Progression Assignment
- 1. Progression Assignment Unit 10 and 85
- 2. When first viewing the Ravensbourne building it was very spacious and bright which makes it more appealing as an art school. When walking around the displays I saw that the digital equipment was very high tech and new, this was appealing as it shows their systems are up to date with whatever software a student may need. However a downside is that whilst it did seem rather big in its space I did feel slightly claustrophobic inside which is not a good quality of the school. From the exhibits I saw I could see the wide range of subjects I could potentially study there as they varied from broadcasting technology to illustration. Another interesting thing I learnt about the university was that they offered foundation courses in fashion, graphics and 3D design. This was interesting as it shows how I could begin higher education with this to see whether I like the subject and what area I want to branch into. Ravensbourne is different to most universities as it only offers creative subjects based on art and design, and media. This makes it an ideal place as art and design is the basic discipline that I plan to go into in higher education and work, so by having this as the universities speciality makes it a very good place to attend. Therefore their strengths are in the creative side of business. Location wise however it is not ideal as London is very expensive and it is very close to home so I would have to live at home meaning I would miss out on certain aspects of university life so therefore it is not the best place for me. Degree Shows
- 3. Degree Design show - Ravensbourne Photography Graphic Design Motion graphics Foundation Graphics The photography section was amazing in the quality and professional standards of the work. The approaches to the discipline varied greatly with each piece of work. The ideas illustrated in the work were very tranquil with some distress portrayed through movement which I liked a lot. The techniques that the students have used gave their work a very professional quality especially in their presentation books. Photography as a profession interests me greatly with the many styles it comes in however if I did go into it I could see myself doing more fashion editorial or art based photography. The graphics design section was also very appealing with the quality of work presented in the exhibit. Some students took on tasks such as making maps of Mt Everest with instruction manuals whilst others looked at moving plants which moved depending on vibration. Because of this diversity I was able to see how the discipline of graphics could be tackled in many different ways which has broadened my ideas about it. Whilst the graphics was impressive there and did have a good course structure graphic design isn’t the profession I can see myself going into as I prefer to have more creative control over my work like they do in fashion design. The motions graphics section included students websites and films which involved motion graphics. These were for things such as advertising and for song lyrics. This course appealed to me because the work that was produced was fascinating to watch and work with as the use of colour and motifs was visually interesting to me. My skills and interest in computer based careers though don’t appeal to me as much as professions that require hand drawn and physical results. The foundation graphics course was different to the degree course in that I saw it was working more with illustration for example the tarot cards and character cards that I took pictures of. This course was appealing due to the variety of techniques and materials that students used to create a range of pieces all inspired by different ideas. From seeing the foundation course I have been able to make the choice to go straight to degree course as a foundation would not be any different in my opinion so it would be better just to straight into my degree.
- 4. Degree Design show - Ravensbourne Fashion Design & Fashion Accessory Design The main area of the university that appealed to me was the fashion design and accessory design work. The creativity and ability of the students was amazing in their finished pieces and sketchbook work. The final products themselves came in collections like a professional designers which I found very appealing as I can see how the university is preparing the students to go into industry appropriately. The highlight of the sketchbooks were the fashion illustrations, especially the ones used to express the final piece as they were very expressive and imaginative in their use of colour and design which I really found interesting. Another appealing part of the fashion course was the range of fashion from high-street to high fashion, the high fashion collections were the best parts of the show to me as high fashion appeals to me the most so to see what students can achieve at degree level really opened my eyes to see that it is achievable to have those skills and ideas to take into the industry successfully. When talking to the fashion students about their experiences on the course and how much contact time with the teachers they get they told me that whilst the classes are large per group the amount of contact time is up to the student so if something is needed or they have queries there is always a teacher to ask about the situation. For the fashion design course itself they said that there are 3 years on the course. Year 1 you will study an introduction to fashion; mapping the fashion profession; introduction to textiles; digital design directives, and theory and context. Year 2 you will study: creative collaboration; external brief; digital portfolio; work placement, and dissertation preparation and then year 3 you will study: concept development & prototyping; career planning and personal promotion; major project realization, and dissertation. The amalgamation of these skills developed over the years helps establish a good portfolio where students can then go into the industry for opportunities within menswear, womenswear, textile design, creative cutting, product development, CAD/CAM process management, professional spec drawing, tech pack production and design management. The students also said that you will study through a mix of practice and theory-based learning. So this will include lectures, seminars, workshops, individual tutorials, self directed study and projects. And then the students are supported by well- qualified teaching staff and visiting professionals from the fashion industry. This course I find really intriguing about the standard of the finished work and what the course entails. It has also been useful to see this work as I now have a better idea of the work that degree courses require. Whilst the university itself wasn’t to my liking I can now see that when visit other universities I want to mainly look at the fashion department as this will be the most likely choice for my degree.
