TK Maxx Graduate Buying Scheme

I have now worked for Tk Maxx for over 3 and a half years. Although this is not specifically defined as a placement for example, it is extremely relevant to my future career development in the real world. I am a valued member of staff at two stores, Manchester Arndale and Preston Fishergate. I thoroughly enjoy my job and it has supported me financially through out University. I have expressed my interest in the buying graduate scheme to my managers and they are fully encouraging my application. In November I participated in some training courses based in London, one of which was to become a Jewellery trained assistant. I gained more skills within store dynamics and also knowledge of products which enhances my chances towards my application. Manchester Arndale is the biggest store in the country and has very high priority in the European aspect of the company. With two years experience in this store alone stands me in very good stead for the buying graduate scheme. My job has allowed me to witness and recognise customer trends and I have a lot of interest in the products we sell and how they are sourced. I am very keen to travel whether this be before my career or during. This career path would allow me to achieve my ambitions whilst establishing myself in an excellent line of work. I am very excited about the opportunites ahead. In the assessment and feedback time we have between now and Unit X, I plan to continue with this application and also research into other companies who offer similar opportunities that I could also apply to.

Gift Wrap and Live Brief

As an alternative context for the outcome of Unit X, I have researched the market for gift wrap. My intentions of creating mixed media designs would work really well for high-end gift wrap. It isn’t an outcome I have considered before but I feel it would encourage me to test my work in a slightly different context. I looked into the qualities of paper and materials used by companies such as Paperchase and Marks and Spencer’s. Printing onto them allowed me to test the physical qualities for each surface and my samples achieved from flocking proves that it is a process that would really push this outcome forward with originality and potential. The colour of love is a live brief I found on tiger print which was collaborating with Marks and Spencers for valentines card designs. 

After deciding that gift wrap will be a potential outcome for my design collection in Unit X, this brief was perfect to test my ideas in a realistic context. The competition asked for designs for valentines which consider a new and fresh colour pallet as opposed to typical reds and pinks. I chose a romantic yet unusual colour pallet and worked with one of the proposed ideas of mark making through lino prints to create simple yet effective imagery. The designs had to target both male and female Marks and Spencers customers and I feel that the ideas I have entered are tasteful, elegant and appropriate to the requirements set by the brief.

Wall Paper Context

I have been very keen from the beginning of the project to work towards a design collection for interiors. From evaluating previous projects I feel that I work most successfully on paper towards wall paper samples. In this project I have aimed to ensure I have enough sample development to go on to create a high end contemporary collection in Unit X. Having researched the market, I feel that pushing the elements of flocking and digital design on quality paper surfaces will achieve a professional collection. Many of my initial photographs consisted of patterns running vertically over objects. I have experimented with this in a variety of ways, particularly in my digital development of prints. Designs for Timorous Beasties Rorschach wallpaper collection have helped inform this composition. I have looked at this work for guidance on composition of print elements and how to balance negative and positive space within patterns. The complexity of some of their designs in this collection is mesmerising. I feel that many of my development designs are quite simple and obvious repeats. The more successful designs in the industry consist of lots of elements and I think that my intentions to layer the processes in have explored in this unit, in my work in unit x will sophisticate my designs further and raise them to a higher standard.

Digital Sampling

Colour is important in my work but I have struggled to focus on colour, pattern and texture all at the same time when designing by hand. I have used photoshop in depth in my degree but I have aimed in this project to fully understand the programme and use it with more confidence. It was through photoshop that I could really push my colour pallet experimenting with a range of colour ways and colour formations. Colour separation is a new skill I have gained which enables me to transform any design into a format fit for screen printing. In terms of context towards making a collection of designs, the combination of these skills will allow me to successfully combine digital prints, screen printing and flocking all as a mixed media surface pattern.

One thing I found particularly useful about working with digital print and screen printing was that when screen printing was fully booked, I still had means to carry on design development whether that just be suggesting ideas for screen printing in photoshop. Perhaps the issue of access to the screen printing room has benefited my practise as it has made me adapt my work in a way that I might not necessarily have had to/ learnt how to otherwise.

Flocking

To link my project back to my original concept images of relief pattern, I experimented with screen printing. After looking at the work of Marcel Wanders, whose designs incorporate this process, I wanted to experiment with flocking as this would give a relief quality to my prints that translate some of the decorative stone work from my initial photographs. This enabled me to work with a variety of textures and create unique print surfaces. I was unsure as to how well flocking with aquabind on to paper would work as the screen mesh is much finer than that for fabric. The result was really successful and I aim to push this forward in Unit X.

Screen Printing

During a tutorial with Teresa, it was agreed that my original designs, particularly the larger scale lino prints and some of my earlier digital development prints felt quite flat.They were lacking in elements and I had not incorporated enough processes to innovate my ideas. 

Home at Christmas

Whilst home at Christmas my previous BTEC Art and Design tutor had asked me to visit my old college. Asking me what I was currently doing in this project, I told them that I was going to be developing my work in screen printing. She has begun to teach screen printing workshops herself and asked if I would like to help in the classes. It has been a while since I have used screen printing and whilst I am refreshing my skills in my current project at University, it would be good to see further practise in teaching some students. I have also been asked to go into to do a small presentation to the students about my university experience, what my work is about and what I am looking to do. I feel that this could benefit me in summarizing my work and focus on asking myself what I want to achieve this year. Presentations are still not my strongest point so a little extra practise wouldn’t go a miss either.