Samiyah Fiaz- Colour Lighting video

Colour Lighting using the over head projector looking light shape and colour to pick out from a video I have made.

Bloomming Design Studio- Alix Dessain

I have found a company that makes interesting wall dividers amongst other products such as vases, clocks and tables. Bloomming is a Dutch design studio who have created a stainless steel blind/ wall divider whereby the diamond shaped components can be moved and tilted to created varying patterns and allowing patterns to be created by the shadows. I really like this idea as it allows you to change the design and allow different amount of lights to penetrate through. I want to see if I can do something with my ideas to achieve a changing pattern or let different shadows be created. 

Fiona Curran talk- Laura Paterson

I've been to the Fiona Curran talk today which I found really interesting. She showed us how her work had progressed from a small folded piece of paper in to huge sculptured wall art. I really like the colours and bold shapes In her work. She also talked about how she had worked for Tatton Park and had created a tree house Influenced by difficulty in the environment such as Hurricane Catrina.

Melanie Munnerly- Laura Paterson

Melanie Munnerly's work captures change in the environment, I really like her use of markmaking and free hand style of drawing. Her use of colour is also very effective.

Marc Taro Holmes - Laura Paterson

This artist uses watercolour and pencil to create these stunning images of architecture. This piece of work is of a building in Lisbon. I'd like to try out some painting's of Architecture in Manchester, perhaps the town hall or the Library.

Gilles Trehin- By Laura Paterson

I've been looking at the French Artist Giles Trehin's work, He is autistic and has designed this City in his mind which he has named 'Urville'. His drawings are very intricate and detailed and i really like his use of mark making

Artist Inspiration- Alix Dessain

I have been looking at more artists, and have stumbled upon some interesting artist who are using delicate materials in a very interesting way to create textured surfaces and patterns. This has made me think that I could do more with the tracing paper and handmade papers that I have been experimenting with. 

The following pieces are by Japanese artist Reiko Sudo who uses traditional Japanese textiles and techniques in a innovative way to produce a beautiful delicate effect. I particularly like how the fabric is semi transparent and has gaps in it to allow the light to come through, something which I like about working with the tracing paper as well as the papery quality of it. 

Fahima Chowdhury - M.C. Escher - Waterfall

 
 I came across this the other week, and I though it was a great example of Escher's 3D effect. Also loving the wonderful shapes!! Alix and Samiya maybe this could help you guys?Actually it can help all of you guys in different ways, just a thought :D

Fahima Chowdhury - M.C Escher you inspiration!!!

I was just looking for something to help me move my work forward and I came across Escher and his work just amazes me every time I see it. the way he uses shapes is remarkable. For me, at first glance his work seems to come off the page, as if its 3D, however its a flat surface. 3D may have a part to play in my work,maybe??

I just love the way he creates beautiful patterns with these shapes. He inspired some of my work. Also I love how its all black and white, because I feel its appropriate for the geometrical pieces. My work is also black and white but for a different reason, I just find it suitable for what I am doing, and I enjoy the simplicity in a chaotic design, which I would like to think Escher would of enjoyed to, maybe.

My Experiments

Inspiration/Zoe Beck- Laura Paterson

Browsing through different designers on the internet I came across Zoe Beck's work, she creates city inspired prints on to maps using vibrant colours. I like how they look busy and chaotic.

Alix Dessain- Artist Research

I have been looking at artists and designers to inspire my work and help to visualise my ideas on a larger scale.  I have been thinking more about creating a wall or a room divider, as the space is open plan to be able to divide it up with a temporary structure could prove useful.  From my drawings, I think that my ideas could be translated well to create a wall. 

These 3D wall dividers by Mike and Maaike remind me of my original drawings using the coloured masking tape, but they also remind me of lines found on maps, in particular the Manchester tram map. I like how it is not all one solid block and that you can see through it as well as the combination of colours. 

This piece by Sally England which could be describe as both a wall divider or a blind stood out to me. Like the piece above, I like the transparency of it as well as the texture created by the knotting of the fabric.

This textured surface by Yvette Hawkins is a interesting take on folding a map, it has made me think about the different ways in which paper and fabric can be manipulated and folded to create a interesting surface. 

Inspiration- Laura Paterson

I have recently came across this designers blog and her work has really inspired me to draw. I like the contrast of colour with the black and white drawings and i think it makes the drawings instantly more eyecatching and interesting.

Maren E'sdar- By Laura Paterson

I have been flicking through books for ideas and inspiration and I came across the German illustrator- Maren E'sdar's work. In my last project I was lacking texture in my work, I know i need to start to use more of a variety of materials in this project. Looking at her illustrations has given me ideas on how i can use texture and colour in an exciting way.

Lauren Bowker Talk - Lindsay Swan

Now that Ive finally learnt how to post in this group blog I thought I should post about a lecture I went to before easter on Lauren Bowker. Im not sure whether everyone was able to go to it but I thought you might find it interesting. It helped me understand why everyone seems to be going on about collaboration being really important in terms of future design.

Lauren Bowker Lecture – 22^nd March 2012

Lauren Bowker is a graduated Textile Fashion Student from Manchester School of Art who has made so many incredible achievements by such a young age. She currently runs a studio; PHNX which stands by the statement “see the unseen”. Her work looks to uncover elements such as health, disease and science promoting these issues through art. When applying to Manchester School of Art she was rejected for the Fashion course and instead received a place on Textiles for Fashion. She believes her drive has always come from being told she can’t do something and it’s this drive and confidence in herself and her capability that has allowed her to get so far in this competitive industry.

