IT session

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign

I had to choose a photo of myself. I don’t have many pictures of myself, so I ended up cropping a family picture. I used a pen tool from Adobe Photoshop to crop my image. 

I have used Photoshop before but never gotten used to it. Every time I use Photoshop, it feels like it is my first time. I found it extremely frustrating and I ended up lacking behind throughout. By the time the teacher moved on to the next task, I was still stuck on the first task. I listened to her when she was showing us what we need to do next, but after I asked for help for the first task, I already forgotten what she taught us for second task. This scenario happened a lot of times, when we were using Photoshop. 

Then, I had to select an image, from the internet that relates to your future career path, which for me is interior design. The interior image would be used as a background. I realized in the image there were no places to put the picture of myself to, so I decided to have myself behind the windows. I adjusted the image, making my image appear like I’m outside the house. 

Next, we went on to Adobe Illustrator to create 5 logos design. I experimented using the arc tool and the type tool. Also, the anchor on each letter, allows me to stretch and move about each letter. I also played with fill colour and stroke weight, just to make the words to stand out more. I really enjoyed using Illustrator, I had fun experimenting and playing around with the tools. I had to select one of the logos and did more experiments with it. I tried mainly changing the colours. 

 Original design

Later, we used Adobe Indesign, where I add the logo to the image I did earlier. We had to write 200 words describing myself in the future and my work. Using the anchor points I adjusted the text box like the stairs in the image. Unfortunately, I just discover that I did not save the file properly, unable to access the work I did on Indesign.

Fashion - Day 3

We had to make a garment or accessory. I decided to create a head piece using folded papers. This idea was inspired from the first day of fashion, where we had to create different small structures.

I wanted to use a different material other than magazines, so I thought of envelops. I liked the repeated patterns inside envelops and how each envelop the pattern is different. After I finish folding and twisting, I find that it looks like a representation of clothing and accessories. I was told that a certain part looks like a dress, whereas another piece looks like a bow tie. I find that interesting to discover.

 

I and my peer combine our head pieces together on a mannequins head, which I really like. The contrast worked well. 

 

If I was to further develop the work, I would have done more folding to build up the piece, making the work bigger and more extravagant. If I was initially given more time for the task, I would of like to use the same method to make a garment, like for example a vest jacket. 

I forgot to bring a hair clip or bobby pins, so I had difficulty with knowing how to attach the piece onto my model’s head. I borrowed some paper clips, which then a classmate told me that it was possible to use a paper clip as a hair clip. So, I use the paper clip to poke a hole in my piece to attach the two together. I told my model to tie her hair, so it would be easier to clip on the work to the hair. However, the paper clip wasn’t enough to let the piece stay on, so I had the model to hold the piece whilst I’m taking photographs. 

At the end, the piece was able to stay on the head as it was clipped higher up on the head. My head piece wasn’t stable to be put on the side, but more of a head piece that is put on top of the head, which I thought work well as well. I thought seeing the model wearing the piece on the side makes her look like she is going on a casual day out. Whereas, when she wears it on top of the head, it looks more like it is for a formal evening.

We had to wear someone else work and had our own runway as a class. It was embarrassing at first because I never done or thought of doing anything like it before. However, it was very fun and enjoyable. I got the feeling of completion and really proud of myself, where I had designed something; produced the work and was worn by someone to be presented in front of everyone. There was even an audience and photographers, as some of the class didn’t model they became the audience and took photographs.

Then, with our models we had to take photographs of our piece on every floor of the building. I find the task relatively easy. I didn’t find a problem with finding a place or background to take photograph of my piece. I thought I communicated well with my partner/ model.

My design for my final piece was very rough and not detailed, because I expect that the work I create would not be exactly the same as planned. 

I realize through the rotations I have improved on my skills at recording my works. I constantly take photographs of my work without being told to do so. I take each piece from different angles, and I checked after each the pictures whether it turned out well.

Fashion - Day 2

Prior to the lesson we had to find and bring in modelling figures from magazines that depicts from head to toe. We had to make garments for 5 figures.

 

I thought I should of been more creative with choice of materials and colours. I tried to be experimental with the materials, like twisting, ripping and folding papers. I think my outfits follow the outline of the figure, which is not the purpose of the task. I took too long on every piece, so I only manage to make 4 pieces. I went home and made another piece where I tried using different materials and add colour to the work, which was something I didn’t do for my other pieces. 

