My first design project was an industry project for Newstead Abbey, creating designs for a character from the book Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
This project began with a visit to Newstead Abbey where the project will be displayed to gather inspiration from the house and surrounding gardens. Something I found very useful from this trip was looking at the small details within the house such as curtain and wallpaper patterns to influence my own design work, as well as gathering recurring colours within the property.
I used photographs I took during the visit to create mood boards focusing on different elements, colour, texture and pattern.
I spent the next week familiarising myself with the brief and the original book to starting exploring design concepts. I also researched other adaptations to Alice in Wonderland.
Once I decided on design for the character of the Queen of Hearts I did lots on research to inform my characterisation and design choices. Books of fashion plates were very useful for deciding on time period as well as online resources at the V&A. I also found looking real-life Queen very useful in informing my design decisions.
My final designs were rooted in the mid victorian period around 1870-80, with elements of other eras brought in, I drew influence from many pattern motifs in Newstead abbey which feature in my designs. I through my research I found many images of Princess Alexandra the daughter in law of Queen Victoria who I used as a reference of royalty in that era. I made sure to connect my design back to motifs connected with the Queen of Hearts such as hearts, playing cards and roses. I brought the design of the Tudor rose into my design after researching Elizabeth of York who inspired the original Queen of Hearts playing card.
Comments