My honours project is featured …..

As I use twitter to share my blog on a weekly basis, I have attracted the attention of many charities that are driving cancer awareness, in particular Clatterbridge Cancer centre NHS foundation.

Clatterbridge Cancer charity is part of the Clatterbridge Cancer clinic.

 The clinic headquarters are situated on the Wirral and they treat people with cancer who live within Merseyside and the surrounding areas.

There are also other clinics are different locations through out the North West, including the Linda McCartney clinic at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, and the  Delamere Clinic at Halton hospital.

Clatterbridge treat patients through different forms of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and my dad received his chemotherapy treatment at both the above clinics and his appointments were arranged through Clatterbridge.

 Clatterbridge Cancer charity has been following my progress on this project and on several occasions have retweeted posts from this blog.

I emailed Susan King, Communications Officer at Clatterbridge and after a few emails to confirm the processes and procedures and also the rationale behind my design, Susan very kindly featured my honours project on the 'news' section of Clatterbridge Cancer charity website.

The link for the story is below;-

http://www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/news/newsitem.aspx?storyID=5844

I am so thrilled with this story and I was very emotional and proud upon seeing it. I know my dad  would have been so proud of it too, after all he is my inspiration and drive!

'Maggies' comes to Liverpool.

As I have been researching into interiors and structure design for my honours project, I came across 'Maggies'.

“Our Centres are here for anyone with any type of cancer and their families and friends, offering the practical, emotional and social support that people with cancer need”

Laura Lee, Maggie's Chief Executive

https://www.maggiescentres.org

Maggies is a custom built centre that provides support to cancer patients and their families. I am was intrigued by this and decided to divulge into this charity further.

The further I began to dig the more information unfolded, I was most struck with the narrate behind the building of 'Maggies-Highlands'

The design of the building is based upon the division (mitosis) of cells, within a heathy environment. Just before the cells divide they form a vesta shape (similar to an oval) and this has inspired the shape of the building. This shape is continued right throughout the building and interiors.

http://confessionsofadesigngeek.com/maggies-highlands/#comment-136659

There area  variety of 'Maggies' around the country, and at the moment there is a 'Maggie' being built in Liverpool.

A 11m-long, glass-panelled called "The London Dresser was commissioned by the Mayor of London as part of the Wonder  Installations series for the 2012 Games. 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/pavilion-commissioned-london-olympics-moved-6790573

Interim building in process of being built.

inspirations = paintings, paintings and more paintings

Now the fun part has started!

I have begun to research into cancer cells, their form, texture, patterns and colour combinations in preparation to my visit to the cancer research lab in Manchester next week.

I am working in a small A5 sketchbook at the moment to collect my findings. This sketchbook will record research, statistics, anything that I am inspired by within this project and also my own experiments and samples that I have created.

Below are a series of images that I have already created which have been inspired by cancer cells.

Hope you enjoy them!

My inspirations!

Prostrate cancer cells 

Corpora Amylacea - (prostrate cancer)

Esophageal cancer cells

(l) abdominal cells and DNA filtering

More esophageal cancer

More esophageal cancer

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

Devastating news…Forever in my heart Dad x

Friday 24th January 2014 is now a date that will forever captured within my memory.

Dad at My brothers wedding - April 2013

My precious dad fell asleep following a very courageous and brave fight against oesophageal cancer.
I am absolutely devastated but I know now that dad is now free of pain and can rest peacefully. He fought this terrible disease for over 20 months but now it has claimed his life.

Having nursed dad with my grandmother since the end of November following the placement of a stent within his oesophagus to aid his oral intake, my BA degree has taken a back step in particular design work and research as my dads health has been paramount. I know how proud my dad was when I completed my foundation degree and also at my graduation ceremony in June.

Dad & I at My FdA Graduation - July 2013

My aim and drive now dad has passed away is to finish my degree with as high a mark as possible and to do it in Memory of Dad!! This is for you Kid!!

Despite the set backs  I have occurred I have however still continued to apply for certain roles within the design industry. As I have previously been employed as a mock up artist / artworker within a greeting card / stationary importers, I have a wide knowledge and length of experience that I feel will aid my chance of employment. Within this period of employment I gained of a whole knowledge of how to present designs / ideas to a client, how to receive and research a brief from a client, produce a series of artwork using adobe products for mass production within the Far East -( this I feel is a vital tool as most companies now outsource to the far east for a matter of different reasons i.e. cost.), the use of pan tones within the industry and also the different between pantone colours and CMYK printing.

http://www.eurowrap.co.uk

By combining the experience I have from my employment together with the skills i have learnt from within both the BA (So far) and foundation degree I have feel that I will be able to gain a very good position within a current design company.

I have gained part time employment within a letting agents to cover maternity leave , and hopefully this will extend once my degree will finish. My employer is particularly interested in the skills I have within google sketch up and AUTO Cad. The design skills he is also interested in to aid the profile of the company and to out reach the status of Iccommodate - the lettings agents.

Previous applications that I have applied for are as follows:-
 • Artworker
 • Creative Graphic designer - Awaiting the client to return from the annual trade fair in Frankfurt
 • Interior designer
 • Graduate scheme in Merchandising and Buying with TKMaxx - due to dads il health I have missed the second part of the recruitment process
 • Multi-channel assistant merchandiser at Matalan
 • Trainee buyer - industrial placement at Matalan

These are just a variety of roles that I have applied for, however I am also making a decision about how I can further progress my education by gaining a PCGE or via 'Teach first'. I have gained an interest in maybe becoming a college lecturer within the design industry and teaching ages 16+.

 Dad, I and My Brother after Race for Life - July 2012 (3 months after he was first diagnosed)