Final Prints 2 & 3

I have been self evaluating my prints, which sections work the best and which areas need improvement.  This is a crucial part of my work as I want my final prints to be as refined as possible, especially in scaling and pattern positioning. The original drawings that are used in repeat have been drawn square and the width of standard wallpaper, so when it comes to printing they will fit perfectly onto the roll. 

As I put my prints into repeat, I have been working out how to make patterns run through the print as it is repeated. The top print I have added a subtle zig zag through the design, this has allowed a stripe to form as the the print extends. In my previous print I found that the darker areas were the most successful when applied into a room setting, therefore I have been adding thicker and harsher lines into these designs to explore this idea. I really focussed on adding larger dark areas on the bottom print, the shapes that I created were designed to create a diagonal stripe along the wall once the wallpaper was installed. This print works well in repeat as the different shapes break up the half drop pattern, it has a sense of different layers and has a depth that the other two prints do not have. I have found that my prints work best in a half drop design, as the repeat creates a horizontal stripe when repeated across. 

External Project

Humpties

www.humpties.com

As part of this project I have to complete and external brief, for this I have chosen 'Humpties'. This company creates fabric pouffes, for indoor and outdoor purposes. The design of their pouffes are circular with a boarder running around the edge, so I have tailored my work to fit the design criteria. My previous design work has adapted well into this shape, the straight lines work well with the curves to create dynamic ideas. The difficulty I am having with these designs however are creating them to the desired scale on the brief, as when enlarged they loose quality and become blurry.  

Large Scale Panels

 I have been researching where I see my work ending up, which has steered me away from wallpaper and more towards wall panels. These would be a feature pieces as the focal point in a room, possibly paper or printed onto fabric/glass/perspex. The reassembled images work best on a larger scale, these images are A1. The below visualisation is the style and scale of how I see my work progressing. 

Image In Repeat

As I am primarily print based, I enjoy putting my work in repeat or using multiples of the same image to create a new one. I have used simple rotation and repeat for the first image, which works relatively well. However, it would be enhanced if the original images we drawn with a ruler and not free hand, as they don't match seamlessly. 

The images below are the most successful, this is due to the change of scale of the original image. The first image would be richer if the layers were carried on further. If the layers multiplied down the page and the chimneys extended up, the process would work more effectively. The second image works well as a simple repeat pattern along the horizontal. 

Collage

The fine liner drawings have been scanned, copied and dissembled. These pieces have been rearranged to create new shapes and angles from my images. My aim to be constantly creating new layers and shapes works well with the reusing of drawings and repeating processes on one piece. There is a strong aerial sense to these images, the strange junctions and line relationships make you wonder what the spaces represent. 

Drawings

The power stations have been rich sources for drawing references, they have enabled me to create shapes and patterns that I didn't see before. The initial outline shape and the layers inside are taken from elements within my photographs. I have drawn it all free hand to extend my drawing skills and technique, the outcome has been fairly successful. By changing the thickness of the line, it creates a sense of an aerial viewpoint, or a building cut in half. The shapes have a questionable positioning, what are they, why are they placed there, which I do not intend to answer and leave an enigma to the viewer. 

Collaboration

My work so far has kept to black, white and grey styles, however I feel this is making the images flat so I want to add colour. Finding colour can be quite difficult so I have collaborated with Victoria Young Jameson as she works with relationships through colour. With her colour video and my maquettes we took a series of photographs, using the angle of the projector and the shutter speed to of camera to create these images. 

These images are successful, which I feel is from having the background as black instead of white. This adds more depth into the photos and makes the colour burst. The sections with many small multiple lines are the most interesting areas to me, they seem to create tunnels and dimensions within the photo.

Cut and Fold

Looking at artist's use of shadow has inspired me to do the same within my work. I have experimented with cutting and folding plain paper, cutting in straight lines work well but other shapes fall apart when folded. Through these pieces I have changed the length and thickness of the cuts, creating different layers of shelves. When lit and photographed the shadows worked even better then I thought, depending on the  direction of the light each maquette can produce multiple shadow patterns. 

Manipulating Paper

I have begun manipulating paper by using simple shapes in multiple, attaching them in different patterns onto paper. They are very basic and don't work in a way I had hoped, but the process as taught me a little on how strong paper is.

View Finders

'See Your Own City'

Use the viewfinder to create your own view on the city. Get involved, get creative and get taking photos. Photograph what you see through the space, the places you go and the sites that you see. 

Send these photos in to our twitter and email.

https://twitter.com/mcrdesignfest - use the hashtag #SeeYourCity

mcrdesignfestival@gmail.com

See how your images have created a virtual Manchester as the festival unfolds.

www.designmanchester.moonfruit.com

Website

Design // Manchester

The festival is to be spread over the whole of May, as we want the projects to be ongoing and not just to pop up for a few days. To add to this we want a rich online presence that grows as the festival grows. We already have a twitter, which people can send in pictures and comments on how they enjoy the festival. We have now made a website to promote and showcase our festival and designers. We want people to send in their photos from their experiences, so the website will grow with participations from the public. It will create a fluid cycle between then physical festival and the online presence. 

Planting

Manchester is a large city but does not have many spaces that are green or having plants/flowers. Through our festival we want to change this with people participating and working together. We have made these plant pots out of old bottles, recycling every day objects into something beautiful. These can then be filled with plants and hung around Manchester. They brighten up any place that they are hung. Whilst we were hanging these we had very positive feedback of the public, even had people wanting to join in. This has shown us that simple projects like this will work well, as participation is key around the city we rely on people wanting to join in.

Manifest Poster

The manifesto for the design festival is finalised, with added logo and hashtags. The ideas that we based our festival on are based around connecting people. We want everyone to feel welcome and want to attend, get involved and enjoy themselves. The events that will be held will help people rediscover the city and experience things in new ways.

Boats

The easy guide to building a boat has been tried and tested with great success. These are images of the final idea, taking the day time activity into the night time. The boats can be made in pop up design spaces around the festival, these can then be sailed down the river to create floating installations. The paper is biodegradable, so will not harm the canal or anything living in it.  

Canal Bombs

Along the canal we are going to have workshops set up by designers to create canal bombs to be thrown into the water. We want to help clean up the canal as it is very forgotten and dirty. These bombs look good, fizz up to create interesting patterns in the water and also are filled with goodness for the water. They will create an interesting piece to observe, and also will have a lasting positive in the water. These images are the prototypes we have made, the colours are appealing and have a positive look to them, enticing people to participate in making their own.