1.2 The Goal
The goal I want to achieve is creating a series of design collection that can influence people’s thoughts toward Indian traditional cultures. These designs should be attractive, appropriate materials, well scaled, and well explained. To achieve my goal, I have to understand the concerns of designers consider while drawing designs. Besides, I would like to learn the techniques of presenting a design through drawings. My collection booklet should be well present, like the left page with a design, and the right page with descriptions and explanations. Every page should be show clearly and tidy. The most important is, all my designs should be full of modern fashion sense, and people would not feel the designs are outdated. However, it could trace the Indian traditional sign or any elements in the designs. Overall, I would like to bring out a concept of “traditions can be modern fashion”.
1.3 Guiding Question
“How can I combine current fashion trend and traditional culture to design modern fashion accessories?”
I have created this guiding question that has included all aspects of my inquiry. It helps me to concentrate and focus on the goal as I am working throughout the project. It avoids me from getting off topic while doing research.
1.4 Methods of Achieving My Goal
Before reaching to my goal, I have to investigate and collect information. Methods like research in books, magazines, and Internet, can help me to explore my inquiry. My guiding question can help me to focus on the purpose and aim of my project. Since my investigation involves Indian traditions, some of the research materials may not be able to refer, like there are some legends and stories behind their traditional sculptures or creatures, I would record them as my own knowledge instead of finding reliable sources. I have tones of designs from other design companies, which allow me to look at as a reference or inspiration while designing.
1.5 Areas Of Interaction
1.5.1 Human Ingenuity
I have chosen Human Ingenuity as my main area of interaction from the International Baccalaureate Organization, which helps me to categorize and identify my topic and goal in a specified area. Since my topic is fashion design, and my goal is to create a collection of designs, it fits into Human Ingenuity. The Human Ingenuity is about creation, and products that influence the world in our daily life. In this case, my project’s aim is to change people’s point of view towards Indian traditions. That exactly matchs with the description of this area. While I am working on the design, I always have to concern about how to create the product so as to achieve my goal. As I am going to focus on Human Ingenuity, I also have explored or acknowledge what kind of impacts or affects to us of creating my product. Lastly, as I am taking parts in Human Ingenuity, I am always solving problems and showing human creativity.
1.5.2 Community & Service
Besides, my project is planed to utilize my product, to remove the fact that people have antipathy toward Indian traditions. At first, I was trying to apply another area of interaction in, which is Community & Service, as my goal can provide contribution to the community, since my influence may help to avoid the Indian cultures and traditions disappear. Though, I do not think it fits to the service part, where I “have the opportunity to provide service for others, and in doing so develop into a responsible citizen”, as the International Baccalaureate says. Then, I have decided, I would not focus on this area of interaction, it is not compulsory to be included, but in some case, it makes sense to be fit into my project.
- Process
It is necessary to have different steps from one to another, so as to achieve my goal. The entire process is more than creating the product, instead of doing research. This section is an overview of my investigation throughout my project.
2.1 Investigate
2.1.1 Environment while design
The first step I started was Investigation stage. Since I did not have any knowledge in accessories design, I have to find out how people draw their design. I found different photos and pictures of designers drawing their designs and the pictures of their designs. I have found a website that shows a picture of a designer drawing, and 2 pictures from his design. The picture reveals that designers usually stay in a quite, simple, and neat environment as they are drawing designs. Their tools are very simple, and usually pencils and markers. They do not put many materials over the table, which may give them distractions.
As we can see in the picture, there are only several pens and papers on the desk. The light is very bright, which provides them enough brightness to work and help their concentration.
On the other hand, the two pictures on the right hand side shows the design is usually presented in simple lines in three-dimensional. Colors are only use for identifying the materials and highlight the outlines of the design. Furthermore, the designer portrays both sides of the designs, which give more details and express his idea.
These three images above play an important role in my investigation stage. It helps me to modify and specify the area I should find while designing. And I believe the environment will affect my mood to design and my creativity. The two pictures of design provide me a general idea of what the presentation of my design should be looked like. They will be my main reference and guide to follow throughout creating my product.
2.1.2 Exhibition In Mumbai
Throughout my investigation on magazines, I have visited Mumbai Central Library, where the biggest library in Mumbai, to look for some updated current fashion magazines over the world. I have accidentally found out an “Exhibition of Jewelry and accessories in Mumbai” in one of the magazines. It was very fortunate that the exhibition was on the third of December, which did not pass. However the exhibition is commercial use, which I could not go into it without a pass and me being above eighteen years old. I was very lucky though my mother had a friend who helped her get access to the exhibition. Since the exhibition was for commercial usage, it is not allowed to take photographs. So I have asked my mother to help me get the brochures, booklets, pamphlets, and advertisements from different companies, different countries of different styles.
