OUCP701 Practice and Professional Development – Page 6

Instagram Posts to date: Insights

Below shows screenshots of the insights of my Instagram Posts to date. The first set of posts shown in my ‘Initial Posts’ blog post are not included in the insights below as Instagram only keeps track of engagement of your most recent 12 posts. Therefore going forward I know to note these sooner and more often in order to analyse the engagement of what the audience likes to see more of, therefore in turn hoping to help shape a final range of posts.

Engagement and insights from this set of Instagram Posts show, that the posts relative to Kylie Jenner’s ‘Kylie Cosmetics’ makeup range were most seen, ‘liked’ and commented on, showcasing her current popularity within the social media communities.

I also found that digitally created artwork was much better received also, reinforcing my thoughts on this highlighted in a previous post.

Instagram Post: 14/10/16

This is working towards objective 4.A and 1.

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‘Like’ it on Instagram, here!

Caption: “New shades targeting the relationship between consumer and brand culture – how many do you own?”

This post highlights the impact of how a brand can affect a consumer without knowing when one releases a range of new ‘shades’ or products. Instagram, YouTube and brand culture has created an urge to own all of a brands product range in order to have a ‘full makeup kit’ and create beautiful ‘shade swatches’ for your photo streams and video clips. Furthermore, the more you own the more you appear to look like you follow the trends, which is what in turn social media marketing, ads and ‘competitor’ accounts want to you feel like.

How does this affect how we view brands? Do we feel the need to keep up to constantly look the best using the newest ‘on-trend’ shades? How does this in turn affect our self-perception and furthermore, our decision making processes as a consumer?

Dunne and Raby: Critical Design-led Research

In my previous post, ‘Initial Project Ideas’ I noted that each contained an element of Critical Design, especially the Instagram Posts and Posters which I am currently experimenting with. However, I was told about Dunne and Raby in a tutorial with Anne-Marie, and wanted to see how they carry out work as practitioners, and how this in return relates to my practice.

Critical Design is when “design as a medium to stimulate discussion and debate amongst designers, industry and the public about the social, cultural and ethical implications of existing and emerging technologies.”

Anthony and Fiona, commonly know as Dunne and Raby, are both Professors, Authors and Designers and have worked featured in galleries across the world, such as MoMA in NYC and The Design Museum in London.

What does Critical Design mean?

“Critical Design uses speculative design proposals to challenge narrow assumptions, preconceptions and givens about the role products play in everyday life. It is more of an attitude than anything else, a position rather than a method. There are many people doing this who have never heard of the term critical design and who have their own way of describing what they do. Naming it Critical Design is simply a useful way of making this activity more visible and subject to discussion and debate.” (Dunne and Raby, 2007)

Work Example:

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Image Source

The following extract is taken from: Weeds, Aliens and Other Stories, 1994-98

Dunne & Raby / Michael Anastassiades

“Weeds Aliens and Other Stories is a collection of psychological furniture for the home and garden. The project grew out of a deep dissatisfaction with the narrow range of psychological needs met by furniture. How many more chairs, tables and shelving units do we need in the world?

Weeds Aliens and Other Stories began as a sketchbook of drawings and ideas exploring the English obsession with the garden and seemingly irrational relationships between people and their plants. We wanted to encourage people to play out their eccentricities within their urban homes, homes with very little or no garden at all. These unacknowledged behaviours become legitimised through new types of furniture.

Garden Horn: A device for speaking to plants that otherwise might be neglected.

Meeting: A piece of indoor furniture to grow and look after; a place to meet and make up when lovers become neighbours.

Talking Tabs: Labels for reciting poems or recipes to plants.

Cricket Box: A drawer for collecting garden sounds.

Intensive Care: Communication with demanding plants anywhere, anytime.

Cucumber Table: A device for containing, growing, straigtening and displaying cucumbers.

Rustling Branch: Sounds replace appearances; an alternative to the vase.

Reserved: Seating to be shared with flowers.

Fabrication: Ben Legg
Technical advice: Rick Thomas, Mark Bullimore, Jon Rogers
Sound design: Jayne Roderick
Photography: Salvatore Vinci
Thanks to: Andre Cooke, The British Council Window Gallery Prague, Mark Daniels, Northern Architecture, Northern Arts, Sophie Smallhorn, Robin Blackledge, and Claire Catterall

The project is in the permanent collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.”

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I chose to look at this example being drawn in by the use of photography as this still remains a dominant form of visual within both beauty and fashion industries, be on social media or in magazines and made me think how as well as illustrations and other forms of graphic design, how photography could somehow be used as a Critical Design-led research method in order to spark discussion around the research topic at hand.

It also allowed me to reflect on how even though I have used only illustrations to date, the same concept behind the form of research is prominent similarly to Dunne and Raby’s work in regards to gaining peoples attention in order to make them think, and ultimately engage in discussion or debate. However, I feel now knowing more about their background, their work and methods using forms such as video, photography, installation and sometimes illustration also, I feel I will be able to apply this knowledge going forward to further pieces of work. In addition, the benefit of collaborating with other interdisciplinary artists and creatives is evident allowing for various forms of work to be created including a wide range of conceptual projects and writings, sharing skill sets, ideas and knowledge. This is also something I would like to introduce into my practice in order to generate new ideas and informed conversation.

