Visual Research - Norwich Castle

Following the project briefing, one of the main things we were told was that our last projects distinctively lacked visual research, sources of inspiration which can help to push us in our work, so we maintain enthusiasm and create a variety of new and exciting ideas.

Floral Motif Tile, Norwich Castle Museum

With this in mind, I decided to visit the Norwich Castle Museum, a museum full of a variety of exhibits from the Romans to pottery and portraiture. I used the opportunity to take a few photographs of objects which I felt interested in and which related to my focus for this project.

Whilst going around and looking at all all of the exhibitions, one thing that stood out to me was the lack of pattern in the Roman and Celtic displays. It is not until after these exhibits, in the pottery and decorative arts exhibitions, dated much later, that the use of pattern was included within objects. Perhaps this is because iin the Roman era, objects were just created to fit a specific purpose, they did not need to look pretty or necessarily be sold. Many object were made individually or by specific trades to meet the needs of local people.

However, during the Edwardian and Elizabethan eras, the main focus of the decorative arts movement, trade had begun to develop into a major part of the way the world and countries worked together. For this reason, it was important to make object appealing to people, so they would buy them. This has developed into the the global consumer culture we have today, focused around creating things for others to enjoy.

Glass Vase, Norwich Castle Museum

In the Norwich Castle Museum, there was a wealth of inspiration, particularly in the pottery exhibitions, especially the custard pots, small pots with a decorative motif used for keeping custard warm, and the Chinese and Chinese inspired pottery. In both of these exhibitions, the colours used immediately stood out to me, usually using blue or red onto and cream or white background. This more simplistic colour scheme lead to more of a focus onto the design, often a hand drawn motif. This, although a simple idea, focused the attention more onto the intricate design onto the pottery and the way it interacted with the shape of the pottery, instead of using a grand variety of colour to create an overpowering piece of mess!

In relation to my own work, this has made me think a little further ahead than the stage I am at, perhaps a little too far, into the design development stages. Not every design has to be a boring, strict, obvious repeat. I must look back on the pictures I have taken in the museum when I come to this stage of my work to aid me in the creation of more flowing motifs, also thinking carefully about the design and the product that it is intended for.

IMAGES AVAILABLE ON..... http://www.pinterest.com/nathanmison9/ba6-patterns-in-nature/