Evaluation of the Origins Unit

Over the course of this unit I have learned a lot about the way I work as a designer/maker. Machine embroidery was almost completely new to me, but the samples I produced were really successful, in part because I didn’t use unnecessary steps in making pieces and had a quick turnover of ideas. Working straight from images or photos to material suited me well.

layered lace machine sample

When it came to drawing for Journeys, I was happy with the representational style I used but could have branched out further into mark making to broaden my research. 

bicycle in manchester; could be a good source for mark-making

When hand stitching I retained this literal approach but it didn’t work as well as the partial or abstract translation used with my machine sampling. I felt that I should draw it, transfer it into stitch and then develop it, when I should have been confident that ‘skipping’ steps could still produce good work. Reflecting more often and taking more risks should help to make my work more interesting and save valuable time. To help with this I aim to make myself a set of cards to be chosen at random when I feel stuck or too ‘safe’ to help shake things up by introducing an element of surprise.

Only when looking back did I realise the main theme for the project was ‘grids’; if I had noticed this sooner I could have played around with the form more, exaggerated it and developed it further. 

grid-like images from liverpool, manchester, and the construction day and a grid-like woven paper background 

Also I could have thought more laterally about what a grid is and what it represents to develop a contemporary interpretation of it. I tend to feel comfortable working to a small scale but it would be good to push myself to make larger pieces of work.

I generally find looking at other people’s work inspiring or at the very least an example of what not to do, so I should have gone to more exhibitions during the block to help further shape my work. The pieces I did see helped me to see the value of limiting colour and material usage, while the contextual studies unit reminded me of the importance of re-using materials, and finding the balance between fast and slow ways of working to make interesting, personal pieces.

This block has been challenging because it chopped and changed a lot; I felt that various mini projects and different technical skills were distracting me from the Journeys project which was frustrating. However I eventually realised that this is how it will be as a designer in the ‘real’ world; often many different things will demand my attention so it is worth learning to adapt now to this way of working. Also, if anything using different skills will push my work forward in a new way, and sticking to a plan might not always be the best way of making.