VIKTOR'S PORTFOLIO
Mind MAP
Why am I doing a self assessment?
I am doing a self-assessment to understand my progress and skills in my studies. It's a chance for me to reflect on my learning journey and evaluate my strengths and areas that need improvement. By critically analysing my performance, projects, and assignments, I can assess my competence in media production techniques, media analysis, industry knowledge, textile skills. This self-assessment allows me to set personal goals, track my growth, and enhance my overall learning experience in the BTEC Media program and my personal life. It's an opportunity for me to take ownership of my learning and strive for continuous improvement in my media skills.
I am engaging in a self-assessment about myself within the realm of BTEC Creative Media and Textiles for several reasons. Firstly, this process allows me to reflect on my own progress and evaluate my strengths and areas that need improvement within my chosen field of study. It gives me a chance to look inward and gain a deeper understanding of my abilities, interests, and goals.
By conducting this self-assessment, I can identify the areas where I excel in creative media and textiles. It helps me recognize my natural talents and abilities, which allows me to leverage them effectively. This self-awareness empowers me to explore opportunities that align with my strengths and potentially leads me to a more fulfilling academic and professional journey.
On the other hand, self-assessment also helps me pinpoint areas that require further development or improvement. It allows me to identify specific skills or knowledge gaps that I can address through additional learning, practice, or by seeking guidance from instructors or mentors. Recognizing these areas for growth is vital for my personal and professional development.
Moreover, engaging in self-assessment enables me to set goals and create a roadmap for my academic and career progression. By understanding my current capabilities and areas for improvement, I can establish realistic and achievable objectives. These goals can be tailored to specific projects, assignments, or even broader career aspirations within the creative media and textiles industry.
In my life, I've learned a lot and I've made great achievements. I am fluent in five languages including Russian, English, Spanish, Catalan, and French. Knowing these 5 languages has made me develop strong communication skills, and has given me connections with different and diverse cultures. I've also been lucky to be able to travel a lot which has helped me get in touch with many other cultures.
When I lived in Singapore I adapted and improved my global perspective.
While studying in Singapore in SAIS (Stamford. American. International. School.) I had to do a personal project. In 10th grade, my Personal Project was about fast fashion and sustainability, I was advocating for upcycling and showing my own fashion creations made from upcycling. I received one of the highest marks for this project and I was very proud of the work I did.
During my time I've explored many creative pursuits, including, art, filming, photography, sewing/fashion, and I dabbled in a bit of leather craft.
When studying BTEC creative media I was very eager to learn and experiment with different styles of film. Including stop-motion. For my plastinction project, I decided to create a short-stop motion campaign to promote boycotting of single-use plastics. This was a big achievement and learning moment because I learned how to make stop-motion videos. My experience with media also involved crafting campaigns, designing adverts and posters, and improving research and presentation skills. I also gained more skills in using Wix and enhancing my editing skills in iMovie.
I also got to use professional cameras and earned a Canon Photography certificate. In the day course, I was able to experiment with professional cameras and try out photography which I've recently been more passionate about.
In my A-level textiles class, I've also learned many valuable skills such as organization, time management, and technical skills. I have made a lot of textile pieces and I've experimented with many techniques which I'm very proud of learning since it has developed my style and experience in my textile class.
I've also been taking some sewing courses to enhance my sewing skills to be able to sew more complicated garments and to feel more comfortable with the skill to create more slick and quality work. I've learned to make pants, structure clothes, sew shirts, make my own patterns, and how to sew dresses.
I've also put a lot of commitment to community service which led me to volunteer for six months at a soup kitchen, where I and other volunteers collectively prepared over 700 meals daily.
Another achievement and experience was working as an intern at an art gallery, where I learned art management, researched for the gallery's website, engaged with clients, delivered paintings to VIP customers, and learned what goes behind working at an art gallery.
Another important achievement in my life was through Project Luni (a registered NGO helping street cats in Singapore since 2016) I fostered over 35 kittens, and I've learned to have a lot of responsibilities such as bottle-feeding, vet appointments, and adoption decisions.
Additionally, I set up a small business, focusing on cleaning and replacing window panel seals for my neigbours and neigbours friends which i learned not only how to clean windows and replace rubber window seals but also how to market myself and get the word out to get a hold of more customers. I also had to be flexible and give up my free time to do my job.
Additionally, I was also asked to create custom illustrations for a client, who really liked my illustration style. I learned to work with customers and give them what they wanted. I asked questions and when I finished the work I asked if there was anything they would want differently to please my customer. In the end, I received compensation for my work.
My whole life I've been achieving and learning and I'm very grateful to have the skills I have and the experiences.
My experience
to date:
What have I learned and achieved?
What will I need to know, and be able to do, for my future career plans?
