Entry 1 Jan 30, 2017 Costume Design Lab Process
Lines - Silhouettes
So in class today, we had a change of plans with the syllabus. We were suppose to start the technical with understanding a play in theater. However, we started with the hands on where we start sewing a piece for the fashion show. Designers had to choose a time period piece while theater majors had to make a dress from a certain play.
I chose this 1930s piece because it called to me. It was very Greek inspired and it looked so glamorous I had to take it. The figure is very form fitting and poised for a woman to walk in. Just like how we use lines to define a figure, like the "S-body," this silhouette is close to modern day wear.
Entry 2 Feb 8, 2017 Costume Design Lab Process
Color- Fabric Texture
The fabric choice and color that I have chosen is a blackish grey see-through striped polyester. The original choice was a chiffon or georgette with bright colors, but due to personal circumstances, this is what became the outcome after some hard thought out brainstorming. The goal was to prove my professor that I too can experiment with colors other than black. It was to show him that I tried different things in my career. Unfortunately, the fabric was to his liking. He and I came to an understanding.
So this blackish grey integrating with the silhouette of the dress will exemplify grace and elegance. It is sexy, it is classy but the most important of all is that it is dark like my personal color palette. Not intentional but it was a funny coincidence.
Entry 3 Feb 20, 2017 Costume Design Lab Process
Shapes - Pattern
In order to make the dress you need shapes that makes the look. Here we have rhombus, rectangles, curves and straight lines. You can see bits of triangles in the negative spaces but it helps gives the effect of draping. The curves allow the garment to sit well on the body. The rest of the shapes just covers the body ... in style. Straight lines keeps things in place and big pieces allow fun drapery to occur. However, with fabric, there is a certain way that I need to cut each pieces. The skirt and front top pieces needed to be cut in the bias grain because it will hug the body well. The back top piece is supposed to be cut on the straight grain. No specifications, it just needed to be cut.
Entry 4 Feb 22, 2017 Costume Design Lab Process
Design Process Ribbon or Nah?
The original design had ruffles cascading down on the skirt. My professor and I had to see whether or not I can do the ruffles. He believed that without the ruffles, I am set. I wanted to do the ruffles because I wanted to be daring and adventurous. However, time does not allow it. So I had to decide whether or not if I wanted ruffles on my dress. It is in the middle stage of my design process. It is either accepted completed or accepted with completion of extra details. Either or, it is something I made through many stages and I am proud of it.
Entry 5 Mar 16, 2017 Critique
Critique
In class, I learned about critique. It is basically a comment of what the audience think about a work. Good or bad, it is meant to be constructive. Having made many garments in the 3 years of my college life, I take these critiques very seriously. In terms of giving me feedback and giving me ideas on how to approach something, I appreciate the sentiment and keep them in mind. It helps me a lot and will help me in the future as a designer.
Thinking back, just recently I made a business card for my fictional brand Black Sparrow. An assignment on using software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, this card shows the reflection of my ideas if I were to start the brand. If anything, it is more of test-run. I remembered having my version (the prototype) vs the professor's suggestion (final) that had me conflicted. My professor told me that he likes the idea of an image showing my design as a work in progress, a sneak peak. Therefore, in the back of my card is the garment itself as a whole.
When he explained his idea to me, I loved it. I was now able to consider luring my audience and serving them as a surprise. His criticism helped me as a designer and as a person. I will be using this technique for the rest of my life and am willing to take any feedback that can push me.
Entry 6 Mar 30, 2017 Design & Typography
Design & Typography
In class today, we learned about different design methods and typography. The goal is to capture the audience attention while still maintaining the legibility and understanding.
I remember I had to help my Dad out with applications on his new job. It is basically a self study on label-making and typography. He got the job and he is now printing labels onto cartons such as this. I finally get to see what my father does at his new job and here I am critiquing the product's company's design.
It has 3 out of the 4 basic principals of design. There are contrast between the image and font in terms of colors and typeface. The alignment is done in a way to support the focus, the product. The proximity is neither too close nor far thus bringing the work altogether. The image is a nice attention grabber.
Details I should keep in my in case I like to start my own products.
Entry 7 April 6, 2017 Ways of Seeing
Ways of Seeing
I learned today about Inattentional Blindness. It is when our brain fail to process a stimulus that is in clear view. I feel as if Inattentional Blindness affects me everyday. It's like I am not conscious of things that are around me. Nothing bad about it, it's just it would make things interesting if I was able to catch on to things quickly then others.
This image is for our Bad Design assignment. We had to find something that did not work the way it is suppose to. I chose the underground hallway between Dominican University's Lewis Building and Fine Arts Building. I knew that there were piping going on down there and some sort of sewage which causes the floor to flood sometimes. When I went to investigate for this assignment, I never knew that there is a drainage on the floor. As a drainage it should have drain the water completely but it did not. As someone who has taken this path on multiple occasions, I should have seen the drainage but didn't until that work came up.
That is how Inattentional Blindness affects me, I've been walking down there for most of my college life and I know it is close to a water system but never expected a drainage system. It happened to me again later in the month where it was completely flooded and I had to walk through to get back. Forgetting that a "fan system" was in the flood, plugged into an outlet and blowing the water away, I could have been electrocuted. Once again, because of Inattentional Blindness I forgot that the fan is plugged in everyday, I did not realized that machine and water should not be together and neither should I if it were to happen.
Entry 8 April 13, 2017 Media Literacy
Media Literacy
In class today, I learned about media literacy. It is the ability to understand any media and its purpose. I am slowly getting into makeup recently and products that gives me a more natural look. This foundation was a purchase I made after I had watched a YouTube review by Laura Lee. I needed a foundation that matches my shade and I didn't realized that I was buying a product that was indirectly advertised to me.
YouTube beauty gurus are a great way for makeup brands to get their name out there. This allows their products to be purchased exponentially in a short amount of time. These indirect advertisements uses ethos and logos persuasive techniques. Consumers trust their gurus and the gurus give their viewers facts on whether it worked for them or not. This increases more techniques to be used like promotions, endorsements, bandwagons and etc.
It's amazing to see how companies get their products to sell because of a Youtuber.
