Thursday, 16 May 2013

Unit X- National Trust Craft Fair- Refinements and Conclusions

After a successful and inspiring Interim Crit, I went back to my design work and created more abstract motifs from the one I presented in the crit, as I felt I could create less obvious Toiles with my drawings.








Whilst design these prints I took into account  composition, back ground space, size of motifs, and thought about how they could be applied to ceramics. I felt some were more successful than others, however as abstract toiles they work well. 
Using some of these designs and my sketchbook drawings, I developed ceramics prints a little more:

I took inspiration from IKEA's Promenad range, which I found when I was buying my ceramics I was drawn to it straight away because of the colour palette which is similar to my own, and also because of the use of composition. Just because they are from a traditional toile practice, doesn't mean I can't use more modern ways of demonstrating my abstract prints on to the ceramics. 

I was really happy with how this breakfast set turned out, and really enjoyed learning a new skill of ceramics transfers.
However, I couldn't help but think I could refine my ideas a little more. I found Anorak picnic ware online, and was inspired by their use of simple motifs and repeat patterns, which create interesting shapes in the background space:


Although my theme and designs are very different, I felt inspired by their designs, as well as inspired to transfer my prints on to picnic ware, this context is even more fitting than kitchen linen and breakfast ware to my site of National Trust Gift Shops as they are a popular picnic destination, it is also fitting for my theme of the Maid's Quarter's, where one prepares the food in the kitchens and it is taken outside to be eaten. Before I began transferring my prints on to picnic ware I wanted to refine my final designs, to create a strong range for a mix and match picnic proposal.
These are the design boards I have created for the final presentation of my work:



Because of time constraints, I am only able to produce picnic ware proposals, however I feel they works really well as a mix and match set and I am glad I have gone for picnic ware, with the final designs I have created. The picnic set includes: Melamine plates (£3.50); melamine cups (£2.50); platters (£4.50-£6.50); bowls (£3.50) (the prints of which are inspired by my ceramics development); flask (£9.50); picnic rug(£18.50); cotton napkins (£5.50) and a food cover (£7). I decided on the prices after looking at the National Trust gift shops prices, and Habitat and Anorak's picnic ware because their picnic items are made of the same materials I would be using for mine, as well as being the same dimensions.
I refined by boards from the interim crit, because my work has come a really long way in just two weeks. My boards below were presented to around 10 students, 4 tutors and Ann Marie from the National Trust who we have had contact with throughout the project. I feel my presentation went well, as I said everything I needed to say, however it was a little nerve racking! 





I didn't change my Inspiration board as my research hasn't changed. However I did change the Context board, keeping my initial inspiration for the whole project, Paul Scott, and adding inspiration I found in IKEA for ceramic development and Anorak Picnic ware. The new Concept board features my picnic ware as a scene, to show what it all looks like together, as well as my 4 final designs.
I ended up enjoying this project once I knew what I was doing- and I would love to develop this picnic set as well as my designs further, I feel there is a lot of room for improvement, but I am very pleased with my final proposal nonetheless.

No comments:

Post a Comment