Feb 11, 2010

Lady In White




From as early as the late 15th century, women have constructed beautiful and amazing lace. There were limited jobs available for women of that time, and going down the avenue of lace making was seen as one of the only means of an income.
As we take a glance at society in our current 21st century, it is evident that the role of women has grown. Women and their supporters have campaigned for the same rights as men and today they have finally accomplished themselves as having an equal standing to men.
Lace continues to be produced today and can be seen as a metaphor, telling the story of the journey of women’s role in society, from the late 15th century housewife expectation, to today’s modern woman.
My ‘re new lace’ project is a visual contradiction between the original wedding gown lace used as the basis for construction, to the contrasting surface application and object manipulation through self-designed pattern, into a modern blazer style jacket which symbolizes the modern career driven woman we are accustomed to today.
As a result, these opposing ideas of traditional and contemporary women’s garments tell the viewer of the drastic ideas and expectations women face today and how they have changed over time.


Feb 10, 2010

A Dreamtime Story

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Transcending into the story of the historical world of Australian flora fills one with fluid, comforting thoughts of home. From the whimsical tale of the falling leaves, to the movement of each dot as you spiral around the petals through each chapter.
From buds to flowers, we see a botanical world blossoming, marking a point in time and capturing such intricate tales of a land so far away.
The path of the leaves speaks nature's language of Australia's indigenous. One can step into this world and inhabit all its native flora, and consequently, tell their own dreamtime story...


I am proposing a range of eight contemporary fabrics for the winter 2010 women’s fashion collection of the Brisbane-based design label ‘Easton Pearson’ titled ‘A dreamtime story’.
Through following Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson’s same ‘fluid and adaptive’ working practice, I present to you a range of eclectic designs inspired by the traditional art practices of our own indigenous Australians.
Each piece reflects Australia’s beautiful flora through the artistic key rituals of aboriginal culture and consequently tell their own dreamtime story.

Techniques in these fabric designs include Polysol dying and transferring onto fabric, beading, drawing and painting, hand sewing, machine sewing along with collage cutting and pasting of papers and fabrics.
























































Feb 9, 2010

Project: Ad Campaign for the "Sydney Italian Festival '09'





I wanted to raise awareness in the joys in wining and dining amongst friends and family. Particularly the way the simplest Mediterranean meal can enrich our lives.
When looking at the poster designs a very simple and clear message is delivered through the simple wine and coffee ring stains (both drinks are associated with Italian dining). This plays on the idea of simplicity and the beauty and fulfilment one can gain from it. A busy ornamented layout would have been unnecessary to capture my concept. The words ‘bellissimo’ are read clearly and precisely through the use of black font on the white background. The word choice was deliberate as it is a common word heard around the table in Italian families and it links nicely with Italian food and culture.

Feb 7, 2010

Playtime



Inspiration: The magic of summer on the Greek Islands. I looked to my own heritage for inspiration in this piece. My curiosity in the mystery of the old historical islands drew me to incorporate some of these striking elements into my design. The style and suitability of the lightweight fabric is relevant to the summer months as it cool and comfortable. The clear water surrounding the white clay houses on Santorini inspired my colour choice (blue with white polka dots).

Creativity: The surface decoration on my playsuit is polka-dotted ENTIRELY of hand-sewn buttons.
Innovation: My playsuit’s pattern has been combined with the halter top and tie coming from VOGUE V8079 (#D Size 6) and the mid panelling and shorts from VOGUE V7882 Size 8. The fabric choice will also challenge the conventional idea of matching lining, by contrasting the polka dot external layer to the gingham-check lining. The concept of turning of turning a classic 1950’s swimming costume design into a modern summer garment is also a new and innovative idea.


Fact or Fiction?



We live in a media driven world, whether we’re aware of it or not. The media influences our lives and whether we like it or not, our ideas and thoughts are constructed from media interpretation. As young design students, it is important for us to stay closely linked with the media and retain awareness in the current social and political world because it is our job to react to the current issues and ideas communicated to us. However our role is to also be mindful of the honesty in what is depicted to us and reinterpret them. The media is constantly stretching our trust and has us questioning; what is fiction and what is fact?
The font presented is called “fact or fiction” as it challenges the notion of what is real and what is fabricated in our media today. The font takes this term “fabrication” literally and is constructed with clustered nonsensical stitches, resulting in a visually deteriorating type design. This acts as a metaphor for the level of uncertainty when faced with ideas and notions brought about by the media. The viewer is forced to question whether the type character actually exists as it begins to crosses the line into abstraction.

My typography outcome lead me to integrate the font graphically in a form of media itself; Magazine.

I decided the magazine should be a textiles magazine titled 'STITCH'. Using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign i created a cover, contents page, double spread and spine design to suit the concept of promoting a textile designer (Sian Power) in the form of a textile magazine (Stitch).