FMP: Critical Review

CRITICAL REVIEW/ Final Major Project 

Student Name:  Asia Tozza                                               Pathway: 3DCP

FMP Title: Premier Mill Museum

To be handed in alongside your FMP hand-in

1. Briefly describe the context of your project. Describe how a range of critical perspectives helped you realise this idea. (max. 50 words)

The aim of my project was to tackle any conflict between new and old communities within West Silver Town, by bringing them together through art. Whilst ensuring that the neglected building, Rank Rovis Premier Mill conforms to its redeveloped surrounding, by transforming it into a contemporary art museum.

2. How did you use your researched contextual perspectives to develop your project? (max. 50 words)

Creating a public questionnaire aimed specifically at locals, was an effective mechanism as it enabled me to obtain opinions and information from others, including preferred shapes, colour pallets and overall design. From this, it also became apparent that local art work was more appreciated than world-renowned artist’s.

3. Please discuss your exploration of alternative ideas and how they led to your final outcome. (max. 50 words)

I had considered keeping half of the existing building instead of demolishing it as this would preserve heritage and history whilst adding an extension for new exhibition space. However, I discovered that this would go against my initial theme, which was modernism and also thought that this design juxtaposition (historic and modern) would not be aesthetically pleasing.

4. What systems did you use to plan, organise and develop your project? Please reflect on the effectiveness of these tools. (max. 50 words)

In order to plan and organise my project, I referred back to my timetable on a weekly basis as this enabled me to ensure that I met all my targets and deadlines. Furthermore, weekly group crits with my peers and tutors allowed me to receive some valuable feedback, whilst enabling me to gather ideas in opposition to my own thinking.

5. Discuss practical skills you employed to realise your project. Describe how you explored, adapted and stretched your skills and knowledge. Are there specific skills you have developed that will affect your future course/career? If so, describe said skills. (max. 100 words)

Throughout the project I acquired new practical and constructional skills, such as using a laser cutter to manufacture my final outcome, which I previously never used. It proved to be more precise, safer and more efficient in comparison to other cutting methods. Therefore, it will be my main source of production in future projects. An additional skill I gained is using computer aided-design programs to support my project, in particular Google Sketch-Up which reduced inaccuracy and enabled me to make any corrections or improvements relatively quickly. It is a method that professionals often use, therefore working in a similar manor will prepare me for the future.

6. What type of evaluative and reflective records did you keep? How did a continuous analysis help you to inform and develop ideas? Provide specific examples. (max. 50 words)

In order to track my progress, I used a sketchbook allowing me to constantly push my work further. This included relevant research, that enabled me to build knowledge and equip myself with the information needed to make informed decisions when creating my outcome. In addition to I also had sketches that showed a visual exploration of ideas, which could potentially serve as inspiration to my other designs.

7.1 Discuss the range of considered strategies you employed to present your personal project. 7.2 Who is your audience/ customer? State what type of end user you had in mind for this project, and how/where project would be presented. Please add visuals to illustrate your plans. (max. 100 words)

I decided to present my final outcome as a 3D model, this enabled me to gain an understanding of my overall form and design. The practice of hand-making my model also enabled me to explore scale and imagine a finished space in ways that I believe a two dimensional drawing cannot. I relied heavily on communication with my chosen target audience (the general public, most importantly disadvantage families from lower incomes)  for the success of my building. Hence why, I communicated directly with them through my questionnaire to ensure my design met their requirements. I believe that placing my museum in my situated area could also help reduce poverty through learning and engagement.

8. Overall summary: Describe a few key points to take away from this experience, and a few things to change about your approach to creative production. (max. 100 words)

Overall, this project has been a learning experience with the hardest part being meeting all my personal deadlines and targets. On the other hand, I have now developed many new skills such as; working independently, thinking critically, presenting my work to peers, accurately using scale and using computer aided design software’s, all which will aid me for my projects in the future. Most importantly it has taught me to not lose my primary idea by searching for professional examples as this would lead to unwanted modifications, rather than personal creativity which is something I relied on often in the past.