MIAD SEM 1:
Designing Phase:
"Feelin' it"
Photoshop and Foam Cord
50cm x 76cm
November 25, 2019
Exhibition text:
"Feelin' It" was inspired by local nursery and arthritis gloves seen in stores like Walgreens or Walmart. I wanted to plan an elastic (stretchable) so it can easily fit around his fingers and shape his hand movements. In public, he would often be questioned why he wears gloves in stores/public places, so I thought this would relieve the amount of ridicule he receives. My piece is meant to comfort my father's hands, since he feels cramping from time to time without raising any suspicion.
50cm x 76cm
November 25, 2019
Exhibition text:
"Feelin' It" was inspired by local nursery and arthritis gloves seen in stores like Walgreens or Walmart. I wanted to plan an elastic (stretchable) so it can easily fit around his fingers and shape his hand movements. In public, he would often be questioned why he wears gloves in stores/public places, so I thought this would relieve the amount of ridicule he receives. My piece is meant to comfort my father's hands, since he feels cramping from time to time without raising any suspicion.
WE MET:
A 55 year father completing physical work while dealing with arthritis.
WHAT WE WERE AMAZED TO FIND:
He secretly hopes to reduce the amount of stares he receives in public due to him wearing gloves all the time.
IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE COULD:
Create a special set of gloves to match his skin tone.
A 55 year father completing physical work while dealing with arthritis.
WHAT WE WERE AMAZED TO FIND:
He secretly hopes to reduce the amount of stares he receives in public due to him wearing gloves all the time.
IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE COULD:
Create a special set of gloves to match his skin tone.
Planning:
Inspiration via Stores I looked at:
I decided to look more into products from public stores, for example Walgreens, Walmart, Target etc. Those were my first encounters with finding gloves that look towards my standards. I wanted to see which store had the right pair gloves for my product.
I decided to look more into products from public stores, for example Walgreens, Walmart, Target etc. Those were my first encounters with finding gloves that look towards my standards. I wanted to see which store had the right pair gloves for my product.
Inspiration via Glove design:
The white pair of gloves are elastic, and the black gloves next to it are cotton. I wanted to incorporate an elastic cotton base type of glove, so not only is it flexible, but it is warm to wear. Seeing how the hand shapes with the elastic glove, I realized that this would be the best type of glove to reference from. Looking to the glove on the right, I thought that fingerless gloves would also help lower the suspicion. If the elastic gloves bend in with the shape of the hand, then the fingertips wouldn't really make much of a difference. I was looking at several hand poses to reference from, so I went on Pinterest and sketched the first few I saw. |
Below is my basic thought process towards the project. I was trying to weigh the ups and downs, improvements, or successes. I created mind maps (both are connections towards materials I thought during drawing), sketches of what the hand would look like in the glove, and an empathy chart describing my dad's reaction towards the project (All of the following below is featured in the MIAD planning board).
Mind Map:
To the right is my mind map my I drew about the product I'm making. I wasn't sure on what I should do, but this was more of a sloppy sketch. I basically wanted to branch as much ideas as I could think of, and forming it into a basic mind map. I wanted to use different colors (like orange and blue) to differentiate what ideas I'm confident in, and what I need to think more about. One thing I was surely confident in is making the gloves stretchy and fit around the hand. I wasn't sure what kind of fabric I wanted to use, or was I just going to by gloves and paint them a brown shade. I plan on painting at least two to three coats. I also wanted to establish what type of pant I'm using (acrylic paint) and I didn't want the color to fade, so I thought of just buying a paint sealer so the colors wouldn't fade.
This image farthest right instead is more of a final decision on my mind map, but instead I wanted to add some sketches in the mind map itself. I sketched basic proportions of how the gloves shouldn't be noticeable. I also decided to just by gloves that are medically approved. I decided to make every bubble in orange detailed and branch off from there.
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Planning Models Sketches:
Design 1:
To the left here, this is the sketches I was planning out for my dad. I was going for some type of elastic glove so it can take shape of his hands better. The sketches with the green spots were his favorite gloves to wear. He wears this gloves when he's either shopping, driving in his car, or just sitting in the house watching TV. |
Process:
*Click to enlarge slideshow process*
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Process:
First, I wrote down my POV statement and clarified all the details required for it (we met, what we were amazed to find, It would make a difference if we could...) When I was done with that, I interviewed my dad on my project by creating an Empathy chart. In the Empathy chart, I was able to capture his thought and observe his emotions towards my glove project (capturing his reactions). When everything was clear to go, I created to Mind maps to illustrate the materials and wall blocks I would go through when starting my product. I needed to sketch out what the glove eventually would look like in sharpie and shading it in. I wanted to test the boundaries on how realistic I should make the gloves look. I also drew a scale of my father towards the right to resemble what the gloves would look like from a farther distance. Afterwards, I started sketching out my plans on a larger sheet of paper. I sketched out each glove type in different colors (rubber is in yellow, nitrile is in purple, fingerless is in brown, nursery gloves are in blue, white and green are garden gloves, and finally red gloves are in red), to show the difference in glove wear. I at first I didn't thought there wasn't a point in adding those sketches, but I decided they would explain the reasoning of my glove type choice. I wanted to clarify and reassure my final choice of what gloves I'll combine. When all the sketches were finished, I scanned each image one by one on a scanner, and cleaned up the pictures before placing each into the Photoshop. I didn't have much access to photoshop the school provided, so I decided to use Photopea which is a similar software. I opened a new project and set the file to the correct format, then I added all of my files. When I was finished with my MIAD file, I saved it to a JPG on my flashdrive. Towards the end of the process, I was able to use a large printing machine to create my paper for my foam cord. I inserted my USB port into the printed, selected my file, then I let the paper print off. After the poster was done printing, I measured off to make sure the it was correct size before spray gluing it to the for cord board. I trimmed off the excess, then I let my board dry off to the side. |
Experimentation:
During this project, this was my first time using Photoshop, so I had to experiment with multiple tools before I could grow accustomed. Also, I also experimented with Photopea, since the format of this website was much more different than what I was using originally. The website was much more glitchy and laggy than Photoshop originally. It would constantly freeze and sometimes reload, loosing all of my work. It was difficult to figure out the correct sizes the units were different than Photoshop. Overall, Photopea is difficult to use and construct. |
*Click to enlarge slideshow experimentation*
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Reflection:
Critique:
In the end, I think this planning phase turned out quite success. I was quite happy especially with how the sketches of the hands and body scale turned out. I was able to successfully design a type of elastic comforting glove to succeed my dad's needs. The only portion of the project I had trouble with is figuring out a way to match the glove skin tone with my father's. I believe I need to work on that area of the project more, also I feel that I need to establish how the gloves will be made. I need to plan out more on my materials instead of just relying on standard types of gloves like latex and cotton. Some of the materials I'm sure I will have trouble accessing in the future. In the meanwhile, I need to plan out some alternatives. Overall, I believe this thought process turned out well.
