MADE IN KINGSWOOD 2016
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
ART
We believe that good design is the combination of commercial awareness, with creative and inspirational thought validated by sound technological reasoning. We produce communicators who have, through their projects, become familiar with aspects of engineering, design and manufacturing and marketing, and who are capable of developing a product within the design process. We aim to teach and enhance their practical skills, project context and creative ideas through sketching, computer aided design and manufacture. Design at Kingswood continues to evolve and has become increasingly popular across all year groups. We teach our highly motivated students individually, through in-depth project mentoring, to become imaginative yet practical designers and communicators ready for their next step towards higher education and careers.
The Department aims to provide all pupils with a balanced and well-rounded Art education, meeting the needs of each individual pupil and providing opportunities to gain confidence and excel. Within the curriculum, pupils experience the widest range of disciplines. These include drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography, digital imaging and textiles. Pupils are often challenged and yet excited by the freedom and versatility of the subject, with the aim being to become an independent artist. The Department encourages creativity and the development of communication through the visual arts. Imagination, analysis, reflection, evaluation and application are the key skills which are integral to the ethos of the Department. Academic achievement continues to excel year on year, with pupils gaining places at many of the most prestigious Art colleges and universities across the United Kingdom.
BARNEY BROWN
STEPHEN BROWN
ESTHER My artwork is a discussion of contrasts and contradictions: permanence and temporariness; vulnerability and invincibility; black and white. Tattooed skin becomes a travelling, living canvas and, therefore, a contradiction of traditional artwork within itself. I am influenced by the presence of simplistic linear pattern within the complexity of daily life. My studio investigations consider clarity and ambiguity, not only in the constructed world of infrastructure, but in people also.
A NNA
My artwork explores the relationship between architecture and structures. I developed an interest in this topic while working on my Related Study, “Biomimicry in Architecture.” Within my practice, I have worked with a variety of mixed media, exploring the combination of black and white digital photography with stitching. My recent project is called “Power of Colour.” This work was inspired by structures and colours of different subjects, exploring different techniques of folding and cutting paper, I have produced a site specific sculpture which shows the tension between black and white and coloured paper.
A NNA My Design Technology project is based on 3D shapes and complicated structures. For my project I decided to follow ‘De Stijl’. This style allowed me to work with primary colours and straight lines. My design portfolio shows the full design process, from research concept ideas through to manufacture and evaluation. My aim within my project was to push my knowledge about structure and construction in order to be prepared for my architectural course. My time at Kingswood has really brought a new dimension to my designing, and the projects over the last two years have really helped to develop my skills.
CH A R LIE My product this year is based on Scandinavian design. I began to show interest in this topic whilst looking at products currently on the market. I used ash wood. It is very light which therefore makes it perfect for this design style. I started to seek inspiration by looking online at some products and visiting some furniture stores. I created my design through design pages and by using 2D Design. To manufacture my product, I used the wood lathe to shape the legs. The top surface was upcycled wood from Kingswood. My main objective for this product was to keep a simple yet elegant aesthetic.
DY L A N My examination project explores the use of mixed media and how the application of charcoal is affected by the surface it is applied to. Charcoal is a medium that I especially enjoy using, in particular, the diversity of the medium and the subtleties in mark making. I have been mainly influenced by Cubism, and artists including Mark Powell and Kathe Kollwitz, gaining valuable ideas from for both composition and subject. Reclaimed newspapers from World War II have been an interesting surface to work upon, and have provided context, emphasising the importance of history and narrative within my work.
CH A R LIE I believe that aesthetics should not be sacrificed for sustainability in a product, something that I have tried to implement throughout my A Level course. My primary focus is combining both sustainability and aesthesis. However, I also place a lot of importance on the function of products as I like the products I make to be functional and specific to each client. My project this year was more of a challenge as the structure has many elements of ergonomics, anthropometrics and aesthetics. The manufacturing required lots of different skills and I feel the final piece is a fantastic showcase for me.
