HOME

Over summer I was away from home (Manchester), and missed the relaxation and personal space that comes with it. I then reflected on the different meanings of home:

people, places, tradition, culture, animals, objects, food, body, feeling, language, retreat, building

I focussed on my collected objects as they are easily accessible to draw directly from, and there is good variety of content. I was also inspired by the experience of moving house; many objects such as tools and boxes are bland, neutral and dark in colour. By using them as contexts for prints I could give them a homely feeling.

When photographing and drawing from my items I selected attributes of each to focus on, such as colour, texture, mood, movement and pattern. I used a variety of media to capture these elements, including acrylic, pencil, watercolour paint and pen. I may later introduce embroidery, typography and laser cutting if appropriate. Also I will use the overlocker to finish fabric samples.

collected objects

drawing research

Initial research was successful; I worked small scale to quickly generate ideas, and was able to achieve a range of effects. I tried to stay true to the objects' colours in order to capture their essence and mood; this will help to convey the feeling of home. 

My designs will be for an interiors context (including wallpaper, home accessories, blinds, cushions, tea towels, curtains), and for stationery. I have previously designed for several contexts simultaneously and it helped me consider aspects traditionally used in each sector and analyse where my work fits within the design sphere. I will produce several collections, using digital and screen printing on paper and fabric. I want to further develop my photoshop and illustrator skills, and learn to use a graphics tablet for drawing, as this will be useful for working in industry and help my design work.

Orla Kiely Bedding, Paper Tiger Notebooks, Annabel Perrin Mugs, Caroline Pratt Cards

Examples of other designers' work I looked at are brightly coloured with a vibrant, warm feel. There are intricate patterns, motifs arranged in stripes, half drops, geometric arrangements, and placement designs. I will aim to retain this variety in my collections.