Draft concept for final piece

To date...

I have explored the breadth of design processes and outcomes that are relavent to my project. After my update session last week in which I presented my progress to a section of the class and the tutor. I confirmed the specific areas in this project that i am focusing on in terms of creating a successful outcome.

Here is a list of of what I am certain of that my piece will include in terms of concept:

The use of pattern (surface design) which is commomly found in net curtains and subverting the viewers perception through the inclusion of:

a. Text with imagery be it within the imagery itself to disguise it requiring close inspection by the viewer.

b. The imagery to not fall into the territory of being in any form a pastiche of what has already been created in terms of th piece being explicit in nature or likewise too kitsch.

c. Due to the nature of lace as a craft being close to instinct, I have found difficulty in finding relevant courses in which to take up the craft, so instead to find a suitable substitute material in which can be successfully relevant to the final outcome of the piece.

Messages from within

Source of Construction Material

After attending an exhibition behind the oxo tower I discovered some retail outlets in which design companies had small offices. I subsequently stumbled on this particular company that makes bespoke blinds through weave techniques though the company creates quite linear kinds of window decoration i thought it best to enquire on materials in which I can construct my final piece with.

Curtain dressing

A curtain arrangement is often the most eye catching aspect of a room. Some windows are beautiful in themselves, and the art in such cases is to ensure that the "dressing" of fabric compliments rather than obscures, the "architectural" framework.

the chief ingredient in any successful window composition is imagination. To some extent, there is a repertoire of basic forms - a vocabulary of design ideas. Often the most successful designs are those where a traditional idea is injected with a touch of originality perhaps in the proportions, or in the detailing, or in the choice of fabric choice.


Keeping this is mind I printed out various photos of curtains to try and formulate the types of segmentations and arts of lace creation as a skill. 

The various sections of net curtains are drawn by different colours which is is named and defined in the descriptions below.

Brown

The trim that is hemmed to allow for a wire to slide through

Maroon

Cafe Curtain, a net curtain that is significantly smaller then a full window net usual standard size of just less than 50 cm in height.

Baby Blue

Scalloped base, the semi circle extrusions of fabric, on the bottom end of a net curtain.

Dark Blue

Jardiniere are net curtains thatt are shaped with what seems like a eliptical shape cut boarder.

Lilac

Panelled curtain, the net curtains design is made of long striped panels which from its stiffness and folds create sharp corners for a more structured appearance to the curtain.

Green

Flounces curtain, when a strip of decorative gathered of pleated net material is attached onto the bottom edge of the curtain.

What burglars are on the look out for...

(http://www.talktalk.co.uk/money/features-new/insurance-burglars-and-what-they-look-out-for.html)


I have quoted the following text as for my final outcome im interested the idea of the curtain veiling the goods we hold regardless of if they are of any value in terms of money but the treasures we keep.

Think your home is secure? With Britain suffering the highest burglary rates in Europe, burglars say "you're making life easy". Thieves boast that they can get in no matter what security measures are in place. Inventive ones are prepared to remove doors and poison dogs to get in.

A new in-depth study amongst a group of convicted British burglars, on behalf of Halifax Home Insurance and conducted by leading criminologist Professor Martin Gill, helps to illustrate why Britain has become Europe's burglary capital.The report, entitled The Modus Operandi of a Thief, is the culmination of a number of one-to-one interviews with British burglars and a tour of three notorious burglary hotspots in Nottingham, Bedford and the West Midlands. Burglars were at pains to point out where and how security shy Britons are leaving their homes wide open to burglars.

- Even the security lighting can be used to help thieves see inside an unlit home. Others will pose as a bogus caller to gain entry, wear disguises to avoid CCTV camera detection and even poison meat to silence noisy animals.

- Burglars generally prefer empty properties, often looking for visual clues.

- Ironically a common tactic employed by homeowners to make the house look occupied, leaving the curtains closed, actually encourages burglars who believe it indicates the occupants are on holiday.

- Burglars are attracted by the sight of valuables, including car keys. They spot these by simply looking through windows and doors. Householders need to be careful about the type of goods that are on display. Blinds can help to obscure vision.

Research - V and A Museum Quilts

This exhibition held at the V and A appealed to me sue to the nature of the craft based pieces that were exhibited. I wanted to see how such an exhibition could change the perception of such a traditional craft based subject in a modern work where quilting as a craft has lost most of its significance and has been stashed away as nostalgia. 

Grayson Perry

I looked at this particular artist for reference due to the nature of his works with craft and manipulation of opinion to form a piece that graphically has messages underlining decorative work. 

Messages from within

Possible form of outcome

Decode Exhibition Booklet

Whilst flicking through the publications i have i found this accompaniment to the decode exhibition that had just taken place at the V and A. The reason for this image being posted is the after the cover page there was this card cut mesh which would act as a veil to the image after. It entices the viewer to flick. the simplicity of laser cutting opens the possibilities of the materials in which i can play through creating vector drawn images that can be cut out of materials of choice.

