The gallery is my finalized presentation/mood board for the assignment. I didn’t find any batik swatches in the library, but I have batik clothes so I might bring it for the presentation in Week 3. I hope through future trials and errors, and multiple experiments, I can create batik pattern that is both traditional and contemporary, so that it is representational of Indonesia in a timeless, universal way.
TITLE: SMARDROBE
SMARDROBE is a smart wardrobe that does not only store your wearables but also knows all of your fashion collection and how to match them. SMARDROBE knows when your fashion piece had been taken out of it or is already put in; and with the screen of SMARDROBE you would be able to mix and match your OOTD using whatever outfits available in the wardrobe without digging through your hangers and piles and trying! Better still, SMARDROBE connects to your smartphone to help your smart-shopping: to avoid that double shopping of the same item. Easier, hassle-free days for greater OOTD and greater shopping! Looking good should be easy.
Design is a decision. Design could be made out of void and nothingness. Design could be derived. And product design is specifically about the design of the form of the product. What does exactly affect the designer’s decision in deciding the right form of his creation? What does affect your decision? And what kind of designer are you?
Continue reading What Kind of Designer are You: Function, Human, or Emotion
The effortlessness of Naoto Fukasawa is captivating; the futuristic quirk of Ross Lovegrove is mind-blowing; the noble spirit of Yves Behar is inspiring; and the versatility of Karim Rashid is impeccable – but Marc Newson’s timelessness is luring. Marc Newson’s creations are designed once and for all – all times and all generation.
There is balance in Newson’s work. It is not showy nor starking, but enough to grab the minds to remember. It is not futuristic, present nor vintage, hence suitable for a lifetime. It may not be an ‘outer space’ innovation, but a ‘human kind’ creativity which captures the hearts of both public and experts. It pleases our senses and ego, as it brings more than just function but also comforts, beauty and social value. And that what makes Marc Newson one of the most wanted designers in the world throughout his 30 years of career.
The fact that Louis Vuitton hired him means Newson is a designer of LV calibre: classy, timeless, expensive, and coveted. Just take a look of his second latest collaboration with LV to create rolling luggages. He may not be from the high fashion world, where the air of luxury is more important than functionality, but he is able to incorporate functionality, innovation, and great fashion taste into this one luggage. Putting the whole handle outside the storage space allows more space for storage, and this is a genius move. Newson’s work adds an indispensable amount of value to the best luxury fashion brand in the world.
Then, Leica and Pentax are known not just for their great camera works but also their timeless design of the camera bodies; which would not happen without Newson. It may not be the most high-tech camera in the market, but less-photography-savvy people who are enthusiastic about photography could surely master this camera, thanks to its sleek and simple design.
Newson has also been hired by airlines such as Qantas to design their first class seat, which can only tell how trustworthy and fail-proof Newson’s design is – first class seats have to has the highest quality in both comfort and aesthetic, if not, the brand would be at stake.
Is Marc Newson the designer I am best identified with? Honestly, I am not sure, but I am sure Marc Newson is a designer I aspire to be.
About
Making self publication at a budget. In the zine, we include things that we have learned throughout the semester or the year from 2D foundation class.
Concept
For this project, I want to use my 2D projects to create fashion art/fashion illustrations. In order to do so, I decided to use Shamekh Bluwi’s cut-out illustration as inspiration.
Research
Below are the research I did for the format of the zine.
I wanted to do postcard styles, or binded-by-ring or ribbon style, however, I found it hard to do my concept in such a way. I want one cut-out illustration to have its dress filled in with all the 2D artworks I picked.
Formatting
Hence, the formatting is something that I created special for this zine. It would allow both sides of the cut-out illustration to be used, ‘filtering’ the pattern from other pages as the pages are folded alternately one by one.
It is kept in rectangular, A5 shape in order to give the magazine feeling.
Cover
The first two are initial designs of the cover, but those cut-outs are not satisfying. it’s not classy enough. So, I decided to draw another original illustration. The simple and minimalist line give classy look and it simulates vintage Vogue cover. There are some changes in the text alignment.
