Vagabondage
I don take m going know way I
n’ t k n o w w h e r e t h i s w i l l m e o r e v e n w h e r e w e’r e g on our travels, but I it may greatly effect the I w o r k c o m e S e p t e m b e r.
DESIGN IDENTITY From as early as I can remember I have been surrounded by art, and thrown into an abundance of creative situations, whether in education or by my own family. On both sides of my family we have an array of artists, sculptures, photographers and designers, all fully immersed in industry or practicing for
their
own
pleasure.
My
own
family
background
is
an
inspiration to me: my grandmother in particular achieved incredible my
cousins
things
for
explore
a
woman
the
world
in
her
day
seeking
to
and
age;
today
discover,
much
like myself. I believe that there is always more to life than what meets the eye, and the sooner we escape the bubble of our comfort zone, the sooner we are able to excel through learning and exploration.
I t ’s n o t e a s y to d e f i n e a n i d e nt i t y, e s p e c i a l l y to d e s c r i b e my own, there are many factors that have to be considered, I feel my identity is ever changing and growing with each new experience. Over the past year I have explored ideas of mindfulness and meditation along side a healthy lifestyle in order to utilise my mind and body, which in turn allows me to open my eyes to new ways of thinking and working: such as the practice of returning to presence in all situations through methodical awareness. Through certain techniques I
am
able
to
draw
new
inspiration
from
aspects
of
life
I
had previously overlooked, and follow new lines of enquiry. Throughout my life the natural world has intrigued me, and it continues to amaze me and influence my work through its chaotic perfection and infinitely intricate detail. My love of nature encourages me to recycle and explore innovations within
fashion,
and
and sustainability.
other
industries
that
promote
ethics
Therefore
much
resourceful
of
and
my
design
perceptive:
ethos not
is
based
taking
around
subjects
being
for
their
originally subscribed value and instead opting to find a deeper layer
that
hide
in
plain
sight.
Inspiration
is
everywhere,
and I understand that as long as I remain alert new material and
opportunities
will
continue
to
present
themselves
in
abundance. On a technical level this involves focussing on a central visual plotline and using complementary elements to its benefit.
When
it
comes
to
specific
sources
of
inspiration,
through
fortune or otherwise over many years I have developed the habit of collaborating vast quantities of material I find to have
a
strong
publications
of
visual all
impact.
types,
This
posters,
includes
magazines
photographs,
and
postcards,
prints, leaflets; even quotes I find to have a vivid imagery. This has given me a physical library of reference constantly supplying me with a source of stimulus, and an edge when needing a starting point.
Besides
the
new
design
techniques
and
principles
I
have
picked up over the length of the course, I have developed a heighted awareness of my identity in both its current form and the forms it may take on in the near future. This allows me to hone in on my subject matter and assert deeper themes in my work.
THE AREA IS BEAUTIFUL, MAN MADE A N D N AT U R A L WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF HISTORY WE HOPE TO EXPLORE THIS OVER THE C O M I N G D AY S .
WE’VE JUST GOT BACK FROM CANOEING DOWN THE R I V E R. I T WA S A MA Z I N G. M E L Z A N D I W E R E I N A C A N O E T O G E T H E R , W E W O R K R E A L LY W E L L A S A T E A M S O WE HAD MOMENTS OF POWER, AMONG MOMENTS OF SCREAMING DOWN RAPIDS, LOSING OARS IN TREES AND MOUNTING ROCKS LIKE PRIDE ROCK OF LION KING
T H E M O U N TA I N AIR IS SO FRESH, AND THE VIEWS B R E AT H TA K I N G , EVERY TIME I GAZE OUT THE WINDOW I FEEL LIKE I’M LOOKING AT A N I D E A L I S T I C PHOTOGRAPH.
I THINK WE ARE GOING S L I G H T LY I N S A N E , W E ARE IN MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WE’VE BEEN SINGING ABBA TO KEEP MORALE HIGH.
T H E TO W N WA S S O L O V E LY, I R E A L LY L I K E SLOVENIA, I THINK I’LL COME BACK O N E D AY
S H E WA S SHOCKED WHEN WE TOLD HER HOW OFTEN P E O P L E S TA R E AT U S A N D LO O K AT U S D I S G U S T E D LY. WE’RE NOT SURE WHY BUT WE THINK IT COULD BE A C O M B I N AT I O N OF THE LARGE B A C K PA C K S , AND OUR COLOURFUL CLOTHES
FA S H I O N D I S T R I C T WA S N I C E, B U T A L S O DEPRESSING WHEN WE REALISED JUST HOW TIGHT WITH MONEY W E H AV E T O B E AT T H E M O M E N T.
WE’RE PLANNING TO CAMP SOMEWHERE.. IT’S ALL VERY VAG U E, I T H I N K WE’RE GOING WHERE T H E W I N D TA K E S U S
WE’VE BEEN CHALLENGED AND KEPT ON O U R T O E S E V E R Y D AY B U T F R O M T H O S E EXPERIENCES WE’VE GAINED WISDOM OR J U S T S T O R I E S T H AT W E ’ L L TA K E T O T H E G R AV E.
