Grayson Perry: Who are you?

 

Tuesday 4th November - Grayson Perry: Who are you? - National Portrait Gallery

Horst Exhibition - V&A

Tuesday 4th November - Horst @ the V&A

Today we went to the Horst exhibition at the V&A Museum in London. The exhibition consisted of 9 sections; Fashion in Colour, Haute Couture, Travel, Surrealism, Stage and Screen, Patterns from Nature, Nudes, Platinum, Living in Style, and The Studio.

What are you like?

Today we had a seminar called 'What are you like?' in which we discussed different characteristics and personality types, and how combinations of these can effect teams and group work. We started out by doing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Test that asks 4 questions, each answer splitting you into one of two groups. There were:

Introvert/Extrovert
Sensing/Intuitive
Thinking/Feeling
Judging/Perceiving 

My results were ISFP - Introvert/Sensing/Feeling/Perceiving

I also followed this up by taking some personality tests on the following link:
http://similarminds.com/personality_tests

These were my results from the MOTIV Personality Test:

We also started a Johari Window as part of this seminar, following this model:

1960's Poster

1960's Poster - Summer Research Project

This is the poster I created for the Summer Project we were given. The layout reflects a 'timeline' of events that occurred throughout the 1960's; the people, objects, events and styles I have chosen to show within this poster are those that, I believe, we're some of the most influential of their time, and many of which are still influential today. These include Andy Warhol and his work as a pop artist, the first man on the moon, Twiggy and the concept of a 'supermodel', the Dr Martins trend, The Beetles, and the 'Hippies'.

Feedback

I had positive feedback as well as constructive criticism from peers and lectures for my poster. They said that the structure was really good and the idea of a 'time line' worked effectively. They also suggested that doing one of these for all the eras would be a great visual resource that I could refer back to in the future and also include in my portfolio. However, they also suggested that editing the photos on photoshop could have shown more skill and also given it a more professional finish.

Finished Work for Creative Networks (Module Two)

My complete portfolio for the creative networks module and other work can be found published on issuu.com under my profile: http://issuu.com/alicehoar

Links below will take you to specific work published on issue.com:
TREND REPORT: http://issuu.com/alicehoar/docs/trend_report_-_alice_hoar/0
FRAGRANCE ESSAY: http://issuu.com/alicehoar/docs/fragrance_ad_analysis_essay_-_alice/0
BRAND LAUNCH REPORT: http://issuu.com/alicehoar/docs/brand_launch_report_-_alice_hoar/0
PORTFOLIO: http://issuu.com/alicehoar/docs/creative_networks_portfolio_-_alice/0

Fashion Tumblr - Bella Moda

Bella Moda

Individual Brief: Inspiration and Reasearch (Seminar)

Learning outcomes:

• Recognise the changing environments and formats that inform the shifting relationship between the fashion industry and it’s consumer.
• Research and illustrate examples of innovative approaches and new concept development

Links:

• BASENOTES: http://www.basenotes.net/content/
• PRADA: http://www.luxurydaily.com/prada-sparks-creativity-in-digital-audience-via-rossetto-fragrance-push/
• KARL LAGERFELD: http://www.luxurydaily.com/karl-lagerfeld-expands-into-fragrance-realm-with-multichannel-strategy/
• PUMA: http://uk.adforum.com/agency/5645/creative-work/34492013/dance-dictionary/procter-gamble-puma-fragrances
• MARC JACOBS: http://www.wddg.com/case-studies/daisymarcjacobs/
• BURBERRY: http://www.luxurydaily.com/burberry-ralph-lauren-receive-genius-rankings-in-l2-fragrance-iq/
• LANCOME: http://www.mmaglobal.com/files/casestudies/InMobi_Lancome.pdf
• AXE: http://mashable.com/2012/01/10/axe-graphic-novel/
• RICHARD E GRANT: http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2014/02/06/richard-e-grant-jack-fragrance-perfume-launch-liberty

Publicity/PR Houses:

• PUSH PR: http://www.pushpr.co.uk
• MODUS PR: http://www.moduspublicity.com
• TALK PR: http://www.talkpr.com/clients-and-work/beauty-wellbeing
• FORWARD PR: http://forwardpr.com
• WEDNESDAY PR: http://wednesdayagency.com/disciplines/digital-strategy/
• MISSION PR: http://www.thisismission.com

Videos:

Great ideas and how to have them

Notes:

• How to generate great ideas:
• Add
• Subtract
• Invert
• Switch
• Mash-up

• Idea generation is all about quantity over quality
• All your greatest ideas will be accidents

Fragrance Essay Feedback

Final Fragrance Essay

Tom Ford Black Orchid - Fragrance Advert Analysis Essay

 

 

Scent Trends Lecture

Lecture Summary:

Today's lecture with Tim discussed messages themes and trends within perfume, fragrance and scents. He broke the industry down into 4 generalised sectors, in which all perfume (theoretically) can be labelled and categorised. He then discussed the personalities and visual codes used within each of these areas.