- 5. Visiting Leeds's open day and graduate show I was able to get a good insight into the atmosphere of the university and what it produces. I visited lectures of textile design and fashion design which were very worth while as I was able to get an insight into the course and what it can achieve. The graduate show then reconfirmed these interests into these courses as the work produced was amazing and showed a wide variety of techniques and materials to produce the outcomes. On touring the university I saw the facilities provided to the textile and fashion courses and they were extremely good with large work spaces with mannequins and pattern pieces to use and work with as well a lot of equipment's like sewing machines, weaving looms, industrial sewing machines. This really was beneficial to see as it shows how the university is well kitted out in all of their courses but a heavy impact on the courses I am planning to do. Whilst looking around campus I also looked at the different accommodations of the university both of and on campus, some of the campus buildings were new so they were fully equipped with the essential living items like washing machines. I liked Leeds’s university more than Ravensbourne due to the fact that it is a campus across the city so there is more to it than one building like Ravensbourne. The diversity of subjects studied at Leeds is also more appealing as it means I would have a better chance to meet a wider range of people rather than those who just study design topics. Leeds also has a more homely atmosphere which I could relax in whereas the Ravensbourne building made me feel anxious as I walked around. Degree Shows
- 6. Degree Design show – Leeds University Fashion design The fashion course at Leeds looked amazing. In this course I loved the diversity of students work and how their portfolios were laid out as the illustrations within them were extremely interesting to view as I could see how the university allowed for students to find their own style instead of a regimented structure. The first year of the course gives students the building blocks of fashion in both menswear and womenswear and then in the second and third year they choose one of the genders of fashion to develop into. When attending a lecture the professor said that if a student studied menswear sometimes they were offered womenswear jobs which appealed to me as it allowed me to see how my path could change and wasn’t set in stone. I went on a tour with a fashion student around the design block to be shown all of the facilities it had which were amazing with all appropriate technology supplied and wide and bright work rooms which were appealing as I want to work in a bright atmosphere not a dull and dingy one. The student aid that she loved the course and that the help given by the teachers was very good because whilst it was mainly independent study you were given a personal tutor who you met with once a week or more if you wanted who helped with work and living at university which was interesting as it was comforting to know that if I am struggling I have a good support system to go to. There is also the chance for study abroad or year in industry in this course which appealed to me a lot but what interested me was that no fashion student takes the study abroad and instead opts for the industry work which shocked me as I was planning to go for a study year but no it has made me look into the prospect of industry work during the 3rd year instead.
- 7. Degree Design show – Leeds University Textile design Graphic design The textiles work was very impressive with a wide range of digital and knitted textiles on display. The quality of the work was very high with each piece being uniquely different using different techniques and processes. The portfolios of the students work was also very interesting with different concepts and ideas being explored. The course itself looked very interesting in the lecture I attended where the professor talked about the opportunities of the course like study abroad and work placements in 3rd year. The facilities supplied to this course were amazing with all equipment in good quantity such as weaving looms as well as a digital printer. The graphics collection was very interesting as many approaches can be seen with posters, records and booklets being made. This work impressed me a lot as it differed from Ravensbourne significantly with the work being more impressive at Leeds in my opinion. A can see a greater flare of creativity explored at Leeds than at Ravensbourne which is important to me as I want to attend an institute that enhances a students personal style and creativity.
