Art Portfolio: 3D piece

To test which technique works, I made experiments. I found it is difficult to sew on the white plastic shown above; so I decided to use glue to fix the straws. The picture in the middle shows three different layers; the first layer and the second one were hand-stitched. I found the first layer was easier to create and it is more three dimensional than the second one. Besides, I tried to use two pieces of white plastic to give volume. It did not work as it is flattened. As a result, the first layer shows the best effect. However, I want to make as similar to my original design, so I chose the second pattern. I hope it will look better on a big scale. I thought it did not look good because it was not thick enough. Then I made a sample using fabric. I found it is the problem of the way to stitch. If I screw them a bit, it may have an effect like the first layer.

I started to make a plan for creating the 3D piece; I noted down ratios of each piece.

I made a shape of the top roughly then I hanged it up. I began to make the shape more accurate and use double-sided tape to stick edges. I was not able to apply clean edges with s scissor, so I changed to use a cutting knife. I cut straws into small pieces and used a glove gun to stick them. 

I placed plastic on the floor because it was easier to work on big scaled pieces.

I photographed the working process using a mobile phone and upload them to my laptop. I created a contact sheet on Photoshop.

Then I selected the best image and started to edit it on Photoshop to create a final piece. First I used the object selection tool to crop out the background and used a colour background to replace it. Then I used the eraser tool to make clean edges.

I found a very useful tool, 'Eyesdropper' that it helps me to find an accurate colour that I wanted.

This is the final outcome of the 3D dress. I uploaded it to my website's gallery which as my portfolio. The link of my website: website

Art Portfolio: Website Gallery

This blog is about the creation of my website gallery.

Firstly, I added a welcome slide on the HOME page to invite audiences to see my latest collection. Here has a bottom connects to the portfolio page.

This is the portfolio page. I used the same background on the welcome slide, to make it consistent. I decided to use one of the grid galleries, Masonry. It is because my designs are in vertical, Masonry allows to show all information of these pages. Otherwise, they may be cropped if I used a horizontal gallery. 

I clicked the images and changed their setting to just show titles of the work and they are open in a pop-up. Therefore, the gallery would not look too wordy for the first time and the audiences can check information afterworlds; when they click into the image.

This is the pros of the pop-up setting that viewers can see a bigger image and also the description with larger text.

Art Portfolio: Cover Page

This blog shows the working process of the cover page for my collection. The intention was to include 3D ad 2D elements. Firstly, I created a blank page in 'Sketchbook' to make a draft and to brainstorm ideas. I wrote down four main materials that I have used for 4 looks, gloves, forks, straws, and plastic bags. Then I decided the position of the title. It is a collection about fashion, therefore I used a similar idea of the fashion magazines to make one of my design to be the profile of this cover page. Then I copied and pasted the images to create a background. It looks not bad; it is colourful then makes the model stands out.

Here is the final version.

I added some fabrics to the background, such as the poms and denim.

Art Portfolio: Look4

This is the fourth look of my collection. The topic of this piece is the plastic bag; I used grey, grey-yellow, grey-blue, and black colour palette. To introduce from the top, a ruffle skirt, using the proportion of a tent dress, which the dress starts at the waistline. A ruffle; goffered frill of plastic pieces in grey on a garment around the neck, showing one side of shoulder. The middle part of this skirt is a stretchy cotton tube; wanted to make it comfortable to wear. The tube top connects the first layer underneath, which is in grey-blue. There are three layers of plastic pieces to create a ruffle skirt. The blue balls in the top to embellish that it makes this short dress cute and girly. However, a see-through net tight with black pearls gives a fashionable feeling; it drives people's attention and adds an element of fun and funkiness. To link back to the top, I added a pair of anklets sock with lace around the top; also some dots, but they are stretched so not like the balls. In the end, a pair of black leather heels turn back the feeling such as the bra top made by straws. they are solid and a little bit sexy. Overall, I very pleased with this design. I used some elements that are popular among young women. For example, a tent skirt with 3D balls. This idea came from my previous research, the blog named 'Further Research'. The anklets socks also add cutenesses to the whole look. I considered my target audiences are in a wide range year group; they are having psychological changes; most of them want to stay in a young image, however, they want to be mature as they think they are getting older. That's the reason I added a net tight and a bra top to this design. I think wearing a bra outside is innovative, so I added a top to this dress; it was just the bra. The tight with beads is my favourite. I wanted to show something between cute and sexy. The first version of this net tight was without beads. I think it is too sexy and it looks like for party and night out. Then I added the black pearls. It became more suitable for my target audience and it is fashionable enough to neither walk on a city street or cat walk.

Art Portfolio: Look2 & Look3

This blog shows look2 and look3 of my collection. This is the final layout and those pieces will be uploaded to my website; the portfolio will be shown as a gallery.

Look2 is which I had chosen to make into 3D. The topic of this design is plastic bags and I will use straws for embellishments on the under waist top. It is made from light yellow plastic bags that the bra top craze underneath can be seen. A large piece of plastic cut from bin bags is the first layer of the tiered dress; some additional thin lines to create second layers; it is ankle length. Combine with a pair of black leather heels; the whole collection focuses on sustainable fashion, however, I want it also fashionable and elegant enough to walk on the street in the city. That's why I decided on a leather texture.