Sources:
http://www.dunneandraby.co.uk/content/projects/74/0 Last Accessed: 13th October 2016
http://www.dunneandraby.co.uk/content/bydandr/13/0 Last Accessed: 2nd December 2016

Further Instagram Blogging Posts

This is working towards objective 4.A and 1.

Following up on my previous post showing the initial posts I had shared on Instagram from the past couple of weeks, I wanted to follow this up with the most recent set of posts.

In addition to sharing these digital posts, I have also been sharing the screen-printing experiments via my Instagram platform to engage active members of the target audience to connect, comment or like in order for me to gain further insight to analyse over time, whilst also seeing which aesthetic my target audience prefer, allowing for this to be applied going forwards in order to gain the largest reach to share the message and findings of my research questions.

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The caption for this particular post was: “When society tells you how to be, how to look, how to be as a person.. brands reinforce their power, redesign their packaging to sell those ideas” enforcing that ideas of brand culture, the power of advertising and also the power of packaging design which is becoming much more important in the saturated beauty market in order to make both new and existing products stand out.

With the boom of the ‘brow trend’, brands have very quickly caught on to this trend and engagement and have since very quickly released new and existing products as part of a new range to entice even more individuals into the cosmetics world, showing their power, and also highlighting the sheepishness of the consumer market.

This particular post has been designed using digital illustration in order to gain a recognisable and realistic CAD design opposed to being a flat vector, contrasting some of my previous posts slightly, whilst also being re creations of real products allowing for brand specific messaged to be relayed.

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This post, again echoes what has been noted above, whilst also adding another post related to the ‘Kylie Cosmetics’ range as also noted through a previous design. Again using a CAD style of illustration and a tongue-in-chic tone of voice, Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kits have been re-drawn showcasing how synonymous her name is with her products, logo, and packaging. ‘Bebas Neue’ is the font which Kylie Cosmetics uses for both branding and packaging design and therefore has also been used allowing for instant recognisability and visual connection with the viewer.

The product name however has been changed to “WHAT’S MY NAME AGAIN?” being inspired by the cultural icon of Kylie Jenner and the idea that when you become so famous and so recognisable you lose your identity and become a commodity. I feel this is extremely resonant with Jenner reaching out into the cosmetics market, and dominating it via social media platform Instagram, therefore being natural to include it in this exploratory project.

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The post above was tagged with the caption, “How many of you would say that about yourselves when you look in the mirror? You are beautiful. Have confidence and forget what the media tells you to look like”, in order to showcase the importance of vanity in the digital age, and to also empower women to believe in themselves and spark thought about the way that they perceive themselves.

This post features simply typography, and a subtle illustration allowing for a further visual link between posts. Typography has been used in such solitary format in order to relay a message in a way whereby the viewer is instantly impacted by the question they are faced, provoking thought.

Posts on Instagram:

Below shows the above posts in context. I have also shown some comments which I received in regards to feedback, as well as the hashtags used to engage with the Instagram community which I am currently trailing and testing out to see what gives the best reach and engagement. Positive feedback also allows me to see that the subject matter and visuals are being received well and having a positive impact, which also affirming the idea of critical-design as used by Dunne and Raby (2007) allowing for such posts to mock assumptions and preconceptions of how one is told to look and be by the media, therefore highlighting such issue in an indirect way.

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Initial Screen-Printing Experiments

This is working towards objective 4.C.

For my initial screen-printing experiments which make up part of my “Social Media Posts and Poster” Project as noted below, I chose to select this particular post to experiment with.

I wanted to test different colours and inks to see what the best method of print (digital or traditional) is in regards to outcome and commerciality, in order to take a selected few further for development whilst acting as pieces of critical-design led research via engaging with the active target audience mocking preconceived assumptions, expectations and ideas.

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“This post is essentially a satirical, mocking and sarcastic response to the instantly recognisable drippy lip icon which Kylie Jenner uses to symbolise her ‘Lip Kits’. The concept of this was perceiving the packaging design and iconography as how we should use the product without prior knowledge of cosmetics, responding to a world and community where individuals are so guided and influenced by visuals, therefore assuming that everyone is aware of these products, brands and uses.”

Below shows a range of photographs documenting the screen-printing process. The colours chosen initially to work with were Flesh Colour for the Lips, Metallic Gold, Gloss Red and Black. For this, red acrylic paint was mixed with Spot Varnish in order to contrast with the matte lips and typography. The same thought process was behind this with the gold – not only to add a different dimension to the print in regards to the effects produced digitally, but to associate with the “Kylie Cosmetics” and target audience also.

