Development Of The Sofa

Development of the sofa design goes only as far as trying out various ways of presenting the final design. The actual lines of the sofa have not changed as this is the one that my peers and tutors have said that they like from my initial design idea process when gathering starting images. From this i was then able to grapple my idea and turn it into what it is now.

I have experimented with thick marker pen, and water to accentuate the lines and to see if the outcome is worth continuing further perhaps into the final design.

Armchair Idea Development

Having referred back to topic after feeling like i have strayed a little away from furniture and warmth, i knuckled down to developing the idea of the book resting on the arm of a chair supporting a cup and saucer. From redrawing the angle of the sofa along with how i wanted the book to appear from observational drawings, i realised that i would need to include the whole chair if i were to have it in-keeping with the sofa and blanket design. This led me to notice that i could not include this chair as there was already a form of seating within the ideas range (the sofa and blanket). Therefore i have suggested a coffee/side table or a desk. I may have drifted into the idea of a shelf when focussing on books, but unfortunately this would not work if i wanted to keep the cup and saucer, which i did, and why would someone place a cup on a shelf of books? The shelf idea is out.

I have started to develop coffee tables from observationally drawing various different forms of side tables, coffee tables and desks. The coffee table seemed the most natural to pursue as it would fit in nicely with the sofa and blanket.

I have struggled to get the shape and angle of the table right, i don't want it to look too large compared to the sofa design, but i want it to resemble the same angle from a different point of view so that it isn't exactly the same outcome; the sofa's point of focus is the front right hand side, i therefore would like the table's point of focus to be it's front left hand side.

I have drawn in different books placed in various places depending on the style of coffee table i am experimenting with. I like the idea of having a shelf underneath the table housing a few books, but i am afraid that this may look a bit too busy. On top of the table i will be using the cup and saucer on top of the book placed on the table's surface.

Eventually, having revisited this idea, i have referenced both the original drawing of the book and cup on the arm chair for the viewing angle i desire, and the sofa and blanket design for the size i would like to base the drawing on. My outcome is a four legged table (with no underlying shelf) with it's point of focus the front left corner/leg opposing the sofa so as to not look the same. The book and cup are placed on top. I intend that the book be red as the feature.

Ideas Development

Whilst going through my ideas in the sketch book, i suddenly realised that my drawing ideas seemed to be going off topic a little, and therefore would not get taken on by UK Greetings, who i have to remember will be potentially selling these. I realise that the theme of 'I Wish You Were Here' should remain purely homely and therefore not include a tandem bicycle, record player, or television, as i see these as off track form my desired outcomes.
I am however going to carry forward the chimney stack, the sofa with the blanket, the arm of the chair with the mug and book, and finally the wood burner. This will work nicely as a set of four with the topic. Further more, the imagery on the cards all complement each other. For example, the Burner suits the Chimney Stack, and the Sofa pairs with the Coffee Table. Another nice touch.

Outcomes So Far

From this stage onwards i will be taking forwards the images that i want to and develop them further. I must bear in mind that i have limited myself to four images, however i could always produce 2 series of four; each including one form of chair, electrical device, past-time, and structure... Or extend it to six and complete just one range.

Having drawn various items of furniture from a variety of Habitat magazines and books i have been thinking of tying the cards together with a theme, for example a simple colour featured on one cushion or chimney etc... I have chosen to use a red as an example as this is a warm colour and something bold that will attract attention to the card.

At this stage to take further:

Chimney

Tandem

Cup on book

Arm Chair

Record Player

Sofa

Further Ideas for Imagery

'In Good Shape' Style in Industrial Products'
1900-1960
Stephen Bayley

The idea of a record player/gramophone relating to a favorite piece of music, wishing you were here listening to it with me.

The same applies to the television; i wish you were here watching our favorite TV show.

The tandem just speaks 'Couples'.

Kitty Crowther

Kitty Crowther is a children's book illustrator but she was pointed out to me because of her naive style of image making in her furniture. For example the armchair below; It suits her intended audience and is finished to a strong quality and produced using colouring crayons.

"Kitty Crowther is the master of line but also of atmosphere. She maintains the tradition of the picture book while transforming and renewing it. In her world, the door between imagination and reality is wide open. She addresses the reader gently and personally, but with profound effect. In her deeply felt empathy with people in difficulty, she shows ways in which weakness can be turned into strength. Humanism and sympathy permeate and unify her artistry."  

The citation of the jury

The idea of an escape - Wish You Were Here

Having had the idea of a roof top / roof line and chimneys from the view out of my window:

I wanted to research further into the architecture side to keep it interesting and potentially offer something a little different to my research and perhaps my outcomes. I spoke to my friend (a Post Grad Architecture student) in order to get the ball rolling and he came back telling me to look at Antoni Gaudi and the Secret Skyline of New York City.
I started with Antoni Gaudi and in particular focused on his house 'Casa Batllo' which has the most incredible roof top.

I also found a video of Gaudi's work below:  

Gaudi's work makes a complete difference to the skyline of Barcelona, it offers the idea of an escape through art, a different way of thinking.

Continuing this theme of escape, i have looked at the second item, the secret skyline of New York City. 

"Just a few stories above the non-stop hubbub of city life exists an incredible oasis of lush gardens, restaurants, swimming pools and even tennis courts. Thanks to Mayor Bloomberg’s eco-friendly ‘roofscaping’ initiatives, the tops of dozens of buildings have been transformed into amazing outdoor living spaces and models for green-city living." 

http://www.younilife.com/content/99/new-york-secret-rooftop-world-ny-skyline-like-you-have-never-seen-it-before/

Again, this offers the idea of exclusion and a longing to get away from day to day life styles. I Wish You Were Here fits perfectly as a theme in my opinion.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139899/New-Yorks-secret-skyline-Amazing-aerial-shots-rare-glimpse-hidden-rooftop-world.html