PR A PTI My work explores how Artists and Medical Illustrators have observed and recorded evidence of the human body throughout history. My portrait paintings are of subjects that I know personally, and are the people who are the most important in my life and thus the most powerful influences on who I have become. My series of five portraits of my mother illustrates the journey of a patient from the diagnosis, through her treatment and to her successful recovery. I used the power of facial expressions, allowing even layering of brush strokes to create subtle evidence of her hidden pain through her journey of recovery.
JEZ The aim of my product was to design a task light that is aesthetically pleasing, functions well and is robust. The style is Steam Punk, an industrial-themed look exploring slightly less modern materials, combined with the technical side of the light. The challenge was to create a unique product which was also a tasteful and high-quality manufactured light. I used a large number of reclaimed material to give it the requisite industrial feel. This style of project will, I hope, give me some materials and manufacturing understanding which could give me a real world understanding in my degree course.
IZZ Y My specialist interest is the technique of etching and dry point printing. I am fascinated by the process and how each depression formed on the surface of the plate creates a unique mark when taken into print. I have explored printing throughout the A-Level course, and enjoy the variations and precision which can be achieved in the etchings. My interest in fashion and the movement and texture of fabric has been a key focus for my investigations. I enjoy how elements of fashion design are reinvented over decades, as trends evolve and adapt. My recent work explores the movement and passage of people within urban surroundings.
GOR DON My project this year focuses on the aesthetics of a bedside table. Knowing that I am planning to study aerodynamics at university, I wanted to design a product which is heavily focused on shape. My bedside table has been designed in the 1970s style. I combined a curved oak table top and rounded copper legs to create my table. The whole design process has been the culmination of years of work in Design Technology and my final product has turned out to be highly functional and aesthetically pleasing. This experience has been invaluable to me and I know it has broadened my understanding of materials.
SA M The concept of designing a bedside table stemmed from a desire to fabricate a piece of furniture that would be primarily functional and aesthetically stunning. Scandinavian design is a style of furniture that appeals to me due to its clean lines and simple appearance. The design process I’ve developed at Kingswood in the Design department has honed my interest in studying Design and my passion for the subject has really flourished since Year 11. My final year of DT at school has been thoroughly enjoyable and has allowed me to use the wide range of skills which I have built up over the last seven years of Design Technology.
K R IST Y My work is primarily concerned with painting, using both oils and acrylic. For me, presentation and interpretation of the final outcome is as important as the artwork itself. Initially interested in the use of monochromatic painting techniques, my work has evolved into dealing with the importance of colour. One of the benefits of using oil paint is that I am able to smooth out and blend the paint to produce a more realistic effect. Throughout my work, the main concept is to show the relationship between the human figure and the subject’s surroundings, and create visually engaging pieces.
C A LUM My work this year has been orientated around form and function. I produced an adaptation of a strip light, rather than a lamp that would light a whole room. I designed something using steel because I wanted to learn more about the metal. I intend to study architectural engineering at university and this has been a great stepping stone on my career path. Having used concrete and timber in large quantities at AS level, I feel that my university application was strengthened as a result of the industry-based materials I used, alongside an understanding of their properties and how they are manufactured.
M A SH A My artwork reflects my fascination with both perspective and structure. By combining slightly unusual materials such as photographs, wood, paper, thread, string, wire, and tights, I have created a body of work that has evolved from my Related Study, “Transformation of thread into art�. The focus of my most recent work has been with the use of distortion and tension within materials. This work was inspired by a series of digital photographs of a model dressed in tights from head to toe. Using sections of tights, stretched over nails, I developed a way of drawing that encapsulates my intentions.
EM M A I have found great satisfaction in using watercolour to create detailed portraits of different family relationships. The translucency of the paint highlights how, with time, relationships are always shifting and developing, but essentially that the connections between members of a family remain strong. My examination project explores acrylic painting, with the focus on architecture of historical importance. The process of painting provides me with the opportunity to create contrast and yet with a sense of the sublime.