Content
The challenge in deciding what pictures should be put in the content page is whether the image will fill in the dress well or not. So, a lot of trial and errors are made.
Below are the errors.
And after some more changes, the final content pages are:
So, when they all fill in the dress:
Oh and yeah some of the content pages can only fill in the dress of the cover or the back cover.
Reflection
Designing it is pretty tough because of the unusual format and unique idea. Sadly, the format that I used is only fit A1 size paper, which cause the printing to be bad. It’s not sharp to be printed using A1 printer. Thank God it still looks good tho.
Well, but the content pages contain too much words. I didn’t know that the font size of 10 can be soooo big on A1 size paper…
What I keep saying about Media&Performances to other people:
Oh my God, my UE is so difficult. First, coding is a whole new thing to me. Second, fashion is a whole new thing to me. So, the module is a whole new world (sing Aladdin). But whoa, you have no idea how much I have learned…
No pain no gain B).
Second Prototype
Yeap I decided to make the second prototype, because I felt something can be changed from the first prototype. I wanted to try smaller back pattern and pointed end for the front. At the same time, I used this opportunity to practice sewing. I took 1.5h just to set up the whole machine on my own without guidance. I am proud…
I kinda like it more, and because of time constraint, I went straight to the real fabric material: bridal satin.
What is bad about this pattern is the back side is too narrow for my bottom, but it fits well for my shoulder. Sigh, fashion is complicated. I appreciate those fashion maker more now…
The Black Robe
YEAAAHHHH Not 100% done but surely can be worn already. The belt still needs more thinking process on how to attach the lights to it because I think I want the electronics to be on the belt instead on the robe.
What I like about the robe is that
For the belt, it happened to be like that as a result of pure experimental. So that ‘mesh’ is not really flexible but can be folded. Initially I wanted to roll each cut pieces, but I put the glue gun a bit too much and spread out. So the glued part is asymmetrical and all. So I just thought “yeah just put the glue gun anywhere and fold it randomly.” From this belt, I learn the beauty of imperfection :)).
I might change the belt but yeah this looks quite right for me.
BAD NEWS
I was able to change the colors of the lights and sequence of the lights I could even get pastel colors like baby pink, baby blue, light violet, salmon pink colors of lights BUT I DONT KNOW HOW MY BABY LILYPAD BROKE DOWN OR SOMETHING I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IT WAS SOO HOT AND ‘ELECTROCUTE’ ME AND THEN DIED *cry*
So I reset it, but the port can’t be detected by my laptop!!! I need Naga so badly now and if it cant be used anymore I will have to buy the board ASAP (so faraway hiks). I pray hard now the board still can be used so I can do the coding immediately!!!
Yeah bad things did happen, so i’m behind for the electronics sigh…
Playing with expensive electronics is a source of heart attack. Beware…
Overall…
The awesomeness level of this class IS ROCKETING <3 <3 I cant stop being grateful for all the guidance this week especially from Prof Galina and Naga. I think it was my first time to have a teacher who would stay with me and Xinhong up to 3AM in the morning T.T. Thank you so much Galina, I would do my best for my costume with all the energy I have.
And I feel that my passion is really in fashion :3, I really want to explore more <3
About
For the project Touch, I got the role of being the heroine. Hence, based on the initial design that I have made, the kimono-inspired outfit may fit a female warrior. Using $2/meter (the cheapest fabric available), I created a prototype of the mini kimono dress.
References
However, at the end of the day, Galina created a different pattern. I wanted it without sleeves first, so there is no sleeve patterns.
First Prototype
I made a prototype first in order not to waste expensive material. However, the downside is I can’t see the drapping of using such hard material. Still, I prefer to do this prototyping step so that I can keep the already cut pattern for future use (yeay I would be able to make my own clothes! one step at a time).
Above was fresh from the sewing machine, and I tried to wear it. Pretty cool, I wouldn’t mind to make another ‘cardigan’ but not for this project. I like big collars tho.
Above is the first drapping on a mannequin. Hmmmmm, no.
Second drapping…Looks like my mom’s dress. no.
FINALLY OKAY DONE. The next step is to pin them, try wearing it, and draw lines at all the folded part.
