Project Idea

While sighted observers can appreciate braille which consists of dots as a visual or decorative effect, the wallpaper, image or object only makes sense to someone who is able to read the tactile language. This idea of design flips the whole meaning of art to not just being all about the visual, creating connection with the art for the unsighted and seclusion for the sighted.

I took these photos to capture the fashion element within the design, i will use these pictures in the exhibition space along with my finished scarves to show the function of it being a fashion accessory.



I have really enjoyed exploring into the unsighted and creating braille with different materials and would like to carry on with this idea and create more fashion garments with the third element of instructions to create involvement for the unsighted.  

testing the design

Here i am modelling one of the scarves to show how the design works. 

final tcomes

Here are the final outcomes, from left, scarf one is designed for a partially sighted person. the contrast in colour help them to see the pattern.
Scarf two is for the unsighted person, this is plain cream as this person cant see anything and has to rely on touch to interact.
Scarf 3 is designed for a person with tunnel vision, this is where they can only see a small area down the middle of there eyes.
And scarf three has the pattern raised too so that the unsighted can feel the pattern.

All four scarf have the pattern on the opposite side to the braille, this side appealing to the sighted viewers.

 

Instructions in braille

Instructions from top image read:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, distributing the weight of your body to the balls of your feet.

Bend your knees slightly and stand up straight and tall, with your shoulders angled backward.

 This naturally pushes your chest forward .

Tilt your pelvis slightly forward and tuck your stomach in. Hold your head high. Your earlobes,

 shoulders, hips, knees and ankles should align.

Allow your arms to fall naturally at the sides of your body.

I will now attach these instruction to the bottom of hand made scarves, creating fashion garments with a function.

Development

I have decided to elaborate on my idea through pattern and fashion, creating a fashion accessory that appeals to both the sighted and unsighted. Adding a third element to my artwork which will consist of instructions that only the unsighted can unveil and benefit from. The instructions exploring deportment and posture.

Experimentation with materials

Three row beaded jewellery, the design revealing a hidden message in Braille only unveiled by the unsighted. The design appeals to the sighted from a visual and colourful aspect but the jewellery is made especially for the interaction of touch, involving the unsighted in fashion.  

Dressmaking pins hammered into a circular plaster block, creating a hidden message for the unsighted in Braille. 
  

Braille created by making individual plaster moulds of dots.

Embossing dots into copper to create a hidden message in Braille for only the unsighted. This creates the experience of touch, turning art into something for both the unsighted and sighted but the art reveals more to the unsighted. . 

Stitching into material to add a raised pattern of dots which create Braille.

Stitching Braille into patterned fabric to unveil the visual to the unsighted.
" Vintage white floral pattern on a pastel blue background. "
I think this is an interesting approach to help the unsighted into everyday design and I would like to take this idea further after this project, but by using the patterned fabric it detracts from the whole idea of the sighted being secluded from the piece of art.
  

Here are all three approaches together to create depth and interest.

Experimental ideas

Initial sketches of material ideas. I will experiment with all these ideas to explore which media will be the best appropriate for the context. 

Primary Research

braille wall flats from Inhabit.

embroidered letters on rusted braille paper by Fiona Dempster.
 

Jessica Marie Lertvilai's ceramics explore the boundaries between language, art and design. Love is Blind features a love letter transcribed into Braille and transferred in relief pattern onto the surface of the vase. Nice!

The Listen and Record wallpaper by Australian designer llias Fotopoulos.

Exhibiting

List of the items submitted:

A rucksack made of found items and materials to store found objects found on journey and survival items.

A sleeping sheet and attached pillow made of found materials for dry, warm, comfort while sleeping.

A hair comb and slide made of forks to help keep a clean and smart visual appearance to create the element of dignity. 

Also a utensil for cleaning your teeth made of a sponge and wire ring, to again capture the element of dignity.

A Drinking cup made of a coconut shell and a bent spoon for normality and dignity.

A knitting needle made of a buckle and a tree branch and a sewing needle made from a tree branch. These two items for the purpose of reproduction, to help stitch and sew found items together.

A fishing line made from a yo-yo and a coat hanger for the element of survival through catching food.

And a knife made from a piece of slate again for the element of survival whether its to sheer the food caught or for the catching.

As my outcome to this project consists of a number of different elements such as the rucksack, sleeping equipment survival items, i have arranged the item to create as scene and vibe of someone being there.