Lecture Notes:

Sensuality and Indulgence:

• Forbidden/Seductive/Exotic/Passionate
• Colours are often rich and include golds, reds and purples

Examples could include:

Trust and Honesty:

• Purist/Spiritual/Simple/Natural
• Colours are often pale and calming and include blues, greens and white

Examples could include:

Humour and Kitsch:

• Camp/Wit/Ironic/Modern
• Colours are often bright and playful

Examples could include:

Tradition and Heritage:

• Romance/Nostalgia/Vintage/Class
• Colours are often minimal/monochrome or musky and tertiary

Examples could include:

Conclusions from Primary Research

After carrying out primary research around Nottingham, my group decided to meet and discuss our findings and analyse them further, this will help us to determine the following:

- Where we feel the opportunities lie
- What market level we want to work at
- Who our ideal target consumer might be
- What sort of retail environment we would want to create
- Where we would want the product to be sold (e.g. department stores/online etc)

During the meeting we decide that the most effective way to collate our information for comparison would be to split up the different areas between us. This way we could go away and write up all our notes and thoughts on the different retail spaces we visited, before meeting again to compare our findings and ideas in a much clearer and organised way. 

The areas that I focused on were the two major department stores in Nottingham that we chose to look at; these were John Lewis and House of Fraser. The document below contains my written up notes on both of these stores as well as my own comparative opinion.

Primary Research in Nottingham

Primary Research in Nottingham

During today's lecture we were introduced to a group activity that required us to carry out primary research, on the perfume market, within Nottingham. The lecture gave us a list of key places to visit during the day, including department stores, specialist stores, and a variety of stores that range from economy level stores to the higher end designer/luxury stores. The specific list of where my group chose to go is shown below:

- John Lewis

- House of Fraser 

- Boots

- The Perfume Shop

- The Fragrance Shop

- The Body Shop

- Wilkinsons  

- Keihls

- Lush

- Jo Malone

- Aveda

- Molton Browns

During the lecture we were also given a list of 9 points to consider when gathering information in Nottingham, these are as followed:

1. PRICE

- Market Level - Economy/Mid Market/Luxury

- Shifts in market level/perceptions/players in new markets/level hybrids/cross overs/masstige/uber luxury

- Are new gaps or newly defined sectors emerging?

- Are there opportunities here?

2. GENDER

- Male/Female/Unisex

- Shifts in gender narratives/codes/languages/gender balances/neutrality/unisex/gender polarisation

- How does the gender messages (strong or weak) relate to the price point or the target age group?

- Are there opportunities here?

3. AGE

- Target consumer - Range/Generation/Demographic etc

- How does the communication/narrative/packaging/promotional/tactics reflect the target age group?

- Are certain age groups being under-represented?

- Are there opportunities here?

4. STORY

- Product Narrative 

- Name/Copy/Strap line etc

- What are the key phrases/name/language being used?

- How would you categorise the type of message? - Emotion/Consequence/Location/Ingredient/Celebrity

-  Are the relevant stories/resonate messages not being used?

- Are there opportunities here?

5. TREND 

- Adoption of Fashion

- Motif/Pattern/Cultural/Social/Historical etc

- What are the key trends related icons/motifs/patterns/colours being used?

- Are there key trends in reference certain historical/social/cultural phenomenon that are being underused?

- Are there opportunities here?

6. OBJECT

- Packaging/Bottle/Label

- Visual codes/colour/semiotics/silhouette etc

- What are the key aspects?

- How do the key aspects of the design signal the relationship to the market level/weight/quality/

interaction/sound

- What are the basic print/construction/manufacturing elements? (cost)

- Are there opportunities here?

7. RANGE

- Star product VS Full range

- How has the star product been developed in terms of range extension?

- Seasonal/Limited edition/special edition?

- Are there opportunities here?

8. CONTEXT

- Retail Environment/Visual Merchandising

- How is the product reflected and supported by point of sale/display/in store promotion etc?

- What are the more innovative aspects of these at the various market levels and key distribution channels?

- Are there locations being underdeveloped in terms of possible touch points?

- Are there opportunities here?

9. USP (Unique Sales Point)

- Innovation/Points of Difference

- What examples of sector deviation/maverick approaches/challenge strategies and unique perspectives can you find?

