John Galliano suspended by Dior

Well according to numerous reports Galliano allegedly made antisemitic remarks to a Jewish woman and her Asian boyfriend in a french bar. He has been accused of calling the woman "Dirty Jewish face, you should be dead" and "Fucking Asian bastard, I will kill you". He allegedly repeatedly called the woman "ugly" and a "slag". Personally I'm not feeling it. A police source said something about it being because of the stress with it being so close to Gallianos Dior and own label shows, but what do they know about how Galliano is feeling? He was briefly arrested and found to be just over the legal limit. Meaning he was almost able to drive so I don't think it would of been a drunken act. Speculation of course but I don't think he did anything. 

The Junction Boutique

So today I have been contacted by The Junction Boutique. They have seen my Ethereal Fashion page on facebook and asked if they can profile me on their website. They only have about 10 designers on there at the moment so it's all very exciting for me. Especially as I finish uni in a couple of months and after that plan on setting up my own studio and making things for the asos boutique and similar companies.

I started looking into Knock On The Door which is promoting ethical and sustainable fashion. So I will enquire there as well as I firmly believe that one day all clothing will be sustainable. Knock On The Door is linked with Fashion Capital who I worked for over the summer. Only thing is you don't need to make the garments which for me, is why I design clothes.

Wedding Facts

I was having a little look at information on opening up my own bridal shop. There is loads of stuff on it, apparently everyone wants to open a bridal shop. Usually a lot of competition would worry me, but if I was to open up my shop in Swindon then I think being close to a lot of other bridal shops would bring more people in. And of course my bridal shop would be better than all the other shops.

While I was looking at bridal stuff I found a few random wedding facts:

The longest train was 200 meters long in China.
Britney Spears was only married to Jason Alexander for 56 hours.

Sit Temulji Nairman was married to Lady Nariman, when they were five years old. The marriage lasted for 86 years.
Apparently Wednesday is the best day to get married according to English tradition. Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health.
James Burgess and his wife Sarah Ann currently hold the record for the longest married British couple, their marriage lasted 82 years.

In 1840 Queen Victoria started the Western world's love of white wedding dresses. Before then, brides simply wore their best dress.

30,000 people attended a Jewish wedding in Jerusalem in 1993.

The most expensive wedding took place in Dubai for a Sheik's son. The wedding cost over £22 million and included a purpose-built stadium.

In 2000, the average bride was 24 years old and the average groom was 28.

The ancient tradition of bridesmaids dressing the same as each other and in similar style to the bride is because it was believed that evil spirits have a more difficult time distinguishing which one is the bride and putting a hex on her.

1st Toile Review

I was suitably worried for my review. And apparently with good reason. I like my designs and thought the amount of work I had done for the review was a lot more than a few others, not naming any names. But I was ready to have a little cry by the end of it. Also didn't really take anything away from it apart from they didn't like it. If I could come in tomorrow and know exactly what to do I could just crack on with it and that would be fine but they really didn't like anything. They might of liked my flood dress because they didn't say anything about it. But who knows. The main problem I face now, is my pièce de résistance, being my hurricane trousers were not appreciated in any way. So now I have to decide if I want to make them plain and boring or keep them insane with their 99 pattern pieces. I think I will keep them my way. We are always told to make things bigger and better for the catwalk. But I feel like they are trying to make me commercialise it. I'm sure the teachers would disagree with that statement though!

Exhibitions

Trash Fashion

Yesterday me, Lauren and Miss Bing went to London to see some exhibitions. We had a great weekend! As we are all poor students we had to really make the most of going to London as it would be a struggle to be able to go again. And make the most of it we did. We went to MacCulloch & Wallis had a feel of some fabrics and naturally I headed straight to the buttons. Then we headed to the Science Museum for Trash Fashion: Designing Out Waste. That was a really good one for me with my Ethical Frontier project (the name of my professional project). 


After there we went to GSK Contemporary – Aware: Art Fashion Identity. That was my fav exhibition I've ever been to, I thought it was fantastic. I took one photo before I got told off of a selection of wigs. 

Art Fashion Identity

We also watched a film of Yoko Ono that has stuck in my mind. Not too sure why but here it is.

Finally we went to see Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion. I didn't think this one was as good but the designs were still amazing. Pattern cutting really isn't my thing and the work that must have gone in to them is unfathomable. At first it looked really quite small but it was actually huge. We watched about 3 films on Japanese designers. I might of had a little nap through one after our hectic day of running around London but they were really interesting! Definitely the best bit of the exhibition.

