COMMON GROUND// Manifesto

Common Ground

Create an experience.

Don’t just think, DO.

We should re-use,not refuse.

Uncertainty leads to certainty.

Communication is key.

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UNIT X// ROOFTOP INSTALL/ TAKE DOWN

It was a sunny day to install our work on the rooftop. The whole day and night was a learning experience. Having to find a way of transporting my work to the rooftop was half done by car and then carrying on my head to the rooftop. Ensuring I have transport is definitely something I will plan if I was to create a large scale piece again. Installing the piece was quite straight forward. My group helped me with applying onto the boards due to it being the same size as me. I was happy that by having the opportunity to visit the rooftop multiple times I was able to get measurements correct for the boards.

 

I enjoyed the experience of working in a space and actually really enjoyed making for outdoors. This made me think more about the context I might work in for 3^rd year. With being in an outdoor space I had to be careful when spray painting about my surroundings, making sure I protected what already existed. I also really enjoyed helping others once I was done installing, getting water for people- it really is fun working in a big team. I would definitely in the future want to work within a team, I think it brings out the best in me. It also improves how I work independently. When coming to take down the piece this wasn’t something I needed to do as they were happy for the work to stay, which was really nice and this is the first time I have not taken my work with me. I think this is because of what I set out to do at the beginning of this project, to not be too protective of my work and once one piece is done to move on and start something new.

During the rooftop event we as a group and individually got to speak to the architect ATOL and this was the highlight for me to get feedback about my work and to speak about my work. I really do believe I am progressing with this and the experience where we have the chance to do this I am really grateful for. I think this is why I like unit X so much, I much prefer to be in the outside world working. Like when I'm going into schools and doing talks. I feel much more confident. However, when speaking about my work I'm not confident and  think this is just because of my belief in my work and I really do think this showed when talking to Becca about it in her interview for her PHD. I would definitely like to stay in contact with her as she may need more help with this. If I was to do this project again I would love to have used the original boards. Also I think I would have enjoyed  creating furniture for the space. I also think I will definitely  do more fun drawing and combine it with shape as this was something I really enjoyed.

Group Dynamics & Group Tutorials

Common Ground

Our group decided to work as a collective. We all came from different practices and this really was helpful as I got to see someone who works in 3Design working and I really like the way they worked and showed their thoughts and processes. As a group we set up a Facebook account to keep in contact daily, however we also tried to meet up weekly to see and help each other. I have learnt from this project that separate ideas really don’t come together unless there is something bringing it all together. Our group ‘Common Ground’ pitched our ideas to the panel and the feedback we were given overall was good. However, what I picked up on whilst we were all going through our slides is that our manifesto was a good one but apart from that we didn’t really connect, even though we are a collective. There’s no connection which really combines our work together. Also if our work was on the rooftop people visiting wouldn’t know that we were a group working together. So this was something we needed to discuss and meet up about. We met up after the pitch, I put forward a way of communicating with the public our  ideas and processes through Instagram, allowing people to follow our steps. We also decided to create a booklet which Hannah put together with are manifesto and all a bit about our work, inserting images of our drawings.

We also spoke about how we can connect our work physically on the night so people go away knowing that we are a collective. This was a really good idea and I think from this Unit X project by working with multiple people you pick up ways of working and I definitely learnt from Hannah about ways of creating business cards and also creating a booklet for the future.

 

During my last pitch, I had to explain my ideas again as the first time round the panel were unclear about some areas.  After explaining again, they understood, but in the real world if I was to do a pitch I would have to get my idea across the first time in a way they can understand.

Having group tutorials are really useful as you get thoughts and ideas from others and areas for improvement. When you're working on something you need to stand back and let people comment and this was something I thought really helped me. After the pitch I decided I would re- design my illustrations to make improvements and only do one panel. From doing this project I have had to overcome obstacles and learnt lessons that I need to book laser in advance and I need to be well prepared and be more careful with time.

