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I have not had a more stressful hand in then today.

We'll start with yesterday. I had a few meltdowns. I wanted the layout to be clean, minimal and reflect the brand. But the artwork I had created did not reflect this. I felt like I was making no progress, which was so frustrating. I had spent all this time producing work I was proud off, to then put it on a document that did it no justice. I figured out I would leave it and come back with fresh eyes in the morning.

That night I typed up all my development (why did I leave that to the last minute) and had barely any sleep.

Final day- it was mayhem. Work lost, time running out. No time to eat, no time to chat. I did not leave that library desk for a solid 8 hours. Held back the tears a few times I must admit. A few errors on the final hand in that I'm not going to cry about. It's done.

A full conclusion to come. I feel relieved that it's all over. Sadly the end of the course coincided with a lot of family stress, outside work stress and lack of sleep! Not a good combination. I feel frustrated, while the other projects I had an infinite amount of time to research and develop my ideas. With this project time just flew.

Everything felt rushed in the end, which I feel shows.

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I've had a stressful weekend. I've started a new job, and had a family emergency which has also been super stressful. I haven't managed to get to get any work done. Now its Sunday evening and I'm thinking, how much can I pack in before I fall asleep.
Everything seems to have hit at once. I am calm at the moment, and thinking there is plenty of hours at night that can be used to work. However... I don't work too well in the evening!

I will figure it out, we will get this done, I will hand it in on time !

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Here we are in the last week. Surprisingly managed to get most of last weeks to do list.

Had a product beginning, finished all the product adjacencies, fixture placements.

Little bits to finish off now and then tie up all the loose ends with research.

Today:
Write your introduction
Alter your customer profile
finish your outside of building
Update socials

Add all to InDesign

Lets go!

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I am quite scared to write my todo lists for next week... but here goes:
-planogram 1 (sustainable)
-planogram 2 (gender mix)
-product adagency (men/women/workshop)
-store layouts (men/women/workshop)
-social media mock
-email mock
-website mock

-concept boards:
Window
Store outside
Store inside
Workshop

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Today was a good day. I woke up, and I got on with it. I managed to get all the jobs meant for Friday and all the jobs meant for today all done before 10pm (still need to do one concept board though..)

I do have this sense of doom about the next too weeks, feel overwhelmed and stressed! I’m trying to hold it together but I may have a meltdown at some point.

Surprisingly though, I’ve been designing my window for the last two hours. The window consists of a large image of starlings flying across the sea. I now actually feel quite calm. Something about looking at those scenes has chilled me out. Maybe I should do it more often?

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OK so this week has seen some progress:
Swot (Done)
Pestle (Done
Customer Profile (Done) - Add paragraph detailing
Started looking at logo (Done)

Still trying to sink in that we only have three weeks left. THREE WEEKS TRYING NOT TO PANIC !
I feel like time is running away from. I need to have a productive weekend.  I do have more freelancing work coming my way so the balancing struggle is still very real. So my week is split into:

Thursday:

Freelance

Friday:

College work

Write up customer board

Paint logo

Scan in and play around with composition

Look at location and take photos

Saturday:

Freelance

Sunday:

Design branding package

Create concept board for packaging

Create concept board for windows

Start to design outside of the store and window concept

Monday:

Driving lesson

Freelance work

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JOBS of the week that MUST be completed:

Swot (Double check and finalise)
Pestle
Customer profile
Start drawing the branding ideas

Upload images from research trip
Write swot for competitors

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Before in past projects, I had no distractions. Now suddenly I feel overwhelmed by the amount of different things that are all happening at the same time. I'm struggling to balance life, work, school work and possible freelance work.

While I focus on one, the others fall behind. At the moment my school work is the one feeling neglected. I need to spend the week seriously focusing on school.

I hope this pressure produces the goods!

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Went to a lot of different types of stores today. I haven't really gone into shops for a good 4/5 months, so I really enjoyed myself.
The stores were very conceptual in their visual merchandising. I definitely found it inspiring.
Things I need to do that I haven't done so far:

Upload the images

Write some analysis

Start to think about what I can take from these creations

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First week back- had my proposal looked over. A few tweaks needed but general idea seems solid. I’m thinking about changing the location of my store. London already has about 3-4 Acne Studios, they don’t need another one! It’s time to give another city one.
Feeling a little unproductive- college days are taking it out of me.