In the end, I think this planning phase turned out quite success. I was quite happy especially with how the sketches of the hands and body scale turned out. I was able to successfully design a type of elastic comforting glove to succeed my dad's needs. The only portion of the project I had trouble with is figuring out a way to match the glove skin tone with my father's. I believe I need to work on that area of the project more, also I feel that I need to establish how the gloves will be made. I need to plan out more on my materials instead of just relying on standard types of gloves like latex and cotton. Some of the materials I'm sure I will have trouble accessing in the future. In the meanwhile, I need to plan out some alternatives. Overall, I believe this thought process turned out well.
ACT Responses:
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
For the inspiration, it was related around latex (elastic) and cotton fingerless gloves. I wanted to incorporate one pair for the summer (fingerless) and another pair for the winter (full coverage).
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author didn't necessarily have a topic towards making arthritis gloves besides trying to ease the pain with people who have arthritis.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc, while you researched your inspiration?
Relating towards the people aspect, I can see from my experience that my father wants to feel "normal" and the same as others.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
This project didn't necessarily meet my theme. I was able to branch off of the idea of "fear" since my dad of being ridiculed in public for the way his hands look, but I fel it didn't connect as well.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
During my research, I can infer that that the most efficient type of glove to wear in the summer is elastic gloves because their slick and smooth. It doesn't make the hands sweaty and too hot.
For the inspiration, it was related around latex (elastic) and cotton fingerless gloves. I wanted to incorporate one pair for the summer (fingerless) and another pair for the winter (full coverage).
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author didn't necessarily have a topic towards making arthritis gloves besides trying to ease the pain with people who have arthritis.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc, while you researched your inspiration?
Relating towards the people aspect, I can see from my experience that my father wants to feel "normal" and the same as others.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
This project didn't necessarily meet my theme. I was able to branch off of the idea of "fear" since my dad of being ridiculed in public for the way his hands look, but I fel it didn't connect as well.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
During my research, I can infer that that the most efficient type of glove to wear in the summer is elastic gloves because their slick and smooth. It doesn't make the hands sweaty and too hot.
Bibliography:
“Upcoming Stores: Target Corporation.” Target Corporate, corporate.target.com/about/locations/upcoming-stores.
Timmullaney. “This Is What's behind Walmart's Staying Power That Could Outmaneuver Amazon.” CNBC, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/08/15/walmarts-secret-weapon-in-its-quest-to-outmaneuver-amazon.html.
Wolf, Liz. “Drugstore Chains Adapt New Real Estate Strategies to Compete with Online Sellers.” National Real Estate Investor, 14 June 2018, www.nreionline.com/retail/drugstore-chains-adapt-new-real-estate-strategies-compete-online-sellers.
“Comfort/Relief Arthritis Gloves.” Neo G USA, www.neo-g.com/products/comfort-relief-arthritis-gloves.
“Latex vs Nitrile vs Vinyl Gloves...Which to Choose?” B4 Brands, 29 July 2016, b4brands.com/blog/latex-vs-nitrile-vs-vinyl-gloves-which-to-choose/.
Timmullaney. “This Is What's behind Walmart's Staying Power That Could Outmaneuver Amazon.” CNBC, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/08/15/walmarts-secret-weapon-in-its-quest-to-outmaneuver-amazon.html.
Wolf, Liz. “Drugstore Chains Adapt New Real Estate Strategies to Compete with Online Sellers.” National Real Estate Investor, 14 June 2018, www.nreionline.com/retail/drugstore-chains-adapt-new-real-estate-strategies-compete-online-sellers.
“Comfort/Relief Arthritis Gloves.” Neo G USA, www.neo-g.com/products/comfort-relief-arthritis-gloves.
“Latex vs Nitrile vs Vinyl Gloves...Which to Choose?” B4 Brands, 29 July 2016, b4brands.com/blog/latex-vs-nitrile-vs-vinyl-gloves-which-to-choose/.