HE SAID A WHILST C WE DIDN’ S AY I N G , B IT SEEME T H E WAT E WE’D BEE
RELAXING IN THE SHADE OF THE A T H I N G S A B O U T S Z I G E T, T H E R E ’ S A GO, AND THE ENTIRE ISLAND IS FL E A C H M O R N I N G T H E H E AT WOULD BE UNREAL, AS SOON AS IT BECAME TOO MUCH, I’D OFFER TO OPEN THE “SUN ROOF” AND KICK IT OFF TO ALLOW THE FRESH AIR AND SOUND CHECKS TO SWEEP IN
I T WA S DA R K N O W A N D S TA R T I N G T O F E E L LIKE ONE OF MY BAD D R E A M S , LO S T, M I S S I N G LU G G A G E A N D S TA R I N G MEN EVERYWHERE
T H E WA L K H O M E WA S D E L I G H T F U L, WE HELD HANDS T H E W H O L E W AY. WE MADE IT BACK A N D I T WA S A N AW E S O M E N I G H T.
LIFE BEGINS WHERE YOUR COMFORT ZONE ENDS
NOW WE ARE SITTING ON OUR BAGS I N T H E R OA D T E N T - L E S S WA I T I N G F O R F R I E N D S TO S AV E U S.
P E O P L E PA S S U S B Y, S O M E L O O K I N G DISGUSTED, SOME CONFUSED AND SOME SMILING, A GROUP OF FOUR YO U N G S LO VA K I A N S G I V E A L L THREE LOOKS AND CONTINUE ON
A LOT OF THINGS IN GERMAN C U T T I N G S O M E WAT E R M E LO N , ’ T U N D E R S TA N D W H AT H E WA S BUT NODDED AND SMILED WERE D A P P R O P R I AT E . H E G AV E U S E R M E LO N W H I C H WA S A MA Z I N G, E N C R AV I N G I T
ART ZONE. ONE OF THE NICE LWAY S S O M E W H E R E C O O L T O L O W I N G W I T H C R E AT I V I T Y.
TIRED AND ILL. WE LEFT T H E F E S T I VA L A N D S E T O F F TO THE NEW HOSTEL MELZ HAS BOOKED A FLIGHT HOME.. SHE’S RUN OUT OF MONEY AND DOESN’T W A N T T O B O R R O W A N Y, I’M FEELING A LITTLE OVERWHELMED BY THE S I T U AT I O N I H AV E N ’ T A C T U A L LY S E E N M U C H O F T H E C I T Y.
HE POPPED A LARGE BUNCH OF GRAPES IN A BAG AND SAID “MY M O T H E R S AY S T H I S I S FOR YOU” SO KIND, IT M A D E M Y D AY.
I’VE BOOKED ANOTHER N I G H T AT T H E H O S T E L , IT’S FUN HERE.
I DON’T KNOW WHY BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE E N D, R E A L LY THOUGH, THIS I S T H E S TA R T O F THE NEXT HALF O F A N AW E S O M E ADVENTURE .
THE MAIN WAT E R FA L L IS QUITE CROWDED BUT FOLLOWING THE WOODEN WA L K WAY S BETWEEN THE WAT E R FA L L S , THE CROWDS FIZZLE OUT AND YOU FIND YOURSELF SURROUNDED B Y N AT U R E A N D S E R E N I T Y. P E R F E C T.
T O D AY W E H AV E L A U G H E D, N E A R LY C R I E D A N D A L M O S T H A D PA N I C A
AT TA C K S , I T ’ S B E E N F U N .
AN ASSORTMENT OF LANTERNS WERE STRUNG DOWN THE ROADS, W H I C H L I T U P AT N I G H T G U I D I N G U S H O M E
I’M NOW LOST IN THE CROWD ON MY OWN
DIRT Y LOOKS ARE LESS AMUSING WHEN YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN. I’M JUST IMAGINING THE IMPRACTICALITY OF WEARING NICE CLOTHES W H I L S T B A C K PA C K I N G , THERE’S A REASON WE D R E S S T H E WAY W E D O.
S I T T I N G W AT C H I N G T H E S K Y C H A N G E F R O M B L U E T O B L A C K I N T H E S T E A M Y O U T D O O R S PA W A S P E R F E C T.
I TOOK MY TIME AND JUST ENJOYED THE CITY
SEEING PHOTOS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, MANY THE SAME AGE AS ME, TH C A M P WA S S H O C K I N G.
H E N R E A D I N G T H E Y O N LY S U R V I V E D O N E O R T W O M O N T H S I N T H E
N O W I ’ M O N T H E T R A M A G A I N T O G E T B A C K , I M I S S E D M Y S T O P T H E F I R S T T I M E , H O P E F U L LY I ’ L L BE A PRO SOON.
M Y PA R E N T S WERE READY W I T H A WA R M WELCOME. I DECIDED TO GO TO THE F E S T I VA L I N PORTSMOUTH WITH THEM. A WONDERFUL END TO AN INCREDIBLE WEEKS.