More complicated design on look3. Let's start with the top; It is made by light yellow plastic bags, the same material as the under waist in look2; for the cuff and necklines. The main body part is denim, giving a strong texture to support the whole short jacket. On the right side, there is a big crazy patchwork pocket. No cuff on right; it is like a short croak. On the left of the neckline, there are some fork and hand stitch thread weaving. To consider the plastic fork is tough and easy to break, so I would like to replace them to trapunto in the shape of a fork to make it workable on the garment. Also cotton might be lighter. A bandeau top underneath is made from clinging films; wrap it around to create layers, the part with more films shows deeper colour. It is a 3D piece, showing the volume of plastic films. Considering it will be a real garment, then I would like to add a tube top made by stretch cotton. Then the surface of the bandeau could be cleaned by wipes and tube top can be washed. To make consistent designs, I used the idea of trousers from the jumpsuit in look1; cut the top then become long ankle-length trousers. A leather heels, but in Aegean colour which about the colour palette of the short jacket at the top.

Final Show: Market my show

In this blog, I am writing about my target audience and how I will market my show. It also includes an example of my invitation.

The first thing I considered was the demographics.

1. Age; My target audiences are aged in Generation Y. They were born in the 1980s and 1990s. 2. Gender; Female.

3. Race; My target market is Europe and Asia; therefore, Caucasian race and Mongolian race.

4. Marital status; No specific audiences.

5. Occupation; Students or work in the office.

6. Annual income; 3,000 pounds or more.

7. Education level; Graduated from University.

8. Living status (homeowner or renter); I think it does not matter, it depends on income.

I intended to sell high priced clothing, so I would most likely want to capture women with a high level of disposable income. For instance, the middle class or upper-middle-class; These groups of people who have higher managerial or professional job employment. For example, my predict price is around 1,00 pounds for a single piece of dress; the target audiences should have high salaries that they are able to afford the prices.

Then, I looked at Sociographics. This part is looking to target markets to the individual level; to know about people's personal needs, profile, attitude, social graphs, or friends. 'Sociographics are characteristics that influence the way people receive and perceive messages. This can also be directly related to the groups they belong to, that in turn define how your market behaves socially. This may then determine how your market engages with your business, products, services and brand.' (McEachran, 2011) It is like integration to the demographic and psychographic. (McEachran, 2011) Psychographic is looking at the needs, interests, activities of groups of people. For example, for younger aged women (University students), should have more colours, to make vivid garment designs. For age 27-33, designs should be simple, no more than three colours on clothing. Designs might be more suitable for matured females. For the youngest group, I might add illustrations print on fabrics.

Picture from McEachran's article

There are many ways to gather and analyze psychographic data. For example, interview, questionnaires, social media, etc. I think those three are the most efficient ways. An interview gives flexibility. We can create questions at the movement while chatting with the audiences. A survey is also a nice way that it is quick to complete and easy to spread out. Depend on different locations, I can use neither paper questionnaires or online version. As social media are very popular nowadays, especially young people. So that social media is a platform to research the needs of target audiences and know about their interests.

Geographic is an important factor to be considered. I need to think people's needs from the region. I think my shop should locate in a city on the main street or near the main street. To consider major people are middle class and have a higher life level. For instance, people like going shopping in Leicester, some of them, especially young adults have habits shopping online. Also, the UK has much immigration so I think its easier to have a shop here that less problem of culture shock.

The behaviour of my target audience: they are more likely to use social media; they watch TV and access to the internet. Most of them extremely comfortable with mobile devices, but 32% still use a computer for purchases. (Kasasa.com, 2019) I think it is a good choice as 'millennials have less brand loyalty than previous generations.' (Kasasa.com, 2019) They buy product and features. It is easier for me to promote a new brand. If my products attract them then can bring attention to my brand. 

To invite people, I would like to use flyers or a video. I created a poster, however, to promote information about the final show, I think using flyers is more efficient. Posters are bigger than flyers and they are normally posted on a wall. That means the target audiences are easy to see them. I made a digital version, so people can see it online. However, flyers are smaller and they are handed out to individuals at a specific place where the audiences usually come. It has advantages. Flyers are easy to produce and cheaper. It is easy to read and people can get more information than reading a poster. 

I am planning to make a draft video to invite people to my show. It will include an introduction to my show; and some elements to attract people, such as showing some working process, cutting fabric or drawing sketches of designs. This is a short video shows a little bit of my working process of this collection as the example here. It also will include the process of creating practical clothing of the final versions. Then, there will be an interview as a conclusion; I made a draft of the interview.

In the background, there are some artworks. I would like to create depth of field to this video that makes sure the attention of audiences is on the main charater, which is me. The location is still my desk; as I filmed the working process here, just what to make the whole video more consistent. One the left, there will be a column shows images of my 2020 collection. On the right, a short introduction to me. I will make an invitation which to introduce my collection and myself to the audience and talk about my brand.

Reference:

McEachran, F. (2011) Understanding Sociographics in Market Research. [Online] Available from: Sociographic. [Accessed by 16/05/20]

Kasasa.com. (2019) Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z Explained. [Online] Available from https://www.kasasa.com/articles/generations/gen-x-gen-y-gen-z [Accessed 16/05/2020]

Final Show: Artist Statement

In this blog, I will post an artist statement to describe my art. There are three main sections: What, Why, and How. I will tell what kind of work I do. Why is about my influences and inspirations. Also to analyse the unique process; how I made my works.

I will put a link here of a pro forma: Artist Statement. If you can not access the link, here is the picture of the Pro Forma. Considering it is an artist statement, I made it shorter then it is easier for audiences to read.