Preparing for Presentations/Presentation Schedule

You have a busy couple of days ahead as we need to ensure all your presentations are given on Thursday so we can all move on to the Fashion Illustration work together from Friday.
Having just tried to start a Prezi with Freya it is clear that the Art department computers do not have the capacity to run the new version of the programme :-(
...for it to work properly the computers need to be running Google Chrome as their browser, and they don't have the capability.
So, Plan B: Powerpoint. Try to make your Powerpoints as creative as possible, whilst avoiding using templates/fonts that don't suit your creative subject matter. Using a blank presentation is a good bet. You will need to take a series of "zoomed in" photos of sections of each moodboard to properly explain your points.
These are the practical steps that need completing:

• All 5 Moodboards finished.
• Good photos taken of each Moodboard.
• Photos tweaked (see post below) using PhotoShop so they look effective as Presentation slides.
• Transfer your Moodboard photos (and zoom in details) to Powerpoint slides.

A suggested format for your presentation is

1. Title slide "An object worth desiring" and your names.
2. Your introductory Mood Board.
3. 2 or 3 zoom in slides of key aspects of your first moodboard.
4. Your second moodboard (research into your object).
5. 2 or 3 zoom in slides of key aspects of your second moodboard.
6. Your third moodboard (your garments).
7. 2 or 3 zoom in slides of key aspects of your third moodboard.
8. Your fourth moodboard (collections).
9. 2 or 3 zoom in slides of key aspects of this moodboard.
10. Your final moodboard (initial design ideas/material experiments)
11. 2 or 3 zoom in slides of key aspects of your final moodboard.

• Produce a set of 5 cue cards that bullet point vital information for each main slide - use these as a memory aid during your presentation, but be prepared to expand and ad lib rather than just reading off a card, as this tends to lead to dull delivery.
• Work with your partner to practice the suitability of your timing and content - you should be aiming for a presentation time of 8 - 10 minutes.

See the exercise as an opportunity to "sell" your ideas and explain how your research has informed your initial garment ideas/object experiments.

Self promotion is an essential skill in many Art/Design careers, own the floor and start as you mean to go on!

Schedule for presentations on Thursday is as follows:

Time	Students	Object
11.30	Annie Adam, Freya Atkins, Katie Warren, Hannah (special guest)	Rubber Gloves
11.40	Flo Clarke, Amy Lucas	Plastic Cups
11.50	Georgia Masters/Jasmine Yarnell	Clothes Pegs
12.00	Georgia Plomer/Max Goodwyn	Plastic Bottles
12.10	Emma Momber, Emma Hope	Cutlery
TUTOR TIME & LUNCH BREAK
2.00	Katie Adlam/Kieran Harrington	Coat Hangers
2.10	Molly Christie/Katie Watson	CDs
2.20	Lucy Abraham/Jenny Brown	Envelopes
2.30	Holly Watson/Connor Whitney-Smith	Cardboard Tubes

 

Preparing Photos of your Moodboards for Prezi

When you record your Mood boards for use in your presentation there are a few steps you can take to make sure that they look good.
The first of those are in taking the photographs - make sure they are well lit and that you position your camera above the centre of the image to avoid getting a taper distortion, take several photos to ensure you get images with a good sharp focus.

An example of "taper distortion"

 Once you have got decent photographs it is usually possible to enhance them in PhotoShop before you upload them to Prezi. Here is a raw photographic image followed by an edit of the same photo.

 

To achieve this I did the following:

• Rotated the original image.
• Cropped the image to remove unwanted areas.
• Adjusted brightness and contrast to give the image more on-screen "zip".
• Used the "sharpen more" filter to add crispness to the image.
• Created a new layer, made a rectangular selection and filled this with a pale blue colour, then applied the multiply Layer style to this blue box.
• Using the text tool added notes (in a font downloaded from www.dafont.com). I then used the move tool to place the text over the blue area.
• Finally from the Layer Menu I added a drop shadow to my text from the Layer Style options.