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Whilst printing the Red Lips as shown above, I realised that I had not accounted for leakage around the edges of the screen leaving bleed marks as shown above. I also found it quite difficult to align the lipstick drips to the lips as I set-up the print bed with the main print to the back of the screen. I found that I was wasting quite a lot of time and prints trying to sort out the slight miss alignments – also shown above. When I began to set the screen up for the gold prints, I sealed the edges to avoid leakage and bleed, and also set up the print-bed backwards to ensure the print I was working on first was closest to the front. I hoped after spending so much time to resolve the issues printing initially that the gold versions would work out better.

I found by having the print closer to me, I was able to align the remainder of the prints correctly, however the metallic gold ink came out quite transparent allowing for a gold sheen to be applied, opposed to a block of colour. I wasn’t overly keen on how this looks as didn’t feel it was as strong visually as the digital versions. I also felt that the prints as a whole looked very flat due to a lack of background colour or tone within the colours used for the lips for example.

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A3 Poster Prints and A6 Postcards were produced as shown below.

I do feel though however that even though the screen-printing process was enjoyable, it may not be the best form of print to take forward throughout my practice and development due to be so time consuming and limiting in regards to the amount of experiments I’d like to carry out surrounding this particular Social Media Post and Poster project.

In comparison to the breadth and amount of work, effects and variety which can be achieved digitally in the same time, I found with my ideas for on-going posts it makes more sense visually and logically to continue producing digital varieties. I also feel that I can produce more impactful results digitally, and furthermore I can target the ‘digital age’ of active social media users, via digital posts, which I feel will be very beneficial in regards to targeting the right audience and receiving the right feedback through my critical-design led posts.

In addition, the variety of posts which I have ‘posted’ on Instagram over the past week would not all allow for easy translatable designs which could be screen printed to the same ‘glossy’ effect, as I have included and shown to date through variety of CAD designs.

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Taking this onwards, I am hoping to work digitally producing a further range of experimental prints and posts which can feed into both the Poster Project and also the zine, which again I feel by working digitally will be more in tune with the chosen target audience for such projects. I would also like to continue working with a critical-design approach.

Article: “Be Realistic! How Technology Affects Your Perception of Beauty”, By Dr. Robert Tornambe

This is working towards objective 1.

“How can women, young or not, aspire to look like modern-day role models when the role models themselves don’t even look like their photos?”

Whilst researching the surrounding contexts of the recent technological developments within the Beauty industry and how this can in turn effect our self-perception, I came across the article shown below on Oprah.com, written by Dr. Robert Tornambe, whom is a “New York City plastic surgeon, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S.) and diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (board certified). Dr. Tornambe has lectured in the United States and Europe and is considered an expert in cosmetic facial and breast surgery. He was listed in New York Magazine’s “The Best Doctors in New York.” Dr. Tornambe has appeared on Dateline, NBC’s Today and The Charlie Rose Show, and he was the only New York City–based plastic surgeon to appear on the ABC series Extreme Makeover. His latest book is The Beauty Quotient Formula (Hay House)” and was struck by the question he posed mid-article, which I have noted at the top of this post for reference also.

This question posed, brought to life the idea that technology does change how we see ourselves, and also other people, especially with individuals whom go to extreme lengths to fulfil their ‘ideal’ vision of themselves based on those they follow, admire and look up to whether this be through cosmetic surgery or photo-editing platforms/tools. In turn, this made me think about my own research question and how the idea of ‘role modes’ relates to self-perception and body image issues in this particular context of beauty, surrounding the new phenomenon of brands using celebrities, bloggers and vloggers as marketing and communications tools. For example, the Rimmel “Get the Look App” (noted in a previous post – ‘Recent Technological Advances and Developments within the Beauty Industry’) which allows the user to take a photo of themselves and apply pre-set makeup looks inspired by their models and campaigns. Kate Moss in this instance is used as the main anchor for the campaign, enticing app downloads through the promise of quite literally getting her look – however, the photo of Kate Moss itself is edited – a prime example of the posed question.

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Rimmel Get The Look App
Image Source

We currently live in a society whereby access to celebrity information and photographs for example is instant via digital platforms. We know every beauty product they use thanks to hashtags and brand endorsements, allowing followers to engage with small, but key parts of their lifestyles, replicating it hoping to achieve the same results. Furthermore, along with the Instagram streams for example, recent advanced technologies and releases of ‘beautifying’ apps also now allow this change to happen instantaneously if desired. As Dr. Tornambe notes that “the touch-up technician has become an essential part of every photo project” hinting at the idea that whether we ‘edit’ ourselves through permanent changes or not, many people feel the need to look perfect and flawless to be perceived a certain way and will use one or more mediums to do so.

I found the article below particularly interesting in the sense that these “stars” were almost unreachable in a sense that at one point in time, they would only be featured in high-end fashion magazines such as Vogue, and on billboard campaigns. However at present day, as discussed in my ‘Initial Thoughts on Social Media and Publications’ post, these platforms are becoming much more interlinked and allow for the end-user to contribute their own photographs and instantly engage with content and the surrounding online communities on a personal level. Furthermore, by using various digital and print based outlets to showcase brand campaigns, collections, sponsorships and products for example, more people are being targeted, and more people are contributing therefore as a whole resulting in a constant stream of faces, selfies, outfits and lifestyles being showcased inadvertently on our smartphones influencing changes in body image and self-perception overtime.

