New Blog

Hello Everyone!

There is a new Master of Design for Services Blog that I am now using.

Please, feel free to follow : nataliamazur.wordpress.com

Thanks and Enjoy!

The Pill Bracelet - Popping Pills Like Candy.

One of my degree show pieces, made out of silver and paracetamol, this bracelet creates an aesthetically pleasing form with a lot of meaning behind it. It suggests that painkillers should be treated with the same respect as precious stones, mainly because over-dosing causes severe liver damage and other conditions.

My jewellery addresses to medical issues which normally would not be related the typical jewellery designers interests.

With the degree show just around the corner, it is about the time to post a few things about my up-coming collection!






"The Destruction Series", electroformed paracetamol tablets, which show the process of destruction of one's body if addicted to pain killers. Self medication is an extremely big issue for our society and this series of precious objects visualizes this problem.

Group Meeting 3

The outcome of our 3rd meeting, post consumerism poster, above.


The poster was created by myself and my lovely design studies group. We discussed what post consumerism meant to us and then went onto illustrating the modern day post consumer. Some fantastic examples were found in the Word of Celebrities, including Natalie Portman, Price Charles and Russell Brand.



In the next part of the meeting we brain stormed for ideas and suggestions for what "our" future business could be about. Many different routes were considered and all of us tried to refer, firstly, to our specialisations and secondly to the wider picture of the outside world and it's job market.



Finally, we seemed to have agreed that community design alongside with recycling are the areas which interest us the most and our task for the next group meeting is to specify and create a range of solutions for the future business.

I consider today's group meeting extremely successful in terms of both, the quantity of creative ideas and the quality of our finial area of interest.

Assigment 1 - Group Exercise

My group had a meeting last week and it's about the time for me write about it. It was very interesting and extremely funny like always...

We discussed our VARK test results and got to some pretty good conclusions. Most of the group is either activists or reflectors and there's also a few people who have a mixed profile which is even better.

A group with a varied personality test result will preform stronger in any task given, as all aspects of the project will be considered from different perspectives. Each member of the group has unique ideas and ways of dealing with the problem and after a bit of a debate a consensus will be reached smoothly.

Overall, I am really glad my group is varied and quite honestly I think our task will be very well done. Just a shame about me going away a week before the presentation... I am going to have to miss it. Obviously, I will be working really hard to develop our group project when I'm still in Scotland. I have to add that a Skype or some other kind of a video conference has been suggested and will be taken into consideration. I just cannot picture this happening, I mean, me in Italy, everyone else in Dundee, a little screen or maybe a massive projection of my face... hmmm... highly interesting!

Anyhow, we had another meeting, which was more of a coffee break really, after the last week's lecture and a decision about starting our Post Consumerism research was reached.

The plan is: tomorrow after our lecture we are going to create the poster. It is going to be full of bright and bold images and all essential information. I'm already excited about our first proper group task. Team 13!

3rd Year, Semester 2, Assignment 1

After discovering that I am mostly an activist due to the VARK test I realized a few things about my personality and the way I work as both a designer and a student.

It was very interesting looking into aspects of my personality that I do not often get a chance to consider. How your internal instincts affect the way you relate to given tasks. I wish my personal profile was a little bit more varied but being a "very strong" activist and a "moderate" theorist and reflector is not that bad. Only the pragmatic aspect of my way of learning seems weak or rather as the test calls it "low".

The results I got open my eyes up and pushed me into debating whether or not my day to day choices and decisions I make and their consequences are/have been directly influenced by my activist's approach.

I was looking for a real life example to illustrate my VARK profile and I did not have to look far. The best example of my activist personality is applying for the International Student Exchange Erasmus. I got really exited about the idea of going away for a semester to some place new, some bright warm Wonderland, full of inspiration and artistic atmosphere. So, I applied for Politecnico di Milano. I applied for it but have not thought about how this choice could affect all aspects of my university and personal life.

Just a week ago I found out I got it. My excitement was unreal. I was breathless. The day after a sudden realization started following me around though... How on Earth was I supposed to have everything organized in less than 4 weeks?

A week on and most things are starting to fall in their place again. I looked into all my options and have made some crucial, risky yet informed decisions. My theorist and reflective sides kicked in and helped me to sort out many possible issues. Life's great again!

I am finally getting to know my way of approaching all projects. Acting before considering consequences seems like a great idea at the time but then going back and reflecting upon major life changing decisions isn't so much fun.

This assignment turned out to be truly helpful to me. More personality tests please!

Further Research : Meaty Fashion

After a lot of consideration about my own final piece I have started experimentingwith raw meat.

Here is a few examples of the use of meat in today’s couture fashion.

Looking at the organic forms and textures created by Bauer I wondered about an equally organic material to express that kind of inspiration.

Meat seems to be perceived as controversial but it is slowly gaining popularity.