NI A MH My work explores the effect of Realism on a grand scale, predominantly indulging my love of drawing and mark-making. Drawing in pen, graphite, and charcoal, I have been able to exploit details of the subject matter I have chosen. The objects and subjects which I draw are incredibly personal to me. I like the images I create to be authentic and meaningful, hoping to elicit personal responses in the people viewing them. My drawings attempt to conjure an emotional response and are reminiscent of sentiment.
OLI V I A Portraiture and the human form has been the focus of my artwork this year. I like to be visually representative when drawing and painting, capturing the details and textures of a subject. I have explored various ways of drawing with thread and continuous line in my most recent work. My aim has been to create imagery that is aesthetically pleasing whilst generating questions from the viewer. I enjoy mixed media, usually based on the portrait or the figure. I am especially interested in artwork which incorporates an aspect of contrast or a striking feature within the piece, such as a bold accent of colour.
GEORGE My aim within my A2 project was to push my knowledge base into product design in preparation for my applications to university courses. My concept for a squash ball warmer is fairly unusual. However it allowed me to focus on the scientific research needed. The idea challenged me to resolve the function, technology, and the aesthetics of the heater. My solution evolved through a great deal of research and designing using CAD. The use of the 3D printer was fundamental for this project, alongside the technological proof that it would work, and I know that this will stand me in good stead in my degree course.
KOFI My work is mainly concerned with creating portraits that capture a strong resemblance to the sitter. One key aspect of portraiture that fascinated me is how representational the work can be. The level of likeness in my drawing and painting demonstrates both draughtsmanship and a sense of the subject’s character.
CAM Over the course of the year I have made a modern Scandinavian inspired desk/table light. The structure was made from ash, a visually interesting and widely used wood in Scandinavian furniture. The main visual components for the project have been designed in CAD and 3D printed. This has really helped me to develop both the traditional wood turning and CAD skills and showcase what is possible with 3D printing. The main focus of my product was to focus on the Scandinavian aesthetic and to produce a light that would be suitable for a retail environment.
CH A R LIE My interest in structure and geometry is rooted to my love of both Design and Art. The question of when Art becomes Design and vice versa has underpinned both my Related Study and my Personal Investigation. Initially inspired by Antony Gormley, I created a series of installation pieces that combine elements of smoke, light and printmaking. These mixed media pieces were designed to be reminiscent of the human lungs, filling and emptying on a timed loop. My latest work combines iconic furniture designs and laser cutting. The value of aesthetics and the process of manufacturing has been at the centre of my experimental imagery.
CH A R LIE I applied my skills developed at Kingswood to every stage of the design process and I have produced a final product that I feel really shows off all of my abilities. My task this year was to design and manufacture a stunning yet practical task lamp for my client, with the goal of using sustainably sourced materials, and to make it avoiding as many power tools as possible. I learnt a lot about myself and manufacturing processes this year. With my aim of studying at Loughborough firmly in sight, I can now reflect on how far I have developed my design work at Kingswood.
A LE X In my final year of Kingswood I set about to produce a high–quality bedside table. I focused on the finer details of manufacturing, from joints to the finishing of every aspect. An example of this is the use of dovetail joints, which was challenging but has been a success. The work throughout the A Level has set me up for my future in the subject. With five offers received, my work no doubt supported my applications, allowing me to accept my first choice. My time at Kingswood has broadened my design interest and awareness and I am looking forward to a career in the design industry.
C A LUM My project is a reflection of how a product can be aesthetically designed, without compromising its objective. This is a modern interpretation of the classic Angle Poise light with a distinctly industrial nod to construction cranes. I was inspired by upcycled vintage lighting and industrial themed design, and employed a variety of techniques including welding, laser cutting, and routing to achieve the complex pulley mechanism. The development of this project has undoubtedly helped me in my applications and preparation for studying biotechnology at university.