- 8. Art and Design discipline: Fashion Design Fashion is a design practice that explores clothing, footwear and accessories. It also involves makeup or furniture. There are various levels of fashion – high-street, couture and high fashion. Fashion in the clothing aspect begins with illustrations which explore the shape of a garment and the materials and embellishment that could be involved within the piece on a models body. Within this discipline the ideas are generated in many different ways. Designers look at the fashion forecasts to see what will be in fashion and then tailor their designs to situate within this style. This mainly happens within high-street fashion. Ideas in high fashion which are featured in magazines such as Vogue and on the runway can generate ideas from many aspects such as nature, history, culture, architecture and so on. These base themes can span off into very intricate pieces of fashion. The approaches to fashion vary dramatically between designers and styles of fashion. High-street fashion will tend to be simpler in design with less experimental shapes, structures, colours and embellishment being experimented with unlike in high fashion. The approach to high fashion is very extreme with designers experimenting greatly with new embellishments, shapes and structures within the garment itself leading to extravagant pieces only suitable for magazines and catwalk. High fashion designers who push the limits with their approaches to fashion include Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten and Jean Paul Gautier. I do prefer the high fashion business in the fashion industry so this would be the prefer career choice like working at one of the big fashion houses. Fashion also appeals to me with the illustrations involved within it as they can be highly appealing to view and the ideas you can experiment with also interest me. Fashion is very common through the media such as magazines, TV Shows and advertisement. Magazines include Vogue and Grazier. TV shows such as Say Yes To The Dress (focuses on bridal gowns), America’s Next Top Model (focuses on modelling, designers, magazines and runway) and Project Runway (focuses on high fashion runway) – all of which have fashion and fashion design as one of their main focuses. There are many other approaches to fashion with fashion consultants, stylists, fashion journalists, fashion marketing etc. All of which help the fashion industry be one of the biggest industries worldwide.
- 9. Poster to communicate fashion design This poster has been made to communicate what fashion design is in my opinion to a specific audience. My original poster which I made on Photoshop which had my own illustrations and digital media looked strange due to the different textures and tones within it so I added a watercolour effect on a word document for a more uniform texture which worked well. The poster shows how I see fashion originating from illustrations. The background is a photograph of ink in water, this erupting effect produced by the ink illustrates how creativity in fashion can come from anywhere and develop into anything which an aspect of the discipline that intrigued me greatly. The tape measure in the background also communicates fashion as it involves a lot of measurements to fit the body’s proportions and it is a common motif associated with fashion design so this will make it clear to the audience that I am communicating what fashion design is. The fashion illustrations have been done so that they get less conventional as they progress with the larger illustration taking influence from fantasy clothing. The illustrations also experiment with womenswear, menswear and unisex clothing to communicate the different areas in which fashion designers can take their clothing with unisex clothing becoming more popular. Old version of poster
- 10. Art and Design career path: Fashion Design Working practitioner – Jean Paul Gaultier Born: 24 April 1952– present (age 64) . The French designer was introduced into the fashion world by his Grandmother, he never received any formal training at education but instead sent sketches to top designer Pierre Cardin who took him as an assistant 1970. he then went to work for Jacques Esterel in 1971 and then Jean Patou that same year, he then returned to the Pierre Cardin boutique as a manger in 1974. His first own collection under Jean Paul Gaultier was 1976 and his irreverent coming into light in 1981 which pushed the boundaries of high fashion further. Inspiration for his collections come from street wear, popular culture. Some of his works though did have more formal qualities to them which still possessed his playful style. He developed his tailoring skills which allowed for his outlandish designs to be created, these skills helped launch his career further. His work is very daring especially for the time when he first came about with him using older male models, fuller figured women, pierced and tattooed models and also began to blur gender roles within his work which both gave him an enormous amount of popularity but also a lot of criticism. The 2003-4 exhibit “Braveheart - Men in Skirts” was a joint collection from designers including Gautier which he used as a means for redefining the male ideal by altering the social and moral codes of menswear.