The nature of having something laser cut lends itself to the nature of net curtains having in lamen terms "cut out bits' the concept of partial material veiling something is what net curtains were originally designed for.

I will contact some Laser cutters to get some quotes.

Research - V and A Musuem Lace Collection

Following my research into lace I thought best to see some of the nations most prided patterns and samples held at the Victoria and Albert museum in the textile department. 


Following on from this trip I had to work out the fundamentals of what lacework typically is constituted with in terms of if there where and significances between the pieces.


I noticed that patterns were created and replicated and where primarily orientated around one or two single motifs that would be centralised in the piece.


It was if there was a grid system to which decoration was worked upon. 

Possible form of outcome

CD covers for popular Belgium DJ's Soulwax, these designs use the shaping of the patterns to form a basis to create a clever design in which the text for the CDs are concealed in the width of the lines. The perspective of the viewer once viewed after first glance can decipher the message.

Messages from within

Designer Veil

Its common for creative industries of design to follow trends. But here are some images which I found that show the multitude of ways aesthetic design has used net and lace.

Here are last seasons mast have accessory the modern take of the conventional sunglasses The Chanel sunglasses emphasise the nature of lace being decorative and a turns on its head the primarily purpose of what sunglasses have been invented by man to function as.

These glasses are to not protect the eyes from the harsh sun but as a visible barrier to construct a wall between the person wearing them to the world. These sunglasses protect its owners from the fro the public gaze. These sunglasses are a status symbol.

The origin of my want to discover the world of lace and its significance as a craft through my work placement and Alexander Mc Queen where I was designing lace leggings on illustration. The intricacy of such a medium brings a tactile quality to the realm of what is uncommonly thought of as being trendy through the glamorisation of other craft based mediums.

Alexander Mc Queen - Spring/Summer 2009

As you can see this is method that i may be able to utilise with having embroidery as a way of creating imagery that is delicate enough to create visible physical relief without weighing down the fabric.

Collar designed by Josef Storck 1880

All Dressed up...

This is the new Ministry of Culture in Paris,

The building is wrapped by metal lace caging. The building serves a purpose for a site that according to a site found and was previously dispersed over 17 locations around the city.

The visual design aimed to bring the concept of unity and identity. The organically shaped steel weave casts a patterned shadow upon the inner building and will change in appearance by the phases of the sun moving from day to night which casts shadows into the inner side of the building.

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/France/Paris/Minist%E8re%20de%20la%20Culture,

Fanatics

Are you a "curtain twitcher"?

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=16669358


Found this thread and thought the style of which people described the enjoyment of being a voyeur amusing, it seems spying has become a past time for the housebound Englishman.

Here are snapshots of the best:

Fanatics

Quoted text from article:

'Welcome to Net Curtains! Some might say that Net Curtains are an unfashionable deterrent to burglars circa 1975, but my Mum still likes 'em and for some reason many of us have a strange desire to photograph them. Whatever your reason for being here, please show us your starchiest, flimsiest, most flowery or geometrically patterned, kitsch and modern Net Curtains for us all to have a good twitch!'

Material experiment - Interfacing

Interfacing textile material is commonly known in the textile industry as a means to:


- stiffen or add body to fabric, such as the interfacing used in shirt collar,
- strengthen a certain area of the fabric, for instance where buttonholes will be sewn,
- keep fabrics from stretching out of shape, particularly knit fabrics

Interfacings come in a variety of weights and stiffnesses to suit different purposes. Generally, the heavier weight a fabric is, the heavier weight an interfacing it will use. Most modern interfacings have heat-activated adhesive on one side. They are affixed to a garment piece using heat and moderate pressure, from a hand iron for example. This type of interfacing is known as "fusible" interfacing. Non-fusible interfacings do not have adhesive and must be sewn by hand or machine.

A material like this can be used by myself to create an effective 'hand touch' to the imagery that will be on the lace I shall test it out and blog the results.

White Out by SpaceOperaform

Found on: www.dezeen.com

'Designer Alex Suarez of Amsterdam and Los Angeles studio SpaceOperaForm has created an installation at a former salt factory in Hallein, Austria, comprising translucent panels that react to the static charge of visitors. Called WhiteOut, the installation consists of parallel panels made of thermally-bonded polypropylene filaments, suspended from the ceiling.'

This type of work shows an awareness of space and tests the conformability of the participant. the simplicity of the idea brings upon a sensory experience. I particularly look at this work in hope for it to inspire me to create a final design that will engage the viewer possibly through space.

Qoute

"If the eyes are the windows of the soul, then the windows of a house reveal the secrets of its owner. Which means you need to get the curtains right to avoid giving the wrong impression."

Qoute

According to research by Dr Beckmann, a company which makes Net Curtain Whitener:

'Sales have risen by a fifth this year - the first increase since 2003'