Icon in Meat

Meaty Fashion successfully draws attention to many serious issues including animal cruelty. The newest Jeremy Scott’s collection uses some artificial ham to reinforce the idea.

And, of course, Lady Gaga did not fail to shock wearing her truly meaty outfit complete with a head piece, handbag and a pair of heels.

Margaux Lange - Barbie Jewellery

Margaux Lange is one of my favourite jewellery designers, at this point in time.

Her work is also related to the body but this time from a different perspective – practically the opposite of organic.

Lange looks at the mass production aspect of Barbie Dolls and their iconic influence over the way the perfect body is perceived.

Ela Bauer - Degree Show Work

I feel that it is really important to highlight her initial ideas of jewellery design and how challenging her perception of our discipline was and is, continuously.

These initial pieces show the artist’s reflection upon what jewellery really is or is supposed to be.

The pieces presented at Rietveld Academy argue with the idea that jewels have toadore the body in a decorative way.

Projects : First we Quake, Now we Shake

Apart from making jewellery, Ela Bauer, with some help from fellow designers organized an international exhibition aimed at creating links between jewelers from around the World.

The exhibitions gathers contemporary jewellery from many countries and it travels from one art gallery to the next visiting: Amsterdam, Tokyo, Munich, Stockholm and Bern.

Projects: Novajoia – Creative SPA in Brasil

Ela travelled all the way to Sao Paulo to give a lecture about souvenirs and their connections to jewellery design.

She participated in a series of workshops which were focused around the idea of taking part in a journey and forming memories as the result.

Many interesting pieces of exiting, anti-cliché souvenirs got constructed and exhibited during a symposium called BOOMSP design.

Projects : Troost (Consolation)

Another highly valuable project that Bauer participated in was organized by Arte Libera from Geneva. The exposition was centered around the idea of childhood protection.

Ela’s pieces made for this are ones of my favorites.The materials that the designer has used for this project are mostly found objects, which were abandoned and forgotten, just like the lost children, the central idea behind the whole exhibition.

Projects : Prix Europeen des arts appliques

Ela Bauer is very open and exited about taking part in International Jewellery and Art Projects as well as collaborations and workshops.

One of the most successful exhibitions, she has taken part in so far was entitled:

European Prize For Applied Arts.

Bauer’s work was selected as a poster piece and distributed throughout the city of Bergen in Belgium.

The brooch she designed and made managed to publicize the exhibition very well and this collaboration was truly unforgettable for the designer.

Inspiration - Ela Bauer

The main source of inspiration for Bauer is the human body and nature.

Her designs mirror the organic. They seem to have a heart beat.

They shock with tissue like textures and keep developing themselves with the speed of the body.

A series of heart inspired jewellery.

Personally, I find it very moving and the process of creation of these pieces is fascinating, with connections to shamanism.

The hand-made element reinforces the artists concept.

Materials and techniques

Ela Bauer

The designer is continuously exploring the possibilities the plastics provide in jewellery design :

• Silicone – rubber

• Wool

• Fabric

• Copper Mash

• Latex

• Thread

And Porcelain

Only very occasionally does the designer use silver or other precious metals.

The same applies to precious stones, minerals and materials like glass and coral.

She plays with her materials for as long as necessary to achieve the kind of results she has planned for the piece.

Invention is central to her creative process.

A contemporary jewellery designer, but is that all… ?

Ela Bauer

Ela started her literature studies in Israel, in the city of Tel Aviv and after graduating, she decided to continue her education.



This time, she chose to explore Jewellery Design at the local Technical School.



The next step for the designer was to move to Amsterdam, to Rietveld Academy, where her adventure with Plastics started.

Object ’95 :

silicone – rubber

latex

fabric

pigments

Dissertation Proposal - Draft 1 - Bibliography

Adamson, E., (1984), Art as Healing, London, Coventure Ltd.

“Art as Healing” explores the relationship between art practices such as painting, sculpture and sketching and the psychological effects that these have on young children, the mentally ill and the most vulnerable members of our society.

Bremner J., Dean J., McCoig M., Skinner, K., (2005), Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital: Arts Project, Aberdeen, PACE

This colourful publication illustrates the story of the refurbishment of the Children’s Hospital in Aberdeen. Some wonderful examples of architecture and design were used in that project along side art work provided by Scottish Fine Artists. The book demonstrates the kind of environment that inspires and encourages patients to stay positive and get better.


Farrelly – Hansen, M., (2001), Spirituality and Art Therapy: Living the Connection, London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Avery interesting take on Art Therapy is explored in this book, the author describes many incidents were the use of Art Therapy was priceless but the fact that is was connoted to a particular religion was essential. This shows a “shamanistic” view on the discipline which contradicts all the most of the other books I read, which treat Art Therapy almost as rigorously as if it was a science subject.