Research

Films:

The book of Eli: 
items in film for survival:
Machete, googles, rags, old clothes, gun, rucksack, water container and the bible to understand, reasoning, strength, hope, belief and to obtain religion.

City of Ember.
items in film for survival:
Re-use of objects in new purpose, rags, old clothes, food storage and a time capsule to give reasurance, survival, hope and mistery.

T.V Programs:

Kirstie's homemade home:
New techniques and processes, re-use of materials, items and furniture, recycling and antiques.

Superskrimpers:
Finding new uses for old clothes, fabric, jewellery, furniture, wax crayons etc.

Artist:
Amy Anderson

Sliced poetry.


I found this design interesting as the poetry within would be personal and unique to her as a person.

Cornelia Parker.

Thirty pieces of silver.

Alter ego poor coffee posh coffee.

The two pieces above visually attracted me as i find it fascinating how the objects hold there detail and beauty even when flattened. 

Freedom.

I feel the title of this piece reflects the concept of when the buckle are stripped bare without a strap they become elements of freedom .

Somewhere to sleep

The sleeping sheet and pillow.

Items and materials i used:
I have used a hessian bag as the base of my sleeping sheet and pillow, i then stuffed the pillow with carrier bags to pack the pillow out and to add comfort. Newspaper layered in between the hessian and big liners as a form of insulation and the bin liners to make the sleeping sheet waterproof, to enable you to stay dry.

The Rucksack

This is the rucksack in use.

I have used a car seatbelt as a way of fastening the main entrance of the bag

 

survival accessories

Two pastry fork re-used as a hair slide

Three dinner fork re-used as a hair comb

I bent the handles of the forks to improve the grip and create interest.

The comb in day to day use.

A utensil for cleaning your teeth, attached to a ring for easy use. The ring created from wire and the harsh side of a sponge to clean the teeth.

A knitting needle created from a tree branch and a buckle.

A sewing needle made from a bamboo cane, simple and quick to make, which i used to sew my rucksack together.

A drinking cup created from a coconut shell and a spoon which i bent to a handle.

A fishing line made from a yo-yo and a coat hanger, the yo-yo enabling the line and catch to be reeled in. A means of catching food. 

water collector

Thinking about how i could collect, contain an dispense water, i saw this in my re-cycling. i will use this to contain and dispense water and will include it in my rucksack. i will then add a hose pipe that connects to the foil holder to collect the water.

I have used braces for the shoulder straps

Creating the basic rucksack

To secure one side of the potato bag i turned it inside out and repeated the cross stitch sewing to secure the edge and then turned it back again. I have then folded both bottom corners up to create a triangle shape and sewed them with rope. To create the base of the rucksack i slotted a rectangle piece of cardboard at the bottom

Pockets

Using the hessian bag and one of the buckles i created a strap, securing it with strips of rope, then tidying the flap by sewing the edge.

Experimentation

Here i tried using rope to secure the two edges together to create a sealed edge for a pocket. I made the holes by poking a stick through the material and then putting the rope through the two holes and making a knot with both ends. With this way of sewing i found the rope was too thick as when knotting the ends they weren't staying secure once putting something in the pocket. I will experiment with the same material but in a different way of sewing to find a stronger way of securing the two pieces together.

Here i split the rope in half, creating a thinner strand to make it more successful to tighten and secure.

With this way of sewing i used a longer piece of thread and put in through the hole then wrapped in round the edge of the material and into the next hole. once i got to the bottom i repeated the process back on itself creating a cross stitch.  

This being the end result, strong and secure.

Re-used

A variety of different buckles all from different resources. These will help to keep the element of security within the rucksack. By the buckles being metal it alerts the owner if the bag is trying to be opened by another person; thief, stranger.

Here i experimented with a crisp packet to create the buckle strap. This would work as a last resort.  

With this buckle i will transform it into a sewing/ knitting needle by stabbing the point through a tree branch. Sharpening the end of the branch to create a pointed end allowing me to pierce holes to sew through.
The bottom end being where you attach the thread or rope so when threaded through the thread smoothly follows to make the stitch. 

Small thumbnail drawing of what the needle will look like 

This is a section taken from a hessian bag. I will use the material to make one of the outer pockets. 

I collected two hessian potato sacks which i will use to create the basic rucksack, sleeping bag and pillow. I will then used the other collected items to create the pockets and accessories.