BRAND ME RECAP

I’d be lying if I said the journey started at the roots of this book. You could say it commenced in the midst of 2020, when I began the FMC course. However, that’d be a lot to condense into the one journal wouldn’t you say? So, we’ll fast-forward to the Concept and Direction module, the genesis and synopsize of me, my brand and who I thought I was.

Through a range of probing questions and explorations into my background, the summer research task enabled me to analyse myself, internally and externally, underpinning my foundations as a creative and acting as a steppingstone into Brand Me. Here, I exposed parts I had hidden away from the rest of the world, mostly due to embarrassment and fear of ridicule. My parents’ separation initiated a lack of trust, whereby my mentality adhered to-if the people closest to me could abuse this, anyone can, and this reasoned as to why I became so solitary and muted- something I express so outwardly in my personal style and at times within my own work too. Being independent came at a cost and in the premature years of high school I was bullied. I didn’t comprehend this at the time, but this period shaped me considerably, particularly as a creative. And as I unravel my journey to you, the reader, you too can see how my comfort zones are confronted to conquer the fear of critique and how, my once, escapism of reading and theatrical arts has influenced its way into my work.

My objective for these final stages is to produce something which releases the negativity of these afflictions, which employs the forms of escapism, and translates them into a positive nature. Undoubtedly, my FMP will consist of dedication and hard work, but I believe it will provide healing too, allowing me to be who I am and do what I want with confidence.

The journey for me is just as significant as the outcome. It is where I find my feet and unleash my inner researcher. Brand Me firstly observed the Eleanor who runs back to the safety of minimalism when confronted with new projects yet concludes with her maximalist tendencies and yearn to be unreserved. This has been persistent throughout all modules, and it is most satisfying and priding to see her progression. Brand Me allowed me to address the familiarities through researching into brands like Celine, Jil Sander and Jacquemus but encouraged me to realise I am far better than the comfortable and quiet. Towards the end of this component, I granted myself the liberation to test the waters of uncertainty by delving into designers and magazines who adhered to non-conformist approaches. Going forth to the 360 campaign, I was determined to maximise on these findings and utilise the skillset I accustomed myself with to build on a potential concept which bridges a gap in the market.