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I have received formative feedback from my tutor with regards to my model assignment. It notes that it would be useful to reflect on the feedback and identify what I feel are the key themes and areas for development.

Overall I am doing very well, which I was extremely pleased with considering it was my first ever model making assignment. I need to document more frequently, which I do realise is something I need to do, I’m hoping with time it will become a habit. I’m also aware that whilst deciding on what to create for my final piece I was remembering how pieces of furniture were arranged within the room, how the windows were dressed etc., this I need to document more by taking more photo’s or drawing sketches, include this detail in my learning log to help me progress. This will then hopefully lead me to delve a little deeper into understanding age of finishes of furniture rather than guessing and liking the look of it. My tutor writes that I go on a creative journey through each exercise which he gets through my writing but he would like to see more graphic or modelled material to show this journey. I need to get into the habit of recording my work even if it needs improvement, it is still part of my learning journey. I also need to try to connect my evident feelings from a space to the choices I make, I will try to elaborate on my choices giving reasons for feeling that way.

Overall, I am pleased with my feedback and look forward to finishing part two.

At the beginning of my journey I felt a little concerned as to how I was going to be able to capture the elements needed to create a model, I found it really exciting researching an interior and returning to the room to absorb areas within the room that I may not have noticed first time round. I was able to document what I saw but not necessarily how I felt about the room or how the room made me feel. As time went by and I kept returning to my learning log it gradually felt normal to write down my ideas and express myself in a way that I haven’t done before.

If I was to return to an exercise like this again I would be inclined to read ahead and remind myself to look at the interior and its furnishings in a way that would help me understand how the room makes me feel by listening to the sounds, detailing the smells and emotions to help me build a better picture to move forward.

All in all an excellent start to my Interior Design Course and looking forward to the next assignment.

Here is my final piece, a model that captures the atmosphere and/or experience of my chosen interior. Originally my idea was to suspend the tassel and feathers but after sitting it on the board I much preferred the way shadows are cast from different angles.

I have not found this task easy by any means but when you are told to think about how an interior makes you feel, how can you represent movement, smells, sounds, quality of light and shadow and ultimately the atmosphere, you have a chance to really look at furniture, soft furnishings, patterns, colours and creatively put together an abstract piece that is unique to your way of thinking, which for me ended up being quite enjoyable!

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Over the weekend I sat at the table and collected my materials together to create my final model. It needed to capture the atmosphere and/or experience of the space that I have spent time analysing.

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My end goal was to create a large tassel, using simple materials this process was fairly simple to do. Once I have added feathers to give the tassel a softer edge, I will suspend it by attaching the peg to a board. By using string such as this, it’s more rustic than wool, giving a sense of age, like my chosen interior. By adding feathers I’m hoping to give the model a softer, more calmer look and style. This process was a challenge at first but I have thoroughly enjoyed creating something that captures the atmosphere of my chosen interior.

Here is my final piece, a model that captures the atmosphere and/or experience of my chosen interior. I have not found this task easy by any means but when you are told to think about how an interior makes you feel, how can you represent movement, smells, sounds, quality of light and shadow and ultimately the atmosphere, you have a chance to really look at furniture, soft furnishings, patterns, colours and creatively put together an abstract piece that is unique to your way of thinking, which for me ended up being quite enjoyable!

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After trying but failing at creating models I have read and re-read the brief for Assignment One. It’s really important that I remember the reasons why I felt calm when sat in the room, at what point did I feel that way? I felt a sense of calm immediately entering the room, it was silent and empty, the sunlight was flooding through two or three of the large windows, it smelt of history and stories of families spending quality time came to mind. Spending a bit more time thinking about the atmosphere in the room helped me with ideas of my final model. I intend to create a shape of calm that will suspend from the ceiling. Wish me luck!

When I first read the aim of this exercise, I immediately felt comfortable with developing my sketch modelling techniques. After a few days of pondering I sat down at the table with a few materials – string, glue, card, scissors and matchsticks. I began by looking at my chosen interior, trying to translate my sketches into 3D models. I printed all of the my sketches onto A4 paper and laid them on the table. It sounds easy but I soon found myself trying to create a model that was literally representing my sketches, I looked at making tables and chairs, the one brief in the course content is ‘don’t try and make models that are a literal representation of the space you were in’. A few days later I returned to my materials and sketches and again looked at how they represent movement, sounds, smells, quality of light, emotions and atmosphere. The room itself gives me a sense of history and calmness, so how do I bring those feelings to a 3D Model?

Contextual study point 2.1: Phenomenology

Phenomenology being the study of the way we experience things. In my chosen interior, with the rooms being so large, the sofas and armchairs sit away from the walls giving me the feeling of nurturing, encouraging people to sit and enjoy each others company within talking distance, this creates a cosy, warm, friendly atmosphere. At the same time I feel a sense of cold, strict, harshness. The wall units and tables mostly have straight edges with dark colours, that contributes to the sense of sadness and coldness. This feeling is softened by the flamboyant patterns and colours of the drapes and large rugs. I imagine smartly dressed children sitting quietly in front of the open fire while adults chat amongst themselves. Long winter days would have been very cold with only an open fire to warm the room. The whole room gives me a sense of the Georgian era and tells stories of times gone by.

Thanks for joining me on my first ever blog!

A few weeks ago I was extremely lucky to spend 2 days away at a health spa celebrating very special birthdays with two of my daughters. As soon as you enter the building you have moments of calm, of which is a complete treat when you have a busy lifestyle. Some of the rooms are grand and full of period furniture, pictures and decor.

I have selected this room as my interior space. I would have liked to have spent more time in the room to sketch more of the detail on the furniture but managed to capture most in the time I had.

Mapping the interior – what an experience! It felt really good sketching like this, the shapes are mainly square and/or lots of straight edges. I quickly realised that it doesn’t need to be neat and tidy or even look exactly the same.

This particular room definitely makes me feel safe and at peace, as I sit admiring the decor I imagine people before me doing the same. It was built in the 1700’s so the rooms would have lots of stories to tell. When I visited the same room during the evening I had a spooky feeling, much prefer to admire it’s belongings during the daylight hours.

Listening and recording – I found this task quite difficult. As I sat in the room, I could hear talking from the main reception next door and a few floorboards creaking, sunlight was pouring through the windows giving me a natural sleepy warm feeling.

Form and Light –

Materials

The majority of the materials in the room are fabric and wood, which make up 4 upholstered sofas, 10 armchairs and 3 coffee tables. Both the armchairs and tables are very old, I would guess from the early 1900’s, the smell of the whole room is musty. Flamboyant patterns on both sofas and armchairs give a sense of age, faded patterns in areas on the furniture such as the arms and seat show general wear and tear for furniture of that age. The large room, with high ceilings and large windows fit the style of furniture well, floral style rugs and curtains with tassels complete the furnishings. I imagine the long winter days would have been quite cold, even with an open fire lit, the room is very large and there is a lot of space to heat. I try to envisage a family enjoying the room, quiet reading areas for some, the atmosphere gives me a sense of life and tells stories of times gone by.