Project Proposal

Each year the Royal Opera House challenges students to design elements for their operas and ballets, this year the performance is Georges Bizet's renowned opera 'Carmen'. As a second year Art & Design student I am participating in the design challenge along with students in colleges and sixth forms across the country, my goal is to be shortlisted and even possibly win my chosen category in this competition. My sketchbook and website will be documenting the entire process from initial research to final outcome, bringing together my knowledge, skills and understanding that I have already developed and will continue to develop on this course, showcasing my creative ability and ambition.

Four categories are available to choose from in this project brief set by the Royal Opera House: Set & prop design, Marketing Strategy & design, Costume design and Hair, Wigs & Make-up. Each one is intended to inspire and play to the strengths of the individual as well as challenge them creatively.

I have decided to choose units 43 and 44, product design and set design because I believe that I can present my ideas best through a 3D as opposed to a 2D format. While my previous projects were focused on illustrative outcomes I thought it was important to further develop my 3D skills at the same time as adding variation to my portfolio. My successes in the first year with sculpture were on a large scale so it will be interesting to challenge myself to create a 1/50 scale piece.

This project is 10-12 week project in which I have to undertake a wide range of processes. By writing my project proposal I intend to articulate and explain how I will best produce the evidence required; a statement of my intentions. I have to complete a number of tasks which involve planning, responding to primary and secondary source material, visual and written critical research, development of ideas to prototype supported with ongoing annotation/self-reflection. This will lead to me presenting my ideas to the client before settling on our preferred outcome. Ensuring I respond to the feedback I will then create a final outcome. It is imperative that I plan my time sensibly and organise my work carefully. To help me to do this I will draw up a Gantt chart so that I have an overview of the whole project against the timescale, but I will review my work each week. I will also produce a half-way review about week 5/6 of the project.

As required I have documented an initial Q&A with the client to establish the demands and expectations of the brief. For this project I will work with primary and secondary sources. I assume that it will be easier to collect secondary sources than it will be for primary sources, but I will endeavour to do both.

My research will be determined by my choice of directors vision. Presently, I am undecided between directors vision 3 and 4, so I will research for both. What is important is that I research both sets and props equally.

One of my strengths is coming up with many ideas, however I need to refine these quicker and come up with resolutions so that I can take my work into production. My main set design idea revolves around female modernist architects and designers; Charlotte Perriand and Eileen Gray for directors vision 3. Whereas my set design idea for directors vision 4 links to the interactive work and installations of Carlos Cruz-Diez. I will also ensure to complete similar research and idea development for my prop design.

There are a number of constraints that I will have to overcome to complete this project. The most obvious one is working to a deadline, historically I struggle to reach deadlines, so for this project I will try to make plans and stick to them. The next potential barrier is my budget, due to mitigating circumstances I will have to work within a very tight budget, therefore I need to be resourceful and work within my own means. but also ask for support as and when necessary. Fundamentally my biggest restraint is my own self doubt which fuels into me working inconsistently. Some days I work with great focus and energy, other days I can't. One way of overcoming this is to be really strict with my time limit on certain tasks, spending more time on tasks that are worth higher marks; the outcomes. Also I will use my blog to document my making process rather than spending hours of my time typing up my notes.

Overall, I am enthusiastic about this project as it is an opportunity to work to a live brief and will open me up to future possibilities in working with 3D design and construction.