- Are there opportunities here?

New York Trend Report

Brief: 

Initial Booklet and Feedback: 

Finial Report:

The 10 Commandments of FCP

Summary:

Today Claire's lecture was titled 'The 10 Commandments of FCP' and included 10 things we must all check and do with any printed work before we print it. This will be a great list to refer back to when doing printed work to help us to make sure work is presented at it's best.

The 10 Commandments of FCP

1. Thou shalt not present pixellated or distorted images 
2. Thou shalt use a grid structure 
3. Thou shalt respect the 10 commandments of type
4. Thou shalt not use unnecessary elements on the page
5. Thou shalt not use standard printer paper 
6. Thou shalt consider the aesthetic of the brand
7. Thou shalt use spell check and proof read
8. Thou shalt avoid design that does not work in context
9. Thou shalt always do a test print
10. Thou shalt use thy reflective journal 

Within my sketchbook, I have written these up along with my notes from the lecture:

Recommended Reading:

Initial Perfume Research

After meeting with my group for the first project in Module 2, we have decided to put together a group Pinterest on which we can post all our research of existing products in our sector as well as our own designs and ideas. Below is a link to this Pinterest:


Before putting this together I did my own research of existing products on my own Pinterest account, below is a link to the 'Perfume Research' board that I've created and some screen shots of this:

http://www.pinterest.com/alicehoar/perfume-research/

I also created a board for all imaged of perfume; including bottle designs, advertisements and images that may inspire us later in the project. This board could provide ideas for our own designs and adverts within the module. Below are some screenshots of this board and a link:

http://www.pinterest.com/alicehoar/all-things-perfume/

Taste Makers

For my seminar this Thursday I have been given a brief that asks me to prepare and present two of my own 'taste makers' as a follow up from last weeks lecture by Tim Rundle on taste makers. The two people I select have to be people I feel have truly had an effect on fashion, music, art or another area of design, as well as inspired me as an individual. For this reason the two people I have chosen are Andy Warhol and Alexander McQueen.

Alexander McQueen

McQueen has always been an inspiration to me, his ability to take inspiration from anything and anyone around him and turn into amazing and iconic clothing always baffled me. I think this is a great example of a skill that can completely change your outlook on life as well as work. McQueen always saw the beauty in things, and the potential. I think this is truly admirable and something I aim for. He never took inspiration from clothes, or trends, or what designers before him had done; instead he focused on nature, religious ideas and futuristic fantasies as places of inspiration. Below is a link and screenshots from the Pinterest board I have created to use as part of a presentation:

http://www.pinterest.com/alicehoar/alexander-mcqueen-taste-maker/

Andy Warhol

Warhol is someone I have always found inspirational, similarly to McQueen, he had a very unique and specific outlook on life. Warhol always believed that everyone would get there 15 minutes of fame, and that life was all about indulgence and materialistic lifestyles. His artwork was shocking and controversial at the time, but is still celebrated today. His 'factory' became inspirational and admired by many, and brands such as Acne Warehouse have mimicked this idea as the basis for their brands. Warhol also had an impact on music at the time and was involved with 'The Velvet Underground'. His close friend Edie Sedgwick, whom he often photographed or had photos with, was a stunning model who features on the cover of magazines such as Vogue. Below is a link to my Andy Warhol Pinterest board and some screenshots:

http://www.pinterest.com/alicehoar/andy-warhol-taste-maker/

Sketchbook:

Taste Makers Lecture

Lecture Summary:

In today's lecture Tim spoke to us about 'Taste Makers' and the importance of knowing who is who in the history of fashion. Within the lecture he gave brief summaries about the most important people in fashion history; these were divided into the following four categories: 

1. Media, Retail and Press 
2. Patrons, Collectors and Socialites 
3. Muses and Creatives
4. Lifestyle and Interiors

Below I have typed up my notes from the lecture:

Media, Retail and Press

Patrons, Collectors and Socialites

Muses and Creatives

Lifestyle and Interiors

I have also translated this into my sketchbook:

My Opinion:

Personally, I found this lecture really interesting and insightful. It is always great to learn about people and trends in history that you were not previously aware of, as this encourages further reading and research of my own. I plan to look further into many of these famous fashion and lifestyle figures from throughout history as I feel that it will be useful in the future to be able to reference these key figures, styles, influences and inspirations.

The lecture was also a great way to spark our own imaginations and make us think about who or what it is that inspires us, who are our own personal taste makers? Within the seminar, Tim followed this idea up by setting us a brief that allows us to explore and research who we believe to be our own two taste makers.