Studio 3D 02: The Asylum

Studio brief

"The lunatics have taken over the asylum", Fun Boy Three

Studio Concept: “Asylum”

Welcome to the space where there are no limits to the imagination. Are there any boundaries to what you can imagine, if so where are they and what are they, and why do they exist? Question what is real, what is fantasy, what are the rules, and who created them? Disturb the natural order.

We want you to unleash your alter ego, introduce us to new ideas, question what you see as wrong and tell us why. Search deep within for inspiration, use these ideas as a starting point, be bold and experimental and create a storm.

At the end of the day, it’s the results that count. How you execute your concept through final design, outcome or collection is of paramount importance. It is about attention to detail; every angle must be covered. Leave no corner unturned.

Take away the insanity and absurdity, and the question is, do I still have a beautiful design underneath it all? Hard work, perseverance, self-belief and stamina is pivotal in making your position know. Talent and skill is longevity.

We want the best, we have high demands and expect exceptional achievements. We want to see something we have never seen before. It is up to you to deliver, be proud and stand by what you say.

However, complex the concept, planning and dedication from beginning to end is essential.

Studio description and requirements:

You are going to kill and cure in the name of fashion! You need to take apart in order to gain understanding, to be able to put back together and create something new. An expert designer requires expert craftsmanship and mad thoughts. Think the impossible and create the possible.

Seek and you shall find. Explore the works of artists, film makers and photographers. For example, Outsider Art, the Surrealists, such as Salvador Dali and Picasso, Chris Cunningham (film), Tim Walker (film), Rita Minissi (photographer). Films such as Donny Darko, Black Swan, Orphee, Sunshine of a Spotless Mind can all provide inspiration. And look within fashion, designers who challenge the normal state of being such as, Olivier Theyskens, Thierry Mugler, and Paco Rabanne who is a self- confessed 78,000-year-old alien. Perhaps music can inspire you: Vangelis, The Residents, Die Antworod, Lady Gaga to Marilyn Manson.

Project briefs will include:

Couture and Commercial: a project that will reflect what it is to be a luxury designer and how to retain your brand identity commercially without sacrificing the creativity. Trips to Paris trade shows are scheduled during the year for opportunities to source fabrics for collections along with visits to galleries and exhibitions in London and Paris. During your final third year collections we will put you in touch with a personal mentor to help guide you and bridge the gap between graduate and industry professional.

The essence of your work within the project briefs will be to explore and identify your signature style and aesthetic.

Live it, breathe it, let your work be at the forefront of your mind, all the time. Fashion is hard work and requires the utmost dedication to succeed. You can do it if you really want it.