Studio 3D 03: The Lab

Studio brief

“I find beauty in the continual shaping of chaos, which clearly embodies the primordial power of nature’s performance”. Iris Van Herpen

Studio concept: “Lab”

You are the creator, the questioner, the philosopher and the investigator. This is science fiction become reality. Research, dissection, analysis, experimentation and exploration are your tools to discovery and creation. The metamorphosis of idea to outcome is the process. So much in this world still remains undiscovered, it is your prerogative to explore the realms of design, to create and discover the next fashion frontier.

Do the secrets you wish to discover lie in nature or technology, or both? Is it virtual or is it physical? Is it organic, recycled or in some new technology where the future lies? Make mistakes, it is only through our mistakes where discovery and inspiration are found.

Studio description and requirements:

Source, research, development all lead to outcome. Delve deep and extensively to do yourself justice and truly create a worthy outcome. Start from the beginning, go back in time and look towards the future, you never know what you will uncover.

Document your findings, experiments and your journey to discovery. Mix and concoct new solutions and methods, consider what is the purpose of your invention? Is it form or function? Is your goal to create pieces who’s purpose is utility or purely visual? Does it have to a purpose? Why does it need to be visual, perhaps its sensory, or exists in darkness, or in the light?

Seek and you shall find. Explore the works of artists, film makers and photographers. For example, artists Hans Bellmer (the Doll), Tim Noble & Sue Webster (shadow work), Damien Hirst, Matt Collishaw, Lee Hyungkoo, and Andy Goldsworthy. Filmmakers, Stanley Kubrick, Chris Cunningham, the Quay Brothers and Fritz Lang offer deep philosophical insight to existence. Metropolis, Annihilation, 2001 Space Odyssey, The Island of Dr Moreau, Altered States, Gattaca and Blade Runner are films not to be missed. Japanese Anime expresses and explores the future fantasy, Ghost in the Shell, Nausica of the Valley of the Wind. As well as within fashion, designers who challenge the normal state of being such as Martin Margiela (particularly the Moulds growing on Fashion), Iris Van Herpen, Hussein Chalayan, Helmut Lang, Craig Green, Commes Des Garcon, Rei Kawakubo, Micol Ragni, and Sophie de Oliveira Barata (the Alternative Limb Project).

Project briefs will include:

Project ‘White’ Reveal the Colour. A visionary concept project which will conclude in a vivid interactive presentation at the end of term 1. Throughout the year you will take part in project briefs with industry professionals and creative entrepreneurs. The head of Kenzo, Paris will give you the opportunity to explore knitted and printed textiles for fashion through the Kenzo project brief. During the 2 nd year you will take on a work placement in industry establishing professional connections and superior knowledge.