“There is a place like no place on earth, a land full of wonder, mystery and danger….. Some say to survive it you need to be as mad as a hatter” – Mad Hatter
MILLINERY
Millinery is the process of designing and manufacturing bespoke hats and head ware, in particular I will be focusing on the production and creation of fascinator hats which are used for weddings, races and special occasions. I was particularly inspired by the book and film Alice in wonderland for this project and wanted to make the milliners space as mad and chaotic as possible to evoke the overwhelming yet magical mind of a mad hatter. This project has enabled me to design a variety of different pieces of furniture and equipment which is required to enable the milliner to thrive in the “assembly tower”. Therefore successfully allowing them to produce an array of bespoke fascinator hats which are tailored to each individual client’s needs and requirements.
Whilst designing the milliner’s space I researched the themes, colours and soft furnishings that were used within the Alice in wonderland films. One main feature which caught my attention was the repetition of black and white checkered vinyl flooring. Due to its constant presence within the film I wanted to incorporate this idea within the assembly tower, therefore creating a bold, edgy and mysterious look inside the building. Alongside pastel pink and purple walls covered from top to bottom in different hats of all shapes and sizes the assembly tower is hardly recognisable.
Creating Axo’s, Perspectives, sections and plans of the building and its interior has enabled me to gain a better understanding of what the space will eventually look like once I have finished designing. These methods of communication allow me to present my ideas in a clear, efficient and effective way, therefore allowing my client to convey their overall satisfaction or critiques of the interior. I have previously learned how to complete these drawings within my A level Product Design classes, however I have now learned how to produce more technical drawings of spaces. Therefore allowing me to have more confidence when creating interior spaces in the future.
During this project I was able to efficiently come up with a design which suited my clients needs and requirements, therefore enabling them to produce high quality fascinator hats. After researching thoroughly into what a milliner required to thrive in their workspace I believe that I was able to design a variety of essential pieces of furniture effectively. One thing which didn’t go as well was my perspective drawings, some of the furniture inside were not drawn correctly and therefore caused the drawing to look out of proportion. This is something which I will need to improve and develop on in future projects. Practising my perspective drawings in the studio will enable me to gain more confidence in drawing a 3d perspective of the interior, allowing me to present my ideas more sophistically. This project has given me an insight into what it is like designing and creating a space for a client. It has also enabled me to understand the different steps and processes which need to occur before you start designing the interior of a building. For example understanding the opportunities and restrictions of the host building. These steps are incredibly important in helping me successfully become an interior designer.
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