#rmitjournal

Design Examples / Possibilities

Second Print / Stencil Test

I was super excited to do a print test with the stencils and stamps I’d laser cut, so I went straight home and started experimenting. I tried out a variety of techniques, including fabric marker, fabric paint and stamping with fabric paint. 

I found my most successful run was with the stamps using the fabric paint. I found that when I used the stamps I got exactly the type of print I wanted, which was no bleed, clean edges and a slightly worn out look. I think the slightly worn, degraded look really helps to communicate the irony of the phrase ‘Brand New,’ which is exactly the intent. Overall I felt like I had much more control over the design when using the stamp, so I think moving forward I’m going to make all the slogan graphics stamps. 

Graphic Ideas - Text Graphics

We are now deep into our second project, which is to propose a design response (to an issue of our choice) that seeks to provoke a change. 

After completing the group assignment, I’m definitely interested in the issue of fast fashion and overconsumption, capitalism, consumerism etc. I believe that the issue of overconsumption trickles into most aspects of our lives, and that is something I’d like to change.

Over the last week or two I’ve thought a lot about how I can create something that will provoke real change. Miram and Hannah have prompted us to dissect the issue, our audience, our ‘call to action’, which has been really beneficial. After many discussions and lots of research I think I’ve concluded that the call to action for my design is to  help people understand the real value of their clothing. I think if people became more mindful about their purchase habits, it could really make a drastic change.

The next challenge is to figure out a realistic, effective and sustainable way to evoke this change in people. I went back and forth with a couple of ideas. I originally had an idea to create a publication that was the embodiment of waste in book form. I wanted the entire book to be filled with pictures of trash, cheap clothing and other pointless, disposable items, but I quickly realised that this would just be contributing to the problem, rather than providing a solution to it. 

I think shifted towards fashion more specifically. I’ve always been eager to design for clothing and merchandise, and it feels as though this class is the perfect opportunity for that. I started thinking about how I could raise awareness about the horrors of the fast fashion through clothing, and came up with a few ideas.

Side Tangent: A big challenge during this stage of my design thinking was figuring out how I wanted my audience to react to my final communication. I talked to Hannah about it and it became clear that I didn’t want to guilt trip people. Yes, I wanted to shed light on the severity of the issue, but i didn’t want to overwhelm people into thinking theres nothing they can do it create change. This became a super important consideration for me and honestly completely reshaped my project.

After taking all of this into consideration, I’ve landed on creating a type of ‘fashion toolkit,’ that includes graphic stencils, stamps and (maybe?) stickers that users can apply onto their existing clothes. I also want to create an accompanying online campaign to help the product gain traction.

Last Friday I visited the Melbourne Design Fair: Collectible Contemporary Design. The exhibition showcased all sorts of different industrial design, mostly unconventional furniture pieces. This elaborate lamp by Dale Hardiman symbolises much more than a piece of furniture that provides light. 

The lamp ‘belongs to a series of experimental works (that are) assembled from various found and discarded objects, furniture, and industrial waste. Intentionally made to look rough in contrast to the stylised goods of modernist design, (the) lamp is covered with coloured synthetic polymer paint to draw attention to the prior waste that lies beneath. Hardimans experimental work is a comment on Modernisms less desirable effects, characterised by the acceleration of consumerism, waste and environmental degradation. - Melbourne Design Fair