On the last push now.
Got four questionnaires back. Some very interesting responses which I have collated. The three almost all had in common were nature provided inspiration, most used Pantone colour system and all used social media.
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Got my draft report back today from Janet. Needs some more work but not as much as I'd anticipated.
I have drafted my final report but am still waiting for some responses and need to write up some outstanding information. The report will be linked to my final major project (FMP)which still requires my outcomes to be realised.
I devised a questionnaire designed to elicit information including collating of research, attributes of surface pattern designers, inspiration, social media to name .
I have sent out six and am awaiting some replies. Industry standard pattern design software ranged from £130 to £1000.
I managed to find a free pattern generating programme but it is limited. Pantone software is extensive with some programmes needing at least one update per year. Costs range from $100s to $1000s Self-directed learning. Mainly Photoshop I have undertaken a number of web-based tutorials and my pattern making abilities have improved with the exception of Adobe Illustrator which I am still struggling with. Requirement for submitting files to fabric printing companies. This varies considerably with each company having their own guidelines. I contacted a number of designers and fabric printing companies to request a visit.
Unfortunately, most did not respond. I searched for the following:
1. Surface pattern designers - roles, job description and job specification 2. Surface pattern designers - jobs advertised Results entered on a spreadsheet. Then recorded my skills including transferable. Not quite finished the analysis. Hoping it will help to identify my deficiencies. Primary Research. Visited the following to research patterns.
Manchester Art Gallery Design and Craft exhibition Oldham Art Gallery - Exhibition of Karl Blossfeldt's work. Amazing Manchester Museum of Science and Industry - MOSI as it's commonly known as. Fashion and Textile Museum Liberty's. London Whitworth Art Gallery Revolutionary Textiles exhibition Barbara Brown exhibition Lucienne Day exhibition. Secondary Research The Manchester College and Manchester Metropolitan University's library's. World Global Style Network (WGSN), Draper's magazine, Collezioni magazine, Pantone Company plus relevant websites. Dale Chihuly. Glass-maker. Artist
Why him? Dale Chihuly is probably the most famous glass artist since Lalique. I saw his exhibition, Chihuly at the V&A, in 2001 and was mesmerised, stunned, captivated, awed, speechless and came out in goose bumps. Surrounded by glass of every colour in wonderful organic shapes. It was one of the best experiences of my life: never to be forgotten. I particularly love his Seaforms and Persians series. Rafael Araujo. Architect and illustrator Why him? He appeals to me because he combines two things that I am very interested in – natural forms and mathematics within art He produces hand drawn illustrations inspired by nature, the patterns within nature such as the Fibonacci series and Phi the Golden Ratio. He draws using very basic tools – compass, ruler, protractor and a pencil. He leaves the construction lines on his drawings so the mathematical framework can be seen. I participated in Kickstarter to raise funds for the publication of his book “Golden Ratio Colouring Book” and, as a result of my contribution, am the proud owner of three copies. Ernst Haeckel. Born in 1834. Doctor, naturalist, a professor of comparative anatomy and author. Why him? Why not? Eclipsing all his other activities he was a biologist-artist who studied life forms, discovered new species and produced a huge number of illustrations. Art Forms in Nature (100 plates of illustrations) was published in 1904, was an immediate success and has remained popular ever since. His drawings, while not always scientifically correct, are very beautiful and have been as inspiration to artists of every discipline ever since. Karl Blossfeldt 1865-1932. Teacher and artist Why him? Again. Why not? He is best known as a photographer who studied plant structure which he used as a teaching aid for his students. He made his own camera with a magnification of 30x so could photograph tiny details, all in black and white. He published Urformen der Kunst (Archetypes of Art) in 1928.It became an overnight sensation and made Blossfeldt famous Andrea Pradmuk’s abstract paintings Why her? I just fell in love with her mixed media paintings. Her use of watercolours, alcohol inks, wax, oil paints and water is truly wonderful. The results are abstracts, often in one main colour, that just captivate and draw your eyes into the painting. What can you see? Does someone else see the same thing you do? Does it matter? I could just look at her work and get lost in it. Damien Hurst’s kaleidoscope and repetitive pattern paintings. Why him? I discovered some of his patterns when looking for something else. Revelation. I had no idea that he was such a talented and prolific pattern designer. He has always been a controversial figure and , although some of his butterfly installations look very beautiful , I find it upsetting that he uses the life and death of so many creatures to produce a piece of art. Designers who have influenced me. Lots more in my reflective diary - far too much to put on my blog.23/4/2017 Mimi Chao. Freelance Illustrator (Was originally a corporate attorney)
Why her? She likes to tell stories with her designs and often produces a set of patterns. Storytelling and patterns reach back into humankind’s earliest history and are still an important of life today. Her style is simple with minimal use of colour, delicate and uncluttered. Jessica Hogarth. Freelance illustrator and surface pattern designer. Why her? She has a studio in Whitby, North Yorkshire overlooking the sea and, not surprisingly, is inspired by the coastal environment. Buildings, architecture and places she visits provide more inspiration. She produces a range of products using geometric, seasonal and conversational patterns. I particularly like her use of colour, the range and variety of her designs and the fact that she supports British manufacturing by having her products manufactured in the UK. Rachael Taylor. Surface pattern designer, illustrator, author, teacher, co-founder of the digital magazine “Make it in design” Why her? I was originally drawn to her fun and contemporary designs and her use of colour. Some of her designs are quirky, simple yet effective while others are more complex. During an interview with dowhatyoudoforlife .com she said “I’d say my signature style is free, quirky and spontaneous. It normally involves elements of freehand drawing, bright accent colours, textures and layering.” My work is often described as quirky, my drawings are becoming looser and less stilted. I am an inveterate doodler. Louise Tiler. Greeting card publisher and pattern designer Why her? Louise creates contemporary designs from drawings and paintings. Her cards are categorized by subject or area. My favourites are her butterfly florals, boutique range and modern bloom. Her paintings are beautiful, full of detail with lovely colours. I just like to look at them. Eloise Renouf. Greeting card and giftware designer, teacher, author with a textile background Why her? I came across Eloise on Facebook and was captivated by her designs, especially her trees, flowers and geometrics. She loves anything that is patterned and decorative and gets inspiration from walking and beachcombing. Stina Jones. Freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Why her? Her work is fun and quirky. I like her imagery and the colour combinations she uses. In her blog she describes how her projects always begin with a planning and sketching session using an IPad which she then exports to Adobe Illustrator. It’s amazing to me how she gets so much expression into her characters with a few lines. |
Patterns, patterns everywhere.
I would love to be a surface pattern designer BUT seeing patterns everywhere is not enough. Hence, the research project. Archives
May 2017
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