Look fat here, wearing the kimono… i asked my mom why, and she said it’s probably because of the fabric type. Yeah, I need to buy the more flowy and thin fabric to really see the real piece. Rather than on the details and ornaments, I really pay attention to the cutting of an outfit. So, even if a dress is made of thousands of beautiful crystals/diamonds/whatever but it makes me look rounder/shorter/weird/off I wont wear it.
Reflection
Hmmm, my design is so simple compared to my other friends. There is no need for boiling fabric or anything, it kinda worry me…. But again, the character is a warrior, who didn’t know that she would be a warrior (yeah, inspiration came after my skype-ing session with Angeline), so she might be just a peasant before she fight with the ‘giant’.
However, I think I would need a second layer for my kimono.
I think I will re-design my first design to get better visualization of it.
Overall, this is a very valuable, precious experience :))))))) I’m so happy that finally I make a clothing!!! Didn’t see this coming because NTU has no fashion major :/
Story
A heroine in the third space utopia would fight against the giant, the disturbance, despite her small size and limitation. She didn’t know she could, and would be a warrior.
Inspiration
Japanese Yukata is the inspiration. First is because, I am a practical person. Looking at my schedule and deadlines, I think I should come up with a feasible and ‘safe’ design first. Anything simple can be more detailed with for e.g. accessories. So I was thinking of a robe. But a mere robe will look like a peasant instead. So, something more war-like, and it’s the Japanese warrior who wears ‘war robe’, aka Samurai. But I want it to be short, because it would be easier for me to move around, and hence it would be yukata with a short length.
First Design
Inspired from the Yukata, the body part resemble Yukata. However, I was thinking of modifying the sleeves to make it more flowy. Yukata’s sleeves are squarish, my hand movement won’t be so clear to be shown in the performance. So, a drapping sleeves would be better I guess. It can be the spot where I can install stretch cord/sensor as well. In this design, I’m still confused about where should I install the lights.
Second (Revised) Design
In the revised version, I have thought of more details and where I should put the electronics. The color would be black, because it is the color of Japanese warrior in the past. Initially I wanted to use red as a symbol of courage, but black is more classy and as a very very noob beginner in fashion-making, let me use safe color first.
BUT, not everything would be black. Black is only the ‘base’, aka the robe. I would like to make a ornamented belt instead of just the traditional Yukata belt. It would be silver (yeah I have the material since last year so it’s the right time to use it), and it would have lights underneath it. The lights will spread out, with the waist as the ‘source’. These lights would be the source of colors: sign that the warrior is ready to fight as her inner courage and faith are strengthened.
Now, I’m confused about the sleeves material. The robe would be made of ‘bridal satin’ (which I have bought YEAYYYYY) but the sleeves I am still not sure.
I’m thinking of having canvas ribbon wrapped around my feet and arms for the accessories, but it is still tentative.
to be continued…
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. The goal is to create products, processes and policies – new ways of living – that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul.
Hence, for a wearable to re-contextualize biomimicry, it has to have a quality imitated from natural processes and able to solve a human problem. And the project that suits this concept almost perfectly is the Aero Sports Bra by Karolina Cengija and Becca McCharen.
The Aero Sports Bra (worn under the dress) will detect the level of perspiration, respiration and body temperature and respond accordingly. For example, when the user is panting and sweating or even angry, the bra will open slightly to cool the upper body parts.
We used shape memory alloys with the goal to give it a more organic transition.
The bra is of biomimicry context because they are made to imitate the smoothness of how our body naturally changes temperature, heart rate and perspiration (article) so that our body will stay in the best comfort physically and emotionally.
However, the technology used is not yet ready to be commercialized, hence it won’t hit the market in the short run.
She is keen to emphasise, however, that these are not yet garments for sale. They are experiments that will help uncover what’s possible for future wearable technology.
In the other hand, the price of producing such high-end technology will be likely to be costly. In my opinion, this wearable will cater only to a smaller market: the upper class ones. It might be a sustainable wearable technology, but it might not help everyone for not everyone would be able to afford it in the short run.