- 11. Art and Design career path: Fashion Design Working practitioner – Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier – Spring 2010 Gaultier has designed the dress in an asymmetrical fashion with the motifs on the skirt being of different sizes in a rather unstable arrangement. The effect of this gives a sense of erraticness to the piece on the skirt and the headdress which then compliments the simplicity of the bodice. By having the headdress and skirt as the erratic elements of the piece the bodice is exploited so the eye is drawn to it due to its simpler shape and structure and then the eyes are led outwards to the rest of the piece allowing an amalgamation of flare to be illustrated by the garment. The low key colour scheme allows for a certain purity to be portrayed by the piece, the colours expand outwards on the garment with the gold and the light sea green colour compliment the ivory colour of the bodice which fans outwards. The use of the light sea green and gold colours communicates a sense of nature and tranquillity which contrasts with the eccentric composition of the palm leaf shaped motifs. The dress has been made using a trumpet dress structure with the bodice hugging the body into a drop waist and then flares outwards, this flare of the skirt is then enhanced and exploited further with a hoop skirt added underneath the material. The use of the hoop skirt is effective as it adds a sense of drama to the piece, it also compliments the headdress which flares out in a similar fashion. The hoop skirt is also an effective element to the piece as it resembles a garment from the Victorian period which therefore complements the bodice of the piece as it also bares similarities with the Victorian style with the buttoned bodice and over pronounced shoulder pieces. The outlandish behaviour of the headdress and skirt with the slender qualities of the bodice resemble a peacock with its feathers fanning outwards with flare and drama like the skirt and headdress, these characteristic adds a certain empowerment to the garment which is then complimented by the bodice which is slender in structure like the neck and body of the peacock.
- 12. Art and Design career path: Fashion Design Working practitioner – Vera Wang Born - June 27, 1949 (age 66). Of Chinese descent and raised in New York. Wang graduated from The Chapin School in 1967, she then attended the University of Paris earning a degree in art history from Sarah Lawrence College. Vera Wang began figure skating at the age of eight and competed at the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships whilst in high school. She was featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd in the January 9, 1968 issue. When she failed to make the US Olympics team, she entered the fashion industry. In the 1970’s she was a senior editor for Vogue but when she didn’t get the editor in chief role she left Vogue and was hired at Ralph Lauren. The purpose of her designs vary with some of her most recognized work being for the bridal industry, she also designs figure skating costumes for some of the top athletes, her designs can also be seen on red-carpet events and other evening occasions for celebrities. She has also won many awards over the years in June 2005, she won the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Womenswear Designer of the Year; May 27, 2006, she was awarded the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Wang was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2009, and was honoured for her contribution to the sport as a costume designer. She has opened bridal boutiques showcasing her dresses in New York, Tokyo, London and Sydney. As well as bridal gowns she also designs clothing for runway shows such as her spring/summer collection in the 2014 New York Fashion Week.
