Critique Reflections

In class review:
As I went around to each one of the packages, I wanted to be deliberate and thoughtful in my comments.  I wanted to really provide good, constructive and insightful commentary. I looked at the items for their conceptual view, what the item was that they were selling; whether the package was attractive; I thought about whether it was purchasable? whether it was reusable? I thought about what would make me want to go towards this item on a table of items.


My critique worksheet:
In reviewing the comments that were made on my particular page, I found most to be non-constructive.  When a person states "I wouldn't buy this", it should state why they wouldn't buy it, what was the deficits and what were the merits, so that there can room for improvement.  There was one comment that was highly motivational and it stated "great concept, poor construction".  I found that this one comment alone, was helpful, it stated to me that this person actually got the idea, but understood that there was an issue with execution. 


Overall:
I didn't enjoy the process that much, because I felt as though there needed to be more instructions given to the classmates to really inspect the items for the following:
 - composition
 - concept
 - technique
 - color
 - tone
 - texture
 - lines
 - mediums utilized
 - etc; 

Project #3 - Product Packaging

FOUNDATION:
When I looked at product packages, I thought of what I would want to see if I were walking by a table, I immediately thought of these little boxes that had these unique items in them; which in my case would be a unique necklace, made just for you.  I have never built a model before in my life, so this was daunting task for me.

INSPIRATION:
My inspiration for this project came from the Pandora bracelets.  I was inspired by the fact that they are unique to the client, and their unique positioning entices the customer to want to buy.


PARAMETERS:
Packaging for the product.


TARGET AUDIENCE:
Women whom like unique items, and are impulse shoppers


COLORS:
Brown
Green


MATERIALS:
Chipboard
Paint
Cardstock
Necklace beads
Small easel
Wire
Battery operated tea light votive
Tape
Sobo glue
Exacto knife


PROCESS:
1. Brainstorm packaging: keywords: lights, bling, eye-catching
2. Cut the chipboard into smaller pieces
3. Constructed the four sides of the box
4. Inserted the easel as a hooking device for the necklace to hang on
5. Built a floor for the tea light votives, so that they were hidden
6. Put the tea light votives lighting so that the mechanism was hidden, but not the faux flame


DISCOVERY:
I learned a lot through this process:
1. Understanding the materials that you're using, their limitations, how they work under a variety of conditions, and knowing when it's appropriate to change materials.
2. Time management was an issue during this process, so knowing how to manage the project.
3. Making multiple study models is highly encouraged.
4. Calming the fear of failures, through failures you'll be able to gain information.

Project #2 - Branding

FOUNDATION:
The next project was branding.  Again, we were keeping with the same product that we are to work with for the entire semester.  My original thought of branding, was that I was building an entire product line, so my company was Mahogany Jewelers.  Mahogany is the name of my favorite movie that starred Diana Ross, and it works well with interior design as mahogany is wood that was utilized heavily in the earlier centuries of decorative arts. The one product that I settled on was a necklace.  I have never made a necklace, so I thought that I'd work with some wire.




INSPIRATION:

(Alexander Calder - Modelling KiKi of Montparnasse, 1929)

(trees in backyard)

Necklaces have a wire base or string base, so when I thought of artisans that utilized string or wire, I immediately thought of Alexander Calder.  He was phenomenal in utilization of the wire medium. I also was inspired by the trees in my front yard.


PARAMETERS:
11" x 17" Bristol board
Advertisement


TARGET AUDIENCE:
Women, who like unique pieces


COLOR:
Brown
Copper
White


MATERIALS:
Bristol board
Brown Markers
Brown card stock
Copper wire
Glue


PROCESS:
I used a layering process.
1. I brainstormed: key words: mahogany, necklace, tree, limbs
1. I worked on the copper wire necklace
2. I cut the brown card stock
3. I sketched a tree in brown marker
4. In marker, I wrote "Go Out on a Limb for beauty, love and happiness"
5. In marker, I wrote Mahogany Jewelers, right justified
6. I put the copper wire on the brown card stock
7. I glued the copper wire and brown stock to the bristol board


DISCOVERY:
I learned during this process:
1. Having an actual item, rather than making a faux necklace, would've provided optimal assistance to the piece.
2. The usage of Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, might've provided a more polished look of the product.
3. Glossy paper, with a sheen might've provided a better finish for the advertisement.

