Interior Styling : Introduction Week 1

Today I had my first lesson of Interior Styling, this project was my first choice when we were picking 3 projects for each term. This was because I am very interested in interior styling and when I was speaking to the project leader Sian on the Field Fair it sounded very interesting project. The first lesson was Sian introducing us to interior styling, she went though the brief with us. The brief had many submission requirements such as:

• Individual Design Book
• Group Scheme/Room Design
• Group Final Set
• Group Final Digital Photograph
• Group Final Copy
• Group Final Presentation/Video
• Individual Blog (final 300 word reflective statement)

The brief:

‘From Design to Pro to Space to Content’

The project was to using recycled/upcycled materials, life size sets will be filled with probs created by us. They can be from donated materials from the Industry Sponsor-taking consideration colour, pattern, texture. material, and form. We were also expected to professionally photograph the set in a studio environment.

We were allocated to groups of 7-8 and were given a theme/trend related to interior styling. The trend we were given was Empower Up! Living Space SS20.This is a very bright busy trend is completely opposite of my personal interest however I think this will be really interesting to get out of my comfort zone and create a style of designs that is something usually wouldn’t carry out. We were told to research about the recent trends we should be using a data base called WGSN which can be accessed through Cardiff met search. Also, the project focuses heavily on recycled/upcycyled materials so we are not allowed to purchase protects materials p paints for our set designs. For this, as a group we will need to discuss ways to approach this and bring in things we already own and do not want to us anymore or visit a junk shop which is already in the brief.

The next step was to individually create a mood board that is focused on our trend using the information on WGSN as there are several sections in the trend, there is lifestyle, interior, colour palettes and the key reasons behind this trend.

This is the first mood board I created inspired by the trend. As colour is the main focus i used several different colour schemes and materials that can be used in our set designs. The main focus is patterns in some photos as as a group we want to use patterns with blocks of colours inspired by the Miami blocking which is a characteristics of the Empower Up trend. This trend focuses on optimism, energy and change.They focus  on playful, creativity, maximalism outlook that portrays the energy of the youth in today’s society. The report on WGSN shows it is  influenced by many factors in society, culture, politics and environment. One of the main influence is Indigenous-inspired design emerging across interiors, as indigenous Australian, African, Latin American and Native American creative scenes reach a global audience via digital connectivity. The rich diversity of these influences is referenced in contemporary ways across graphics and shapes, and materials and details. Small and large-scale market players are empowering this shift via collaborations, partnerships and locally focused events. There is also the heavy focus on striped/spliced patterns. The bands and geometries define the rhythm of both pattern and construction as they compose, splice and mismatch elements in vibrant yet orderly designs.

The key materials:

 

The first lecture heavily focused on designing with colour and different colour palettes. We were told to decide whether we want a warm colour platte, a neutral colour palette or vibrant colour platte depending out the our trend. The colour palette that fits in with the trend is a vibrant colour palette. Also, focuses on colour combinations we had to think about what kind of colour palette we want to create, the main focus was contrasting colour palette as the trend involves so many vibrant colours working together but the main trend I can see was there are few bright bold colours and also few light pastel shades and tints to create a balance.

 

As a group we have a lot of discuss and make decisions as it is busy complex trend which each element needs to work well together. I am really enjoying it so far, researching about living spaces, current trends in interior, creating mood boards and being practical in this project will really help my skills as in Graphics i feel most of the time I am very digital on my laptop. I don’t really try out new mediums or get practical so with this project there is a sketchbook and learning journal requirements but the most important is the set design which as a group we will be designing and making for few weeks. My  initial thought about the project before the  brief lecture was that we would be creating fabric designs, printing but it was heavily focused on set design which is also very interesting.