As you may or may not know, this month is the end of my first year as a Fashion student. Happy? No doubt. Satisfied? Ehh... with this one, I can't really decide yet. Since the beginning of the course, I have been questioning the methods of teaching that I've been offered. This year (Year 0) was meant to develop ourselves with the basics in fashion design, and I understand that we were supposed to conduct our learning independently. But, does being independent mean being let go completely? I guess my main concern was, were we asked to be independent, or were we neglected? To be honest I really don't want to say anything, in order to avoid being too judgmental.
Let's just get down to the facts. Throughout this year, we have been given project after project after project. And it's almost always like this; we were gathered at the beginning of the project to be given the project brief, and discuss it together. Then, we're off to do our own things. Starting from research, analysis, and finally compiling the whole thing in the sketchbook. Yes, we did have one-on-one tutorials with the tutor once a week to show our progress and found out where we had to improve. And at the end, we had the presentation - followed by written feedback and the marks sometime after.
There was one project that was a bit different; where we had to actually make clothes (remember?). And for that project - maybe because it was practical - we did get step-by-step instructions and constant assistance from the tutor. Maybe, this was what I expected. I expected to receive this kind of teaching for everything, e.g. sketchbook, because as I recall, for the first portfolio project, I didn't even have a sketchbook - where we compile our research and ideas, and the development until we came up with the final result - because I didn't know that it's crucial for such projects (bear in mind that some of the first projects weren't "design projects"). Maybe, because I had no idea about this year when I started, I expected that they would actually teach us on how to make a good sketchbook. Instead, I learned it by myself, partly by watching my classmates' presentations.
Are you getting what I'm trying to say here? Are you still awake?
Well I guess to sum up everything, I would say that I have no idea if I have done my learning correctly this year. If this is what being independent is all about then I have to embrace it, make the most of it, like it or not. Because I felt that all I've done this year was trying to be a good student; trying to make the teachers proud by fulfilling all requirements and whatnot. But I guess it's a bit different in my department. What's more important is to be a good designer, express my ideas and thoughts however I wish, without limiting myself to any "academic criteria" - well, NOT entirely.
I admit that I have learned A LOT this year. Let's see what will happen next year.
Have a good summer everyone!
*I know I will, because I'm going home to J.A.K.A.R.T.A :)
Dubai International Airport
June 2010
I want this... no, not the stand. But the whole 72 Copic Markers set :)
This is going to be my room - without the TV of course, and without the mess - a guy is living there at the moment.
These are the kitchen, and living room. Really nice compared to one of the house that we saw... let's just say, with that house you can't really walk barefoot - not because the floor is dirty but you will definitely get splinters because the wooden floor was kind of breaking off.