UK manufacturing is reborn

I read Drapers every day. I set it to my homepage so that whenever I go on the internet I have to look at it. Today has rekindled my love for Drapers. Sometimes it gets a bit boring as I'm not that bothered about whose making what profit at this stage in my career. However, the best article I've ever read that was basically written for me! It's quite a long article, but the summary is, they are wanting to bring manufacture back to the UK as it's getting too expensive over seas. So my career as a seamstress is looking even more likely. If you want to read the full article it's called UK manufacturing is reborn.
Here are some stats taken from their website.

30%

Average growth in orders at one UK manufacturer over the past 12 months

“People want to get their clothes produced in England. Retailers are going to come back because they are not happy with the quality from overseas.”

Maggie Apostolou, manager of clothing manufacturer Arenco in Leyton, east London

70

Number of people recruited by one UK manufacturer in the past 12 months

“I would recruit more but there are no apprenticeships which teach true manufacturing skills.”

Mark Purcell, manager of supplier Yusuf Menswear in Birmingham

30%

Average growth predicted for the next 12 months at one UK manufacturer

“We’re growing… we’ve increased our customer base dramatically.”

Tony McNulty, managing director of ATF Textiles, Stafford

£943

Minimum pay per annum for a textile worker in China

SOURCE: Drapers’ straw poll of UK manufacturers

Second Look Into Fur Farming

I had another look into the fur issue. Boy have my views changed. PETA are always branded extremists, but I watched one of their videos and it nearly made me cry. I don't recommend watching it. It's sickening that people can do this in the first place, but for there to be no laws against it just astounds me. So I signed PETA's fur free pledge. I've never owned fur and I never will.

The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff

Fur Farming

Today I watched Kill It, Skin It, Wear It, a channel 4 documentary aired last year. I thought it would be a good start to my fur research but they avoided all of the series issues related with fur for fashion. The whole thing was 'fluffy' and they painted over the few major issues raised with rainbows and fur in tact kittens. I think PETA will be my next port of call. But it's impossible to know who is telling the truth. You can from one extreme to the other. I think at the end of the day it's down to your morals. I eat meat, although I wish I had the will power to be a vegetarian. But they will never stop killing animals for meat and they could be killed just as inhumanely if not more so than animals harvested for the fur trade. But I'm all for organic and sustainable materials.

Usually the argument for the killing of animals is 'pest control' but can nature take care of itself?

 How can I care so much about who is making my clothes and the pesticides that go into the earth and be unsure of whether or not killing 100 chinchillas for one coat is wrong. Obviously it is wrong. More research is needed I think.

M&S Plan A

Even M&S are on the eco-friendly band wagon. This is a really nice little video of everything they are doing to try and make their company greener. With a company as big as them trying to make a difference it really shows how far being ethical has come. I think it's safe to say the green trend is no longer just passing through.

White Gold - The True Cost of Cotton

I've been watching a lot of videos like this, but this one is great. It's won a couple of awards and is really informative. I had no idea how bad cotton was until I started researching it.

White Gold - the true cost of cotton from Environmental Justice Foundation on Vimeo.

Ethical Fashion Network

Another brilliant website to check out. The Ethical Fashion Network is a website trying to bring together all aspects of the ethical fashion industry. It's somewhere you can go where everything you might need to create, buy or source ethical clothing, materials, makers and designers can all be found under one handy eco roof. They also have a part of their website that is a social networking site. Much like Facebook you can add like minded friends, appeal for help or advice. It really is a great site to look at if you're interested in ethical fashion. And if you wear clothes, you should be.

Fast Fashion

I thought it might be a good idea to find out a bit more of what the general public knows about the clothes they buy. I hope this Fast Fashion Questionnaire will make people think about their clothes and what they are buying. I think I will have a think about the questions and try and ask people outside of Primark for their views. Please feel free to answer the questions, there's only 9 and they're multiple choice.

Ethical Fashion Seminar

Today we had a seminar on ethical fashion. I had already decided to do ethics for my Professional Project so when the poster went up for it I knew it would be perfect. And it was. I found out loads of interesting stuff that I can use in my project.

I like the idea of making a whole collection out of bamboo, it's so soft! I got a card off one of the lecturers who said she could give me a list of companies who I might be able to get off cuts of end of line fabric from. I've always been into ethics, but now I've realised that if I don't go for that within my career then I will have to adapt at some point. Because I genuinely believe ethical fashion is the future and will become the norm. Thinking back to how far we have come since coffee wasn't fair trade and plastic bags were never reused goes to show how far ethical fashion has the potential to evolve.

I decided to film Jodie today making cuffs and plackets. 

Natural Disaster

I finally started my research properly today. I wasn't really sure where to start but once I did it led me on to so many other things. I have decided within ethics I am going to go down a natural disaster route and global warming made worse by dyes and pollution. I'm going to base my final collection garments around this and try to portray a natural disaster through them. Whilst they are going to be completely ethical.

Twitter.. A wonderful thing

Today I received a message from The Green Stylist on Twitter.

Hi Gemma, thanks for the follow. Where is AUCB? I am putting together a high-end line this year and looking for sample makers - Jules

I think she might be from San Francisco but I wrote her back saying I'm in the UK and she asked me to drop her an email to arrange a time to skype and 'discuss our current projects'.

Well after I said I joined Twitter to make contacts I'm pretty happy about this!

Corsetry Workshop

Today we made corsets using a couture method. We got paper and wrapped it up in sellotape. We had to ensure it was super tight to the stand, and then we drew on our design lines. Sounds pretty simple but I think my biceps are bigger now, it was quite hard work. I learnt a few random bits and bobs about corsets, like apparently you should wear a corset 2 times smaller than your dress size.

Creative Pattern Cutting

So we did some creative pattern cutting. I'm not really into pattern cutting and wasn't looking forward to this workshop at all but I had a great time! I made this cowel type thing, but it can be placed anywhere on a garment.

Corsets

Today we made corsets. I had already very recently done this so a bit of a refresher session was nice. I boned the bodice sewing the boning directly to the seam allowance on one half. And on the other half used the casing where you slide the boning in. Initially for the exercise we were making two half bodices to demonstrate these two different ways of boning. I ensured my two halves were two opposite halves so they could be sewn together. But this is why the fabrics are half and half.

First Day Back

Christmas is over and it's back to the sewing machine. We made pockets today and were eased in nicely after our month off. For me it was great because as you know I love sewing. We made two pockets and were going to make a third but I was the only one who wanted to stay so we all just went home. It has really got me in the mood for sewing so I'm going to collate some ideas for the new brief on paper to take in on friday, and then I'm going to make something.

Jeans Pocket

3D Pocket

Ralph and Russo Internship

I read that Ralph and Russo are offering internships with a view to get hired afterwards. Only problem is I think it's aimed to people already graduated so I would have to take quite a lot of time off uni. I'm not really sure I will have time to fit it in. They are so elite you have to have a 'couture number' just to get into their site. They've made some really nice stuff though and the internship is all about pattern cutting and construction so would be ideal for me.

The 5 Year Plan

I have been trying to figure out my five year plan for the last 2 months. Possibly longer than that. But after numerous options including 'full time blogger - literally kill me' I think I have finally figured out what I want to do with my life. 

Firstly I have accepted if I want to do what I love I will have to move to London. So that is the plan once I finish uni.

In 6 months finish uni.

Be living in London within 1 year - this gives me 6 months to save and continue getting some experience in Swindon. I really don't want to run out of money because I can't get a job and have to move back home.

Lack of experience means I may have to get an internship and work in a bar or something as well. Aim to get a job with the work experience - probably the easiest way in. Do work experience for 3 months max.

Try and get a semi decent job like previous work experience at Fashion Enter. Work there for 1-2 years.

After you have got some good experience start applying for couturier jobs - Ralph and Russo are currently looking for interns so may be more likely to take me on with slightly less experience. Work there for 3 years.

In 5-6 years move to Paris to work in a French Fashion House on their couture range. No RTW for me.

Exhibitions

I've been having a look into exhibitions to visit. I've never really taken an interest in exhibitions before but there are some on at the moment that look really good, I just need to figure out when I can fit them in.
The first one I want to go see is:

GSK Contemporary – Aware: Art Fashion Identity

2 December 2010 – 30 January 2011

The exhibition examines how artists and designers use clothing as a mechanism to communicate and reveal elements of our identity. The exhibition includes work by 30 leading international practitioners and is divided into four sections:

Storytelling	Building
Belonging and confronting	Performance

On the same day as I visit this I am going to travel over to Somerset House to see Matthew Williamson.



Apparently it includes his working sketches and moodboards as well as his work and I find that very appealing.






Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion
15 October 2010 - 6 February 2011
Barbican Art Gallery


I think that like Japanese fashion this exhibition will be a bit weird and wonderful. But who can pass up an opportunity to see Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Junya Watanabe when they are all so conveniently placed under one roof.

My plan on being successful..

According the the dictionary success is 'The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.'

So to first become successful I need to figure out what I desire. What do I desire? I want the world to become environmentally friendly. For this I can do my part and promote for others to do theirs. Really what I desire is an ethical bridal shop.

So, to achieve my bridal shop I will definitely need motivation and drive. Something I like to think I have in abundance. I will also need commitment and determination. Of which I again have in abundance. So really what I need is the know how. Which I will gain by continuing to work hard and learn, including making mistakes, which I'm pretty good at.

So to conclude, to be successful, I need to continue to learn (I'm not young enough to know everything anymore), and keep my ambition, which teamed with the know how, my motivation, and hard work, will drive me to reach my desires.

Successful People

Safia Minney launched People Tree in the UK in 2001. It appeals to me because it is a Fair Trade company. She is seen to be one of the worlds leading analysts of Fair Trade for the fashion industry. She also prompted the need for a World Fair Trade Day. Her company strives to create opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers, payment of a fair price, gender equity, improved working conditions and the environment.

'Fairtrade, what People Tree is all about, goes a step farther, using fashion as a tool for social development and to provide an income for marginalised communities.'

If you want to know more about Safia Minney and what she is up to then you can check out her blog.

Oscar Wilde is successful because he was one of the greatest writers of certainly his time. In my opinion one of the greatest writers of all time. He wrote many short stories, plays and poems that continue to inspire millions around the world. He experienced a lot of harrow in his life and a lot of bad reviews for his work. This never deterred him and he continued to write ahead of his time. His only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, perhaps seen as one of his greatest works, would later be his undoing. When he was arrested for gross indecency and sentenced to two years hard labour, it was this novel that appeared before the courts as it has gross indecency within it. Gross indecency was a way to lock up men thought to be homosexual where sodomy couldn’t be proven. He stayed true to himself throughout his life and that is one of many reasons why I admire him.

‘An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.’

Michael Jordan is looked upon by many as being one of the most successful sportsman in the world. There is no denying he is successful but it is how we began that I find most inspiring. He was cut from his high school basketball team. A man who is known as the best basketball player of all time, wasn’t good enough to play for his high school team. This is encouraging to me because it shows that if you are really passionate and have drive for something, if you show determination, you can, and will succeed.

"I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Al Gore interests me mainly because he is an environmental activist. He ran for president in 2000 but lost out to George Bush. I often wonder how the world would be different if Al Gore had of won the election. He has founded many businesses including the Alliance for Climate Protection. He is also a member of the board of directors of Apple Inc., and is a senior advisor to Google. Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and writing his book An Inconvient Truth that is all about climate change he was named runner-up for Time’s 2007 Person of the Year. He is trying to make a difference in the world for the better, successful for many other reasons, this is the reason I think he is successful.

‘As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of that has to change.’

Zara meets Liberty

Zara is collaborating with Liberty to create a kidswear collection. They are making 100 different items in 9 Liberty prints. I love Liberty prints. I would love to do a floral theme for my collection, but although classic, I feel it's over done. Plus I've already half decided on my chiffon jacket and black lace.

Photo Shoot

Just had a look on Tim Durkin's photography website. He is the photographer I got to do the photo shoot for my drape project. He had a soft box and expensive lights and all sorts. Anyway, he's put the pics of my dress up. Very cool to sort of have my dress featured on a website.

 

A Learning Experience Gone Wrong

I did my photo shoot for my draping project and was supposed to go to the beach. As my dress has a natural look to it I wanted no shoes in an innate atmosphere. But unfortunately it was raining and the photographer couldn't risk getting his very expensive camera wet. So I had to think very quickly of a new place to do the shoot that was inside. I really needed to do it on that day as I had organised the photographer and model. So I after racking my brain and trying to search for somewhere I decided to do it in my conservatory. It had some mould on the walls and I pulled the carpet back to reveal a rustic, decomposed concrete floor. 


I liked the effect of my shoot in the end. So although it didn't go according to plan I think it still worked well.

Placement at Burberry you say?

I was chatting to Pat before we broke up and she was saying about a workshop on Sloane Street. It's a high end couture workshop with four seamstresses. Apparently they are looking for English speaking seamstresses. It would be great to get a placement here. I have also lined up a placement with Burberry. Which is really exciting although I think I would prefer the Sloane Street one.

The only thing is there isn't any allocated time to do placements in the second year, so I'll have to either do my studies at the same time or do it over the summer after I finish. But I'm already worried about living in London with no money, and there's no way I'll be able to work for free and afford to pay my rent. I think about my future career a lot. London is the biggest predicament I have. I didn't want to live there, but now I think I do, or at least I have accepted I'm going to have to. I can't commute from home it will be too expensive and time consuming when I won't be getting paid much.

I think the Burberry sounds better to the general public,  but I think the couture one will definitely be better! But I want to do both because those two, plus the one I did earlier this year is a good assortment of seamstress working areas.

A Revolutionary Brainstorm

Hardly. But I was at work the other day procrastinating by doing some work. Who would of thought I would procrastinate towards my work for a change. But I came up with some ideas that need a better home than scrap pieces of paper.

I've just thought maybe not focus on a revolution that has been, create a revolution of my own. Probably to do with the ethics behind clothes? And its dark, tying in the chiffon and lace, and I can use the clearness of the fabric as a metaphor for exposing the truth behind manufacturing. Love this idea right now, and I can write my own manifesto.

Stolen For Fashion

This is a Peta advert with Pink and Ricky Gervais. I'm getting really into all of the ethics of fashion. Anya gave us a talk on the ethics behind Frank & Faith and I find it really interesting. Makes me want to become a vegetarian but I haven't got the will power for that. I think focussing on the ethics of fashion is a good way to go because it's bigger than it has been a few years a go. And with the recession and manufacturing in third world countries becoming more expensive I think manufacturing will come back to the UK. I hope so anyway because it will certainly benefit me in my career as a sample seamstress.

Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement

- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin


So today we were given our brief. The word revolutionary, to take into a concept, develop into numerous sketchbooks and then transforming into a final collection of four outfits. Sewing the final outfits will definitely be my favourite part. I have enjoyed not doing sketchbooks so far this year. I might continue the idea of the ring bound book and maybe have one made by blurb. I'd have a sketchbook as well. I wouldn't mind having a look at the third years books from last year to gage an idea of how much I will need to do. 

Drape Hand In

I was sort of ok with the hand in today. My time plan helped a lot but I when I did a test print the night before the page layouts were wrong. I worked really hard on my bibliography but haven't numbered the pictures I used, they are all referenced but it means you can't see which picture came from where. Apart from that, and not being able to print front and back, my book was exactly what I wanted it to be. I had a lot of pages, 60 was a bit excessive when 22 was the minimum. On retrospect I wish I took some of the Peclers pages out. But because of the angle I went down with my 'how to' book the things I have included are needed I think. and about 20 of those pages were a comprehensive of how to make my dress which I definitely needed. I liked the concept of my 'how to'. Apparently no one has ever done it like that before. And I tried to include things that other people wouldn't think of like the patterns from

So I've done things no one else has thought of, in a way no one has ever done it before. I think thats pretty much the definition of what we are trying to achieve on a fashion course.

This is a copy of my book. It's not the completely finished article but it's close enough to do for now.

Draping for Dummies

View more presentations from gemma365.

MoDiP Teams

On the 25th everyone else did their group presentations. We wern't able to because we were missing a member. But I thought I'd do some reflection on my team while it's fresh in my mind. We are doing our presentation in the new year but I will update you on that when it happens.

•How well do you perform in a team now?

If you had of asked me before the team project I would of said I think I work quite well in a team. But after working with the girls for that period of time I think I have improved massively. It's difficult to take on board other peoples ideas if you think you have a great one. But now I think I'm much better at compromising and combining ideas so that everyone is happy.

•Score yourself 1 (rarely) - 4 (often) using the  following:

•I talk to much 3

•I turn up late 1

•I interrupt others 2

•I take up too much of the discussion space 1

•I let other people carry the team 1

•I always think I am in the right 2

•I act as if I were the team leader 2

•I like everything to stick exactly to the agenda 3

•I keep going off at tangents 1

•I get caught up in the details and lose the big picture 1

•I have lots of ideas ,but many are not relevant 1

•I get too emotional 1

•I don’t keep to the deadlines 1

Possible problems in a team and how to deal with them:

•The one that gets away… Constant contact via facebook or phone so they know when the meetings are happening and therefore have no excuse to miss any. Make it clear if they don't give any input then they won't be getting any credit for others work.

