Review/Evaluation

For my final project outcome I have designed a series of prints for a Ted Baker home ware collection. I did originally intend to print my designs onto fabric to be made into home ware products but the actual content of my designs differs from my original plans in my project proposal. Initially I aimed to make my surface designs more illustrative, perhaps using more traditional methods such as drawing and painting. I have still integrated these methods within my designs however I have merged them with digital photography on computer software that is much less traditional.

I have used my sketchbook as well as my blog to note down and document my inspiration and contextual research from other artists/designers. During the project I used a smaller sketchbook to make rough notes and jot down quick ideas that came to mind whilst also using a larger A3 sketchbook to present and organise my ideas, making them clearer for myself and others to understand. I liked having the smaller and slightly messier sketchbook as it was useful when talking to tutors to make notes and write down any ideas they had that I liked and that I thought might make my project stronger. For example one tutor suggested I make posters or tags for my collection of prints, and with the smaller sketchbook I was able to note this idea before I forgot and make any quick sketches of ideas for possible tags.

I have experimented with different methods of creating imagery, both practically and digitally. I have also met my target of applying my own designs to products such as bed linen and cushions. During the project I decided to create a series of prints for a collection of home ware for Ted Baker. This was to add more graphic elements to my project and I achieved this by photographing my cushions and presenting them on a poster as well as creating tags for the collection.

During the project we were set a mini additional project to work on with Lense-based media pathway students, encouraging us to combine our themes to create something collaborative. By combining our topics we came up with some ideas for an animation that allowed me to look at my topic from a different perspective. I originally thought my theme of “Fantasy vs. Reality” should be based on fairy-tale illustrations but this project made me think of how these conflicting themes could include the act of transporting a person from their “reality” into a distorted/”fantasy” version of it, leading me to create various layered images that I used in my final outcome.

In a one to one talk with a tutor they suggested that I should find a purpose for my designs, giving them a reason to exist. This therefore led me to research companies that I could design a collection for. In one of my group crit’s a student pointed out that my designs reminded her of prints used by the brand Ted Baker. Because of this student’s comment, when researching companies to design for I looked up Ted Baker and ended up basing my final outcome on producing a collection of prints for them.

At the beginning of the project I was a bit stuck for ideas and felt that my topic was very limited. I eventually found inspiration to progress my project but it might have been helpful to do more experimentation in the earlier stages of the project. I have also learnt to be less reluctant about experimenting with new equipment/forms of production, as despite the stress and being worried about fabric printing, I was really happy with the outcomes and was glad I tried something new. I really liked this process and although I am going onto do an illustration course next year, I am starting to think about going into a career in textile design or using this method more in my future practices.