A selection of shots from days 2 & 3. (When I say day 2 & 3, I really mean days 3 & 4 - why? I was not counting Sunday as a full day, as we arrived in the evening.)
Seeing what MOOOI Design offered was awesome. As was the Kröller-Muller gallery & park.
On our 3rd day, we went on a field trip to the Kröller-Muller Park & Gallery outside of Otterlo. Along with the main collection, there was a large collection of Barbara Hepworth sculptures which were absolutely amazing.
This day also saw the culmination of the Nomad Project - the “real world test”. The last image shows my “body bag” unfurled, and ready for use.
The park was beautiful. The entire day was wonderful (except for the coach ride).
So. Half way through the trip. Today we’re heading to the Kroller-Muller sculpture park where we’ll photograph our projects in-situ. Pics to follow in a few days.
So. I finished it in time. Pics of the completed thing (christened, “The Body Bag”) will follow either today, or next weekend.
Amsterdam beckons.
So. Plan B became Plan C.
I am now creating a pouch for a sleeping bag. The idea being that sleeping bags themselves aren’t exactly weatherproof/resistant, and wrapping yourself in a bin bag isn’t exactly chic. So, I’ve repurposed the tent to create a pouch that you can slip your sleeping bag into, complete with air vents (no-one likes suffocating from the perfume of smelly feet).
Now just to stitch it together in 4-5 hours. I’ll be fine, honestly, I’ll be fine.
…
Ok. I spent 4 hours today deconstructing a tent. Why not take scissors to it? Twofold: 1. Material is at a premium; 2. I wanted to see how an actual tent was constructed.
There is a very real possibility that I will not be finished by Friday. I’m so fucked.
Classic case of reaching for Mars, only to blow up in the stratosphere. Ambition is great, just remember - time management.
A couple of quick sketches showing the two ideas “in-situ”.
The first image shows my tripod-tent idea. Take a heavy-duty camera tripod, design fabric sheathes/socks for the legs (with zips attached), along with 3 horizontal triangles, 3 base triangles & 3 face triangles, zip them all together, and you’ve got yourself a tent. Add a central pole for additional structural security, a headpiece for weather protection and aluminium feet, and you’ve got yourself a reasonably sturdy tent.
Second idea developed further on the conceptual structures I developed during Fashion & Textiles week in the carousel. Other than the shape, admittedly this tent is rather bland. I was thinking of adding a secondary fabric layer - either completely zipped, or partially, - which would be translucent or transparent. Hence “cocoon with a view”.
So. This week was a struggle.
My main concerns that kept dogging me were: “Are these designs innovative enough”? “Are they interesting enough?” and as a result, I think I may have become disheartened.
Perhaps I’m expecting too much from myself at this stage. Seeing my classmates around me already having working 1:1 models of their design, with me still struggling to finalise a design - let alone get a maquette together - left me feeling rather shit if I’m honest.
Hopefully the weekend will help me recharge, but if I’m honest, I’m not looking forward to the Amsterdam trip, where we’ll have our final designs with us for a “real-world” test.
So. The “Carousel” is over, the assessment done - where I got a good amount of positive feedback - and now to specialise. Unsurprisingly, I chose 3D Design. What happens now?
We’ve been given a project brief - “Nomad Project” - which the class does every year. Short version - we need to create a portable, usable shelter that we can take with us on the trip to Amsterdam in 2 weeks. So, drawing inspiration from people & groups such as Studio-Orten, Dré Wapenaar/Road Alert Group, Andreas Vogler & Andrew Maynard (amongst others), we need to come up with a suitable foldable/collapsible, portable shelter.