Sunday 19 September 2010

The Accent of Fashion

Stephen Jones

Before his exhibition I did not know this name. Sounds pretty common, right? Wrong. There is nothing common about this man at all. Creating designs that have sent the fashion world into a flurry, Jones creates beautiful and outrageous hats that are designed specifically to portray a message. Whether this message be about a specific theme he has selected for a collection or the personality of a client, each hat is unique and extreme.
Creating hats for the likes of Kylie Minogue, Dita Von Teese, John Galliano, Christian Dior... he listens to exactly what the client wants and recreates an inspirational design. Each hat is a stimuli and is designed to provoke a response from the viewer but just like a piece of text, each will produce a different reaction for the individual. Some view the radical hats for their form, some for the colours and others for inspiration themselves but however you regard the hats I am sure you would agree also that the way in which he partners together all the elements only adds to the overall performance of what he is trying to achieve.

Drama.

Everything about the exhibition oozed drama, from the hats themselves right down to the set they had been placed in. Right on par with the colourful man himself, the exhibition screamed for attention. Undertaking a project last year about exhibition design, it was interesting as I was wandering through Jones' work that I found myself ticking things off in my head on the imaginary checklist I had also tried to comply to when creating my own exhibition; presenting the work so as to capture the viewer right from the start, check! Creating an atmosphere similar to the work itself being exhibited, check! Clearing conveying the theme the designer desires, check! For me, everything about the exhibition worked!
The over sized boxes tied in nicely with the hats and the way in which they are given to a customer similar to the way in which they were being presented to us here. Emphasizing the extreme proportions in which Jone's uses when creating his hats, the boxes lay strewn on the floor amongst some over-sized hats. There were four of these hats each representing a different chapter in Stephen Jones' life; Adventure, Science, Rococo and Glamour. Cleverly using these large hats to divide his design journey it was nice to see what had been created in each 'era' in what was for me a witty way to present things in a understandable way.

The overhead lighting that was used was an intelligent choice. Creating shadows and adding to the overall drama, the exhibits stand proudly from the lilac hat boxes. The light shines through the hats and generates delicate silhouettes onto the walls and ground. I enjoyed the way in which different forms were created with the effect of the lighting but a friend of mine criticised the lighting because they could not see all the detail. I think this only added to the exhibition as it required you to move closer to the work to see the detailing that may have otherwise been overlooked. Creating this element of interaction, you began to get a feel for Jones' designs and I found myself scrutinising the designs up close, noticing components I may have never have spotted had the lighting been different.


Overall, for me, I felt that the exhibition complimented Stephen Jones' work and the dominating and dramatic context in which the hats had been placed in created an exciting setting. Watching people wander around the exhibition, I was intrigued to see how they interacted with the exhibits and how each was responding differently to what was in front of them. I am sure that if Jones could see what I could he would be very pleased. Struggling throughout his designing life to create an impact, he has finally reached the point he had dreamed of. Still continuing to become more popular it makes you wonder when he will stop becoming more and more dominating...one thing that remains to be asked though, utter genius or completely insane?


Thursday 16 September 2010

Design in the wrong context

When applying to study abroad, I forgot about all the sort of boring details I would have to do when trying to get across to Belgium; insurance, up to date passport, sorting out accounts...one thing I did not bank on was that I would have to enroll myself to become a member of Mechelen city.

Sitting in the waiting room of the Stadsbestuur van Mechelen-Vreemdelingen, I was conscious of the fact that the seating that had been chosen was not the most appropriate.
Surely when waiting, the user would want a seat that would be comfortable but also provide some support? As part of a project I did last year at DJCAD, I had to design and built a chair whilst considering important aspects surrounding seating.
Context. The place in which the chair will reside, is it suited? Where would it best be placed? Is the design suitable for where it will stay?
Function. The primary function is to sit but you also have to consider if it has any other uses. Is there more than one purpose to it?
Material. Cost effective? Durable for the context in which it would be placed?
Aesthetics. Are the materials that are used beneficial to the design? Is the design suited to the market niche?

As a designer it is important to consider these options. Not to blame this entirely on the designer as I am sure that this seating may be suited in another location but whoever placed this here did not take into consideration the users needs, possibly just their own. Clearly seating is essential in a place where waiting will occur but instead of considering comfort, I feel that price was a deciding factor. The materials that the seating has been made from is cheap and is not at all comfortable. Disregarding the fact that this seating will be used extensively, I believe that the lifespan of this will not be very long. As people took a seat they banged bags, carelessly clattered their feet on the supports and children ran across the tops. For me, this truly is design in the wrong context...

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Sunday 12 September 2010

St. Rombouts Kathedraal


"They just don't make buildings like that anyone..." With a danger of sounding old, it's true.

Towering above the Grote Markt in Mechelen, the cathedral truly is the most eye catching landmark in the city. Dominating your view, it is hard to find a more beautiful building to distract you.

Het is mooi!
(It is beautiful!)
The exterior has such intricate detail, one can only imagine how long it took to construct something so beautiful. Standing right underneath the spire it's a struggle to take everything in, craning my neck so much I almost landed on my back.

Every surface has a pattern or texture, whether it be the detailing on the window arches or the newly cleaned surface. The polished stonework glimmers in the sunlight, adding to the overall stature of the building on the city's skyline.

Folio...so far.

Tomorrow is a big day...first day at a new University. Knowing that I am going to meet lots of new people and experience new ideas about design I wanted to reinforce myself with my own ideas. Looking over my folio I used to apply to KH Mechelen, I could see my progression and new skills I had learnt since my very first project at DJCAD...