Design Principles
Week 1 - Week 4
01
Introduction to Photoshop & Illustrator
Introduction to the different tools of photoshop and learning to image edit professionally. Introduction to vector drawing using the pen tool in Illustrator.
03
Assignment task
Create an A3 board using Indesign with technical flats, Inspiration images using an image from vogue runway.
Create an A4 booklet using Indesign related to Eco-fund project.
02
Introduction to Indesign
Refresher course on photoshop and illustrator. Adding prints on white garment and creating a 3D image in Photoshop. Drawing technical flats in illustrator. Introduction to Indesign to create poster and booklet with column scaling.
04
Introduction to Adobe XD
Learning the tools of website editing in adobe XD, using photoshop and illustrator and importing to adobe XD. Recap on adding prints on garment.
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Week 1 Exercise
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For the first image, I learnt how to edit, retouch, create image compositions and adding effects to image for prints and website. The second image, I draw the technical flats of a t-shirt with stitching lines using illustrator, drawing a zipper, pleats and gathers.
Week 2 Exercise
Using photoshop to add prints to a t-shirt and using tools such as warping tool to make the garment more 3D. We also learnt to use the dodge and sponge tool to highlight the image. Then, we drew the technical flats of a pant using illustrator, using the reflect tool to reflect to the other side, drawing pockets, waistband and belt loops with stitching line.
Week 3 Exercise
The assignment was to create an A3 board using an image from vogue runway with technical flats and inspiration images. I used illustrator to draw the technical flats and then imported it to Indesign. I used the three column layout for my image so that it looks balanced. I also ensure that the image is not too messy so I tried to resize the image properly. Then we were tasked to create an A4 booklet related to our Eco-fund project using Indesign, Photoshop and illustrator together.
Week 4 Exercise
First image, we were tasked to change the print of a white shirt and morph it into the garment using the tools we learnt in week 2. Then with the introduction of Adobe XD, we needed to create a 3-4 page web design related to our Eco-fund project. Adobe XD was a bit difficult for me as even though the tools were familiar, I had to import most of the works from photoshop and illustrator. For example creating of buttons, I had to vector draw it in illustrator and then upload into Adobe XD. I do like the functions of adobe XD, it makes the website look more professional and its easier to manoeuvre around the application.
Week 5 Thinking disposition (SEE, THINK, WONDER)
Contradiction of consumerism
What do you SEE?
- Bright colours on the boxes
- Cool colours on the background contrasting to the centre of the image
- Heaving boxes on the tricycle
- Construction is going on at the back, there is a crane.
- There are different composition of colours
- There are 3 construction workers and men painting.
- Different packages of different colours and sizes.
- The guy painting on the rails is not wearing any protective clothing, just a shirt and jeans.
- Two construction workers wearing yellow helmet but one is wearing a red helmet.
- The man in the middle is wearing comfortable new clothing.
- The pillars behind are painted by the walls are not.
- There is two zebra crossing but the man is cycling on a non zebra crossing pathway
What do you THINK?
- I am curious on why the man is on pathway that is not a zebra crossing.
- I think that the man painting is experience as he does not need any protective gear.
- I think that the construction workers had to wait for the man delivering to pass by before continuing their work.
- I think the man delivering the parcels was photoshopped into the picture due to the contrasting colours of the image.
- I think the packages are heavy because if its too light it would drop off.
What do you WONDER?
- I wonder if the man delivering is his job or is helping someone?
- I wonder if he realises he is on the wrong pathway?
- I wonder if the construction workers are annoyed at him because the delivery is obstructing their work?
- I wonder if the packages are heavy and is anyone pushing from the back?
DESIGN AN OUTFIT FROM YOUR OBSERVATION
Structure and silhouette was inspired by the pillars on the background of the image.
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I designed an utility jumpsuit and I got the idea from the workwear of the construction workers so I added a lot of patch pockets on the pants.
The hoods puts an emphasis on the helmets as protective gear, it is good for a rainy or hot weather and yet fashionably on trend.
Exercise 2: Bronzino, Portrait of Young Man, c. 1550-55, London, National gallery
SEE?
- He is blushing with pale lips and
has thin eyebrows.
- He is wearing a big black coat/cape.