After being accepted into the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, one of her projects was using imagery to get children to stop smoking.  She began to collaborate with the science department aiming to dissect cigarettes and test if the products inside them could change colour. This is where her distinctive, unique element to her work began to be her inspiration.

One of her biggest achievements was the creation of a Jacket that changed colour when it reacted with air pollution, turning yellow to black. This invention has been the key to her success giving her the opportunity to now work on projects such as colour changing uniforms for the military allowing them to become easily camouflaged in changing environments. Lauren has also been working with NIKE to try to produce sport and fitness wear that could react to muscle tension alerting its wearer about potential damage to their body by changing colour in the targeted area. Her designs are not only creative but a key to the development of a changing society. She has always said that she wanted to change the world and she is definitely involved in doing so. Whilst working on these projects, Lauren is also part of designing the Airbus of 2050. Features include chairs made from a material that can morph to the shape of the human body, supporting each individual person in different ways catering for all needs such as disability, weight, shape and size. As empty seats on planes cost fuel this material will also save money as they are able to change their use to facilities such as bars. Part of her role here is not only to source materials for the actual build and design of the airbus but to also make it possible for people to envisage what it will potentially be by 2050 through digital media. She collaborates with a Computer Engineer and a Project engineer and she truly claims that none of what she has achieved would have been possible without collaboration. This is what I really took from this lecture and it opened my eyes to see ‘collaboration is the key to make future designs’. We as young designers need to be able to come up with things people have never seen before to allow society to continuously develop. Without Collaboration, a wallpaper designer will most likely only ever design wallpapers but by exploring different inputs, taking risks and being experimental, so much more is possible.

Weekend in Amsterdam-Laura Paterson

I have recently been to Amsterdam where i visited the Van Gogh museum, It is a very chaotic city so it ties in well with my project as i want to look at the chaos that makes up a city and compare everything.

Arriving at a place- Laura Paterson

After the world’s longest journey, driving from France through Andorra and in to Spain in a crammed car full of luggage and five passengers we had finally made it to Bennicassim. We pulled in to a car park mid-afternoon in the sweltering heat, the sun blaring down on us. There were people everywhere dragging suitcases, tents and gazebos in their shorts and shades. 

We began unpacking the car and followed the herds of people down a long dusty track in to the camping area. There were 1000's of tents already pitched up and people kicking back in their deck chairs drinking beer. We found an open space next to a gypsy woman in a caravan who was rumoured to be selling space cake's to fund a living.
Once we had pitched our tents we cracked open our alcohol and began drinking, then later decided to go for a wonder...

 We trampled over tent pegs and empty beer cans until we reached a path, my sandals were covered in dust. There was noise coming from everywhere people singing, playing music and laughing. We followed a long track in to the main arena where people were queuing for miles for a greasy kebab. We shoved our way through hundreds of people towards the main stage where we were going to watch Plan B. My stomach churned with excitement.

Arrivals Task- Alix Dessain

To begin the project we were asked to imagine arrving at a place. I decided to look at arriving in Marrakech, Morocco, as when I visited the country last summer there was such a stark contrast to England that I felt and saw as soon as I stepped off the plane, despite only being 3 hours away on the plane.  The biggest difference to me was the colour, arriving from a drab and grey England to a city full of warm shades of oranges, yellows and red was refreshing and gave the city an striking look immediately.

I loved the hustle and bustle that is seen along the street and the alleys within the medina. Anywhere you walk down there is some sort of activity happening, whether its children playing outside their homes, cats running around, a donkey cart pulling oranges along, a motorbike about to run you over, men rushing to the mosque at prayer call, there is always something going in and even late into the night there was still constant activity going on in the alleys.

But this is in complete  contrast to when you enter a riad, a traditional Moroccan house with an internal open-air courtyard. What appears to be a dull, ordinary looking and often suspicious door off a winding alley of the medina opens up into a tranquil surrounding that feels a million miles away from the chaos outside.  Once inside, you feel very calm and content being surrounded by gorgeous coloured tiles, lanterns hanging everywhere and amazing rugs and textiles scattered on the floor. The noise from the alleys and streets is completely hidden and the only sound you can hear from the outside world is the mosque calling the Moroccans to prayer which is heard several times a day from one of the numerous mosques found within the medinas walls. From the rooftop, you can see across all of the roof tops within the medina and the towers of the mosques.

Marrakesh was such an exciting place to spend time in, there was so much to look at and admire when I was wandering through the souks and streets that I want to revisit my time here and wish that I was still there!

Get inspired - Lindsay Swan

Architecture is something I have looked at before and I find it doesnt inspire me in the way I want to be for a project. I photographed familiar buildings around Manchester, experimenting with colour swatches from my images but I wasnt excited and felt slightly limited. Colour is one of my strengths and this is what I want to push in Unit X to build a really exciting body of work.

Manchester as a city is on a massive scale where buildings can be quite over whelming and the architecture isnt very vibrant or colourful. I want to look at Morroco concentrating on the warm colour pallets and inimate interiors which combine cosy textures and patterns. I want to create a sense of comfort and relaxation in a building which is used as a busy work environment.