Charrette of a Design

This weekend participated in a design charrette at SCAD.  It was held by the school of design and was mostly attended by industrial design students.  I wanted to see what it was all about and thought this was a great opportunity to expand my horizon and meet new people and designers with different approaches to solutions.  In my group I was the only fibers student in a mix of industrial design under grad and grad students.  It was a great group and opportunity to collaborate with them.

The challenge was to create a carnival game in 24 hours using cardboard and anything else, there were really no rules.  Just a fun design challenge to do on the weekend.  I enjoyed experiencing how this group of designers approached the design process, especially in this large group scenario.  As a group we were very cooperative, came up with a great design plan, and had fun with it along the way.  

Our theme was Lazer Cats versus Ninja Bunnies.  Our plan was to make a game where you would catapult a ball into different sized holes of difficulty, all on a cube system structure.  There was a lot of room for creativity while also focusing on the structural aspects if the construction.  I was particularly interested in seeing how these designers approached this problem and solved simple and compex engineering issues.  I am happy to say that I was able to hold my own with my background in simple construction.  I helped to solve problems that arose along the way and helped to create this beautiful structure.

It started out with the background and foundation of the set. The sides to of the set were angled to funnel in the the balls and to give the display some depth.  The bottom is slanted so to return the ball easily. 

 
Our cube production with all shape and sizes of cut outs.  We made about 16 cubes with openings on the top and bottom so the ball could fall easily to the bottom and be returned.

I wanted to get a little fibers in there so I offered to create the backdrop of the set.  The theme lent itself to an outer space design so I created something with layers of colors and textures to represent the universe.  I started with a simple tie dye base.  I had to makeshift my dye and ended up using watered down house paint.  It ended up giving the fabric some rigidity and a slight marbled effect. 

After the first stage was dried I spray painted sparingly over the entire fabric.  The base color was purple and I topped it of with spray paint in two shades of blue and a black.  What tied it all together, and is one of my greatest finds, is spray glitter.  I used both gold and silver and it added the perfect touch and sparkle to the universe.

The final product was much cooler than I could have ever imagined.  It had depth and interest everywhere you looked.  And I loved the glitter.

This application of materials would not be practical for a functional piece of fabric as I do not know how it would wash and wear but it did serve its purpose for the day an I plan on implementing some of these same techniques in future projects.

After the foundation was set we had to add an open grid system to elevate the base to a level surface for the cubes to sit and stack upon.  It needed to be open to allow for the balls to fall through and roll back.

After that grid was set up and sturdy we started to stack the cubes. 

The piece of fabric I had dyed was a sheet and it did not fit across the entire back, so I had to divide up the fabric so it would fit properly across the backdrop.

More stacking of cubes.  We covered all of the cubes with digital printouts of skyscrapers. This set included a wide variety of materials and techniques, optimizing everyone's talents.

The final product was this crazy game that was visually stimulating and eye catching.  It was the first game as you walked in the building so it was not to be missed.  It was fun and whimsical and added to the whole carnival atmosphere. 

I had a great experience collaborating with these designers and being able to work in their studios, much different than a fibers studio.  They have some great equipment including laser cutters and 3D printers that I hope to incorporate into my work in the future.  I also hope to be able to collaborate with these designers again as this experience really helped me to expand my artistic experience and growth by experiencing a new approach to solving problems and executing projects. I have grown as an artist and designer as a result of this experience.

Be Inspired. Be Bold. 

peace&love

Rebecca

PALM

As I wander through Savannah, I am drawn to the palms.  All I see is the shapes they make and the patterns they create.  By removing the hue, textures surface and something amazing is right in from of you.

Be Inspired. Explore.

peace&love

Rebecca

in the bowl, on the plate

I don't want to be one of those people who posts tons of pictures of their food, even though I am sometimes, but I've been seeing my plates and bowls as more of a "still life".  With a plain background of a wood or white table topped with a colorful napkin as a placemat, the food comes to life.  It is amazing what colors are picked up in the napkin and the in the food.

There is something about a circle in a square frame, how it's cropped and where it's positioned.  The compositions are endless.  It becomes a challenge to come up which something new and exciting, food wise and composition wise.