- His eyes is fixed on something and
he is not directly looking at the camera,
perhaps he is weary of something.
- There is an empty notebook with
a blank page.
- There is a pink curtain at the bank
with a statue of a god with grapes in
the hair.
- He looks curious
- The curtain pulls back to slowly reveal
the background.
THINK?
- I think that this is a young man and it is a coming of age portrait.
- He is probably a writer judging from the empty notebook.
- I think with the symbolism of the statue behind him, it shows an erogenous side of him.
- I think that he is clean tidy and rich.
- I think that the pink curtain shows that he is feeling tender and shy.
- Black represents power, sophistication so I think he is rich and comes from a sophisticated family.
DESIGN AN OUTFIT FROM YOUR OBSERVATION
WONDER?
- I wonder if he was forced into taking this portrait.
- I wonder if he was caught snooping around behind the curtain as it is half open.
- I wonder if he is a writer or poet cause he is holding a book.
- I wonder what is he looking at as he is not looking straight into the portrait.
- I wonder why is there an additional hand at the leg of the statue.
REFLECTION
What new ideas did you get today?
How did it affect your thinking?
I initially did not know how to apply see, think and wonder into design thinking, but after several practice watching videos and observing pictures, I realised that I was able to develop with new ideas and see things in a different point of views. When designing a garment from the exercise, I had new prompts and I was able to think from a different angle on the details of the garment. The See-Think-Wonder thinking routine stresses the importance of inquiry-based thinking through close observations, I was able to stimulate my curiosity and inquiry through careful observations.
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Furthermore, when we were tasked to share our observations, it helped us to learn about each others observations and views. We were able to build an understanding in a collaborative way by having all students put forth their ideas, then question one another, and develop those ideas further. There were sometimes where I had trouble not expanding my "see" because I was thinking too much whereas my classmates had so much to observe and see. When I reached to "wonder", I realised it was difficult for me because I was already thinking about "wonder" when I was only supposed to observe on "see".
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However, this exercise was really helpful for me because as a person I tend to think too much and the simplistic of this exercise to just observe a picture led me to understand that a small observation can be developed into interesting design ideas. I was able to develop my "see, think and wonder" to comprehensive ideas and interpret them as garments. This routine encouraged us to make careful observations and thoughtful interpretations
Week 6 Thinking disposition (CONNECT, EXTEND, CHALLENGES)
CONNECT - How are the ideas and information presented connect to what you already know?
EXTEND - What new ideas did you get that extended or pushed your thinking in a new direction?
CHALLENGE - What is still challenging or confusing for you to get your mind around? What questions, wonderings or puzzle do you have?
CONNECT - How are the ideas and information presented connect to what you already know?
I found this video really interesting and was suitable for me because its something similar to what I am working on for my design studio project. I loved the idea of using discarded old denim and turning them into desirable versions. It was innovative to see how old jeans and different kind of denim were combined to creatively create unusual silhouettes and other remade creates. To actually see the massive quantity of denim kept there that were massively damaged and no longer wearable and discarded as trash was an eye-opener, even though having read about it on articles, to see a factory filled with so much of disused jeans was so unexpected.
EXTEND - What new ideas did you get that extended or pushed your thinking in a new direction?
I enjoyed the idea of old jeans as new material and how even rags of old jeans are potential source of small parts. The designer was able to see hidden potential of old jeans and create them into a remade fashion line. There was a part of the video where they used multiple pairs of jeans even those with paint scattered to make a packet. The paint scattered on the fabric was boldly incorporated into a new design. The natural stains and thread added character to the garment and was reborn as fine vintage fashion. This made me extend my ideas of my project and how even stained or rags of old used jeans can be put together as a stylish accent and even holes can be taken advantage of and recovered to put good use to. It will be layered with so many elements and will be impossible to imitate which makes it one of a kind and unique.
CHALLENGE - What is still challenging or confusing for you to get your mind around? What questions, wonderings or puzzle do you have?
I was also wondering with the global consumer demands, how do they keep up with producing so much of up-cycled denim products. Knowing the process of sewing denim by myself, it is time consuming and sometimes really difficult. The process of matching the colours of different denim together and see if this fabric is workable is also a process. Also, not everyone will be into buying or wearing used denims even if it looks brand new so how do they reach out to this specific group of consumers and competitive market. Overall, this video was so inspiring and gave me new ideas to further develop my design studio project.