After getting all the brochures from the exhibition with my mother’s help, I have categorized into three groups of all information I gained. Then I have stuck some of the pictures of designs into the process journal as my inspiration and research. The exhibition provides me a huge support from inspiration in creation stage. In addition, I have also learned the sense of modern design and the western style mostly. There are many designs from India and China with different materials, like precious stone, gem, diamond, crystal, jade, and elephant’s teeth. That has helped me to have more variety of materials to decide while designing.
2.1.3 Further Research
Beside the most essential investigation shown above, there are more researches I have done in order to build my knowledge and understanding in all aspects of design and Indian traditions.
Youtube (See Appendix 6.2.1): I have surfed to the popular video website youtube.com and find some video clips about “how to draw three dimensional items”. These videos help me to improve my techniques on drawing better three-dimensional items, which provide me a lot of help to establish my final product.
Interview with a designer: One of my elder cousins is a fashion designer but living in United States. I was really lucky that she was coming back to India, and I could interview her face to face. She has a lot of experience of the process of designing, while she has her own company. She explained very well about the process and the other things from the crucial to the minor things they have to consider. It provides me an overview of the process of designers work.
2.2 Techniques and Applications
A series of video clips about drawing 3-D by “expertvillage” in Youtube.
As I am going to create a booklet with designs in it, I have to learn some techniques for drawing and presenting my designs in order to apply to the final product. As I have mentioned above, three-dimensional technique will be essential while drawing the design. I have learned some basic techniques to draw three-dimensional items in Youtube (see appendix 6.2.1). It helps me to improve my drawings in my design.
There is an application that I am now already in use while writing the essay. It actually applies the International Baccalaureate MYP Technology’s Design Cycle (see appendix 6.3). The cycle is formed by Investigate, Design, Plan, Create, and Evaluate stage. These five stages are equivalent to my essay structure, and my process of creating my product. After the investigation, I designed the presentation of my product, like a booklet. Then I created a timeline or a timeframe to suggest the work schedule. Next, I started to draw the designs and combine them together into a booklet. Finally, I finished my evaluation in the project statement. All above reveals that I am applying the design cycle in IB organization established for Technology lessons.
2.3 Plan
The second step is to draft a plan for myself to manage both time and quality of product. Unlike Technology’s design cycle, I have placed the design brief and design specification in the plan. Since I have created a checklist and timeline for my plan, I would be always looking at it during my drawing of my designs, so I think placing the design specification in the plan can let me have an easy review of the requirement of my product, instead of separating into another part.
2.3.1 Timeline
My timeline is set after my planning stage. The period of time in between is for investigation and creation. Since there is a long period of time for me to do research, I would easily forget about it or miss the deadline. In order to keep myself on track, my timeline has included the time I work for research every week. According to the Indian traditional culture, people wear their accessories or jewelry in some important and significant events, like wedding and so on. So my design would be categorized into wedding accessories, and with four to five designs.
2.3.2 Checklist
On the other hand, the checklist contains all including elements of the product, so that I can tick off every line in the checklist. In the checklist below, there is a box that contains the requirements of my product, which is the design specification. Every design that I have drawn has to compare to the design specification, as a final check and review on it.
3.0 Product
3.1 Introduction
My product is a booklet named “Traditions can be Modern Fashion” (see appendix 6.6). The designs will be surrounding with the “wedding theme”. Each of the designs represents different traditions or hidden meaning in Indian culture. The aim and the purpose of the booklet are, by presenting this booklet to people, especially for teenagers to look at, to change their conceptions toward Indian traditions and cultures. As nowadays people’s ambitions and desires of following the modern fashion trend increase, they always recognize Indian traditions as outdated and old culture. I hope that people can change their ideas and identify Indian traditions could be fashionable throughout looking at my designs.
3.2 Presentation
I have used a booklet style to present my content or designs. I have thought about using other presentation, like proposal. However, my target group is mainly teenagers, which they would not be attracted by a formal proposal format. Thus I have decided to create a booklet with an attractive cover page.
The cover page is neat and tidy, which using a crossover design that combines western style but with the Indian traditions wording. Inside it, there is a small paragraph of introduction showing my purpose of creating the product. Then it starts off from a title page written “wedding theme”. After that, every design would demonstrate in two pages. The left hand side pages are for showing diagrams and pictures. The right hand side pages are for listing materials contained in designs, descriptions, and inspirations.
3.3 Specification
The designs that contained in the product have to reveal my understanding in modern fashion jewelry design as well as Indian traditions. I have to use my own knowledge of the design concept and my creativity to combine both modern fashion and Indian traditions elements together in my designs. Since the area of accessories is huge, I could not draw designs for all accessories. In my product, my accessories types are focusing on jewelry like rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. These are the most essential accessories that can match with different clothing and dressing. Furthermore, these accessories limitations are less than the others. Accessories like watches, handbags, and so one, have less area to elaborate my design techniques.
