Below is my learning agreement written for this brief, it highlights what I aim to do and achieve with this project, and a rough step by step guide to the research and actions I will be taking.
Professional Project: Learning Agreement
Name: Jennifer Tarleton
Course: FdA in Fashion Level: 5
Unit: Professional Project
Reference number: FSN512
Credit points: 4.5
Study hours: 20 Weeks
Tutor(s): Sarah Charles, Karen Ryan
Synopsis of study
For my professional project I have decided to choose the Recession Reactionary brief.
‘Fashion magazines are a valuable marketing tool for all designers, labels and brands. They are part of the main advertising strategy for any growing or successful label and the creativity used to record and display their visual information, which is paramount to any successful advertising campaign.’ Before starting the magazine pages I plan to do initial research by looking at some of the more rare magazines to research what methods have been used before, and to gain inspiration on ways that I can make my magazine layout as unique and original as possible.
I want to come up with a magazine that is inspiring and attractive to my target audience, and by looking at existing magazines I will hopefully be able to move forward with my creative thinking and produce a magazine/ a selection of magazine pages that are completely my own.
For this project I want to create a magazine that will be exploring and researching fashion during the recession. Within my magazine I want to lightly touch on what the recession is, why it happened, why we are in it and when we are predicted to get out of it. I have decided that my target audience for my magazine will be ‘Tweens’ mainly females between the ages of 14-20 years old. This will give me the opportunity to show off my creative skills by trying to come up with something that will be attractive and informative to a particular target audience. I will be developing my creative skills further by exploring and experimenting with ways to visually communicate and promote a number of products/designers to their full potential.
I will then research the effect the recession has had on the Fashion Industry. By looking at retail trends, market research and consumer reactions to the current recession I can gain a healthier knowledge about this area, and will be able to portray my findings in my own style within my magazine, which will include appropriate facts, articles, interviews and pictures to create 2/4 pages within my magazine, this will then be handed in to represent the 1000 word market/consumer research for the deadline.
Once completing this section of research I need to analyse and predict which direction I think we are headed towards next with fashion, ‘Are we at the end or the beginning? More Dash than Cash, Eco Warriors, Sustainable Chic, Make Do and Mend contrasts with Bling Couture, Halcyon Days and Hedonistic High Fashion’. There are many areas to look into and explore, and I plan to touch upon most of these aspects mentioned within my magazine by making pages to do with each. For example ‘Make do and Mend’ pages- concentrating on recycling fashion, charity shop shopping, showing ways you can re-style and re-make the clothes you already have, ‘Eco Warriors/Sustainable Chic’- Concentrating on Fairtrade and the ethics of fashion, explaining what fair trade is and what some ethics are when concerning fashion, promoting companies that are eco friendly and how they are ethical/eco friendly.
I plan to include various interviews and facts about designers/companies that use either recycling or the ethical approach to fashion. I will speak to these designers/businesses to find out what their aims/missions are for their business, what they are doing to survive the recession, what they predict will be next for fashion and which direction they feel they are headed towards next. I also want to find out how they reach and approach their target audiences, and how they meet the needs and wants of their consumers by providing them with that specific service whether it is fashion with a conscience of breathing life into the old. I will display these findings within my magazine over 4-6 pages. If for any particular reason I am unable to complete the whole magazine I plan to hand in this section as the ‘4-6 images of A4 size’ for assessment.
Throughout this project I will be collecting images, inspirations and research within an online blog (http://recessionreactionary.blogspot.com/) where I can show all of my ideas, thoughts and processes. This blog will show my professional thinking and will tell a story from the beginning to end, showing each step and development along the way, whether they be bad or good. I will also be writing my own personal aims and objectives, strengths and weaknesses, and anything else that may be relevant to this current project such as video links, pictures and information from the Internet. This source will act as my Research and Development, which will be handed in at the deadline for assessment.
To keep organised I will concentrate on my time management by writing a critical path of what needs to be done, date set, date of proposed completion, and the date achieved. This will help me to keep on top of deadlines that are up coming, by separating work into smaller sections to make it easier to manage.
The project is related to my own specialist practice as after graduating and gaining the necessary experience I plan/hope to work within a magazine, and this brief enables me to explore, learn and gain new skills in this area and to put them into play by trying to create my own magazine.
Aims
A1 To consolidate my creativity and practical skills.
A2 To provide myself with the opportunity to plan my response to a ‘live’ or simulated professional brief.
A3 To develop and produce a professional standard of creative work in response to a ‘live’ or simulated brief.
A4 To prepare myself for employment, freelance work or further study.
A5 To develop my understanding of costing and invoicing in preparation for business.
Learning outcomes:
LO1 Demonstrate a professional standard of creativity and practical ability, including:
· Work that is technically comparable to that made within a specified genre.
· Work that shows an awareness of contemporary trends, styles and subject matter.
· within commercial contexts.
· Work that shows a high degree of creativity and aesthetic judgement.
LO2 Demonstrate a professional ability to plan your time and your work including:
· Project time planning.
· Working successfully with others in the production of creative outcomes.
LO3 Respond appropriately to the demands of a professional/self initiated brief, including:
· Appropriate creative outcomes to industry/work related briefs.
LO4 Demonstrate readiness for employment, freelance work or further study with confidence in the level of your creative, practical and professional knowledge and skills.
LO5 Demonstrate understanding of relevant costing and invoicing procedures, including:
· The various costing and pricing scales and structures within relevant commercial contexts.
· Timescales for payment.
· Legal requirements, copyright and syndication rights, VAT, National Insurance, etc.
Assessment Requirements
For assessment I will produce a Learning agreement 30% with a critical path, explaining my actions and processes throughout this project.
I will also produce a body of professional creative work, which will be identified in the learning agreement with a full evaluative summary 70%
Each assessment requirement must be passed at a minimum grade of 40% to successfully complete the unit.
Assessment Criteria
Evidence of knowledge of concepts and contexts- Project work that shows creativity maturity and direction within a commercial context (LO1,LO3)
Evidence of understanding through research and analysis- Extensive research, and the application of it, used for the underpinning and final conclusion of project wok (LO1, LO3, LO4)
Evidence of understanding through critical evaluation and reflection- The objectives of the research have clearly been identified and used to inform project work (LO1,LO2)
Evidence of realization through presentation- Work is placed within a commercial context and appropriate methods of presentation used. (LO3, LO5)
Evidence of realization through technical application and skills- A synthesis of creativity and professionalism is demonstrated in the conclusion of the project work (LO1)
