Introduction to Initial Research

In the early stages of creating an idea and vision for my project, I started out collecting imagery through using the Instagram platform, specifically the ‘saved’ feature of which it offers. This allowed me to create an image collection database, that I could access and add to from anywhere and anytime because of how accessible the app is, “Instagram engagement has been up 40% since April…” (Reid, 2020).

Through this, I have been able to further my knowledge of the fashion industry and specifically those who are communicating it right now. Photographers, stylists, creative studios, and even magazines that I was not already aware of have been brought to my attention, which I have found to be incredibly pivotal to not only this project, but to being able to further understand my own place as a creative communicator within the industry. As well as finding a new adoration for Instagram as a research tool, I also found it helpful to explore physical copies of magazines and books, for conceptual influence, as well as digital tools.

With having such a large research image bank, I decided to whittle down my main influences to fit the 20x20 methodology of understanding identity to help in marketing your brand. This was the best way for me to organise and explain key influences.