Then, in our sketchbooks we had to create a set of designs from shoes to glove to head pieces etc...

We had to work in a very fast pace, which doesn’t really suit my working style in particularly with things I’m not used to doing, like designing garments. I could have cut out from my magazine images of a certain body part e.g. a head, and then photocopied it instead of tracing out the head which was what I did. I think I spent most of the time trying to trace the image, which wasted a lot of time.

We had to enlarge our works we did earlier on the photocopier, to use as patterns for us to create 6 tops and 6 bottoms. At first I misunderstood the task, where I thought was using the enlarge copies to find shapes that looks like either a top or bottom. I didn’t realize until I looked at other people’s work, and only understood after the teacher repeated the instructions again. 

The whole day I seem to have poor time management. I didn’t manage to finish the task, mainly because it took me a while to figure what the actual task was. I quickly got on with what we were meant to do, but there just wasn’t enough time. So, I finished off the work at home. I feel that my slow speed could be because I have not done anything to do with fashion or textiles. It is very new to me compare to the other pathways, so I am just more skeptical and careful with what I do. 

I realized when I went back home and looked at the unfinished works, and noticed how little colour and materials I had used during the lesson. I finished off the work knowing what improvements I need to do, such as using more colours and more variety of materials and media.

Fashion - Day 1

I had to create 5 structures from using materials like plain paper, brown paper and newspaper. I folded a page from a magazine into a fan, and then spread out the ends, which I thought it is reminiscent of a tree. I cut out a bit of brown paper, and using a scalpel I cut the caret symbol all over and curve the cut out outward, to create texture. 

I ran out of ideas, so I just scrunched up some paper from a magazine to create something. I ended up with a structure that reminds me of a champagne glass. I bent the work, which gave me an impression of a melted champagne glass. 

I should have been more explorative with my ideas of manipulating paper, such as cutting, ripping and doing origami. I should have taken some time to think about what I am going to do, before rushing in to it. I had poor time management because I spent too long on the first piece. I was running out of time, so I just ripped a bit of paper and scrunched it up and see what I could create.

We had to create a enlarge version of our structures into garments. We have constantly been using paper because it is cost effective, ordinary and assessable and easy to manipulate.  

We were put into groups to dress a mannequin. However, instead of working on our piece, we had to move around and work from other groups garments that they have created. For each task which last around about 5 minutes, we had to move to another group’s station to work from their combinations of garments. The teacher gave us specific task/ theme for us to do in each station.

There were lots of materials to work from in this station, so we find it relatively easy assembling the pieces together. We all communicated and agreed together when we first discussed about what we going to do.

 The theme was futuristic. I would of prefer a more simple design for this piece. Looking at the image, the brown paper on the shoulder gives me a impression like a armour, which wouldn't fit with the theme. I suggested that we should pull it down the shoulders, but majority decided it would be better the way it was, and I respect the group decision.

The theme for this was symmetrical. We completed the task very quickly. There weren't many pieces available that would be useful for this task. We could of use the time and do something with the cones than to just pin it on to the shoulders. 

 Our next task was to put our attention on the shoulders. I actually really like what we created. There seems to be a windmill type of theme in this design. 

 We had to concentrate from waist below. We all agreed with our design. We worked very quickly and had time to spare at the end, where we further develop into the work.

The second last task was the theme organic, meaning very loose and have movement within the piece. This was told by my peer in our group. We tried loosening up the folded pieces, to make it look loose. I thought we struggled with the task and the pieces we had to use didn't help with the theme.  

Lastly, we went back to our station, and to use our garments to create anything we want. We didn’t all agree to what was made, so we took it all off and reworked again. We tried changing things around, but it still didn’t work out. It didn’t give the feeling of awe when looking at our work, instead a sense of familiarity. We tried again till we were happy with the work. I thought our garment looked too simple and not as creative as what we have done when we were in other groups station. However, I thought it did look wearable, but a peer said that then we didn’t do the job properly, because fashion is not suppose to be wearable. 

 First attempt 

Final piece

I thought during the course of the tasks, our group suffered in the communication department. There were four of us in the group and we each have different opinions, so there were times when we don't agree with one and another. There were also times when one takes the role of the leader, instead of discussing all together. By the end with the difficulty we had with the last task, I thought we all came together and communicated together as a team.