- 13. Art and Design career path: Fashion Design Working practitioner – Vera Wang Vera Wang Bridal - Fall 2016 This dress is similar to the Gaultier dress in that it is the same trumpet style structure with it hugging the body down to the thighs and then flares outwards. The bodice of the dress is a sheer material which has been embellished with a lace accent which covers the more private areas of the body because of this minimal placement of lace the material appears exploited by the designer as then the curves and design of the lace are enhanced. The white material is then complimented with a black chiffon bow to accent the curve of the model, accentuating an hourglass figure is popular amongst bridal designers as brides tend to want to look slim but curvy. The lace on the bodice is an effective part to the dress as whilst the sheer material creates a rather risqué dress the delicateness of the lace adds a certain formality to it as well as a classic feeling with many older dresses being made from lace fabric, this style of lace appears more Victorian and turn of the centaury. The placement and quantity of the lace however on the sheer fabric allows for a more modern interpretation to be explored. The feathered tail of the dress gives it an interesting characteristic by being more modern and dramatic however the drape of the feathers is very gentle on the body so this compliments the lace very well by enhancing the garments elegant qualities. The lace and feathers adding soft and raised texture to the dress which is effective as this compliments well with the smooth qualities that the sheer material on the main bodice of the dress. The combination of the fabrics create a rather airy and ethereal atmosphere to the dress with it seeming to flow on the body and then outwards through the use of the feathers. The dress seems to communicate qualities from the old Hollywood period with the dresses in the way it is in the trumpet structure with the flare of the dress draping on the body elegantly. When first viewing the dress the eye is drawn to the feathered tail and then upwards into the lace which is effective a subtleness is created in the piece by the detail going from rather dramatic with the feathers and then the delicateness of the lace and sheer fabric.
- 14. Art and Design career path: Fashion Working practitioner – Vera Wang and Jean Paul Gaultier bridal gown comparison These two dresses are from Gaultier’s and Wang’s bridal collections from 2009 and 2017. The Gaultier dress follows a corset style bodice which is hollow, this style is similar for the Vera Wang dress which also features a corset bodice which relies on the structure rather than the material of it. Due to the inclusion of these corset bodices the designers have communicated a Victorian and Gothic atmosphere as these two fashion styles work heavily with corset dresses. The Gaultier dress uses a sheer vail over the top of the corset to conceal it slightly and then it is ruched in around the right side of the models body. This is an effective aspect of the dress a continuous flow between the dress and veil is created. This contrasts with the Vera Wang dress which features no veil and instead relies on a thin lace to be the material within the corset structure, the corset is then added to by a white and sheet panel across the rib cage of the dress. By doing so an unstable division of space is created as this is the only solid part of the dress with the skirt being of the same lace material ad the corset, this contrasts with the Gaultier dress which is relatively balanced in the bodice of the dress and is only made unstable by the erratic placement of the veil which features a sheer material which has been crimped and fanned outwards. Both dresses however have a strong sense of symmetry due to the corset structure itself having symmetrical qualities which are enhanced by the use of the sheer materials which overlay them, this symmetry is then dispersed into the skirt of the dresses which take on a more unstable appearance with the lace and tulle laying in different ways on the body. The skirts of the dresses are effective as the materials they are made of tulle and lace which are very light and airy materials so this contrasts well and exploits the ridged structure of the corset illustrating a certain elegance to the dresses. The Gaultier dress seems to communicate the Charles Dickens character Miss Havisham whose wedding dress has a similar erraticness in the veil and composition of the piece, this contrasts with the Wang dress which despite is risqué nature with the sheer corset and limited fabric communicates a certain formality and elegance with the dress having a dropped waist fit and flare style. Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2009 Vera Wang Spring 2017
- 15. New progression route - Graphics It allows designers to project certain ideas and experiences with a visual content. The designs are produced in such a way that they communicate their meaning instantly through motifs and specific images which engage an audience immediately. More recent animated graphics are designed to hold a persons attention for longer. Graphic design in an artistic sense with no advertising qualities are also popular with artists such as Dan Mountford who works with overexposure of images to create double layers. Dana Tanamachi works mainly with typography in her work, for example the book covers in the pictures were done by her with the typography fitting well with the colour scheme and design of the cover. Many companies also offer apprenticeships for graphic design for those not looking for higher education. As it is such a crucial industry, apprentice’s are required to have creative skills in both drawing and on certain software like Photoshop and illustrator. Graphic design is an art form which combines words and images mainly digitally to then be used in medias such as magazines, advertisement and books.