“The digital age has brought with it wonderful advantages in all aspects of people’s lives, but it has also created certain unexpected troubles—one of which is a detrimental change in society’s perception of beauty.”

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Full Article:

I have highlighted key points which I believe will help in the understanding and unpicking of my research question, whilst there also being several points of which back up points I have already mentioned in this post, or in previous posts prior to finding and reading this article.

“Years ago, actresses were glamorous, larger-than-life movie icons and role models that women looked up to and wanted to be like. But, now that you can follow celebrities on Twitter, read about their makeups and breakups on their blogs and in the tabloids, movie stars are becoming more like…you. Find out how technology has influenced your perception of how you look at yourself and modern-day Hollywood.

The digital age has brought with it wonderful advantages in all aspects of people’s lives, but it has also created certain unexpected troubles—one of which is a detrimental change in society’s perception of beauty.

Prior to computers, magazines and cinema were the sole outlets influencing your perception of beauty. Movie icons—larger than life—were admired on the silver screen, and their more notable adventures were followed in magazines. Carefully orchestrated photo shoots with perfect lighting, makeup and hair styling enhanced the stars’ already beautiful faces. These stars were idolized for their beauty and style. And the general public placed the lucky, well-known celebrities on pedestals, crowning them as royalty. They were role models—adored, but not copied, because it was understood that they lived a life far different from the average person. Stars were admired…from afar.

Fast-forward to the present, ever-changing computer age where you are bombarded by images of all forms and gossip about those celebrities who used to be so glamorized—so distant and different than you. Their lives are chronicled on a daily basis thanks to Twitter, blogs, online magazines and other easily attainable media, creating an almost intimate relationship between the public and the stars. And this change in society’s relationship has changed its view of beauty. Since these celebrities are now on your level, doesn’t that also mean you can be more like them?

The bar for women has been set unrealistically high by the role models people have today. The deck has been stacked against the modern woman. It was bad enough women used to see 17-year-old fashion models wearing $25,000 haute couture gowns in women’s magazines. Now, thanks to Photoshop and other photo-editing software, photos may be manipulated to make their subjects look thinner or heavier, taller or shorter, bustier or flatter chested. Wrinkles can be magically erased and prized features, such as pronounced cheekbones, can be enhanced. The touch-up technician has become an essential part of every photo project.

So the inevitable question arises: How can women, young or not, aspire to look like modern-day role models when the role models themselves don’t even look like their photos?

The answer should be evident, but with people’s new relationship to the stars and new beauty technologies like Botox, facial fillers and cosmetic surgery, this goal seems to be practically doable. But self-esteem can plummet when women compare themselves to these unrealistic iconic images. They are chasing an illusion and place themselves in a no-win situation.

Take Heidi Montag as an example. Recently, this very pretty 23-year-old, up-and-coming actress underwent 10 different surgical procedures so she could look “more glamorous” and hopefully stand out in the highly competitive Hollywood arena. She stands out now, but for all the wrong reasons! So, how does an intelligent, attractive woman in today’s society adjust to all these unrealistic messages around her?

First, women must stop this star worship and gain back a bit of separation between the woman on the screen and the woman in the mirror. Realize that what you see in the media is not reality. These faces should not be the faces you aspire to have. Choose realistic role models for various stages of life. And remember that as wonderful as plastic surgery is, if you are 60 years old, you are never going to look like Heidi Klum. Look for women who are beautiful and vivacious, yet who are aging gracefully, like Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep—or your boss or neighbor. Use these as your role models, and your life will become much simpler and your goals more attainable.

Also, women need to discard their one-dimensional definition of beauty. Beauty does not lie in physical features alone. It’s about the whole package: physical beauty, mental strength, warm personality and personal presentation. So stop looking in the mirror and seeing the glass as half empty. Instead of looking for flaws, embrace your positive characteristics and figure out ways to enhance them. Stop wishing for someone else’s nose or hair and fall in love with your own. A face can be structurally imperfect but still beautiful. Intangibles make a woman beautiful, and you must recognize those wonderful quirks that you possess and be proud of them. Develop a beauty arsenal consisting of clothing that fits well and enhances your attributes. Create a solid hair-and-makeup routine, and exercise to stay healthy and build your confidence. Confidence is the real secret here! A confident woman is a beautiful woman. Learn how to feel great on the inside as well as the outside.”

Source:
Dr Robert Tornabe (2010) Your Perception of Beauty in the Digital Age http://www.oprah.com/spirit/your-perception-of-beauty-in-the-digital-age#ixzz4MoUl5FzX, Last Accessed: 11th Oct 2017

Instagram Blogging Posts using Critical-Design

This is working towards objective 4.A and 1.

