Mollys journal

Starting off this week consisted of finishing my dissertation ready for hand in. Adding in the finishing touches for the hand in was very time consuming and stressful as there was a lot that needed to be included to make sure it was professionally ready to submit. These things that needed to be done were; the cover page, declaration page x 2, and the contents page at the start before have the introduction. I also needed to add inn my digital portfolio and appendix. This part was a nuisance as the images kept moving around whenever I needed to add something else in or saved it as a word document. However, with saving it has a PDF I was able to keep everything in its place.

Later on this week we had our first brief explaining what this term will be all about. Our brief will continuing with our portfolios whilst also creating a VIVA presentation for an interview. This viva will include; a personal statement, Cv/Cover letter, website, business cards and a LinkedIn profile ready for us to apply for jobs or create a business after uni.

This week we started off with our digital portfolio hand ins and a brief welcome back lecture from our tutors. With the deadline I felt as though I was happy and ready to submit my work ready for feedback…

With the welcome back tutorial we only went briefly into what will be expected in the next few weeks and how we will be getting around it with the circumstances of COVID-19. Due to being in lockdown we won’t be in the studio til hopefully February, but that is still unconfirmed for now. This is slightly disappointing as Ive got all my fabrics sourced and ready to go ahead with the making, but for now it just means thoroughly focusing on the digital side of fashion and developing our our CV’s and cover letters ready for interviews and potential jobs. 

We have also been set action plan sheets to help with time management during each week. Ive found these sheets very helpful as I can see what is needed at a certain time and when lectures are instead of trying to find out through emails.

As you can see above this is my planner so far… Ive already signed up for lots of webinars for this term, enabling me to get the most understanding as I can ready for when I finish uni. Im really excited for these lectures as I’ve been struggling to find ways to help me for my life after uni.

Over the Christmas break I have been able finalise my work ready for submission. During this break I’ve taken my feedback from the tutors forward, enabling me to tweak a few things within my portfolio. Majority of my portfolio fitted the criteria marks except certain pages layouts, texts or images. With having my portfolio basically finished I could prioritise my dissertation. As I had chosen to base my dissertation on an artefact it meant I needed to create a digital portfolio that included a mood board, mind map and a collection focused on my topic. Doing this part was the easiest as I knew how and what I was doing whilst also being able to enjoy the creative side of this essay. However, with the writing part of this essay I found this much more challenging, especially under the circumstances of COVID-19.

Even though this was the case, by the time I was ready to head back to uni (online) I had already finished my digital portfolio for the dissertation and I was over half way through the writing part.

On Tuesday of this week I presented my portfolio to my tutors. They all seemed really pleased with my portfolio so far and only suggested small tweaks to the final portfolio.

With this presentation, I’ll admit I, again was super nervous to speak, but this time I made sure to write what it was I was going to say to make sure I presented well. I found with using these notes I was much more confident in my speaking and there was a greater flow within the presentation.

As well as this, for my next viva, interviews or any type of speaking I feel much more prepared on how I can tackle these insecurities enabling me to produce the best I can.

This week we are having to prepare our final vivas ready in time for our presentations Monday/tuesday. Im feeling very confident for my presentation as I have created several mini post it notes to guide me one each slide, my digital is at its best it can be so far.. until I have feedback and my time management seems to be on time whilst practising my presentation.

Ive also been able to finish the waist bands on my shorts meaning I am done for this term regarding my toile pieces!! This has made me extremely happy considering the circumstances. All I need to do for this part is obviously take photos (which ive now done) and put them into my digital portfolio.

This week I’ve finished my second competition line up consisting of the transitioning of a designer/ the next step of your career ready in time for my VIVA presentation next week.. This presentation will only be for feedback which will help me to progress with my work.

Ive also been able to go into uni and finish up my toiles, making sure they’re neatly ironed and place correctly for photos, again, ready for my presentation.

I also brought back my shorts and trousers to finish my waist bands on them… However, towards the ed of this week we had a email regarding our dissertations on having to make a mind map for our next chapter with lots of references which panicked me slightly.. Even though this was the case first thing this weekend I got on with that to send off to my tutors for immediate feedback to see if I’m on the right track.

starting this week off I finished my line up of 9 ready to finalise what ones id be taking forward for my collection. After this tutorial I was able to carry these through to my portfolio pages.

During this week I have also started to digitally draw my second competition line up ready for next week to show to my tutors. Here they are drawn by hand.. these will be drawn up on illustrator for my final line up look.

I have also finally finished my trench coat after having a few minor set backs with it, but I really like how it looks!! Feeling much more confident with my practical work now meaning I can focus more on my digital work. Ive also taken my shorts back home so I can make up the waist band so next week ill be able to do tweaks to my outfits etc..

To start off this week I have been looking into the GFW 30th anniversary competition. At first I was quite stuck one what I could do as it can be anything, but after reading about them and looking through their website Ive come up with the idea of creating a line up perhaps or a design that portrays a young student transitioning into a designer. This idea came from their website as they briefly say what they do is to make student designers into employees.

This week I’ve also been able to start my pleated trench coat. As I’ve never done pleats, I researched and practised in order to achieve the pleat style I wanted. This helped drastically as my pleated coat turned out really good. However, at the moment there are a few tiny changes I need to make on the coat which I shall do next week

Start of this week I have been creating my newest live wall sheet and developing my research book, research pages and progress sheets. I have also been looking into a new live competition with GFW on their 30th birthday celebration. I think this will be a good one as it has a wide range of possibilities I can do. It can also fit in with my other competition and my major brief.

Towards the end of this week I will also be able to get my pattern pieces and finish my first toile of my first design for next weeks crit.

On Thursday and Friday I was able to make up my blazer, shorts and trousers ready for the mid week grit next week! I am over the moon with how they look at the moment as they look just like my illustrations. Ive also been able to get started one my toile pages as well.

At the end of this week I not only had the blazer and shorts done, I also finished the trousers off as well meaning I will have more time to focus one my trench coat.