HHaving done all this I then saved the final image as a jpeg (option available from the dropdown menu when you save in Photoshop). Using jpegs in Prezi works fine, if you upload .psd PhotoShop documents or high resolution digital photos you may find they slow your presentation down and stop it functioning properly.

Stuff that should be going into your Sketchbooks

Obviously the initial stages of this project involve lots of work outside the sketchbook, with your moodboards and Prezi being the main activities. You should record these in your sketchbook too. The first pages of your sketchbook should include the following:

• Observational drawing/s from your object.
• Photographs of your moodboard layouts (including alternate arrangements - take time to light these well, make sure you get sharp focus and consider tweaking in PhotoShop to ensure you do full justice to your work).
• Screenshots of your Prezi slides.
• 2 pages of research into the work of Martin Margiela - some of his Maison Martin Margiela collections were what originally inspired this project and he has explored using recycled materials in many of his garments. Your research should include brief biographical information about MM, find several examples of garments from his collections and analyse some in detail, discuss technical aspects of construction and the aesthetic impression the garment creates. Offer personal opinions on the work, but ensure that you justify them fully, explain how looking at MM might inspire or influence your own work/ideas in this project.

This Martin Margiela collection includes a long bomber jacket made from an old gown, a coat made from an windsurfing sail and a vest made from vintage baseball gloves.

Moodboards for Prezi

Prezi/Moodboard Requirements
AN OBJECT WORTH DESIRING PREZI CHECKLIST
SLIDE 1 – Introduction – your object, your garment, yourselves.
SLIDE 2 – Initial findings – what your object is traditionally used for, how it has been used in a fashion context, if at all.
SLIDE 3 – Your garments – 3 examples of each from current collections – use sites such as style.com fort inspiration and an image of your own found ones – either being worn, on the hanger or on a mannequin, + A simple statement about where yours came from.
SLIDE 4 – An example of what a collection is - this can be a statement – almost a dictionary definition if you like, or a visual that you can talk about.
SLIDE 5 – Some ideas as to how you intend to progress from here, i.e. how you will manipulate, deconstruct or multiply your object – remember that this can be on a lateral as well as a literal level too……

New Project - First Tasks

A few reminders, for tomorrow (Tuesday) you will need:

• Money for an A3 sketchbook. Ringbound £7 (order online), or Stapled £2 (order online or pay cash).
• Drawing materials (pencils, eraser, biro & fineliners if you have them).
• A version (or multiples) of your object to work from. 
• A camera/cameraphone.

Don't forget:

Before Wednesday you need to collect lots of material for moodboards, talk to your partner/s and decide what each of you will source. You will need things like:

• Titles/Buzzwords (on acetate?)
• Dictionary Definitions.
• Photos from online sources of your object in standard use and also in fashion and other alternative applications.
• Photos of yourselves.

For reference here is a list of what everyone drew from the "hat"

Student	Object	Garment
Freya	Rubber Gloves	Skirt
Annie	Rubber Gloves	Jacket
Georgia M	Clothes Pegs	Dress
Jasmine	Clothes Pegs	Skirt
Katie Warren	Rubber Gloves	Dress
Jenny	Envelopes	Hat
Lucy	Envelopes	Shoes
Georgia P	Plastic Bottles	Shoes
Max	Plastic Bottles	Hat
Flo	Plastic Cups	Bag
Amy	Plastic Cups	Shirt
Katie A	Coat Hangers	Dress
Kieran	Coat Hangers	Skirt
Molly	CDs	Jewellery
Katie Watson	CDs	Trousers
Emma M	Cutlery	Skirt
Emma H	Cutlery	Dress
Holly	Cardboard Tubes	Trousers
Connor	Cardboard Tubes	Jacket