I would like to experiment with the idea of a Critical Design-led project using methods founded by Dunne and Raby (2007), which features a range of digital blogging posts using speculative design proposals and ideas in order to challenge the assumptions, ideals, trends, pre-empted conceptions about brands, products and objects within the Beauty and Fashion Industries, whilst provoking thought, sparking conversation and debate.

Furthermore, I would like to then develop these posts based on received feedback to further to achieve a realised outcome, which would be made up of a carefully selected and curated range of printed posters, which could either be sold or exhibited. The final outcome would aim to reflect the findings of my research question which explores the responsibilities of the Fashion and Beauty Industries, understanding how Social Media and Magazines influence and affect our sense of self-perception and body image” whilst utilising the collated research based on this critical-design led project.

To coincide with this blog and my journey on the MA Creative Practice course, I have decided to also open an Instagram account which will serve as a social media platform to share the work I am creating and developing, whilst engaging with an active consumer market in the hope of sparking thoughts and interest on the noted issues around the Fashion and Beauty Industries.

The Instagram account can be found here, and the account itself promotes this blog and encourages followers and viewers to stop, look, visit, read, question and think in a different way.

I have already posted several times this week on Instagram to get the ball rolling and to assess what works/doesn’t work for the target audience in regards to content, whilst exploring different digital processes and techniques. The posts which have ‘gone live’ this week can be seen below, and have so far received a positive reception from the Instagram community.

I plan on collating a list of ideas for posts which can be produced in advance, to then be uploaded everyday day or two in order to continually engage with the targeted communities and audience whilst building up a series of illustrations and typographic design work which can be used and further developed going forward. By planning posts in advance I can ensure that these then relate to research topics and projects at hand as previously noted, whilst ensuring any problems or issues are illeviated in advance. Furthermore my allocating set blocks of time to plan and create these posts on a regular basis I am hoping for this to be a smooth running, on-going process.

A variation of approaches in regards to aesthetic has been used in order to gain ideas of which has the best reception in regard to target audience (female, 16-24 years old), those whom are active on social within fashion and beauty communities, whilst using critical-design through use of typographic statements informing satirical vector and CAD based illustrations, relaying serious messages with parodical undertones.

I decided to start off by creating posts relevant to my proposal and the ‘Initial Thoughts’ blog post.

Further Context:

Social Media, has become notorious for ‘influencing’ what we wear through the boom of bloggers and vloggers as well as through the rise of brand engagement, digital magazine publishing and promotion as well as celebrity accounts. These “influencers” as they choose to be called, collectively ‘influence’ how we look, promote ‘ideals’ and almost tell us what and wear to buy our products from, however, many ‘consumers’ seem unaware of the affects these daily streams of content can have on us in regards to body image and self-perception issues, let alone our purses.

The posts which I have been creating and posting this week aim to reflect this in a tounge-in-chic manner, using bold graphics, feminine colours and copy which has been written to not only raise the point of influence and scale within these industries, but to show this visually. I hope to collate a range of posts which can then be experimented with through hands-on print processes such as screen-printing, in order to see what gives the most effective results, engagement and insight with the target audience, whilst delivering the message in the most appropriate visual manner.

This first post is targeted at noting the rise of “fashion bloggers”, the readiness and easiness of this as a career path and the competitiveness which surrounds it. With the right platform, anyone can try to make it as a fashion blogger, or even beauty blogger making the industry overwhelmingly competitive. The more followers you have, the more brand kudos and sponsorship you shall receive, similarly to celebrities and ‘face time’ on campaigns, tv and magazines, etc. This competitiveness can spark self-perception issues and generate ideas around a rise of narcissists, allowing for a career which is very self-consuming and all about ‘the self’.

This post is essentially a satirical, mocking and sarcastic response to the instantly recognisable drippy lip icon which Kylie Jenner uses to symbolise her ‘Lip Kits’. The concept of this was perceiving the packaging design and iconography as how we should use the product without prior knowledge of cosmetics, responding to a world and community where individuals are so guided and influenced by visuals, therefore assuming that everyone is aware of these products, brands and uses.

This was created in response to how many Selfies were currently on Instagram at the time of creating this post, whilst addressing the question of how as individuals we have contributed to this overtime. Some selfies may also be Instagram without even being aware – friend or group selfies which one may not have tagged you in for example, or possibly old accounts you had forgotten about or thought you may of deleted. Either way, photos of you are live in circulation under the # system, and are reasonably accessible to most people around the world whether you know them or not. I wanted people to think about these sorts of questions and even possibly question whether that is okay or not ethically? Should our photographs be so public? Or do we by using social media, consent ourselves to be seen, judged and viewed by others? What harm does this do to us? Or do some see it as a positive?

This post questions the current growing trend of ‘perfect brows’ in a dominant, loud and illustrative manner, highlighting the ‘growing importance’ of such facial feature with the beauty industry and social media communities. By using language relative to the target audience and trend alike, this post aims to engage with such audience and spark thoughts about how they think and feel about their own features.

