Breathless Breastless project!!

Through conducting my research for my honours project, I came across this remarkable group of artists.

'Breathless, Breastless Project'

A team of talented artists are working together with breast cancer survivors to create a powerful exhibition in Aberdeen  to raise awareness to the long term effects after treatment has stopped, It will also touch base on families are effected to, as I know from personal experience the devastating effect it has.


I am in touch with Louise who is the organiser within the project, and she very kindly has given me permission to share the project page.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Breathless-Breastless-Project/164445467028874?id=164445467028874&sk=info

 After viewing the work in progress so far I am so touched by the moving images produced so far.  some artists have used new technology (iPads) to create their images but none the less, they are very inspirational.

Well done Guys - this is a fantastic exhibition , it gives me an even more a reason to go and visit scotland now :)

Presenting the retail brand - Anthrolopologie!!

After a long hard think about which retail brand I am going to use within my honours project - I finally have decided upon 'Anthrolopologie'!

Anthrolopologie is a multi-channel lifestyle brand, that sells women's clothing, accessories, gifts and home decor.

Owned by Urban Outfitters, Inc who also operated Urban outfitters, Freepeople and Terrain. The store was  founded by Richard Hayne and was first opened in Wayne, Pennsylvania in 1992.

The brand is a known world wide with over 180 stores throughout both America and Europe, with  3 of the stores located within in the UK (2 in London and 1 in Edinburgh).

The store is famed for its highly imaginative in store fixtures and elaborate window displays, who are created by a team of in-house visual merchandisers and display artists.

I was intrigued as I had often seen these elaborate windows advertised throughout the creative industry via Pinterest and Style guide amongst others.  Recycled materials are a key feature within the displays and beautiful objects / displays are often produced from the most mundane of things. 

Recycled Cork display in collaboration with  Cork Forest Conservation Alliance for Earth Day

Green bottles

Recycled 'teabags'

I began to divulge further into Anthrolopologie and to see how I could link this retail brand with my own honours project. Upon researching the word 'Anthrolopogie' I discovered that this means the following:-

'The word anthropologist means someone who studies human cultures. They investigate all aspects of human growth and cultural interaction, development levels, and regional differences to better understand how we relate to each other and what the future holds for us. To do this job, it helps to have some curiosity, and a high level of patience.'

I felt that this was such a good idea to use this brand within my project as my theme for it is Cancer cells and their behvaiour.

So onwards I must go to dig deeper and research further …..

Sephora….Spatial Awareness project!

I shall go back in time to the beginning of term - September in fact!!

 During the summer, I was issued with a summer brief for Sephora- an international cosmetic brand.
This was an international life brief with PAVE http://www.paveinfo.org/home.

The main object of the brief was to design a series of Visual merchandising fixtures which could be joined together as a whole unit or as stand out fixtures. Included within my design was the following:-

• A Hair dressing fixture in which a customer would be pampered,
• A graphics fixtures, that would be changed within each season,
• A merchandising fixture, which would hold products

Inspiration for my design came from the year in which Sephora was founded, which was 1969. Upon researching this year, i found out that Concorde took its first flight and ignited a whole series of ideas for the project.

Shown below is the a range of different techniques that I used within the project - this included initial sketching using fineliners & pro markers, google sketch up, model making within a whole range of materials.

Any comments or feed back on my designs will be greatly appreciated.

Sephora Brand History

Target Audience

Inspiration Board

Initial concept sketch

Initial concept sketch

Initial concept sketch

Developement sketch

Concept models based on concept idea

Concept model of hairdressing fixtur

Further developement sketch & google sketch up

Final design for product fixture

Final design for graphics fixture

Sephora Fixtures - Insitu

Sephora Fixtures

Floor plans & possible configurations

Liberty London - London Fashion Week 2014 - Visual Merchandising

Wow - I am loving Liberty of London's windows at the moment.

Liberty London - LFW Windows 2014

LFW Windows 2014

LFW Windows 2014

Based on Helen Bullocks use of colour and print, I feel that this is such a fantastic example of multiple textures. Crayon, vinyl and painted fabric were used within the design and by using local artists, Hunting and Narud to bringing together the best of British.

http://www.liberty.co.uk/window-gallery-lfw-ss14/article/fcp-content

On reflection, the bright colours and very abstract shapes within these displays remind me very much of the works of Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), in particular the following works.

Composition VI 1911

Composition VI 1913

To the laboratory!

Honours Project

So my honours project will centre on cancer cells, their shape, form, texture and colour combination. I will explore this theme and try and create something beautiful from such a negative subject. 
Suggestions for a title so far are: 


 • Understanding the enemy


 • Cell behavior


• inside out


As I have decided to use cancer cells within this project, I wanted another source of primary research and though to myself how on earth can I get some other then the internet or medical journals?


 so a spot of searching on the Internet and I found the cancer research website and contact details to the site in Liverpool. I fired off a couple of emails to the contacts upon the website and Friday morning, up popped a reply!


I had explained in my email to the contacts who I was, what I was studying and what my idea was, Hannah Leaton, who is Research Engagement Manager at Cancer Research UK - Manchester emailed back as both herself and her colleague James Dunphy were both intrigued by my idea.

 I have since secured a visit to the Cancer Research UK Lab in Manchester on 20th March to visit the lab and a chance to interview Steve Bagley, who is Head of Advanced Imaging. I am excitied by this visit as I feel it will help me understand how cells react more.

Attached is a link to Cancer research Uk - Science snaps. This is a blog of cancer cells images that scientists have taken. 

http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/series/science-snaps/

Provided by Professor Inke Näthke at the University of Dundee, the images reveal a different mysterious depth and show the intricate structure of the cells that line the intestine.

 On my travels I also visited the gallery in the Met Quarter, this is were I saw an artist who has inspired me also with this project. Phillipe Airde's yacht paint painting I feel look very similar to the images of the cells. He is often inspired by the body and also the galaxy. 

Melotonin 2007 (detail)- Phillipe Aird

http://www.philippeaird.com/thebody.htm

 I spoke with the gallery's owner Jennifer, who took my details and offered any further help that I may need and even maybe an interview with him. He has inspired me to even try my own style of painting in this way! Watch this space!

Hitting the ground running!

Organising and holding dad's funeral has been a very heard yet emotional fulfilling time. From designing and printing the orders of service, to organising the wake / party afterwards. I loved every minute of it and so glad I have done it too.

                                                                   Order of Service

A memory tree proved to be such a hit everyone, writing down their memories that they shared with dad and I also made a simple table covering of photographs of him. The effect was brilliant and the comments that I received of how thoughtful it was really helped with the process.

                                                   Thank you Pinterest for the inspiration :)

                                                http://www.pinterest.com/nikkijph84/dad-xxxx/

Table cloth & memory table

Dad's memory tree

Now its time to hit the ground running. 

The inspiration for my honours project is going to see Dad and his fight. I am going to concentrate upon cancer cells, their shape, form, textures and colour combinations. This inspiration will drive me forward and hopefully enable me to create something beautiful from a negative subject.

To enhance primary research I have conducted a survey, over 100 people have replied which for me is absolutely amazing. The link for the survey can be found below:- 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M26QXDT

Back to university on Monday - Dad this is for you kid!! xxx

Dad & I at My brothers wedding - April 2013