New Project Brief - Recycled Fashion

BTEC NATIONAL DIPLOMA in DESIGN
 1st YEAR PROJECT BRIEF PROJECT– An object worth desiring…..
SPECIALISM: FASHION & TEXTILES
This project offers the opportunity to produce evidence towards the following units:
Unit 1: Visual Recording in Art and Design
Unit 2: Materials, Techniques and Processes in Art and Design Unit
3: Ideas and Concepts in Art and Design Unit
4: Visual Communication in Art and Design Unit
5: Contextual Influences in Art and Design Unit
07: Design Methods in Art and Design Unit
12: Computers in Art and Design Unit
30: Location Photography Unit
120: Fashion Media Techniques and Technology Unit
127: Fashion Visualisation Unit
130: Fashion Presentation Techniques
TIME: 6 Weeks
MATERIALS: Mixed Media
RESOURCES: Sewing Machine, Computer, Camera, drawing media, Photocopier, basic hand tools, 3D workshop and an object……

ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE: The idea of make do and mend is becoming more and more prevalent in modern day society, despite being born from war torn times when people really had to make the best of what they already had as little else was available to them, the concept couldn’t be more valuable today with depleting natural resources, and the constant anxiety of inadvertently increasing the size of our individual carbon footprints. What we are now seeing on both the high street and the catwalk firmly acknowledges that this is a very real problem and one which needs to be addressed and appreciated. The race is on, fifty years ago the earth was populated by half the number of people it is now, by 2050 this number is likely to be increased further, possibly up to 10 billion, and by all estimates there simply won’t be enough resources to go round. Deforestation, depleting food sources and a rampant consumerism are all taking their toll, and did you know that last year alone 1 in 50 people lost their homes due to either, war, natural disaster or foreclosure – this is a scary statistic and none of us are immune to this. It is believed that in the U.K. each year, we throw away an average of two million tonnes of fast fashion clothing that was probably only worn for around six times a piece. Fashion could probably be described as one of man’s biggest failures in the safe guarding of our planet with corporate groups encouraging dream lifestyles of selfishness, apathy, superficiality and greed. Something has to give and something has to change…. Few things touch as many people as fashion; therefore the continuation of what is beginning to emerge through sustainable clothing rests firmly on your shoulders. Using just a single object which may be commonly found in the home and an existing item of clothing, you are being asked to create a hybrid piece which uses the idea of recycled fashion. Furthermore you will be working alongside other individuals in BOTH of the BTEC groups to develop the idea of a collection.

GUIDELINES

1. The initial stages of this project should be spent on some thorough investigations. First of all you will be allocated your initial departure points for the project. As this is a random selection, your object, garment and fellow collaborators are all purely down to chance, so this could see you working alongside someone you currently know very little about. It is vital however, that you do work closely with your collaborators throughout the duration of the project in order to achieve a believable result, and by not doing so, you risk failing the overall project. This entire week is concerned with gathering material – this should consist of sourcing various examples of your individual objects, and finding out how these may have already been used in fashion. Make a range of careful studies of these objects, both as photographs and illustrations. As a matter of course you should be thinking all the time about how you will combine them with your item of clothing to create something new and exciting, it will be up to you how flamboyant or understated your ideas/designs are, but you should bear in mind that you are actually going to have to realise one of them! With regards to your allocated garment, you should again be finding as many examples of this as possible and looking for ways that you will be able to adapt your own. Where your garment comes from is entirely up to you, but it must be something which has previously been worn. What you collect/produce is going to be presented as both moodboards and a “prezi” (www.prezi.com) next week, so at this stage it is advisable not to stick anything into your books…Week 1