At the start of my project I really wanted to combine digital print with wood for the panel. As a group they really did help saying it would look too busy and take away from the design. I found that by me giving my group ideas it helped me think about my own comments and how I could apply them to my own work.I wanted to incorporate text from the conversations I overheard and we also agreed this would be too busy so I wanted to have a way where people can write and also I could listen on the night and then upload onto the Instagram page.

I think with the Unit X project after high hopes from last year's group I just thought we would be working on something together. But with us being completely different I think this is maybe why we didn’t. In the real world however we all might come from different areas, so it has prepared me to try and come to an agreement to get a final outcome together.

 

Unit X // processes

The materiality workshop really got me thinking about different types and variety of material. Doing the 'TO sheets', for example’ TO cut’  ‘TO fold’, this reminded me of the Friday drawing days which we did in first year. This made me want to draw more. With the workshop it made me think that I need to use the process thinking by doing more.

 

I  have been moving out of my comfort zone and trying to draw people in a fun way, which will then maybe transfer to laser or print. I have really liked some of these outcomes and  have found a way of drawing where it won’t look crap.

I am really enjoying researching architecture and interiors and I think this has been inspired by the  New York studio visits. Also, by going to Florence and New York it made me realise not to be so precious with my work. When drawing I find myself being less experimental than I would be when working with materials. As part of this project I have set myself a target to improve my drawings skills in the hope that it will enhance and give personality to my laser designs.

I also during this project tried to get myself out more and drawing whilst at the space instead of drawing from images I have taken and this really worked for me.

During this project I wanted to ask the people of  the Northern Quarter and the building what they would like for the piece, but then I wanted to create something I thought would get a conversation going, even if it was nothing to do with the piece itself. I feel like from the rooftop project and the event this happened. I created a sketch book to put by the side of my work to get conversations down into that.

I also during the night took down conversations I heard and I hope I can take this and carry it on as it was really fun. I also like that I won't just be stopping at what I have done and carrying it on further.

The panel

With the panel my initial thought was to have it bright and lots of block colour, however through group tutorial it was mentioned that the construction qualities would be lost. Just pops of colour would actually complement my work. When working with the CNC machine and using plywood it made it split, therefore I had to use the wood workshop to sand and file the piece. However it still had raw edges so I used pops of colour to line the insides of the panel.When looking for materials I remembered the ones we used during the material workshop and tried to incorporate these into my work. By combining spray paint and the bubble wrap textured material it really transformed the material to the point it looked like metal. This made me think that unattractive materials can be made attractive and still retain their texture. Because of how much time I spent trying to figure out ways to add colour, this really did make time short for me. This comes down to my organisation skills again and figuring these bits out earlier. If I had more time I would have refined the piece and  varnished the wood. The rope which provided the pops of colour needed neatening as they started to fray.

When at the space I decided to work with the other two panels like I wanted to do initially and I brought over shapes from my panel and spray painted them onto the existing panels. I really liked how this worked with the piece. I decided to use the CNC machine so I would get grooves into the wood and then this would allow me to trap textile. With the laser cutter I didn't get this effect as you can only cut or engrave. By using the CNC machine I got a more 3d look to the panel. ATOL the architect was really impressed that I did this on the CNC machine .He explained that it's really difficult to do this and  still keep the detail of the illustration.

Unit X - Visit Rooftop

 

 

 

 

On the visit to the Bruntwood building, we were able to see the spaces which were available for us to create our work in. There were two spaces shown to us, the Bruntwood rooftop and then a café across the road, which is a potential place to showcase our work. I was amazed at how appealing the rooftop actually was, I came with the mind-set that it was going to be very bare, like Federation House from the last unit X.  However, straight away I felt it needed improvement to develop a more creative environment. From going to New York I realised how much a working environment can have an impact on your mood and how you work. I believe that by incorporating colour and fun vibrant surroundings when visiting the rooftop, this will motivate workers and give them a break from the corporate environment inside.

Already I know I want to reuse the panels which are surrounding the rooftop for health and safety reasons. I want to use these panels because I believe it fits in with our group’s focus on  sustainability. However when coming back to take them down we wasn’t aloud to remove them so I had to use a new panel of wood and then attach on to what was already exsiting.This was something I wasn’t planning on to happen so I had to overcome this and this was something I need to be thoughtful of in future projects that things will change and I have to adapt to this.  As soon as I had decided I wanted give the rooftop ‘character’ it then became apparent that I was going to do exactly this by drawing characters. Usually I tend to stick with simple drawings which I can then multiply in laser. This time I want to push myself and increase my laser knowledge, going out of my comfort zone.  I want to bring a playful and vibrant colour palette. Usually I work with yellow and grey tones, I still would like to work with yellow but also incorporate other vibrant colours. At the visit I noticed there were flowers and I would love if my work could echo the colour from the flowers. Another idea I had is doing vibrant digital prints and having them on the centre parts on the scaffolding this idea was inspired by what I saw in New York. By placing my work within the central space, like my last group for unit X did in Federation House, it will grab people’s attention and become the focus point of the rooftop. I am yet to decide what my final outcome will be with this project I am aiming to reflect more, rather than heading straight into it.

Unit X// Intial ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York- Overview.

New York

By going to New York I have come away with an insight into the working environment I see myself in. We visited quite busy environments and seemingly chaotic working spaces, on the other hand we also saw very simple uncluttered environments. My dyspraxia and dyslexia means that I struggle with organisation and concentration, so I would see myself in a company like Maharam, where the working environment is calm, organised and ordered.

Tom Cody
Before going to this visit I researched the company and it said it was a large airy space, however when actually there it was very hectic and very all over the place. I really didn’t like this visit, I felt like the sales assistants who worked for Tom Cody didn’t really know why we were there and didn’t want us there. Also, I didn’t like their work ethics - they would just pick and choose existing work and do changes to the digital prints, but this is fast fashion and this is something I definitely do not want to be a part of.

 Maharam

Maharam was everything I could imagine for a company. They were very adamant when talking to us about identity.  The font and the vision of Maharam’s was to be simple and they really did do this from the sample binders and how they present these in a well organised manner. This was really pleasant to the eye and it helped to see the samples at their best as they were placed next to corresponding samples. I also loved the space in which they worked in, it was minimal and ordered. Even though I really did like their samples I was more enthralled by  their interiors and the space and this really did make me question  if it was textiles I was interested in.

Rug Company

I was so inspired by seeing someone who was from MMU being in New York doing such an amazing job. I also really liked the idea of creating files/ designs and then selling them to companies. This made me think about my laser designs and how I could possibly sell my ideas. I loved their passion for colour and how they went to the client’s houses to make sure the product suited the surroundings. The work space was open. I liked this.


 

Bradley Rothenberg

This visit amazed me; the way they used the 3D software to create 3D printed knits was fascinating. From this visit it made me want to do more research and become more technical and bring back my love for science which I enjoy so much and hopefully if I take this approach I will create something new.

 

Flavor Paper

Flavor paper was fun! Creative! Colourful! I loved this visit because as soon as you came into the space downstairs was like being in the art school in a workspace. It was interesting being able to see the products being made and then going upstairs to the office and the sample being displayed. There was music playing and everyone was willing to speak and was very kind. A work space like this would make me enjoy coming to work every day. I also liked the way they displayed their work and where the ideas came from and how they were held together with Perspex.

The Trip

Therefore, the trip over all was amazing I loved the experience, learnt so much, and saw so much. I have found so much inspiration from galleries and my surroundings, which I cannot wait to work with in third year. It has also made me think about considering other career options. I have always imagined myself going into teaching after graduating. Everything I have done has always been leading me to this career path. However, after coming back from New York it has made me think of going for more industry placements to see if I would enjoy it.