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Achieved everything from last weeks jobs list, except creating a survey. I hate creating surveys ! I never know what to write, I don't understand what I'm trying to achieve with them. Solution: wait till we are back in class and ask for a bit of guidance.

Feeling good this week. I have done a big chunk of research, although it doesn't feel like i've scratched the surface.

Distractions from my phone are heavy and consistent. Managed two hours without it, rewarded myself with 20 mins on TikTok.

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Jobs this week :

Finish creating your brief

Write up initial ideas and brands

Create a survey

Think about designing a poll

Start researching Brand

Starting with a small list with the hope of achieving it.

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After looking through brands after brands after brands- I've made a decision with Acne.

I surprised myself, no faffing, no second guessing- I've made a decision and I did it fast for once.

Not only have I decided on a brand, but what I'm going to achieve with this project. First week! And no faffing! Feeling positive and motivated by this.

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In the past, I have always shied away from this question. In my personality test, I resonated with the section about not wanting to create future goals. This was mainly due to confidence, not believing I had the right skills and not knowing how to get into these jobs.

Now answering this question is a bit easier. I want to be coming up with creative schemes for brands, designing the launches in-store and online. Communicating ideas to the rest of the team and working with people.

My goal is to work for a company that is ethical in it's production line, and sustainable in it's products.

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39. What kind of brands am I interested in?

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39. What kind of brands am I interested in?

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Since my last projects have been focusing on mid-level brands, this project I will go for a high end women's brand.
I've been set on this idea from early in the year, with the hope it will show a different style of design in my portfolio.
I want to show future employers that I can design a wide scope of areas- from children's wear, outdoor and athleisure to high-end women's wear.

The next step is to look at these brands, and see if any of them align with your interest in sustainability.

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38. What elements did I enjoy from the past projects?

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38. What elements did I enjoy from the past projects?

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Research- I enjoy researching trends, using WGSN. Part of the researching I don't enjoy is doing back up research instead of doing it at the beginning. Going into this project, I aim to spend time on researching things that are relevant, and use my notes properly to develop my ideas.

Creativity- My most enjoyable and successful times in the course were when I was able to push my creativity. I think this is where my strength lies, and so I want to see how far I can push that with this project.

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I have a love/hate relationship with fashion. I love it but I hate how wasteful it is. It has such a detrimental effect on the planet, and it's something that we all are contributing towards.
My interests lie in ethical and sustainable fashion, that is the future. I now need to figure out how I can make this element a strong feature in my project. I want to make it a realistic idea and that is achievable.

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Initially this feel very overwhelming, with endless ideas and endless amounts of work! However, I'm trying not to look at the big picture at this point, and instead focus the basics:
What am I good at?
What are my interests?
What elements did I enjoy from the past projects?
What kind of brand am I interested in?
Where do I see my future?

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New group with a new challenge. It feels refreshing to only have two days for a project. I like having to get on it, no time to faff.

Looking at a skate brand was interesting, the challenge for me was making it look cool and relevant. The graphics I produced used images from the brands look book, put together in a modern and editorial way. I am overall happy with the work I produced, helping finish off the planogram and details of the VM guidelines.

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This project was during a turbulent for me, and the rest of the world. Reflecting back on this project, I have to remind myself how unfocused I felt throughout.
My hand in has been stressful, never have I left so many jobs to the last minute.
I need to promise myself never to do this again, if I take anything away from it, it's to not leave any jobs to the day of hand in.
I am proud of the collection, I wish I had some more time to finish off the research.
But really I am glad it is over. I want to move forward with a fresh attitude, and try to overcome the difficulties I've faced in myself during this time.

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This is causing me stress. Technical problems are difficult to solve.

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-Need to get organised
-Feeling the pressure
-Starting to look for placements

-Planogram still taking me ages
-Why I did make it in this realistic style
-Doing both girls and boys planogram is taking me AGES

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I enjoyed taking some time to do something different today.
My weaknesses are interesting, and are definitely evident in this reflective blog.
Addressing my poor long term planning (scared of the future and not having a career)
Easily bored and struggle with concentration  (this is especially evident when I work in isolation)

Positives to take away :
I'm definitely a people person
Bold and confident
Don't mind stepping out of my comfort zone

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I have started this week with a different energy. I feel a lot lighter, I am following the lessons better and managing to stay on top of class tasks.
I now realise why all this research is needed to be done = it makes it so much easier to produce the work!
I need to keep it simple, stop faffing and don't over think.