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Below shows the posts in situ on Instagram, whilst showing engagement from the Instagram community in regards to ‘likes’. ‘Insights’ becomes available for the most recent post only after 24 hours of being posted which shows how many people have seen the posts, and how many actually engage with it through ‘likes’ or comments. This is something I plan on noting for each overtime to assess what has the best reach. I also plan to do this as noted above to see which aesthetic and topic of choice appeals to the target most also in order to curate my further exploratory work to this demographic:

It is apparent from the above 4 screenshots that ‘Kylie Jenner’ references and ‘Brow’ were best received, highlighting how trends and cultural icons have power over such users, therefore potentially affecting ones self-perception.

Penguin Posse

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Penguin Posse is a creative group of writers, illustrators and designers who meet up two-monthly, in order to share their recent, work, inspirations and share ideas. It is organised by Zeppo and More Please Dennis, and takes place at Heart in Headingley, Leeds.

Tonight I spoke for 10 minutes at the most recent Penguin Posse event about my new journey on the MA Creative Practice course, and gave a brief insight into my proposal and the exploratory social media work I have just began undertaking, whilst discussing the ideas of feminism, narcissism, self-perception, consumerism, brand culture, sociology, psychology and identity which underpin and contextualise my research question.

I found that talking through and outlining my practice sparked relative interests in other interdisciplinary artists, writers and designers leading onto a published Leeds based poet Jaimes Lewis Moran, to deliver a passage titled, ‘Rachel’ regarding identity in today’s society, where culture almost fuels noise and confusion as to who we are as people, what we stand for and believe in. I also found that I resonated with Stéphanie Vendryes’ work, a Fine Artist whom talked about her new project whereby she is interested in the idea of how a photograph can reflect someone in a very different way in contrast to traditional portraiture, due to changing perceptions, technologies and lifestyles. I related with this instantly, and contextualised this reflecting on identity, the self and photography within my own practice, thinking about how again we project ourselves through our own photographs, or ‘selfies’ on social media, in contrast to the photographs which are seen in magazines and brand advertisements and campaigns, or again different to those seen 50 years ago in the same context. Upon further reflection, the idea and theory of narcissism also comes into play looking at both practices – portraits are becoming much more rare over time, due to changing lifestyles, consumerism and trends, but furthermore because we enjoy being able to edit, and selectively choose what we put out in the world for others to see, influencing how others perceive oneself, as often seen within the beauty and fashion industries.

I will continue to attend the Penguin Posse events, and hope to continue sharing ideas and pushing my own thoughts within my practice, whilst bettering my verbal presentation skills. I really found tonight beneficial and would recommend it to any creative practitioner wanting to share their work and engage with other interdisciplinary artists, designers and writers in a relaxed atmosphere.

Semester Planning and Time Management

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In regards to planning my upcoming projects both practical, oral and written, it was important to me to plan ahead so I can see when I have submissions, key dates, inductions, planned events, freelance work and personal events in order to effectively use my time moving forward.

I initially began doing this on my desktop calendar (see above), using a colour coding system to plan my time, and then realised that this is probably not the best way of planning my time as I cannot clearly see in advance when submissions are in relation to when key events are to plan research, development and practical/written work accordingly, whilst leaving enough time to account for any changes and feedback to be taken into account. Therefore, I felt using a GANTT chart to plan the next 10 weeks, would allow me to see each module together as well as resolving the problems recognised and noted above (see below).
learning-objectives I found the GANTT chart system quite daunting initially, however through grouping presentations, submissions and learning objectives on the left hand side, I have been able to now work through any issues and populate the next 10 weeks of the semester accurately. I found this rather systematic approach difficult to work with when planning one module in isolation, as I found when I collated all 3, some weeks had an unachievable amount of work and objectives to attain, and found a more beneficial approach to planning doing so by project.

This can be seen on the draft shown below:

gantt-chart-draft

From this GANTT chart, I then went on to planning in-depth weeks, which I found much harder to work out accurately as are more likely to change as projects develop, new ideas arise, or problems arise, therefore I have not digitised these as I feel it would be wasting too much time revising them. Therefore, I have decided to keep these separate for on-going evaluation, reflection and revision each week to see if the work load is achievable to a high-standard, and if not, I will be looking to use the GANTT chart as a guide to see when there is time to reallocate. I am hoping that after using these methods of planning for several weeks any major problems can be addressed effectively to avoid any further issues. By planning to LO’s as well as projects, this chart will enable me to see what objectives I have and haven’t fulfilled as time moves on.

I have included an example of how my weekly plans look and work below:

week-2

Initial Project Planning

The below is working towards objective 4.

In order to plan my projects effectively moving forward, I have decided to collate an initial project plan which covers several exploratory ideas which could be taken forward for further development, critique, reflection, evaluation and final realisation in order to fulfil my proposal and learning objectives.

Not only does this explain what I plan on doing, for whom, how and why, it also has allowed me to effectively plan my time and needs over the next 10 weeks around my other modules.