CONNECT - How are the ideas and information presented connect to what you already know?
The idea of using old plastic umbrella and reborn into something entirely new was really fascinating to me. The more appalling to me is to find out the statistics of 120 million umbrella being bough and 80 million are cheap plastic ones which might be potential discarded. The fact that they are hard to break down and difficult to recycle but still made into handbags that are liked and bought by many people is really interesting.
One thing that caught my eye was that because plastic is such a flimsy material and most of the time can look really cheap but when the designer used heat and pressure applied to the plastic and a new material was entirely born was so captivating. The wrinkles it gets on the material after applying heat adds a level of interest to the handbag and trash is indeed transformed into a fairly entirely new stylish handbag. It was inspiring how the young lady took this mass disposal as a serious social issue and created something new and unique, not only aesthetically pleasing but also a resourceful item that is used by many people.
EXTEND - What new ideas did you get that extended or pushed your thinking in a new direction?
I found the idea of including the rust stains on to the handbag really authentic, because the stains were traces of materials as former life as umbrella. The material after sewing up as a handbag takes on a really unique and surprising texture which is possible only through recycle. The material for me gives a waxy like texture almost resembling wetness, raindrop and its water resistant. This shows that authenticity of an umbrella turned into a handbag as it still maintains its original form.
I also think that to get more audience and target market for the bag, they can approach various other designs and different types of bags silhouette. Through personalising them, it can increase customer interactions and gives the item a value.
CHALLENGE - What is still challenging or confusing for you to get your mind around? What questions, wonderings or puzzle do you have?
I like the idea where the designer mentioned that the brand will not exist in 10 years where the problem does not exist. Her ultimate goal is that people will stop discarding the umbrella and the supply will run out for her to make the bags.
I also think that her approach to creating bags out of recycle plastic was really interesting and that she did not want to use the idea of using leather for bags. I think a challenge would be if she really attained a goal of running out of supply of making this recycled plastic bag, how she going to help in the issue of not using leather for the bags, since that was the first issue that sparked an interest for her. I also wonder what kind of other materials can be recycled into making bags so that we don’t use animal leather anymore. I hope there are more campaigns that allow us to educate on the different recycled materials to make bags instead of using animal leather.
Week 7 Thinking disposition (3-step inside)
Think about a person or an object or an object that is part or connected to the event or situation you are examining. Place yourself within the event or situation to see things from this point of view.
Questions:
What can this person or thing see, observe or notice?
What might the person or thing know , understand, hold true or believe?
What might the person or thing care deeply about?
What might the person or thing wonder about or question?
As a female guest...
SEE
- Quiet and warmth place and feeling.
- The house is surrounded by old things that are reworked for other new purposes.
- The house looks old but yet cozy.
- I see old fabrics and clothes handing which does look like flowers and give the feeling of joy when walked into the house.
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THINK
- She loves to patchwork and use old things. She does not want to waste items that still has a meaning to life. She might not be rich thus she wants to use this old usable things instead of buying new things.
- I also think she does not want the things to serve the same use as before but offer different uses.
- She also cares about the environment deeply and repurposing.
- She also shows her personality through creating new thing.
WONDER
- I wonder if she does it with a purpose of zero life or she does it mainly as a hobby.
- I wonder why she cares about the environment so much.
Different things you observe in different roles:
As a buyer, what do I observe?
What kind of audience they are designing for, the wearability, the unity between the colours, the fabric and the concept, the relevance to the concept, the visual communication between the designer and the buyer.
As a buyer, the colour board and the overall design of the garments did not have a clear connection and there was no visual communication between the designer and the buyer on the concept.
As a buyer from Singapore, I would look at the fabrics of the garment and see if its suitable for the singaporean weather and singaporean style. I also felt like the fabrics used were rather confusing for the season that they were designing for.
Regarding the technical skills, I think it could be improved with more attention to details and specifications.
As a contest judge, what do I observe?
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As a contest judge, I really loved the use of colours in the collection, it was very eye-catching and interesting, I was eager to lear more. The chosen season was spring/summer but with further discussion we felt that the garment were rather bulky and too much was going on in terms of the different pieces together. I felt like the designer was also confused and not really clear on their user and if this could be something that interests the middle age group.