- 16. New progression route - Graphics Higher education – University At Leeds University they offer Graphic and Communication Design BA over 3 years. The course develops a persons skills in communication and technology by exploring a wide range of graphic design practices. Core modules will introduce the student to the fundamentals of digital imaging, visual culture and the historical and theoretical approaches to design. To apply for the course an A-level: ABB including an art or design-related subject and not including General Studies or Critical Thinking or DDM in art/design BTEC. You apply to the course if eligible through UCAS. Programmes offered within the course include a study abroad programme with one of their partner universities around the world or year in industry. Career opportunities after the course can include companies like Saatchi + Saatchi, FutureBrand, Exposure, Spiekermann Partners, Zitromat, McCann-Erikson, Smoke & Mirrors, Show Media, Elle Magazine, BBYO, SSY, Allgood, Golden, Prego, Elmwood, Cosmo, Apple, Nike, TBWA, BBH, Wieden + Kennedy, Root and Brand Union. Ravensbourne university offer BA (Hons) Graphic Design. The 3 year course includes concept development; typeface design; typography; editorial design; identity design; information graphics, creative coding, pictographic design, and theory and context; creative collaboration; interaction design, data visualisation; exhibition design; graphic design for promotion; design innovation; and dissertation preparation; competition briefs, portfolio briefs; informed design practice; major project, and a dissertation. The entry requirements for this course are 2 A levels, grade C or above; 4 AS levels, grade C or above; Level 3 Foundation Diploma or National Diploma; Advanced Diploma, grade C or above plus a minimum of 5 GCSE’s grade C or above including English and Maths. The course is 100% coursework. Successful completion of this course can lead to postgraduate study in MA Communication Design and MDes Design Management Innovation, as well as many career opportunities with 95% of their students getting work within 6 months of graduating.
- 17. New progression route – Illustration and Animation Illustration is the profession drawing characters and other elements for media such as story books and newspapers. The illustration normally depicts characters in a figurative form. Famous illustration artists include Quentin Blake (illustrated Roald Dahl’s books), Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss collection) and Maurice Sendak (where the wild things are). Illustration is still an important industry in comic books, manga, children's books etc. Animation is the process of making the illusion of motion and change by means of the rapid display of a sequence of static images that minimally differ from each other. Animation is an advancement on illustration by taking the still images and combining them to create the illusion of movement within the piece. Animation is very popular in the 21st centaury with it featuring on TV shows, advertisement and big screen cinema. Some of the famous illustrators behind the animations include Pendleton Wards (Adventure Time) and Hayao Miyazaki who hand draws all of his movies with only little digital influence (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away etc)
- 18. New progression route – Illustration and Animation Higher Education- University Arts University Bournemouth offers BA (Hons) Illustration. The course is 3 years and the student explores drawing, painting, sewing and printmaking, as well as photographic, digital, moving image and interactive media and a member of a lively community of practitioners exploring, celebrating and engaging with contemporary illustration. Students have the chance to work on live projects for businesses, competitions, collaborate, and work closely with other students to form illustration collectives. Internships with artists are also offered to broaden career paths. Course tutors work closely with students to expand their projects and ideas which will improve their portfolios to a higher standard. regular guest speakers to talk to students about illustration careers. There is an illustration shop for materials the students need, open access to specialist print areas and regular life drawing sessions. Other opportunities include European trips e.g. Prague, Amsterdam, Berlin or Barcelona, three purpose built multi-use studio spaces, potential second year exchange to Kyoto University in Japan. The university also offers BA (Hons) Illustration (Animation). University of West England Bristol offers BA(Hons) Animation as a 3 year course. You will learn by making. Working with new and emerging technologies and state-of-the-art equipment from the start, you will write, design and animate for production. Our active programme of live briefs, placements and networking events mean that, on graduation, you will be ready to work in the industry. Exceptional facilities and resources include digital media studios and our animation studios. Our production and fabrication workshops offer a combination of traditional tools and the latest technology. All staff are active animators with commercial experience and our strong links with industry mean that you will benefit from professional expertise throughout. Studio work is balanced by theoretical study and work experience. GCSE: Grade C or above in English Language, A LEVEL: You must have a minimum of two A-Levels, EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: A minimum of DMM from the BTEC Diploma.