FSAD 4200 History of Color and Design in Textiles
Charlotte Jirousek caj7@cornell.edu
Final Project/Paper
Purpose of the assignment: To explore in depth an aspect of textile design.
Since the students taking this course have a variety of personal and professional objectives, three options are provided for fulfilling this assignment. Within these options you can choose to focus on a particular historic period or ethnic region that interests you.
Note that for all options, papers are due Dec. 10 by 5:00 PM.
For option 1 and 2 the storyboards and (for option 2) textile designs are due Tuesday Dec. 4 by 10:00 AM for the student show.
Papers should be double spaced, have a title cover sheet and one staple in the corner. Turn in two copies.
Visuals should be neatly and professionally presented. They will be judged not
only for composition and relevance to the assignment, but also on their
presentation.
1. The textile management option: You are to select a particular historic period or ethnic region as an inspiration source for a textile line. The project will have two parts:
a. Write a 7-8 page paper in which you describe the textile line you propose. Illustrations for the paper are welcome and encouraged, but should be on separate pages inserted between text pages where relevant, and do not count as part of the page total. Identify very specifically the end use and target market** for this line. Identify and discuss your intended color palette that you can relate to both current color trends identified through research; and your design inspiration source. See syllabus for sources on color trends and historic palettes. Then provide background research on the historic/ethnic textile tradition you have selected as the basis for the textile design. Your discussion should include description of their appearance and production methods, uses, and materials, and possibly trade and/or other influences where relevant. Be specific about the sort of textiles you envision for this line (fiber content? Woven? Knits? Prints? Lace? Pile? Etc.) In choosing your inspiration source, keep in mind that colors as well as design in these textiles should be relevant to the palette you have identified as appropriate for current color trends. Using the trend sources provided, select a future season to research and use as the subject for your project.
Paper is due Monday Dec. 10 by 5:00 PM.
b. Prepare one story board that depicts the look, color palette and overall impression of your source of inspiration and communicates the characteristics you would want a designer to incorporate into their designs for your line of textiles. This storyboard should measure 11” x 17” and may be a collage of clippings, actual textile swatches and/or color copies of images; or maybe assembled entirely or partly in Photoshop (or any combination of the above). Story board is due no later than Tuesday Dec. 4 by 10:00 AM (to be displayed at the Student Show).
2. The textile design option: You are to select a particular historic period or ethnic region as an inspiration source for a textile line. The project will have two parts:
a. Write a 3-4 page paper in which you describe the textile line you propose. Illustrations for the paper are welcome and encouraged, but should be on separate pages inserted between text pages were relevant, and do not count as part of the page total. Identify very specifically the end use and target market** for this line. Also be specific about the sort of textiles you envision for this line (fiber content? Woven? Knits? Prints? Lace? Pile? Etc.) Identify a color palette that you can relate to current color trends. Then provide a researched background on the historic/ethnic inspiration source you have selected as the basis for the textile design. Your discussion should include description of their appearance and production methods, uses, and materials, and possibly trade and/or other influences where relevant. In choosing your inspiration source, keep in mind that colors as well as design in these textiles should be relevant to the palette you have identified as appropriate for current color trends. Using the trend sources provided, select a future season to research and use as the subject for your project.Paper is due Monday Dec. 10 by 5:00 PM.b. Prepare a story board that depicts the look, color palette and overall impression of your source of inspiration and communicates the characteristics you would want a designer to incorporate into their designs for your line of textiles. This storyboard should measure 11” x 17” and may be a collage of clippings, actual textile swatches and/or color copies of images; or maybe assembled entirely or partly in Photoshop (or any combination of the above). Story board is due no later than Tuesday Dec. 4 by 10:00 AM (to be displayed at the Student Show).
c. Create two textile designs based on this research. Show one in repeat on an 11 x 17 page, the other one as a single repeat in three different color ways, on an 11x17 page. Design repeat units should be square. Provide a color palette (color swatches) for each design and color way. You may do this in Photoshop, or they may be hand-colored in gouache on Bristol board. A session will be arranged for those who do not know how to put patterns into repeat in Photoshop if there is interest. Textile designs will be due no later than Tuesday Dec. 4 by 10:00 AM (to be displayed at the student show).
3. Historic research option: Write a 12-15 page paper exploring in depth a particular aspect of textile design in a historic period or ethnic region of your choice. Paper length is exclusive of illustrations, which are expected. Place illustrations on separate pages inserted between text pages where they are referred to in the text. You will be expected to make an appointment with the professor to propose your intended topic for approval no later than March 30. Earlier is recommended. Paper is due Paper is due Monday Dec. 10 by 5:00 PM.
**Target market:
1. Specific end use. If for clothing, what sort of garments? For what occasion/purpose would they be worn? If for interiors, what room? Where precisely would they be used in that room? Floor coverings, curtains, towels, table cloths, sheets, blankets, upholstery or wall coverings (not all of the above)? Price point?
2. Who is your customer? Age range, income/professional status, gender, personal interests and taste?