Crit thinking...

Today was a BIIIIG day. I think I’ve had information overload and now my brain is biting back with a headache! I’m never nervous about speaking, it’s just that moment of silence that comes before the actual feedback. What was most important about the crit today was the confidence that the feedback gave me. I didn’t feel 100% about my direction simply because I felt as though knit was a complex area to step into, of which I had no experience. Taking a little side step to traditional ‘knitting’, has really opened up possibilities of structures I want to explore and construction methods. Most importantly I’ve got back the excitement for my work that I had last semester.

Stef’s question (if I’m looking into construction, will the execution be important?), was something that I hadn’t addressed yet simply because I hadn’t got to a point with my work where I have decided what my outcomes are. As the process is about construction I would like the execution of the ‘pieces’ I create to be shmick. Speaking in the afternoon class with Pia, she reminded me that it was still important not to come to any conclusions about my work. I may create a garment, but I could also create a ‘ball of yarn’ or piece of fabric. Like last semester, until I know these constructions and ‘collaborate’ with them I won’t know what I can produce. I don’t want to use the term intuitive, to describe my work because it can have connotations of unplanned and erratic methods. My process involves analysis and reflection with each experiment I undertake.

Something that has made me more conscious of my communication was Pia’s class. While her work was overwhelming, it forced me to ask more questions about my design process. When I was listening to the presentations today, it became clear to me how much people are pushing the boundaries of fashion. I’m pushing boundaries of construction and design process, but I’m not necessarily questioning the parameters of fashion. It’s not that I don’t ever do this, because my head is always filled with questions about fashion’s applications and relevance. Pia’s session just made me think more about where I sit in the big scheme of things. Where will the pieces I create in fourth year be in six months, one year, five years, twenty years, one hundred years? It’s a sobering thought and the answer is I really don’t know. After all, what is the importance of looking at design processes? Why should we waste time being creative when we can sketch a pretty good t-shirt and pants? That’s taking it pretty far but there is truth to the argument. Last semester the founder of 3fish came in to talk about how he saw a gap in the corporate wear market and created his own organic corporate wear company with a conscious. I would love to actually work with them one day because the company seemed to have a lot of integrity. It’s not to do with design, but it does make a difference.

Ohhh geee, I guess Pia’s talk just made me poke bigger holes in my communication proposal because I’m struggling to ;

a/ define my work

b/ decide where it sits

Going back to the Don’t Panic post, I’m still concerned about the bigger picture. What will I be doing when I get out of Uni? Where am I going to position myself within the industry?? This is a little scary, but you can never get to negative about things, so I’m hoping if I give it more thought the answers might come to me.