UNIT X - 22/5/14

Over the final week of the project my work has begun to come together. The most exciting and challenging part of this project has been designing my work for the Vertical Gallery. The opportunity to be able to realise my ideas has been very beneficial as I have never created work on this scale before and there have been many factors to consider that I had not thought about before. I am now looking forward to making and installing the work and to see how the final piece will turn out for the degree show.

Alongside this I have continued to create samples, with the intention of being for a interior wall piece. The samples have become very geometric and this is a element that I would like to develop, both in my textile samples and drawings. 

The drawing side to my work has been particular enjoyable and informative for this project. I believe this is because it is a quicker process in which to create work and generate ideas as at times hand sewing and embellishing the fabrics can be a lengthy process to achieve the results required. 

The combination of using the laser cutter and hand embroidery is proving interesting and I feel there is scope for developing the combination of a machine led process with hand processes.

Furthermore, I have completed my website and I am happy with how it has turned out. http://alixdessain.wix.com/alix I feel that it shows my style of work and the range of work I produce. Alongside this I have created business cards that will be ready in time for the degree show.

Finally, I have been fortunate in securing an internship for 6 weeks over the summer for Coops London. I am now looking forward to learning more about working for a design company and seeing all aspects of how a creative design business runs. 

UNIT X- 16/5/13

Continuing on from creating my digital drawings to inform my practical samples, I have now begun to stitch these works to create physical pieces of work. Through incorporating the laser cut etching and stitch, a combination of new and old processes are combined.  I am particularly enjoying creating these pieces as although they are very simple, they represent the timetable clearly whilst also creating a graphic graphic quality. The numbers from the airport timetable are represented through colours, quantity and line thickness.

Evelin Kasikov is a graphic designer who creates stitched illustrations. She uses typography, grid systems and design techniques to challenge the preconceptions of embroidery, whilst ensuring her work maintains a mathematical edge. I like her work due to its simple composition of colour and how there is a element of restrictions and rules to her pieces. These are factors that I try to incorporate into my work; setting rules to follow (such as numbers represented by a certain colour) and keeping a simple compostion of shapes and line from which to work from.

I have begun to create and design a website to ensure that I have a online presence to showcase my work. This has been a interesting process as it has allowed me to put the body of work into separate strands and see the different aspects that have been created. Below are screenshots of how the website is currently looking.

UNIT X - 9/5/14

As a result of my proposal for the Vertical Gallery being successful, I have been altering my design as the work now needs to be double sided as it will hang on the second floor outside of the lifts, so will be visible from all angles. This has been challenging but interesting as it has made me realise how important scale is and how a consideration to the space and architectural elements is vital. The process is proving to be very exciting (and slightly scary!) but I am looking forward to completing the work and translating a small sample into a full scale interior hanging piece for the show.

Three panels with smaller components on the middle section, as see from the lifts.

Three panels with bigger components on the middle section, seen from a distance. 

I have been exploring how to take the components off the surface, the most successful option was to use metal links to join each piece to allow the wood to be seen from both sides. I like how this has turned out as it creates a negative space in the shape of the triangles as well as the possibility to create two different designs, one on each side.  I have also increased the size of the components to 10 cm squared, as if they were smaller I think that they would have got lost in the space. 

Deciding on the design of the piece has proved a challenge to visualise as there are so many possible options, such as the component size, placement of colour and hanging arrangements . Whilst also having not yet created the piece I have found it hard to fully envisage how the final piece will look. I have begun to create some visualisations of how the placement of the tiles could create a larger pattern from a distance. I have referred back to my original drawings on the Airport runway markings and trying to achieve the lines and curves that were visible.

UNIT X- 2/5/14

I have been looking into data visualisation designers to look at different ways of recreating the airport timetable. This has helped me to develop the shape, scale and layout of my work.

David McCandless is a British based designer who focuses on visualising information. I like his designs as they present the data in a informative way with a emphasis on using block colours in simple arrangements.#

David McCandless


Natashsa Nuttal has visualised her blogging habits using a geometric pattern of triangles. This has helped me to consider varying the way in which the components can be applied, in particular using one small component to create a larger shape.


Natasha Nuttal


Furthermore, I have been creating a range of drawings that have strongly informed my samples. Through the computer based drawings it allows me to quickly create and visualise my ideas that could then be translated into textile based pieces. Through making the drawings I have developed my skills on Illustrator and I have enjoyed the process far more than expected as I can produce results quickly and accurately. Some of the drawings are particularly reminiscent of embroidery and would translate into stitch well.