Reflection - Key post 3

For my exhibition I displayed the collection of bags, postcards which included a brief description of the product, as I think from a surface value some people may not have noticed the thermochromic feature, therefore missing out on the excitement of the pieces, a sample book displaying the range of possibilities and then on my wall space I displayed some of the images from my photoshoots, along with three simple presentation boards which show a really brief story of my work. Looking back on it I feel I could have simplified what I had on display, for example maybe cutting it down just simply one or two key images on the wall that illustrate the bags, instead of a small collection of images, I feel like this would have made more of an impact on the people visiting the gallery.

Overall through unit X I am pleased with my experience, I think that I managed time well, produced a product that really pushed my boundaries and gained a better understanding on what it takes to design for a client brief. I think the main thing I learned from this unit is that in order to develop work that pushes me as a textiles designer, I need to step out my comfort zone, whether it be working with a new technique, process or material, I think just something to push me down a new path has lead me to a success during this project.I'm glad i chose to pursue the 

Thermochromic dyes instead of the Hydrochromic, I think that the ideas i had in relation to the thermo dyes were far more advanced than i would have developed with the hydro dyes.I understand that there is still countless other things I could have tested and tried and developed within this project, and there are still many things I will try to still develop in my own time, but I think within the given time frame I am happy with the things I chose to test and develop.

Refining

Whilst working in the print room I successfully completed all of the samples I wanted to create, I had purposely created samples large enough to then transform into my prototypes. So this week that is what I worked on, finishing my samples by overlocking the edges and creating my prototypes. I wanted my bags to have a professional finish to them so I included a lining and chose zips to match my colour scheme. Overall I was really happy with the two prototypes I made, and because of this and the fact I had managed my time well I also had time to create a further two prototypes. Which I am glad I was able to achieve because I think that as a mini collection they show off my colour palette as a whole and display a range of the print designs available.

Another thing that I managed to do to really compliment and display my collection was to complete a photoshoot. I thought a good location for this would be back at the Whitworth, and looking back at it I am really pleased with the decision. Not only does it tie the bags back into the Whitworth, making them more relevant, but I think the location of a gallery would be a perfect function for one of my clutch bags. This also then lead me to think about the type of client that would be interested in my product and so I decided that after the success of the first photoshoot, I thought it would be a good idea to do a shoot of look book images, so I took photos of my bags with various products that to me represent my intended client. Having been told in my tutorial that my idea would be best placed in the more expensive of the two shops within the Whitworth, therefore meaning it would be more of a considered investment, I figured that my client would be a middle/upper class woman who has the use for a special clutch bag, perhaps something which makes a statement, a unique product that gets everyone talking and interested in something like a bag which is normally merely seen as an accessory.