Please enjoy these as works of art and not just delicious meals.

Peaches on Wheaties.

Cup of beer.

Pirlau.

Caipirinha.

Avocado with black bean and roasted tomatoes on toast.

Burnt toast and butter.

Cheese and mustard melt.

Chocolate milk. 

Be Inspired. Be Bold. 

peace&love

Rebecca

A Savannah Apartment.. part two

As I settle into my apartment I am getting into the more detailed design aspects.  The fun part of adding the life and excitement into the space.  The more time I spend in the space I start to see it in a different light and from a different perspective.  I will get a spark of inspiration and instantly know the right artwork for that wall or that that plant needs to be moved over two inches.  It is a slow process but everything is starting to settle in.

In the living room I added two identical rock prints slightly askew from the loveseat.  In this room there are a lot of windows and doors so it was hard to place elements symmetrically.  I usually am drawn to symmetrical and balanced interiors.  In this space I had to embrace the asymmetrical.

The plants above the mantle needed some sunlight so I moved them to the table by the window.  This gave me an opportunity to switch up the mantle display. The mantle is a great space to keep on rotation.

This mantle is a definite focal point of the living room with the rod iron cover plate contrasted with the white subway tiles.  I have continued this contrasting pop of black throughout the apartment.

With the plants off the mantle it gave me the perfect place to display some of my black and white prints, my whale and bubble print.

In the other corner of the living room is my business center, book shelf and bar. The chair that I had transformed earlier this summer fits perfectly nestled in the corner.

The shelving is constructed out of the crates that I had stained and refinished. It creates are the perfect storage and display area for some of my colorful nick nacks and artwork.  Just having some fun with pops of color and shapes. 

The view from my loveseat looking into my bedroom.  I've kept it very neutral with shades of white contrasted with dark wood tones and pops of black.

My big comfy bed sits perfectly in this high ceiling room. 

This palm print fits perfectly in this room. I love surrounding myself with palms.

In the corner I created this little space with a sling back chair, mirror and a black and white bubble print.   This space is truly transforming into my dream space.  I will no doubt continue to shuffle things up as I continue to live in it to keep things interesting and alive.

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

A Savannah Apartment

After a long two day drive in a 16' truck and long days of packing and unpacking, I finally made it to Savannah.  There is something about this city that is so magical, whether it's the spanish moss hanging from the live oaks creating perfect canopies or the sprinkling of palms creating a tropical aura.  It's hot and humid and I love it!

I have been planning and prepping for this apartment for quite some time now and the time finally came when I got to put the plan into action!  As is with any project, once you get into the space everything changes and you have to adjust.

This is a Victorian style apartment with great bones and high ceilings.  The walls were freshly painted in a light cream so a neutral canvas for me to add to.  The first thing I added to the room was some life with my collection of plants.  I never travel anywhere with out them.  It's a great way to add a pop of color, texture and pattern.

All the elements I added were kept simple, sticking to neutral whites highlighted with tones of wood.  This sling back chair, created by my Father, fits perfectly in this room and topped with a sheep shin rug adding texture and fluffiness.

Shag rugs are my favorite, sandwiched between shades of wood.

I wanted to create little moments of interest, layering textures and items.  Coffee tables are a great place to have some fun with color and unique items.  A floral pattern handkerchief topped with shells, magazines and a scented candle.

My white couch, that I've had since my days in Delaware, works perfectly in this space.  A neutral canvas to add color and texture with the variety of pillows, all handcrafted and handsewn by me.

Into the bedroom I started with the perfect bed, a wood frame topped with a fluffy white comforter.

The crates that I spent so much time staining and varnishing at home, work perfectly as side tables.

Some small objects to top the side table.

A navajo rug is the first thing I step on when getting out of bed.  A nice neutral pattern to add a pop to the room.

Finally above my dresser, I layered peg boards, mirrors and pictures to create something fun and an interesting way to store and display my jewelry.  I'm excited to continue to organize and design my apartment.  Good design is alive and is always changing.  Keep it fresh and exciting.

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca