Unit X exhibition at federation house

Having our work shown within a space and seeing the public responding so positive was a real achievement. Below are images of the peice and the feedback from Twitter someone had left. 

As a group we are really proud! 

Journey.

Unit X

"A piece exploring cutting edge geometrics inspired by the construction of the Blackpool illuminations."

Lauren Hulme
Hope Mccall
Jessica Lampit
Scout Board

The Structure

The outcome of my structure I am happy with, the risk of not trying the structure out smaller scale first in wood was risky however the risk paid off.  If I was going to use slots again I now know that I do not have to have the slot too far in as it does not create a clean join if I was going to do this again I would experiment ways in which I could get the joint at the perfect angle. I am starting to really understand the material that is wood and I am really enjoying finding new ways in which I can transform the material.Below shows images of what the structure looked like when on the big laser cutter table and then what it looked like when slotted together.

 

 

 We wanted to get the pop of colour across in the structure aswell as the prints etc so after deciding on a tape which we all liked and agreed it was a perfect match we worked together to find a shade of grey which complimented the structure.

I have really enjoyed working with my group to help each other out and to make sure that there is a clear correlation in are work. The colour palette really brings are work together. By working as part of a team In this type of environment it has given me a idea of how it may be like to work and collaborate within the future. I have realised that having a role within the future provides patients, compromising and being able to trust that others within your group will do their tasks and yourself to get the task given done. By working as a group little tasks like carrying the structure and helping to paint the structure has been useful.

The Laser table was also a learning curve for me trying to understand how that worked and how working in big scale can be attempted and be successful and not just to stick to the small scale I think I will go into big scale in the future.

Refinment to Illustration

Taking the design from my sketchbook to illustrator was a very frustrating and at some times worthy of giving up. However, from this process I have learnt far more than I ever thought I would. On my first attempt of the illustration, I just drawn the structure free hand without measurements and on a A4 board to work on. It was not until I went and asked for help with illustrator I realised how much I was going wrong. This also helped me to believe its ok to ask for help with your ideas for them to become a reality. My second attempt after making the structure fit the measurements of the wood made the lines not straight and not join however after learning how to do measurements and bring them on to illustrator it was then when I was seeing the difference in what I was doing. I learnt how to use pathfinder and the option to join which was useful to bring everything together and to create no gaps. Hope then realised after checking if it was good to go that the slots was in the wrong places she also brought up that the shelves need to be bigger than her prints so we then had to work together to get the measurements of her prints and bring them to the illustration. This was also a learning curve for Hope as she had to compromise with her prints and down size some of them. I found that having someone else who hasn’t been looking at your work and to have their perspective’s as group I have found that we are really helpful in telling each other what’s going right and what isn’t and I have found this really productive when doing this task.

Below is the process of refinment to my illustrations.

 

Modernnising Ideas and Creating Maquttes

After communicating with the group it was apparent that geometric sharp edged shapes were becoming a clear interest and direction for me and the group to work in. I particularly liked how angular a triangle is and how its features fit with are common ground. My main focus was to present something that the students from the art school would like and as art students at Manchester Metropolitan University me and the group decided that modern and futuristic styles are very current. The art school and the university buildings surrounding it are ether very modern or in the process of being modernised. We wanted to connect with this modernising approach. I started to research ways in which the simple shape of a triangle could be shown at its best.

Images Taken From Pintrest

I then from my ideas from my sketch book which are shown bleow started to make some maquettes based on these ideas using the material cardboard.

 

 

I found whilst doing these maquettes it wasn’t the best idea to use a material which I plan on not using because I wasn’t getting how the properties of the wood would react to the slots and being able to stand. Nevertheless it did help me to visualise how it would look and it was a great process for me to go on and create more designs. By using Facebook I uploaded the images of my maquettes and asked on their opinions. However the one they thought they liked the most weren’t practical in terms of construction. Through discussion we reached a compromise with the group on what would be a possible outcome.



Maqueetes From Designs
 

The Begining Of Slots

To improve each of our practises we all decided on individual roles and to recognise the skills we could offer to the group piece. I knew I wanted to carry on my process of working with wood. After looking at inspiration from Dover Street’s displays I knew that I wanted to make a structure of some sort so I developed some initial ideas to share with the group.

And Re Walker Dover Street Display

 However, I was still very attached to all my old ideas and found it hard to communicate them with others within the group. Therefore, I had to make the decision to start afresh with the common ground we had established previously.

After seeing the display for And Re Walker I wanted to research how slots had been used by other practitioners. I came across the old wooden slotted animal toys, which were made by simple shapes to create something much more complicated.

Image found from Pintrest
 

Image Found from Pintrest
 

However I wanted to modernise this idea to be suitable for the pupils of the school of art. 
 

Research Part 2

By working as part of a group, I have learnt to keep things simple and not over complicate my ideas. I have learnt that it’s okay to go with just the one idea. It has helped to see others different ways of working. For example, the way they organise and narrow down ideas. By working within a group I have enjoyed having other people’s perspective on my work and it’s been really useful to know what outsiders may also think about it. Through the research process we, as a group, found it hard to agree on ideas and to visualise what each of us had in mind as we were all very different in our interests. After discussions we all agreed on what inspired us all as a group.

-Grey Tones

- Construction

- Edgy, sharp and unsafe features

-Having a structure for something to hang from

- A POP of colour

 

Through discussion, we decided as a group the colour pink wasn’t connected with construction and we agreed that yellows and limes against the grey tones were what we all wanted.

 

Here are how out mood boards have progressed over time.

By looking back at each stage from our research together I can see how much I have learnt about refining and making my ideas clear to an outsider, as well as to myself.

 

During the research stages, Hope and I met on a regular basis and worked closely to connect and bounce of each other’s ideas. We used FaceTime as a way to speak with other members of our group. However, the one way of communicating which I found worked well for all of us was using the Facebook group so share any progress we had made.

Research Stages Part 1

At first research for the project was very wild and unclear in the direction I wanted my work to go. This is because I tend to get lots of ideas and find it hard to choose one and not to overcomplicate the situation.

 

The Process of refining ideas.

 

There was a clear underlying theme occurring within the group, especially from the archive trip to Blackpool for me, where the construction materials and structures were something I was interested in. It was also something members within my group also found intrest in.


 

Mood Board of Construction By Hope Mccall

From the talks by Luke Jurram scale was also something which had stuck in my mind. Jurram explained that scale has some importance in helping to draw people’s attention to your work. SCALE HELPS PEOPLE REMEMEMBER!

Nevertheless, I was still struggling to condense and refine my ideas.