•The quiet one…. Try and include them by asking simple questions without putting them on the spot. Meet somewhere where there aren't loads of people around to overhear or hover.

•The bossy one… Stand up to them as a team. If they are pushing for an idea no one else likes then don't let them 'win' just because they are the loudest or most intimidating.

•The procrastinator….. Everyone needs to undertake the same amount of work to make it fair. The procrastinator should be given the same amount as everyone else and told if it isn't completed by the date set then they won't be carried by the team or get credit for others work.

•Something just not quite right…. This should be evaluated and possible solutions given. One should be decided on and needs to be guaranteed to still be done before the deadline.

Before you start ask the team:

•What are our objectives? 

Create a sketchbook and 3 boards on colour, market and brand, with a presentation.

•Why was it formed? 

To practice creating a brand and working in a group.

•What will it do? 

Give us important skills in working in a team.

•What are its success factors?

Learning how to allocate work between team members, having to compromise and combine ideas.

•What external information does it need? 

Mainly the information will be from MoDiP. But other library resources will be useful including the archive catalogues, Peclers and possibly some e-books.

•What is the best this team can achieve? 

For everyone to feel they have contributed and for everyone to agree. For the approval of peers in the presentation and for it to be interesting. To complete everything originally asked of us, and then some.

•What bad consequences are there if the team fails? 

In the unlikely event the team fails it will mainly be a disappointment. It takes every member in the team to allow it to fail. So I think failure in itself will be the worst consequence.

Halfway through team:

•How well is the team doing against its objectives?

So far I think the team is doing well. We have had a few meetings and have been able to quickly come up with ideas that seem to suit everyone.

•Why?

I think we are doing well because we have agreed to have regular meetings so people can't slack for a couple of weeks and rush their part the night before. 

•What does it need to improve?

Attendance

•Will it achieve its objective on time?

I'm hopeful, I don't think there will be any problems.

•Which objective is it most likely to fail?

Possibly the presentation as at the moment we are allocating work and doing it separately. But the presentation will require everyone to be there at the same time to work on it.

•Will it achieve more than it set out to do?

The group is full of strong minded individuals so I think it will. Everyone appears to be putting their all into it.

•Are any external factors affecting it?

A couple of the girls live in Ringwood and Poole so they understandably struggle to come to the 15 minute meetings. Especially as we aren't all in on the same days.

•Will we be able to overcome these challenges?

The girls who live closer will just have to come in especially for the meetings when the girls who live further away are in.

Pros and cons of teams

•Maybe it’s better to avoid teams? 

I don't think you can or should avoid teams. If it happens in industry then we should be doing it now. 

•Perhaps look at it as discovery;

•a) interesting differences 

•b) variety of contributions       

•c) how they fit together. = a team is more than the sum of its parts.

Identify your team personality

•How can you work individually and together to get the best results from all of you.

I think the main thing is to ensure everyone is on the same wave length at all times. It's easy to go off on a tangent if you haven't told the group what you are doing. The work needs to look good as a collective but still be individual.

•How much should I behave ‘naturally’?

There is no reason to change who you are when working in a group. Maybe if you are particularly quiet, or loud then you may need to tone it down or pipe up. But I like to think I'm quite in the middle.

•Who am I most different from?

Probably Jen because she tends to get distracted by the conversation and talk about stuff that, albeit interesting, isn't relevant.

•How can I work effectively with him/her?

Maybe just try to keep her on track and get her to save her stories til the end of the meeting.

•Who am I most similar to? 

Steph or Chantelle

•How can I avoid the ‘clique’?

I'm not that way inclined, I don't like to exclude people.

•How would I like to develop personally through working in this team?

Produce work that everyone is happy with and fits well with everyone else's. 

End of group

•Reflection –on balance do you enjoy working in a team?

I found it a very different experience to what I expected. But it was good.

•What do you like/ dislike?

I liked having lots of input in ideas and not having to do all the work myself.

•What would you change?

I'm not sure I would change anything. It's hard to say until we have done our presentation.

•When did you feel annoyed /upset?

It's rare that I get annoyed or upset and it didn't happen during this process.

•When did you feel most pleased/happy?

When I came up with my main designs. They were all really quirky and exactly what we had in mind as a group. They had information about the product that I thought was written well.

•Did you feel valued as a team member, why?

Yes I think everyone was quite equal. I was asked to do some stuff, I suggested other stuff that other people should do. It was all very evan.

Are there things that caused you stress, what?

I think the presentation might make me stress a bit but won't know until we get to do it.