2. Once you have looked at your objects and garments in detail you will be required to present your findings visually, as previously mentioned. It is not always appropriate to hand over a sketchbook to a group when expressing your ideas purely because it is difficult for lots of people to be able to see the work at the same time, so in order to get your ideas across to the rest of the group effectively, you are going to work on a much grander scale! Following the guidelines given you will create a series of moodboards which will explain your ideas and concepts so far. A moodboard is an important tool in the design industry and will often be created at the beginning of a project as a means to maintain a constant flow of ideas, yours will be instrumental in helping you to get the most out of this project and will be photographed as you go along, so make sure that you have a camera at the ready – NO EXCUSES. These images will then be used to create your Prezi, this slideshow will be your first collaborative piece and will require good communication and a well organised plan of action as you will both be working on the same presentation. You will need to follow the checklist provided in order to ensure that you have provided all the necessary information…. The beginning of this week will also see you undertake some sustained investigations into what a collection actually is. Use www.style.com, www.elle.com, http://fashionarchitect.blogspot.com/, http://www.fashionisspinach.com/ http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ , look specifically at individuals like Hussein Chalayan the late Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Gareth Pugh and Commes des Garcons, for the more alternative in ideas! Sustainable fashion heroes are Gary Harvey, Martin Margiela, Junky Styling, Ciel, and From Somewhere, and this one is just interesting if you want to get a bit more into the magazine side of things – good for layout etc….. http://magculture.com/blog/ . The library also has some amazing books – check out Maison Martin Margiela, Skin and Bones, A century of fashion, Techno textiles volumes 1 & 2, Extreme Beauty: The Body Transformed, Fashion at the edge, Fashion: Concept to catwalk, to name but a few! Week 2

3. Select two different fashion illustrators’ work and document it in your sketchbook, providing analysis on both their work and how you think their style of illustration might be appropriate to your own designs. You should endeavour to produce a design idea of your own in each style too. Following on from this you should now begin to produce further design ideas and start to physically gather more of the same object, and manipulate them, seeing what works and what doesn’t in order to apply it successfully to your garment. Remember to collaborate with your partner throughout –design ideas must actually look like they have come from the same collection! You will possibly need to compromise on things so prepare to be open minded….. There will also be workshops to help you with your figure drawing. Look at www.art-dept.com and other websites/books for fashion illustration inspiration. Week 3

4. How you go about using your object is up to you – we are looking for clever, inventive, original, technical and carefully engineered results – remember – we are not making costumes for the school play, this is a serious exercise, and the results will be going into your folios, so make the most of it. You will all be showing your work on the catwalk after Christmas too, there will be an audience and photographers to record your work. Think about weaving, stretching, melting, burning, adhering, scoring, rolling, wrapping, dissecting, reproducing, representing and smashing as considerations for getting the most out of not only your object, but your imagination too. Update your Prezi. Weeks 3 & 4

5. Following your investigations, trials and experiments you should now have a definitive design – it is now time to make it. Photograph every stage as you go so that you can illustrate the making process fully in your sketchbook. Take a series of well styled photos of the final outcome – Do not just stand in the studio or corridor to do this, find an appropriate space, even if it means you have to put yourself out doing so, I cannot emphasise enough how even the best design can be completely ruined by a lack of attention to detail in its final documentation…… Use www.art-dept.com to help you in this too – someone like Rankin is really worth looking at, as is showstudio.com & Tim Walker. You could also check out James Carver on www.flickr.com – he is an ex-student, currently studying at London College of Fashion. Week 5 - 6

6. Write a 500-1000 word evaluation of the project – guidance notes will be given. Week 6

MINIMUM SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
• 1 COMPLETED SKETCHBOOK. • A SERIES OF MOODBOARDS – PHOTOGRAPHS AS EVIDENCE • 1 COMPLETED PREZI – EACH PARTY SHOULD HAVE IT DOCUMENTED IN THEIR SKETCHBOOKS + PREZI ACCOUNT DETAILS. • RELEVANT FASHION ILLUSTRATIONS. • FINAL GARMENT AND PHOTOS • WRITTEN EVALUATION REFERENCES: Use the internet. Use the library. Use your imaginations!