4.0 Reflection & Evaluation
4.1 Difficulties & Solutions
I have completed my project to achieve my goal. I have faced different challenges and difficulties throughout my process to succeed. In the beginning of the investigation, I tried to find information about Indian accessories in both books and Internet. The result of nothing found, creates a huge roadblock to my investigation. Although I was stuck there, I kept on finding information about it. I have wasted plenty of my time in my investigation stage, and affect my schedule of timeline. After a week, I have given up and started exploration and research in other aspects. I have delayed about 5 days time in my investigation
In addition, my time management was not as well as I thought. At the beginning, I could follow the template that I have created in my timeline but after a while my time management has messed up, as I have to concentrate on my academic learning and assessments and my Personal Project. Finally, I have solved the problem by doing it in weekends and holidays, to compensate the lack of work in school days.
As for the interview and the exhibition time, since the exhibition time was fixed, I could only wait until the end of third of December in order to gather those important information and research. In the case of interview, my cousin could only be back in Mumbai in December. I had to wait for her in order to have a meeting. All these issues affected my time management and delayed the process of my project.
Other than time management, the quality of work is very essential indeed. In my creation of the booklet, the designs I have drawn need variations between each other. Yet, I had only few ideas while drawing. It took me longer time than I expected to finish my end product. In fact, it relates to the time management too. I have delayed the completion of my product for two weeks than my timeline schedule.
4.2 Relations to Area of Interaction
I have mainly focused on Human Ingenuity throughout the process of creation. I have shown human creativity while designing the accessories. I have also solved problems and find solution of how to change people’s thought towards Indian traditions and the disappearance of Indian culture. The booklet could reveal my understanding towards accessories design and the essential elements of Indian traditions in through my personal creative skills and intelligence. While designing the presentation of my designs, I have thought of the structure, outlook, and attractiveness toward the target group. It also helps to influence and change people’s thought of “Traditions can be Modern Fashion” after looking at it. My creations or designs enable to bring positive impact of protecting the Indian traditions, in which both accessories and traditions are human creations.
Additionally, after establishing my product, it can provide an opportunity for the teenagers to read, as to change their concept of traditions as outdated and old fashioned. That could help to preserve the traditional culture. In another words, I have contribution to the community through demonstrating examples in my product. It shows my project can relate to the Community and Service as well.
4.3 Improvements
In my investigation stage, I have found a huge quantity of designs. However, I think my process journal is not up to the mark. I should be able to write even detail if I have well manage my usage of time. At first I have thought about going to the store and take photographs from their products. Though, I found that was illegal. So I only have information from books, magazines, video clip, and brochures. If next time I could organize even well and requested some companies for permission before hand, then I could have photographs as my primary sources.
After finishing my project, I have found myself committed many mistakes and wrong decisions. And now I reflect my work, look back to the work I have done. Throughout my investigation, I could not find any information about Indian traditional accessories from books nor the Internet. I have kept trying to find information about it, even though no results could be found and overtime in the timeline. If next time, I will skip the information that cannot be searched and do the parts that I know first. That can improve the efficiency of the investigation process.
Throughout the time I used to draw the designs for the final product, I have wasted a lot of time to think of what to draw and just blank thinking in my mind. If any similar situations occur next time, I should use a blank piece of paper for brainstorming about the different elements and features that might include into the designs. I could draw all over the paper and give myself some ideas. Having a look in my previous investigation could help too.
5.0 Conclusion
5.1 Survey on My Product (See Appendix 6.6)
To prove that I have achieved my goal successfully, I have conducted a survey to collect people’s ideas and opinions. The survey can reveal people’s thoughts about my success on this project, which influences others’ thoughts toward Indian traditions with a better impression and shows that Indian traditions can be a part of modern fashion.
In the survey, I have raised three questions as checking my success of achieving my
goal. Questions are:
1) Checking the specification of my product
2) Would you buy the products that are shown in the design?
3) Do you think I can influence people not to dislike traditional culture?
The result (see Appendix 6.7) shows most of the people that I have asked are satisfied with my product, which mostly agree that my product contains modern fashion design, traditional elements, variety of materials, creative design, well explanations, and well presented. Among the twenty people I have asked, thirteen people agree with me that my creation can influence people not to dislike traditional culture. Besides, ten people said that they will definitely buy the accessories with my design, and five people said that they might buy it. The result of the survey reveals the success of achieving my goal.
5.2 Goal achievement
My aim is to design modern accessories combining current fashion trend and Indian traditions. As my product successfully completed, it reveals that I have reached my goal. I am very satisfied with my final product, with applying the Human Ingenuity and Community and Service into my project. It helps me to understand the influences my product can create and acknowledge the contribution I have made to preserve Indian traditions by finishing my product. The product definitely shows my unique and special designs clearly, as well as my creativity and talent. The product that can influence people’s conceptions toward Indian traditions is the main focus and essential in my goal, though I hope it helps and contributes to the community somehow. I think the greatest achievement in this project to me, is that I am really enjoying the entire process of achieving my goal in such less time. Of course, I am also glad to see that I have succeeded in creating the final product and finishing the entire project that I have never attempted.
by
jaymehta16031996 (student)
