Eley Kishimoto Live brief and exhibition

The brief was to create six repeat pattern designs for a context of our choice, I choose interiors.

The project was an intense but extremely rewarding experience. I learnt a lot, and the project allowed me to push my passion for utilising hard materials alongside traditional textiles/ cloth to create a series of surface samples for high end luxury interior, and commercial public spaces, for example high-end hotels.

My project initially took inspiration from Eley Kishimoto’s collaboration with Kirkby Design, a collection of luxury wall coverings and fabrics. Eley Kishimoto’s Hairywood 2005 project, a collaboration with 6 A architects creating an installation for a public space was also a source of inspiration for this project. I was drawn to how the wooden panels of the installation had a cut pattern, leading me to become excited about how I can utilise hard materials alongside textiles in this project. Responding to my research, I challenged myself to create a range of luxury surfaces for an interior using both fabrics and hard materials.

Throughout this project I pushed my passion for laser cutting further, learning more about waterjet cutting and experimenting with manipulating metal, sand blasting glass and mirror, and engraving back into screen-printed wood which gave me unexpected results (particularly how when engraved lightly the wood, it only took away part of the blue binder but the deeper engrave revealed the wood).

This project gave me the opportunity to be ambitious and really push both my drawing and making skills whilst working to a deadline and restricted time frame.

I am extremely pleased with my outcomes and the experience I have gained whilst undertaking this live brief. I particularly enjoyed the challenge of manipulating the metal which I am continuing to explore in my next/ current project!

My work is more process led and developing the breadth of processes became an exciting and fundamental part to my project. I was enthusiastic to step out of the 5th / Surface Pattern floor and work with different departments and technicians to develop exciting new processes and skills. I particularly enjoyed working with the glass department to sandblast glass and mirrored surfaces. Having the confidence to approach and work with other people, learning new skill sets and processes is essential in enterprise.

Working with different departments, and several different people, to have access to equipment had it's challenges, it was difficult to manage and organise as somethings were out of my control. However, it made me realise how I was able to manage this workload, and why it was so valuable that I've always allowed time to accommodate for the un-foreseeable in my time-frames for my projects.

The project has made me realise how my work can be applied to both interiors and exteriors. I'm passionate about gaining more experience in how my cut panels could be applied in architecture, and the process of designing for this end application. I've been in contact with Grace and Webb, a company based in Gloucester, who work with designers and architects to create laser cut panels for architecture and interiors. Although they are unfortunately unable to offer internship opportunities, It was incredibly valuable to hear their positive feedback about my work and skills. This has given me the confidence to continue to aspire to gain experience in designing, and applying surfaces for architecture as well as interiors.

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