When considering my future career in fashion design, I understand the important knowledge and skills I will need to possess. In the creative field specifically, I should have a solid understanding of design principles, garment construction, and textiles. It's crucial to be familiar with fashion trends, historical influences, and different cultural styles as well.
In addition to theoretical knowledge, practical skills are essential. I need to be able to sketch and illustrate my design ideas effectively. Learning pattern-making and sewing techniques will be important in bringing my designs to life with accuracy and attention to detail.
As a fashion designer, having a good eye for aesthetics and trends is necessary. Drawing inspiration from art, culture, and nature will help me develop my unique style and create collections that resonate with my target audience.
Being adaptable and resilient is also important in the creative field. Keeping up with new technologies and software and digital pattern making tools is essential for staying relevant in the industry.
Collaboration and communication skills are vital in the fashion world. Working well with teams and being able to clearly express my ideas, both verbally and visually, is crucial for successful collaborations. Actively listening to feedback and being open to critique is also important for growth.
Lastly, understanding the business side of fashion is necessary. Learning about marketing strategies, brand development, and consumer behavior will help me navigate the industry and make informed decisions when establishing and growing my fashion business.
In summary, to pursue a career in fashion design, I need a combination of technical skills, creativity, business knowledge, and effective communication. By continuously learning, refining my abilities, and staying aware of industry changes, I can confidently pursue a fulfilling career in the creative world of fashion design.
Skills, Knowledge & Attributes
Define the problem
When I was working on my final art products in my textiles class I've always had some problems and always been able to define them so I could come up with a solution. I had an initial plan to create a dress out of cling film but when experimenting with the material I realised that my dress would shrink and wouldn’t be wearable for my mannequin. I defined the problem that using cling film wouldn’t work.
Communication skills:
Visual communication
Visually conveying your message clearly, concisely and accurately.
In my textiles class I have been good at visually communicating my ideas and and my references. When working on my second big projects (insects) i visually showed how i came up with my idea and how I developed my project until it was finished.
Technical skills:
Edditing
Refine and enhance projects for clarity, accuracy, and effectiveness.
When it comes to editing, I have learned to adapt to Imovie and create short films that dont look like it was made in imovie.
Ive also been quick to eddit my mistakes, and to change some ideas or plans to enhance and refine my work. For example when working on my veggie quest documentary I had too many shots to do and I knew it wouldnt fit into the 5 mn boundary so I changed my plan, took out some shots so my video wouldnt exeed the limit too much.
For my textile class Ive edited many times in order to enhance my project and to clarify my ideas. There have been times where my book didnt make sense and wasnt flowing very well so I create new pages and changed the placement of the pages. For the pages I thought werent necessary I just discarded them to make my book flow nicely.
Teamwork:
Adaptability
Being able to adapt to changing circumstances.
When working alone or with others I've always been able to adapt and it's a skill I'm very comfortable with. I have learned to adapt to any situation whether it's peers not being able to come to a shoot, finding out that my plan won't work, or any other problem I've always adapted. For example, when I wanted to film my veggie quest video I planned to have my filming done on a specific day but everyone got busy and I had to adapt to the plans changing by rescheduling.
Problem solving:
Developing Potential Solutions
When realizing that my initial idea was not going to work, I produced some solutions such as making my dress out of fabric and using an old pattern I had used in my last project and using pieces of my cling film dress to sew on the lining of my dress so I can reveal the layers and make my dress wearable.
Implementing the solution
Problem-solving skills are the ability to identify problems, brainstorm and analyse answers, and implement the best solutions.
When making the dress I was confident my plan would work because I had thourouly planned it and knew it was going to work. I ended up being much happier with the second plan because it was wearable, and it looked better than the full cling film dress
Written communication
conveying your message clearly, concisely and accurately
When working on media and textiles work I communicate my ideas and where I want to go with my project. In textiles I annotate all the things that inspire me or what put what im thinking of on my book. For media I communicate differently but I still include some reflections, what I think of my work, what im planning to do etc…
Sewing /creating
The ability to sew and make art
Sewing is a technical skill that is easy when you know the basics but when making more complicated outfits or pieces it can be quite difficult. Ive been practising and trying out how to sew things such as pants, shirts, textile peices and i feel comfortable doing it. As im learning and practising I try to make more complicated thinsg or experiment with different shapes and fabrics. My technical skills with making things is good but i know that sometimes i have to look into the pin point details and clean them up, such as seems or rough edges. Unless my vision of my design is to have rough edges I really want my pieces and my art to be good looking and not look rushed and slopy.
Visual communication
Visually conveying your message clearly, concisely and accurately.
In my textiles class I have been good at visually communicating my ideas and and my references. When working on my second big projects (insects) i visually showed how i came up with my idea and how I developed my project until it was finished.
