Final Evaluation

I have really enjoyed Self Directed Project, for me personally I enjoyed being able to choose what costume I got to make, as this is unlikely in the industry, but I also loved the freedom that came with it. Being the designer and maker for my costume made it easy for me to know what to do and I got a taste of what third year will be like as I was working very independently when compared to past projects. Even though I am not a ‘designer’ I was glad I got the opportunity to improve on my design skills and photoshop work as well as my making skills.
However, I would have liked the experience to have worked in a team/with a designer, but then I would not have been able to make the costume I chose. The costume I chose to make was a key part in this project as I am fascinated by the character’s clothing and I felt it would be a way to ensure that my time management would be better.
Although I did leave a lot to the last minute, I do feel that my time management was a lot better than in previous projects. The character really motivated me and once I got stuck into my work I was excited and efficient. I had low motivation during the middle of the project, during the Easter Holiday, and I found it difficult to get back into my work. Perhaps if I had given myself less work to do over Easter in my time plan, I wouldn’t have felt behind, which made it harder to get back my motivation. However, I was pleased that my panic set in a lot sooner than normal, as it gave me time to catch up on things I had left and ensure that my costume did not suffer.
I chose this costume as it related to my work experience at We Will Rock You and also because it incorporated corsetry. I learnt a lot about corsets and am happy to have gained this skill, I think it has helped me widen my skills and therefore become a better maker, but it has also helped me to trust my judgement and my own skills. I felt while drafting my corset that it was too much guess work and not as precise as I was used to being, but once I had my fitting and very little needed changing, it gave me such a boost and faith in my own work. This confidence, to me, is just as important as learning new skills. Making a corset also gave me a chance to put into practice the skills I had learnt at my work placement as I chose to make it out of fake leather. I sourced a jacket and made it into a corset, which is something I’ve not done before, and this recycling skill is something I think would be very useful in today’s theatre’s as the environment and small budgets is a very common issue.
The costume I designed incorporated a large over-the-top cloak and collar piece, which seemed standard when designing for such an extravagant character. However, I hadn’t thought too much about the construction of it when I designed it, and was really glad that it pushed me further with my work. The structured collar is something I’d never done before and had avoided in previous projects, and this unit forced me to take on this challenge and I’m so glad I did. The blocking net I used was extremely annoying to work with and involved a lot of trial and error but despite that I thoroughly enjoyed it and showed me that my making skills can match my interest in flamboyant costumes.
I am really happy with how my costume looks and how all the individual pieces go so well together. I think I have translated the 2D design to 3D form really effectively with all the contrasting fabrics combining well to make one whole costume. There are some embellishments like diamonte’s or beading that I wanted to add onto the cloak and the collar, but I was unsure of whether it would add or spoil the outfit. This is something I will consider before I have a photo shoot of the costume that will eventually go in my portfolio.
Overall, I am really pleased and happy with this project, that it allowed me to gain the skills I was desperate to learn but it also helped me as an independent maker in teaching me better time management and also gave me faith in my own work.