Third Year Small Project

After the RSA project we had about four weeks before assessments. So we were able to complete a small project of our choice. I decided that as I had been using hand made paper during my previous project, I would like to experiment with weaving paper yarn. I made my warp out of stripes of cream cotton and linen, with an extra warp of paper yarn down the middle. I wanted to print onto my samples with disperse dye paper as I hoped the different types of yarns in the warp would create different shades of colour.

After completing my samples I decided that this method of printing wasn't very effective, as the paper yarn gave my samples an uneven suface. This meant that the print did not transfer to the fabric very well. Therefore I decided to not use paper yarn for my final Project.

RSA Design Directions in Fashion Interiors Continued...

I also created a collection of hand woven samples which could be used as throws or cushions. My samples were based on a system of horizontal and vertical floats which pulled against each other to create different shapes and effects.

To enter the competition I had to arrange my samples and art work onto a maximum of four A2 boards, I was also able to send off my sketchbook.

I was selected out of 255 entries to be one of the 12 finalists.

As a finalist I had to attend an interview in London with a jury of 6 people, where I had to give a 20 minute presentation about my work and about what I had done since the RSA project. You can see more details about the competition on their website.

When the results finally arrived I had been HIGHLY COMMENDED.

RSA Design Directions in Fashion Interiors


At the beginning of my third year we started a project which was to be entered in the RSA Bursary Awards. We had a selection of briefs to chose from, of which I chose Fashion Interiors and the title 'Off the beaten track'. The brief stated that I was to develop a collection of interior fabrics for a market with unlimited spending power.

My main inspiration came from some flowers which I had pressed. I developed a sketchbook from these flowers which led on to create my designs. Whilst doing market research I decided that my designs had quite a traditional feel to them, therefore I experimented with the sizes and tried to simplfy them to make them look more contemporary.

I developed a range of jacqurd fabrics which could be used in interiors. I aslo experimented with different printing techniques with the fabrics. During my project I had to give a presentation about what I was doing. Please click on the picture to view the presentation.

Railway Museum Project













For the last project in my second year, I was able to choose the brief myself. Therefore, I decided to do a womenswear project as I'd already done an interiors and menswear project during the year. I decided to visit the York National Railway museum to start making initial drawings from. I decided to do this as I had enjoyed working this way during the project in the first year when we visited the Liverpool Maritime Museum.

The colour range was taken from current trends in magazines that I had found whilst doing market research.

Please click on this link to view samples from this project.