Thursday 1st January 2015

HAPPY 2015 EVERYONE!!

I have had a much busier day than planned!!!
It's the new me, the new motivated worker!! :P

Bit O'Research...

Nikki McWilliams.
I came across a statement by Nikki McWilliams in an article on the importance of an on-line presence in the preservation of craft. Nikki McWilliams is a designer, based in Dundee who creates bold and playful homeware based upon an obsession with the traditional 'tea break'. After completing a degree in Fine art, where she explored textile sculpture, McWilliams set to create functional objects which had a place outside the gallery setting.
I really love Nikki McWilliams' work, its bright and bold patterns combine beautifully with the homeware theme. McWilliams' work in a way relates to what I am trying to achieve in this project, developing my ideas, still playing and experimenting, but thinking about a more functional context outside the sculptural gallery exhibition.


I also carried with the writing on my report. My plan today was to reach a goal of 2,000 words. That Way I would be half way through the report with half the week left! I did not quite manage it, 50 words short :( but I do think I have a good excuse considering it was New Years day and I took a trip the seaside for more inspiration.

Today's work...

Nikki McWilliams is a designer, based in Dundee who creates bold and playful homeware based upon an obsession with the traditional 'tea break'. After completing a degree in Fine art, where she explored textile sculpture, McWilliams set to create functional objects which had a place outside the gallery setting. (Nikki McWilliams, 2012). Designer McWilliams said, “...Having an online presence is like having a window to the world…” in an article for the BBC which described the importance of craft becoming digital. Nikki McWilliams’ work was spotted online and was chosen to have her cushions displayed in Selfridges windows during the Queen’s Jubilee. (Vanessa Barford, 8/11/12).

It is clear that rather than being suppressed by the globalisation of the textile market, the internet has provided the maker with a vast array of new opportunities. Craft has been given an online presence, developing a form of free advertising where consumer is able to follow the thought processes or inspiration of the maker through blog work or online articles, making the process even more individualised. The bond between crafter and consumer is enriched and stronger than ever across the world.

Have technological advances favoured mass production over craft production?

Recently, there has been an explosion in the development of digital production methods, particularly in textile production.


IT is clear that the next step for the writing is to research digital production methods, in order to continue writing tomorrow. I have already completed research on innovations in mass production compared to individual production, but want to take it one step further, exploring digital print and CAD embroidery.

In addition to all of this written and on-line work, I also took the opportunity today to take a trip to Felixstowe to gain further inspiration for the work ahead. I took a great deal of photos, which again will soon be seen on pinterest in days to come... http://www.pinterest.com/nathanmison9/ba8-visual-research/ I aim to shortly begin drawing for this project, but will have just a couple more days off in preparation for this stage. I now have a wealth of imagery, but will also be looking in the next couple of days for further visits over the next couple of months to help my work continue to be thorough and in-depth.