We judge based on the cohesiveness of the collection, the technical abilities,
the styling abilities, the fabric choice, the wearability of the garments, how far the creative concept can go and if this person has the ability to expand their ideas and their creativity.
As an admission to fashion school, what do I observe?
As an admission officer, we observe different things such as the technical skills of the student, the design concept, the students’s ability to communicate their ideas and concept through their words.
The student was able to visually articulate the collection effectively and her technical flats and illustration was clear and executed well. It was well organised and the collection was cohesive. It was interesting how she blended her concept with a question and the mix of dark and light themes really ignited curiosity among the viewers.
Week 8 Experience in the Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2023 Trunk show
The Louis Vuitton spring summer 2023 trunk show was held in Singapore's cultural landmark at the Pasir Panjang power station. I was so grateful to be part of the show and the production team in the backstage as dressers for the model. This was my first experience being part of a fashion show that is on a large scale and being open to the production, how the show is run and how the backstage is like. The show was designed to replicate the original show held at the Cour Carrée—one of the main courtyards at the Louvre Palace in Paris. The designs were all so interesting and I realised how exaggerating the designs were with supersized zippers, necklines and buckles re-imagined contemporary garments for the modern woman, all with a utilitarian twist. On the first day, the dressing of the models were really stressful because it was my first time and I was afraid to touch the bags and the accessories as they were really expensive and we were told to be really cautious with the way we handled it. After a few runs and interaction with my kind friendly models, it was easier to dress the models and I was more comfortable in dressing them and holding the garments and accessories. It was interesting to see how each and every person is important in the show from the creative team to the merchandising team, the stylist and the backstage operation crew. At the end of day 2, the creative director of the show Daniel Boey was kind enough to let us enjoy the after party of the fashion show and see the runway experience. The runway space was turned into a dance floor, with the show attendees mingling about with the models who walked earlier. There were many influencers and celebrities present as well wearing their very own LV ensembles and it was exciting to be part of such a luxurious and enriching fashion experience.
Week 9- 15 : Creating my world that correlates with a designer
The idea of this task is to combine two worlds into one for a new perimeter. I had to study a designer and hazard a guess on the same categories. For myself, I chose the designer Thiery Mugler.
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Thierry Mugler: a futuristic fashion force who pioneered power dressing with a twist.
I wanted to create a world of futuristic elements that correlates with my designer.
Mugler transformed women into otherworldly, space-age creatures and his eponymous brand became known as an avant-garde, futuristic fashion force in the 80s an 90s. From his first collection, Café de Paris, he used futuristic spacey silhouettes and exaggerated forms to promote a thoroughly modern sensuality.
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One of my favourite shows of Theirry Mugler was the 1984 event. Like all Mugler shows, it was less straightforward catwalk and more artistic performance, combining theatre, music and clothes. Models wore Olympic-inspired outfits and were transformed into angels, and for the finale model Pat Cleveland descended from the ceiling in a shower of petals.
Images of my favourite iconic moments of Mugler's take on futuristic fashion
Coming out with categories...
I choose to work with categories such as architecture, artists, movies, historical period, natural world, a day at the future world, the type of movies and the living space and lifestyle.
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After choosing my categories, I used AI apps such as dall e and midjourney to generate images that resonates with my categories with keywords. I managed to find really interesting images using the keywords and images that matches my theme that I am creating.
IMAGES GENERATED USING AI
CREATING A ZINE BOOKLET FROM THE IMAGES GENERATED THROUGH AI
My world resonated with my designer Thierry Mugler. It is a futuristic sci fi world set in 2100, 70 years from now. I have always been drawn to future world and characteristics of futuristic because I have always enjoyed seeing artists versions of the future and none of it is correct or wrong because no one actually knows what the future has to offer. Thus this is my version of the future world. This futuristic world will be powered by big data, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence – so they may live, breathe, and even think with us. But other aspects of the futuristic city include sustainable, inclusive, and mixed-use. There is co-living with robots, nature and artificial intelligences. It is a utopian city with flying vehicles, mega bridges, super-connected street experiences, and underground spaces.