Project #1 - Postcard

FOUNDATION:
My Foundations 101 class, our first project was a postcard.  Professor Anderson, went around the room with a bowl full of items that we'd all need to pick and this would be our product throughout the class semester.  I picked jewelry.  I got this item, and I wasn't swayed one way or another about the item itself.  I'm not a girlie-girl, and jewelry is not really my thing, in fact I only own one pair of earrings that were given to me as a gift from my former boss, when I left her to move onto a new department, so they were special to me because they were a gift, not because I'm big on jewelry.


INSPIRATION:

My inspiration for the project came from my favorite artist Henri Matisse's Cut-Outs.  I utilized the "Knife-Thrower (jazz)" as my inspiration.


PRODUCT:
Jewelry - Necklace


PARAMETERS:
4" x 6" postcard that highlights the product


TARGET AUDIENCE:
Women


COLOR:
Black
White
Diamond


MATERIALS:
1 sheet of Black cardstock
2 sheets of White cardstock
Scissors
Glue
Gem diamond dots

PROCESS:
I used a layering process.
Step 1: I brainstormed about the postcard: key words: little black dress, simplicity, minimalism
Step 2: I cut the 2 pieces of white and 1 piece of black card stock to 4" x 6"
Step 3: I then cut the top white piece to the shape of the Matisse inspired piece
Step 4: I then glued the back white piece and middle black piece together
Step 5: I then glued on the top white cutout pieces together
Step 6: I then added the gem diamond dots to the neck portion of the black piece
Step 7: I then wrote Mahogany Jewelers on the card, right justified
Step 8: I added one more gem diamond dot to the name for continuity


DISCOVERY:
1. I learned during this process to highlight the product more than showing the artistry behind it. Ensuring that the piece is what has center stage of the item.

sketchblog review [11 September 2010]

[11 Sep 2010]
Today marks the beginning of my online blog journey of self discovery, personal growth and development.  My final destination on this journey will hopefully culminate with my own design firm.  I am positioning myself by going back to school to do just that; I am finally doing what I would love to do, which is be creative. I love art, I love homes, and I'm excited about the marriage of art and homes merging together in the wonderful industry of interior design.

Where do artisans gain inspiration from a variety of sources...

• Books
• Music
• Nature
• Museums
• Television
• Print Media
• Food
• Fashion
• Anywhere
• Other Artisans

My inspiration this week comes from http://anthonyzierhut.com/main/.  I love this artist's work, because I'm a huge fan of gesture drawing.  It's the type of drawing that I find most natural to the way that I draw.  I find that gesture drawing is freeing.  It provides the most freedom, so that you're able to glide your graphite, your charcoal, your pen or whatever medium of your choice across the page or even off the page.  It's almost like your hand has a mind of it's own, when you allow yourself to become one with the item that can make indentations or imprints onto the page.

Color:
Anthony Zierhut, utilizes watercolor in a way that is very realistic.  His use of shading, and ever so subtle changes in the use of color are all very complementary. The items that are monochromatic, are beautiful to view.  I loved the color purple that he utilized with "Lily practicing for a performance", he utilized, black, white and purple.

Black and White:
I love his collection of camping sketches, he takes the viewer on this camping journey with him, it makes you feel that you are there. It's not just a dusty, dirty campground, it's family, it's life, it's things to do that will bring you back into the simpler things in life.  Such as when his daughters are reading, you can't see their faces, but you can see that they are engrossed in what they are reading.  It makes you long to just relax and sit back and listen to birds chirping, water running and the sun hitting your face as you just read that book that you've been dying to read.

Organization:
I love the organization of his sketch blog.  Being able to search the blog is key, you're able to see how a series is unfolding through the movement from one sketch to another.  He also let's the viewer know what medium he utilized in his sketch.  The viewer is able to be transported along with him as he tries out new tools.  He utilizes:

• Watercolor
• Pigma Micron
• Pencil
• Ballpoint pen
• Uniball vision pen
• Photo
• Fountain pen
• Digital color
• Acrylic paint
• Sepia Wash
• Pastel smudge tool

Some of these items, I've heard of and others I want to research, to learn more about them, and more importantly to utilize them. 

Visual Representation:
He utilizes storyboarding which is a great tool, it moves you from one frame to the next. It's like a great recipe, it gives you the ingredients, but it also shows the mixture and the final product. He also uses animatics which according to Zierhut, it's the "motion of storyboarding". 

I am going to close out my first trip, through this sketchblog journey, with saying I can't wait to post my own work, I hope that my colleagues, mentors, peers and professors will enjoy.