Alphasemble Evaluation Guidance

ALPHASEMBLE PROJECT - EVALUATION GUIDANCE Your evaluation should be written as a flowing piece of text of 500 – 700 words, word processed and ideally should integrate images of your work (especially your 3D outcomes). • Describe how you started the project, talk about how you selected typefaces and how you went about your initial letter overlay drawings. • Identify things in your 2D work that went well, what elements did you carry forwards from your first studies in colour and print work. • Which Artists and Designers did you research at this stage of the project? Did you find their work influenced or informed your own studio practice, how? • Did you find the move into 3D an easy one to make? What elements from your 2D studies transferred into your 3D relief work? • How did you find the practicalities of working in 3D? What techniques did you employ (e.g. cutting, scoring, glue, interlocking)? Describe any problems you encountered and how you dealt with them. • Are you happy with your relief work, which elements of it do you regard as particularly successful? • Which Sculptors did you look at? Did you find their work interesting, why? Did it inform your own work in any way? • What additional challenges did your fully 3D sculptural piece present? Talk about how you addressed sculptural concerns such as points of balance, visual weight and rhythm and creating interest from all angles. • Were there any different materials or techniques used that you didn’t use in your relief piece (e.g. constructing volumes, use of wire). Did you find the progression from relief to a fully 3D piece an easy one to make? • Are you pleased with your 3D outcome? Identify strengths and weaknesses of this piece. • Describe how you went about recording your work through photography and drawing. What steps did you take to ensure you got good images (e.g. lighting, selection of background, focus on details). • Overall are you happy with your work and time management in this project? What could you do to be more effective in future?

Alphasemble Submission Requirements

ALPHASEMBLE PROJECT

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS.

Sketchbook including:

·        2 linear overlay letterform drawings.

·        2 Tonal/mark-making letterform drawings.

·        Your own photographs of letterforms (letterform alphabet).

·        2 collages using photocopies/inverts/acetate sections.

·        Research into Jasper Johns’ Letter and Number drawings and paintings & another Artist/Designer’s typographic work (e.g. David Carson, Michael Craig-Martin). Research should include Background information, your own analysis, good images of each Artist’s work and visual responses in appropriate media.

·        A gold card plate and several prints from it.

·        At least 2 letterform abstractions using colour e.g. paint, food colouring, oil pastel.

·        Minimum 2 images made using the Letterpress printing blocks.

·        Research into Frank Stella’s relief sculptures.

·        Research into two sculptors work e.g. Richard Deacon, Naum Gabo, David Smith, Eduardo Chillida.

·        Photographs of all your Relief/3D pieces, include detail shots and shoot from a range of angles, consider lighting carefully and shoot against a clean background.

·        A word processed project evaluation (see guidance).

·        Optional:  Full page tonal drawing/s in response to your own 3D work.

In addition to the sketchbook please clearly name and hand in your 3D work:

·        Grey Card Relief.

·        Raised letter Relief (thin card).

·        Well finished final 3D Sculpture.

Insight Reflections - Term 1

To kick off the termly review process we ask you to consider how you are progressing, what is going well and what more you can do to improve your performance.

This is meant to be done in relation to the target grades you will find on your Insight page, but due to something getting lost in translation (the vagaries of computer software) these grades have been fixed at an unrealistically high level - especially for this stage of the course.

I am confident many of you will go on to achieve Distinction and Distinction Star grades, but the important thing at present is to focus on how you can advance on your present level of achievement. 

So what things should you consider when you are writing your reflections? Say anything you regard as relevant, but make an effort to cover the following points:

• Reflect on how the start of the course has been for you? Are you enjoying the work? Do you feel settled at College?  
• Think about the work we have done this term (Colour, Tools, Alphasemble) and discuss some aspects of your work that you consider to be successful, explain why.
• Improving is about identifying areas of your work/approach where change is going to be beneficial. Point out at least 2 aspects of your work you will target to work on in forthcoming projects and explain what practical steps you intend to take to address these areas.

These could be things like: Your Attendance; Your Observational Drawing; Your willingness to experiment; Your research; The presentation of your sketchbooks; Your time management skills/meeting deadlines; Your skills with specific techniques (such as PhotoShop).

• What are you looking forward to over the rest of the year, are there areas of Art and Design we haven't touched on yet that particularly interest you? What are these?