Coffee Table Book
Low-tech Prototype – Fanzine/Lookbook:

To experiment with the viability of the idea of producing a Coffee Table Book, throughout this module I would like to experiment with different image making processes and techniques, forming a fanzine or lookbook of relevant, theoretical, research-led and practice-led based content, echoing the types of content which may populate the final outcome.

The final outcome would aim to reflect the findings of my research question which explores the responsibilities of the Fashion and Beauty Industries, understanding how Social Media and Magazines influence and affect our sense of self-perception and body image.

I plan on targeting a female audience whom have interests which lie within the Fashion and Beauty industries, and furthermore buy into the associative products, campaigns, magazines and social media accounts. By doing so, I am aiming to provoke thoughts and stimulate conversation within this demographic through collated research and written material showcased as visual stimulus.

Whilst targeting an active consumer audience whom associate these Industries with their daily lives, I want to not only highlight the theoretical contexts which underpin this topic in relation to my research question, but to also make women aware of the affects these platforms can have on own self-perception through research and critical design-led content.

By aiming to produce low-tech prototypes of fanzines/lookbooks throughout this module which I can take forward to further develop and craft into a realised outcome, I plan on experimenting with various digital and hands-on processes to produce various forms of content, which I have outlined below:

Processes:

Screen-printing
Book-binding
Paper-engineering (fold-outs and pull-outs)
CAD Design
Illustration
Collage
Photography

Content:

Screen-prints
Critical Design
Digital Prints
Photography
Research-based Content
Facts, Figures and Statistics
Blog Posts/Articles
Typography
Social Media Posts/Magazine Articles

By collating elements of research and content from different research-led sources through experimental visual process and techniques, I am aiming to reflect upon my own ideas, work, applications and findings, in a critical, constructive and evaluative manner in order to take this work forward for on-going development and final realisation.

I have also outlined various topics of ‘discussion’ and theoretical contexts which I aim to address through the content of this publication, and may experiment with throughout this module whilst producing content for the prototype fanzine/lookbook.

Topics and Theoretical Contexts:

Feminism
Narcissism
Misogyny
Self Perception
Sociology and Psychology
Diversity
Mental Health
Celebrity Culture
Consumer Culture
Norms, Ideals and Expectations

I have outlined a timeframe in which I will carry out various forms of practical experiments and processes inline with the proposed project over the next 9 weeks. These have been planned inline with the workshop inductions at college, whilst working around the planning, research and needs of the other modules I am currently undertaking.

Posters and Blogging (Social Media) Posts
Low-tech Prototypes – Screen-printed Poster Series and Digital Posts:

I would like to experiment with the idea of a Critical Design-led project which features a range of digital blogging posts using speculative design proposals and ideas in order to challenge the assumptions, ideals, trends, pre-empted conceptions about brands, products and objects within the Beauty and Fashion Industries, whilst provoking thought, sparking conversation and debate.

Furthermore, I would like to then develop these posts further to achieve a realised outcome, which would be made up of a carefully selected and curated range of printed posters, which could either be sold or exhibited. The final outcome would aim to reflect the findings of my research question which explores the responsibilities of the Fashion and Beauty Industries, understanding how Social Media and Magazines influence and affect our sense of self-perception and body image.

To achieve this, throughout this module I plan on producing a range of experimental prints and posts which engage with a young female target audience, whom are active consumers and users in these noted Industries whether it be buying into fashion trends, makeup products, trend-led products or pop/celebrity-culture for example, and furthermore, are actively engaging with social media communities.

Through targeting an audience whom are currently and actively engaged with the Fashion and Beauty Industries and Social Media, I am aiming to raise awareness of the issues surrounding body image and self-perception, through looking at the actions, marketing strategies of new, or existing products and brands, Bloggers and/or Vloggers, Celebrities and Models, whilst echoing my findings and work within a theoretical context.

By carrying out digital design-led experiments in order to produce relevant blogging posts and low-tech prototypes of prints, I am hoping to log these on my Social Media platform (Instagram) to actively engage with the target audience, promote the work and raise awareness on the issues at hand in a light-hearted, satirical, yet thought-provoking manner, whilst producing a final range of posters curated from post insight, reception and engagement. Through engaging with an active target audience, I am hoping to use this itself as a piece of research informing further Critical Design-led work, in order to allow myself to continually develop through feedback, and through both reflective and critical evaluation.

In addition, whilst reflecting upon my own work, I will also look at and reflect upon the posts and sponsored posts of brands, users and bloggers for example, to see what is currently trending in order to create new content based on these assumptions, trends and ideals.

By aiming to produce low-tech prototypes of prints and blogging posts throughout this module which I can take forward to further develop and craft into a realised outcome, I plan on experimenting with various digital and hands-on processes to produce various forms of content, which I have outlined below:

Processes:

Screen-printing
Hot-foiling
CAD Design
Illustration

Content:

Screen-prints
Critical Design
Digital Prints
Illustration
CAD Design
Celebrity, Pop-Culture and Trend-led content
Challenging the ideas and concepts of brands
Taboo Topics
Questions (for user-engagement)
Critical Design and Research-led content
Facts, Figures and Statistics
Typography

I have also outlined various topics of ‘discussion’ and theoretical contexts which I aim to address through the content of both blogging posts and printed posters, and may experiment with throughout this module whilst producing visual and written content and/or analysis.

