network building
Project 6 - Network Building
As my research question proposes “How can conscious awareness of alternate universes enable us to explore self positionally?”, I have been working continuously to identify a range of networks for the purpose of my research.
I broke this down into a range of existing networks and the ones I would like to gain around the three main drivers of my project; alternate universes, self-positionality, and fashion. I have also broken down the kinds of interactions I am looking for; as to whom can help with the what, why, and how part of my project.
Coming from New York, I have had the opportunity to connect with artists from the freelance and corporate fashion world, along with my existing relationships with professors, at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
As I am keen on bringing my interventions back to fashion, I plan to connect with Creative Director, Emily Smith, and CEO Deirdre Quinn from my previous role at the house of Lafayette 148 New York. The brand continuously attracts a worldwide audience with its seasonal collections showcasing a strong representation of numerous identities; through various designs, textiles, and styling techniques. My potential interaction can help me understand how the benefits of design can be used to showcase multiple personalities while still aligning with seasonal identity.
As part of the why, I have been connecting with students from menswear, womenswear, fashion print, and alumni from Applied Imagination at Central Saint Martins for the beginning phases of my research. Through interviews and mini interventions, I am trying to gain further clarity on why conscious awareness of alternate universes is important for identity exploration. My interview with alumni Carolina Rodriguez Baptista provided me great feedback in terms of how visual design may be a key focus point for my intervention.
Through my current and potential interactions, this strategy is allowing me to identify relationships in my existing network that may steer me in directions for further network development.
Focusing on the network I aspire to gain, I have identified experts whose practice resonates with the characteristics of my project. Certain roles include; creative/art directors, production agencies, stylists, photographers, costume designers, and hypnotherapists.
Since conscious awareness is a key term in my question, my research allowed me to discover hypnotherapist Sara Maude, who provides strong clarity on the differentiation of the terms. My goal is to gain feedback on areas of improvement to develop further foundation on the psychological elements that exist in my research.
Other experts such as Robert Wun, Rick Owens, Peter Do, Matthew Williams, and Quantic Dream Productions are key resources as their work has inspired the way I want to depict alternate universes of fashion - being that each expert continuously showcases unique approaches to avant-garde ideas. My current tutors have also advised exploring costume design, which let me to identify lead costume experts such as Bettina John, and Nadia Malik in UAL.
Although initial interaction with my desired network may be difficult, I am exploring further options to be able to connect with experts in similar fields.
I plan to share my ideas approaching creative development in a way which initiates detachment from environmental and psychological constraints, allowing stakeholders to understand that we as humans are able to explore any realm of existence of which we choose.