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I had a chat with Suzi today. She made me feel more hopeful for the future.

Time management is still an issue, but I am feeling more positive and trying to be kinder to myself.

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Feeling very emotional. I have a daunting feeling that this course will end soon and I will be in the same place I was before I started = Lost and unconfident in my ability.

I need to make the most of the support, make sure my portfolio is the best it can be, CV top notch and start applying to things while still here.

Need to remind myself of how good I am, get out this head space and find that drive again.

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Drawings are really proving to be key for my design process.
I need to remember when stuck in future, sketch it out, doodle a bit over, add some colour, maybe a bit of collage = a new way of thinking

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I'm easily distracted, constantly up and down. My indecisiveness is stopping me and making me fall behind.
Attempting the planograms again.

Maybe if I write down my thoughts I can reflect on them better and move forward?

Collection: Should I do summer? Spring showers?
Gender: Both genders but how do I make it equal.
Both genders: Proving to be double the work...
Focus on Dinosaurs: There isn't enough clothing with this print.
Time is being wasted

Scatty brain.
Need to get on with it.

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I have been sketching out ideas for the windows from the beginning of the project.
Having a clear idea of the design aesthetics has proved to be difficult to achieve. Sketching definitely helps, with each drawing, I try to simplify the design.

Simple and clean designs often seem to be the hardest to produce, and i've never been very good at minimalism.

I remember from the last few projects, that I always have high expectations when it comes to the window design. I must remind myself that although it feels as though you will not achieve this, don't let this thought stop you from moving forward.

Have a break
Take yourself away
Sleep on it
Come back with fresh eyes and a full belly.

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Reflecting on a bad week, what helped?
-Food
-Deciding to have a real break from work if I am not feeling up to it
-Brushing my teeth after lunch

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I've decided to move on from the Planograms and come back to it at a later date. I look back on that unproductive week and start to accept that I may not receive the grade I was hoping for. This is ok, as long as I am proud of the pieces I produce and I'm able to put them into my portfolio, thats all that matters.

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For some reason I cannot focus on this weeks lessons. I feel tired, unmotivated and lost.
I brush off the mini tasks and research given to me while wondering why I feel so stuck on the bigger ones...  (stupid)
I keep having to remind myself to be kind to myself. Acknowledge that some weeks will be productive while others may not.

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To Do:
Boden Research :

Customer profile  (Add imagery to use)

Good news/bad news

History

Website review

M-commerce analysis

Review emails

download apps

Competition

Charity work

Environmental work

styling and campaigns

Market Research

Window reviews

Trends

E-books on children design

Technology within children wear

customer profile deep research

Design within children wear

News articles

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Day 1: Coming into class and briefed with the 2 day challenge was at first a bit apprehensive. I realised while designing the store that I hadn't thought about what I wanted the interiors to look like. So I panicked at first. I also realised that there was limited materials to use. So I needed to be creative about how I was going to create the space which reflects my shops concept.

I wanted to focus on natural curves and organic forms that bring the outdoor space in. My main challenge was creating the sofa, a dominating part of the design. Using layers of foam board cut into curves, I wanted it to look like a topographic map. However once I created it I found the design to be really heavy (mainly because of the black colour of foamboard). It wasn't exactly what I imagined but because there was limited time, and I had already spent all day making it, I had to come up with a solution to make it work. A tiny bit of found sandpaper allowed me to sand down the edges making it a smoother and lighter as a design.

Overall I am happy with the final outcome of my design. I tried to be creative and imaginative with my use of materials, contrasting it textures, patterns and materials to create a multisensory experience. If I were to re-do this area, I would of liked to source some more wood-like material, with more time to create more lifelike shelving unites.

Looking back, I could have added more brand logos throughout the space, which is something they do often in their stores.

The researching part of the project I found slightly boring, this is mainly because I had already spent a while researching similar materials for the last month. Although it was slightly monotonous, I actually found some really interesting trends on WGSN. You can never do enough research apparently.

Presenting my idea:
Started off wobbly but once I got into the flow, I felt a lot more comfortable. Really enjoyed chatting to the VM of John Lewis and got positive feedback.

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Final day...
I'm really happy with how my project plan has come out. I have no idea what level I'm working on but I know I've done all I can. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to play and be more experimental. It's made me look at online job opportunity's in a new light.