Topics and Theoretical Contexts:

Feminism
Narcissism
Misogyny
Self Perception
Sociology and Psychology
Celebrity Culture
Consumer Culture
Norms, Ideals and Expectations

To experiment with the viability of the idea of producing a range of Life-size Barbie Doll Style Boxes, throughout this module I would like to produce a range of scaled-down versions in order to experiment with different crafting processes and techniques, which may fulfil the needs and specifications of the final outcome, whilst allowing for on-doing development to justify my decision making process when taking this further.

The final outcome would aim to reflect the unattainable toy-like figures and ideals which are seen as ‘ideal’ in today’s Fashion and Beauty industries in contrast with ‘real’ women, in a shocking, honest approach, branding each box as we are perceived by others as a result of built-up perceptive, theoretical, cultural, consumerist and societal issues. This project would showcase inevitably how the Fashion and Beauty Industries affect our sense of self, echoing my research question which explores how Social Media and Magazines influence and affect our sense of self-perception and body image.

I plan on targeting a wider audience with this brief, interesting and enticing those who are interested in art, design, fashion, beauty and the theoretical contexts behind this concept. By doing so, I want to not only raise awareness of these issues in relation to my research question but to really showcase this proposal and idea in a prominent, daring and effective way.

For the final outcome, I aim on having at least two life-size boxes situated within an exhibition or installation context, featuring real models situated within these boxes to encompass the idea of being categorised and pinned down to a certain category of beauty and importance, whilst showcasing the contrasts between ‘real women’ and ‘ideal women’ as previously noted. I would also like to experiment with the idea of using these exhibitive platforms as a foundation for an editorial photo shoot also to feed into other project ideas such as the Coffee Table book, or campaign materials for example.

By aiming to produce low-tech prototypes of scaled-down doll toy boxes throughout this module which I can take forward to further develop and craft into a realised outcome as noted above, I plan on experimenting with various digital and hands-on processes to produce various forms of content, which I have outlined below:

Processes:

Woodwork/Lasercutting
Card/Paper stocks (die-cutting and packaging nets)
Sketches
Branding Ideas
Digital CADs

Content (Thought Processes & Questions):

– How would each box be branded differently in relation to ‘real’ or ‘ideal’ women? (How would the fonts change? How would this affect colour and design?)
– Would this be based on how society perceives them? Or how we perceive ourselves?
– What theory would contextualise this?

I have also outlined various topics of ‘discussion’ and theoretical contexts which I aim to address through the branding and execution of the final outcome, and may experiment with throughout this module whilst producing visual experiments and written analysis.

Topics and Theoretical Contexts:

Feminism
Narcissism
Misogyny
Self Perception
Sociology and Psychology
Celebrity Culture
Consumer Culture
Diversity
Norms, Ideals and Expectations

Well-being Campaigns
Low-tech Prototypes – Mockups (Print and Digital):

To experiment with the viability of producing a Well-being Campaign targeting and raising awareness of the effects of the Fashion and Beauty industries, I would like to produce a range of mocked up collateral which raises awareness of these issues in a specific context, in an understandable and relevant manner.

The final outcome would aim to reflect how the Fashion and Beauty Industries affect our sense of self, mental health, physical health and well-being, echoing my research question which explores how Social Media and Magazines influence and affect our sense of self-perception and body image.

I would choose to target an audience of females whom are active users of social media, readers of fashion magazines and trend/celebrity followers, whilst targeting those who have already been affected by such forms of visual media and need help, in an aim to showcase what physical and mental affects these Industries can have on susceptible people, i.e. Eating Disorders or Depression for example.

For the resolved outcome, I plan on launching a campaign across both print and digital forms of media, including social media posts, factual and statistical information, diversity and celebrity contexts, and theoretical contexts to highlight the importance of this issue.

By aiming to produce low-tech prototypes and mockups of campaign materials throughout this module which I can take forward to further develop and craft into a realised outcome, I plan on experimenting with various digital and hands-on processes to produce various forms of content, which I have outlined below:

Processes:

Screen-printing
Sketches
Branding Ideas
Digital Design
Wire Frames
Stickers/Vinyl Cutting
Book-binding

Content:

Informative Website
Social Media Accounts
Booklets
Leaflets
Badges/Stickers
Printed Totes
Posters
Postcards

I have also outlined various topics of ‘discussion’ and theoretical contexts which I aim to address through the content the Well-being Campaign, and may experiment with throughout this module whilst producing visual and written content and/or analysis.

Topics and Theoretical Contexts:

Feminism
Narcissism
Self Perception
Sociology and Psychology
Celebrity Culture
Norms, Ideals and Expectations
Mental Health
Eating Disoders
Obsessive Disorders
Selfie Culture
Getting Help