing we need to change our ways of thinking. Using deep colours reflecting those circuit boards of machinery and the glitzening silvers like things we haven't seen in a long while. for example the colours and prints used in kenzo's fall 09 collection.

The colours are dark and minial similar to those found in factorys and the sturcture of the garments are epic it looks the way that shoulder pads are making a come back this season.