Individual Reflective Summary

As an extension of the 'Promoting a Preston retailer' project, we were asked as a class to organise an exhibition to showcase our work to the public. As individuals, we had to brain storm and collate any networks/contributions we could bring to the planning the event process. After brain storming, I found that I had PR and Marketing contacts that I made whilst on industrial placement at Flannels Fashion as well as friends in the music/cooking industry.

From the following groups: Catering, entertainment, promotions, fund raising and visual merchandising, I was placed in the installation team (Visual merchandising) Working as a team, our role is to research into trends and interiors which could inspire the look and character of the final exhibition space...

As the installation team we were responsible for creating the mood and layout of the exhibition. Each member of the team took the Bell bins test and had a variety of different personalities. We had three team workers, one resource investigator, one plant and one shaper. Our responsibilities as a team were to create an interesting visual experience for the visitors of the exhibition. This includes how the images will be hung, the visual merchandising of the location and the layout of the group’s images.

Individually our inspiration was resourced from the Internet, interior magazines, books, current window displays and exhibitions. We reported back to the team and discussed ideas. We also leased with the logistics and promotions team to create a theme.As the installation team leader, my main responsibly was to develop and encourage the team. By setting up a Facebook group, I was able to ensure that ideas were constantly flowing and tasks were being met as the group shared their thoughts and ideas on to the Facebook group wall.

Research into interior and merchandising trends was crucial to the look and feel of the event. My team and myself started to collate visuals and ideas from Trend websites such as WGSN and Trend bible and editorials such as Elle decoration and creative spaces. As an H&M employee, I had access to the merchandising books and have contacts within the store, although they didn’t held physically, their thoughts and ideas were invaluable to my group and helped with the final Installation process.

As I was part of the installation team, our role didn’t really kick in until a week before the event itself. Two weeks before event, my team and myself decided on the exhibition layout and image sizes for the room measurements. After deciding on the final image sizes, we noticed the images seemed very small in proportion to the exhibition space. Shortly after realising this, we found out that the room had accidentally been measured in cms instead of inches. This problem was quickly resolved and the images got sent to print promptly.

The day before the exhibition was when the installation team came together to turn the even space into an exhibition. The team got split into two halves, half the team put up the exhibition images whilst the other half concentrated on the small details. I took it upon my own shoulders to create artwork for every group’s individual plaques describing their shoots. I also, with the help from a team member, set up the centrepiece of the exhibition, titled “class of 2011”.

I feel the overall exhibition was a success, not only did it showcase our work, but brought us all closer together as individuals and as a class.

portfolio page

THE BIG NIGHT!

Unfortunately, I could not attend the exhibition night due to a family member being ill. I did however receive good feedback from my fellow class mates. Although I was not present, the exhibition was a huge success and definitely promoted preston retailers and students in a big way. If I was to change anything about the exhibition, It would be to have textile students clothing hanging at the back in the unused cupboard space, showing off more UCLAN talent. I feel that as a class, we did not put out hearts and souls into the exhibition due to stress from other projects and deadlines....

Event Coverage

http://cambridgegirlinpreston.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/fashion-promotion-students-exhibition-this-weekend/

200 words

Here is what I created for my groups exhibition wall piece ...

For this project, we were given the task to promote a Preston based non-fashion retailer through stylish images that reflect the company and evoke customer interest. As a group, we were asked to promote Bruccianis, a nostalgic style café in the heart of Preston through a series of stylish images that will untimely be part of an exhibition that celebrates Preston based retailers.

As the interior of the cafe was 1940’s themed, we decided to create a set of vintage lifestyle images that reflected the cafes style and character. Bruccianis has managed to retain all of its old charm with pictures of Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock and other long gone stars on the wall as you enter, for this reason we decided to give our images a 1940s film photography feel, using a muted colour palette, dim lighting and strong make-up on our three female models. Our main aim in this series of photographs was to capture three young women having a girly, sophisticated afternoon in a local café after a morning of shopping in Preston. Current social trends have shown the increase in afternoon tea, Tea is currently the beverage of fashion.

Look what I created...

I couldn't resist taking a quick snap on my phone of the cute little Polaroid line I created with the help of Allie for the exhibition. I came up with the title 'Class of 2011', everybody seemed to love it and we all felt proud of what we had achieve as a class today. I feel that planning this exhibition has brought us all closer togther as individuals and as a class.

Images Sizes

Today I met up with my tutor Ruth and Sarah from the installation team. We decided on the exhibition layout and image sizes for the room measurements that Vicky and Allie took last week. After working out the sizes, we noticed that something wasn't quite right... The images seemed very small in proportion to the exhibition space. After contacting Allie and Vicky, we found out that they had accidentally put the measurements in cms instead of inches. Ruth has taken it into her hands to revise the image sizes again and change them to fit the new measurements. The sizes will be agreed on at the end of this week and the final images will go to print on Monday the 28th of Feb, giving just enough time to have them ready for the exhibition night.

Installation Team

As the installation team we will be creating the mood and layout of the exhibition. Each member of the team took the Bell bins test and we have a variety of different personalities. We have three team workers, one resource investigator, one plant and one shaper. Our responsibilities as a team are to create an interesting visual experience for the visitors of the exhibition. This includes how the images will be hung, the visual merchandising of the location and the layout of the group’s images.

Individually our inspiration will be resourced from internet, interior magazines, books, current window displays and exhibitions. We will report back to the team and discuss ideas. We will also lease with the logistics and promotions team to create a theme.

Each team member has a contact or experience in merchandising in which they can bring to the event.

Elizabeth has merchandising experience with Ted Baker as this is her part time job. She has worked in many stores doing window displays and in store layouts. Another advantage is that her sister works for Habitat as a visual merchandiser and could gain help with any furniture we need.

Allie has been working at the high-street store 'Next' for seven years. Over the past few years, she has worked alongside the VM team and dressed all in-store mannequins. Allie is also shoe specialist which means she is in-charge of ensuring the department shoe lounge is well merchandised and co-coordinating bags are in prime location to ensure increased sales.
Over the Christmas holidays, Allie has travelled to London, to do an intense visual merchandising course. She has a good sense of what works and what doesn't, and she will be able to use her knowledge of store displays to promote our work to the highest standard.

Vicky has a strong eye for detail regarding presentation and layout. Also her mind works practically and logically so she has the ability to help take peoples idea into reality with imaginative and creative solutions.

Kerry has good visual merchandising experience from working at Topshop for three years she is confident when putting clothes or props into a layout that will make them more appealing to look at.
Kerry has made many contacts from being on placement at Rare and could borrow clothes from the showroom or even possibly mannequins if needed.

As part of her work placement for Shop Direct Sarah has worked as a PR assistant, this involved organising various fashion events over a period of 6 months. Events included Littlewoods and Very press show and a fashion show that was held in Liverpool Echo Arena. Throughout her time as a PR assistant she gained a number of skills which she believes will help towards organising the exhibition and help bring ideas to the Visual Merchandising team.

Parisian VM Inspiration

H&M VM books

Room Measurements

Interior Inspiration

venue idea

Me and Leanne were walking down the high street today, on the corner of Lune street there was an empty retail space full of builders. The interior is what stood out to us most... nice flock wallpaper and original features such an old fire place - very British looking. The space had windows on both sides and we figured the location was very accessible as it was only 5 mins walk down the high street from Preston train station. We believed this would be a great location, but didn't think it would be available in such a prime shopping location.