Thinking Colour..

After the tutorial we have been told to start thinking about what colours we would like to include within our projects. As I am creating a trend book I am finding it hard working out in which order I work like this. Knowing what colours I am going to include in the trend book will help me when choosing my final images.

I would definitely like to include is Radiant Orchid, which Pantone have named as their colour of the year. So I feel it will be a very upcoming colour within fashion. It will also lend itself well to my concept of 'opposites' i'm thinking Industrial VS Feminine

Tutorial #3 13/01/14

I went into this tutorial quite nervous as over the holidays I had been second guessing my decision to create a trend book and was quite over whelmed with the idea of 'trend forecasting'. Heres what was noted.

- Find Promostyl journal - Summer 15
- Blog about research over christmas

- What can the trend book be about?
- Opposites - Industrials VS Botanical?/ Soft?/ Butterflies?/ Traditional?/ Natural?/ Organic
- Explain why people would be interested in the trend of opposites

-Use mainly my own imagery
- Few pages of 'general inspiration' is allowed
- prototype design
- Add suggestions of how the trend could be applied to design
- Fabric swatches

Next Week
- Bring a pile of responces
- Respond
- Use a range of media
- Colour concepts
- MIX IT UP
- Digital collage
- Revisit brief and bring updated copy

Primary Research

I live in a small seaside town called Hartlepool. So over christmas my primary research was quite limited but I walked through the town looking for anything that caught my eye and ended up towards the marina. This had a few interesting bits an pieces which I captured too. Here are some of the photographs that I took.

Project Brief

Design and produce a Trend book, focusing on trend forecasting, resulting in a print collection responding to the predicted trend. Benefitting from current Trend books, journals, books, blogs and other web resources to gather secondary research into layouts, construction and context. Using my own photography to gather primary research into the chosen concept to create an original trend. In response to these images I will also generate drawings, which will aid me in the design process. I plan to explore our current industrial environment, searching for a contrasting theme to juxtapose this, creating a trend by combining two concepts, which differ from one another. Throughout this project I plan to advance my Adobe Photoshop skills by attending workshops and through self-development and experimentation. Also I would like to expand my digital skills in Adobe Illustrator through set workshop sessions, it is important to me to have advanced knowledge in a wide spectrum of digital programmes.

This intended project relates to my previous projects as my digital strengths were recognised so I believe it is important to play to this. However my design skills will still be tested, as I will be demonstrating how my chosen trend can be translated into a print collection. The finished trend book will be intended for high street sports wear brands such as Nike, Sweaty Betty and web based companies such as Gymluxe.com and Lululemon.com.

Tutorial 2 16/12/13

Todays tutorial was slightly stressful as I had not done either of the tasks that Alex had asked us to complete as I had been busy concentrating on my essay. However we did go over quite a few things which have put me in good stead for the holidays. These are some of the points that I noted.

- If I make a collection it needs to be broader
- Take a look at trend books and fashion journals
- Trend does not have to be social issue, could be two things that have never been put together before
- Carry out primary research, make mood boards from them and respond through drawing
- Aimed towards Womenswear
- Try and let the trend just 'happen' don't try to over think it or force it
- Take photographs of everything and anything that interests me
- Highstreet brands take trends from Trend Books more literally as apposed to Highend
- Do not need to design a whole collection, just 'responses' to the Trend Book
- Come up with a name for the trend
- Come up with a name for the Trend Book

These are just a few points that I need to consider over the holidays. I plan to keep up my momentum and not try let the holidays slow my pace of work down too much as I want to come back to the next tutorial with quantity. My aim over the holidays is to have this full list completed and have a trend to start researching into. The key to this is going to be my primary visual research, I just need to keep collecting and refining it all.

Brain Storming

After the lecture this week I wanted to start thinking about social issues in todays society and how they can progress within future society. I have made a mind map of some of the initial ideas I had. In reflection I am not a fan of any of them so will be going back to square one.

The Trend Forecaster's Handbook

After getting to the half way point of the book Alex suggested to me, I feel really inspired to start my work, especially the research stage which I would not usually enjoy. It has given me a lot of insight into the day to day life of a forecaster and how they come to reach their ideas. I did not realise how much work would go into it but here are a few things I have jotted down in my 'to do' list.

- Create an 'evidence wall' - store initial ideas/ colours/ themes/ fabrics.
- create a 'mood' or 'mindset'
- start the investigation
- Put together a panel to ask their opinion on your trend (Artists/ sociologist/ psychologist/ buyer)
- Gather questions to ask
- Create trend cartogram
- The wall must read 'Who/ what/ why/ when/ where/ how)

This is all known collectively as 'Cultural Brailling', which is basically sussing out your market, who you are targeting and why.

However at the moment I do not have a specific idea to go forward with just yet.