Furth, G. M., (1988), The secret world of drawings: a Jungian approach to healing through art, Boston, Sigo Press

Gregg Furth's book is a complex study of spontaneous drawings created by a wide spectrum of patients, from young terminally ill children, their parents and families to troubled adolescents, prisoners, the disabled and the elderly.

Gordon A. M., Browne K. W., (2007) Beginnings & Beyond: Foundations in Early Childhood

An effective book which considers all things important when growing up. It explores different relationships and the way’s a child is starting to form their opinion of the word around. A big section on learning new skills and how creativity develops from a very young age.

Gordon P., Szreter R., (1989), History of Education: The Making of a Discipline, Oxon, Routledge

Great source of information on how education actually started and how it has developed to the stage it is on at the moment. Many valuable stories and facts written up in a clear and understandable language to promote a further research into the field. An essential read.

Malchiodi, C. A., (1999), Medical Art Therapy with Children, London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd.

Malchiodi focuses on using art as a means of communication between seriously ill children undergoing aggressive medical treatment and the professionals working with them. It helps to use and translate the language of drawings into our day to day verbal communication.


MacLeman, M., Pearson, J., (2008), The Pattern of a Bird, Glasgow, Art in Hospital

This beautiful book tells the stories of a hospice’s patients and their adventures with Art and Poetry. It shows how important art making or the creative process, as a whole is, in relation to situations of deep despair such as terminal illness. A truly inspiring publication.

http://www.arttherapy.org/

The American take on Art Therapy. This will enable me to look into the differences between the practises of this discipline in the two countries. Which one is more effective, works more efficiently and create a safer environment for the patient? These questions will definitely be addressed in one of the parts of my presentation.

http://www.baat.org/index.html

Another professional web page focusing on the use of Art Therapy within the UK. Many interesting events and facts are discussed on the forums. This will be really useful of finding information out about potential contacts and people to interview.


http://www.nsead.org/home/index.aspx

The National Society for Education in Art and Design’s official website. General information for art and design teachers and those interested in this path. This web page has many sections including a primary education one, with articles I will most probably find invaluable in to further my knowledge of the field.

http://www.satf.org.uk/

A fantastic website for a valuable information concerning Art Therapies. It looks at Music, Drama and Dance as well as Art Therapies. Many useful links to other web pages of different organisations can be found. What is even more exiting there is a forum filled with suggestions about upcoming events relation to this discipline.

Dissertation Proposal - Draft 1.

Heal my body, heal my mind.

Early education, Art Therapy and Design.



Education is what I always found fascinating and recently while researching it further, I discovered many links and interactions between Design as a whole and its connections to specific educational methods and techniques.

While, still at the most basic stage of my research, I came across one other discipline which seemed to connote to these two hugely – Art Therapy. I decided to go down that route and to familiarise myself with the available resources, primarily books and journals.

After a few weeks of looking into Art Therapy in relation to several psychological issues, I most definitely decided to explore Art Therapy with children in particular and more precisely, kids with serious medical conditions, after traumas or undergoing hospitalisation.

Continuously, trying to broaden my horizons, I took an interest into hospital and hospice design. The interior design of such institutions is crucial as well as the Design Idea behind it, the concept of a more child friendly and, in fact, a more art friendly environment.

I ask myself, whether or not, us as Designers should be more curious about the well being of our consumers and could dare to “heal” faulty designs within the educational and the health care systems.

Furthermore, I wish to investigate if introducing art therapy in primary and secondary schools could not be the answer to aggression, racism, bullying, homophobia and sectarianism.

I cannot wait to arrange some primary research opportunities, possibly in both schools and hospitals, to gather more firsthand information.


My aim is bring the benefits of art therapy to the attention of Designers and to encourage more inter-specialisation collaborations.

This subject is not related to my studio work directly as of yet, although the flow of ideas could most possibly inspire my Degree Show theme, which I am hoping will eventually happen.

The people I believe would benefit from my work are children and parents undergoing medical treatment, teaching and medical staff, fellow designers and architects.

Furthermore, I might look into going down that career path myself and feel I need to explore it further when I have an opportunity to do so.

1. A full review of literature and Internet sources on the subject of Art Therapy with children.

2. Full reviews of local authorities take on Art Therapy and Art Therapists offices in Dundee and Scotland – interviews.

3. Interviews with school children, art and care teachers and school psychologists.

4. Interviews with GPs, paediatricians, hospital and hospice staff members and patients.

5. Interviews with fellow designers and architects, especially interior and environmental.

6. Art and design experiments with school children and kids at the hospital/hospice.

7. Questioners of awareness about Art Therapy practice to all above.

Art, Therapy, Children, Education, Elementary, Hospital, Interior, Design.

Bibliography - Assignment 4

Adamson, E., (1984), Art as Healing, London, Coventure Ltd.

Furth, G. M., (1988), The secret world of drawings: a Jungian approach to healing through art, Boston, Sigo Press