Artifact

In January 2012, we finished an assignment called 'Artifact' for our 'Design In Use' module. We could choose our own theme and make anything at all. I chose to make a decorative detachable collar. I wanted it be pixie collar style with my own little personal details on it.

To keep focused on our theme, colour story and influences we made mood boards (see above). I made one based on 1950's design, vintage, love and soft fabrics.
My colour scheme was a rosy pink, nudes and ivory

What is quite interesting about the fabrics i chose is that i couldn't find the colours i wanted in a textile store so I went to Penney's and found everything i needed. I cut up a top for the fabric to make the collar, p earl bracelets to add the pearl detail on the ribbon and lace trim off the nickers for the trim on the collar. Penney's really is a one-stop-shop!

I always get impatient when making a moquette but as soon as I start making it I realise all the little mistakes that can be made and couldn't be more happy that i practised first.

 I wanted the collar to have intricate detail on it, to make it look unique.

So i based my design work on a line drawing of an oak tree i had done in my previous project and vintage swirls and spirals.

I wanted the collar to have intricate detail on it, to make it look unique. So i based my design work on a line drawing of an oak tree i had done in my previous project and vintage swirls and spirals.(see below)

The final piece.

Fashion shoot!

(Top & bottom left, bottom right) Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

 Just before Christmas, our class was givin the oppurtunity to get involved in a photoshoot as a stylist. It was not an assignment but a chance for us to gain experience in fashion photography, styling a shoot and most importantly getting our garments proffessionally photographed. We would be working with the 1st year Graphic students, who were the photographers and the Media students as potential models for the shoot.

As the stylist, we had to provide wearables. Be it our own handmade pieces or ones we had bought. We also had to come up with a concept for the shoot and the props., By Feburary,we were set up to have meetings with our photographers and cast a model.
      My concept for the shoot was based on a previous assignment called 'Sculpture In Context'. For this assignment we had to make a sculpture to work in context with the beautiful surroundings in Botanic Garden's, Glasnevin, Dublin. I designed a maxi skirt with bright floral prints which were inspired by the flowers in the specific cite (see above) I had chosen in the gardens. I choose this glasshouse theme for the photoshoot because I thought the misty atmosphere would be quite interesting for the photographers to create and I had'nt photographed my skirt yet.
     I presented my proposed concept to Anna and Ruairi(the photographers) in our first meeting, bringing the photographs of the Botanics (above) and my fashion illustration (below). They really liked the concept and they were excited about lighting and props. At the same meeting, the media students arrived for a casting. We chose the lovely and elegant Tara. She fitted the proposed look perfectly. Soft facial features, tall and gorgeous skin. Not long after the first meeting we were doing a mock photoshoot to decide on the lighting, which props worked and the poses that would show off the garment the best.
 

Illustration of skirt on cite.

On the 8th of March 2012, we set up at 9am for our photoshoot slot from 10am till 11am. Hair and make up didn't take long because we were going for a very natural look, we wanted her to look dewy and fresh to suit the theme. A nude and pastel pink palette for her make up and an expensive body oil that Anna had kindly brought in so her body had a glow from it. We put a few waves in her hair and brushed them to make it soft and WALLA! She looked great!

The photographers wanted to try some different lighting effects. They started with a warm red light that we soon realised was not working so they tried this soft spotlight, from natural daylight which ended up working perfectly.
Ideally, we would have been better to photograph her outside or in a garden but we made great use of the area and facilities available to great this elegant look with the model. The photographers did tell me they would be using photshop to create a more outdoors environment.

Therefore I focused on getting her poses as successful as possible. I did'nt want anything too wild in her poses, just simple and ethereal. Focusing on her face and gestures, as well as showing off the skirt to it's best. pieces of chiffon material was draped above the model so that Anna could play around with some shots of the model behind the fabric. The results were beautiful in some of these close up shots (see below). It really created that soft and misty atmosphere we were looking for.

After over 100 frames, we felt as a team that we had got a few strong shots. Anna and Rauiri were pleased with the images and excited to start editing. Tara had done an amazing job and really took on the personna we were looking for. She also worked with the skirt effectively.

Chiffon fabric draped infront of Tara to create misty atmosphere.