Things I definitely need to improve on for next project:
My time management was up and down. I still found it hard to concentrate for long stretches of time. I  did start setting myself small achievable goals throughout the day- this seemed to work actually so I'm going to carry on with that.

Half finished bits. This project was basically filled with half finished parts. I am going to try and avoid that next project because it was very frustrating to deal with, especially when it was left to the last minute.

Bibliography : I found this part fine for the last project, but with this one I did not reference anything till the last two hours of the day. What a bad idea that was, especially as most of the images were from a dark Pinterest hole that was impossible to recover

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Reading so many articles in the space of four days has meant I've scrolled through a fair few terms that might come in handy at some point during this hand in and possibly future ones.

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As I research further into what brands are ethical, I'm slightly concerned that the amount of fashion brands that are actually good are far and few between...

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Interesting couple of days at college.

Concept boards - happy with the outcome of that.

Final design of window- I could keep fiddling with the design all night but at some point you just need to stop, probably before I ruin it. Anyway I'm pretty pleased with the design. At first I had a realisation that I wasn't as advanced on photoshop as I thought I was. The design in my head was not translating well onto the screen. However slowly I kept going with it and now I'm just sad that it wont actually become a real life window design.

Floor plan- Bit of a nightmare afternoon! I had to change the design last minute which threw me. I could not get my head around drawing this plan, despite it probably being the easiest task on that list. My brain was just not processing the flat image, which made me panic.

I slowly worked through it, staying late in class to try and get it done. I knew as soon as I'd leave that classroom I will never want to touch it again.

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FINISH PEST/SWOT

Write my introduction

Put my first and second draft of emails up on canvas with class notes

Collect images for concept board

Put up relevant trends on Padlet

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Good : I'm really happy with how my logo and bag design is going. I would love to actually create these designs. I really enjoy the playful aspects of design and would love to do this as a career.

Bad : This pest and swot analysis is the absolute bane of my life! I've already spent two days solidly on it, and I'm still struggling to understand it. I know I've done the hard part, now all I need to do is edit and cut out half the waffle. I keep putting it off, but this morning I want to get it out of my site, done, dusted and never to be touched again.

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Another morning putting off finishing my Pest and Swot analysis.
In order to make sure I haven't missed anything out, I've been going through all my notes from the past month. Each topic researching thoroughly, which is taking me ages. As I've been reading articles, I keep getting more ideas and key words to use for the pack.

Key phrases to add:
-Conscious story telling
-A pure emmersive experience

Side note: Would be cool if this was a real pop up store

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Today I was on an afternoon stroll and passed a guy wearing a Supreme x The North Face jacket. Usually I wouldn't have thought twice about it, except maybe that it was a cool design.

But since doing two/three weeks worth of research on this company- I knew exactly what this jacket was, that it had only dropped a week ago, and that these jackets were definitely not in their stores.

It was a cool feeling to have this knowledge.

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Second lock down has arrived, I've moved up to London for the month just as our lessons got moved online.

Difficult not to feel overwhelmed with the amount of work due in. I feel as though I've spent too much time on things that aren't even needed for submission. Last project seems easy now compared to this.

After our first morning session I felt like I was going to cry. After receiving our first grades back I was shocked receiving an excellent in my grade. Initial excitement turned quickly into dread, feeling a great sense of pressure to keep myself up in those top grades.  !

To deal with this emotional episode I managed to go for a run, coming back just in time for our afternoon lesson.

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Feels great to be back in class. I was starting to feel a bit lost with that much time and my focus was starting to go.

Looking at branding is exciting, I love being able to get creative and see how far I can push the idea of North Face. My head is popping with ideas- I've started writing them all down on my journey home from class.

I visited both The North Faces nearest our college. It was so interesting to compare the two stores, which obviously had such a different target market- despite only being a couple of streets away from each other.

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Rumours are circulating that a second lockdown is on its way. I’ve started to feel that familiar unease feeling about future job prospects. It’s difficult to stay positive but I am just focusing on this course as a way of pushing past this feeling.

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Second night in a row I've had weird dreams about this company ...

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I have woken up this morning ready so do some heavy research on The North Face.

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So cute
so quante
I would love to settle down here

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I feel myself getting stressed out at the massive choice of brands to use for this project. I know if I keep uming and aring over which company to choose I will end up wasting time and being even more undecisive.

I promised myself I would be a more decisive person in life. The company I keep coming back to is The North Face.

Think the answer to my questions is right in front of me...