I really like the layout of this students portfolio. The First thing that is presented to me is a picture of her and her information. Her name, where shes from, and her highlights. I do think adding a quote was a nice touch because it shows who inspires her. There is also a direct button to view her work which makes it easy for me to immediately find her work instead of scrolling down and trying to find her work. The profile photo is profesional and the backround tells me a bit about who she is and what her style is.
Maria D'Onofrio
The sections are clear and easy to visit. I like the consistant use of black and white. In my opinion black and white a a buit bsic because it doesnt tell me much more about her through her wix. But her work is black and white and she keeps a consistant color going in her portfolio. Images she included were very professional and clear and told me about her art and creatuve proccess just by looking at it.
The sections are clear and easy to visit. I like the consistant use of black and white. In my opinion black and white a a buit bsic because it doesnt tell me much more about her through her wix. But her work is black and white and she keeps a consistant color going in her portfolio. Images she included were very professional and clear and told me about her art and creatuve proccess just by looking at it.
The sections are clear and easy to visit. I like the consistant use of black and white. In my opinion black and white a a buit bsic because it doesnt tell me much more about her through her wix. But her work is black and white and she keeps a consistant color going in her portfolio. Images she included were very professional and clear and told me about her art and creatuve proccess just by looking at it.
This portfolio was made by Roger Burkhard. I really like the simplicity of the website, and portfolio. I like the use of colors (grey and red). The red gives the website some contrast and makes the website look smooth overall The portfolio looks professional and is easy to go through. I like how you can scroll through all the different projects and it has a cover page so you can see what the project is about without having to go in it. I also like that when you press the portfolio you get redirected to the project directly. One thing I found confusing was the letters at the top (R, B) I think he could have written what those commands were and where it would take you. Im inspired by the layout and simplicity of the portfolio.
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When it comes to the actual work of the portfolio, its always the same layout, the text is at the top talking about the project and then he includes photos and additional text at the bottom. I like how everything is uniform and organized, it makes the website and work look crisp and professional. Looking at this portfolio I would take in the simplicity and layout of website and make all my portfolio pages the same layout to make it easier for other people to look at. Keeping the same fonts, size, colors is important when making a portfolio/website because it makes it more organised and look less messy
Roger Burkhard
This portfolio was made by Niccolo Miranda, an Amsterdam based independent designer and developer, with a focus on art direction, motion and branding. This portfolio immediately shows the persons skills and starts off with key words like interactive artist, digetal art director and more. It immediately tells us who she is and shows us what her style is. I really like the design of the website, its unique and creative. The website has a lot of animated features like the loading screen, circled words when you hover your mouse on it etc... I think the animations make it fun to go through. If you press the home page it gives you choices to go to the index, about me page, and work. She display her work in a very organised way. She included the dates of each project in cronological order, from newest to oldest. One thing i didnt like about this website was that it was a bit confusing and hard to look at because there is so much going on. On the work page the projects are written vertically making it hard to read. The website overall brands herself and is very well made. What
Niccolo Miranda
I would take from this is the concept and the animations. I like how she chose a concept for the portfolio and making it look like an old news paper. The animations make the website feel more fun and interactive and gives it a satisfying feel when going through it.
Creative Job Research
Fashion Design:
To pursue a career in fashion design, a solid educational foundation is needed. This educational path usually begins in high school, where they can take art and design-related courses to develop their creativity and basic skills, students also get to build and work on building a portfolio which is highly important when applying for universities. Many fashion designers choose to do a Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts program in fashion design or a related field at good reputational universities. In University students cover many aspects of fashion design, including sketching, pattern-making, sewing, textiles, and garment construction. During university, students are encouraged to work in internships or part-time positions within the fashion industry to gain hands-on experience, a valuable asset in their future careers. One of the most prestigious universities for fashion is Central Saint Martins in UAL (University of ART London) They offer many fashion courses such as Fashion communication, Syling, Sportwear, Fashion design, and prints, etc... Other fashion schools include ESMOD, FIT, Parsons. They all have similar courses but each school has its own style of designers. Fashion design demands a diverse skill set such as creativity, sketching and illustration, sewing and pattern-making, fabric knowledge, attention to detail, computer proficiency in design software, and trend awareness. The fashion industry is often competitive and offers opportunities, with entry-level positions in established fashion houses which require a strong portfolio and a well-built network. An entry-level fashion designer with years of experience earns an average salary of 52.565 €. and a senior-level fashion designer who has 8+ years of experience earns an average of 90.571 € per year. It all depends on the reputation you have and how you go up in the fashion industry. Being an Entrepreneur is also an option, which enables designers to launch their brands or freelance.
Illustration/animation: