Evaluation

After a lot of experimentation, changes and development I think i'm finally finished. There is a lot more that I could do to take this further if I had more time but for now, I think it has reached a good end point. If this was to continue I would probably like to try out using a few other different objects, for example I had plans to use pencil sharpenings and hair but I just didn't get that far. I would also look more into the presentation of the resin. I like what I've produced, but I also think there's a lot more that I could do with it. I would like to have looked into the idea of making it into a window. I think the indication is there but perhaps some sort of window fastening would have helped that along. I also would like to have made some slightly bigger resin moulds, the resin I used however took too long to dry and this just wasn't possible. I am pleased with the photoshop images because I think they really help to link the cigarette butt and it's personal connection. This links back to one of my very early thought processes of something very ordinary and mundane which someone has left behind without realising it. I would like to have experimented with some smoke photos and perhaps some different ideas to make it even more personal and carry out the idea even further. 

Overall I'm pleased with that I've produced, but I think there's definitely some room for improvement which the project didn't allow time for. It's a good foothold into what I discovered to be a vast and rapidly growing world of cigarette butts. 

Final photo compositions

I have created 8 final photo compositions to accompany my sculpture. These will be my final supporting images and I'm going to print out my favourites on A2 to put in my portfolio. 

After much deliberation and experimentation I had to make quite a hard decision and have reverted back to my original labels. I always liked these and to be honest, I felt it was important to as a designer to stick to my gut instinct. These labels were perfectly suited in colours to the resin and gave the project another element for the viewer to take interest in. I spent a lot of time creating these labels for their exact purpose and I felt with the photographs they were much stronger than many other things I tried. I did experiment a lot with other materials but upon taking the photographs away I realised that the piece didn't quite look the same or hold as much interest. It was good to have played around with other options but if anything it has taught me that sometimes it's best to stick to what you believe to be best. 

Display comparison

I've put the photos of the old display and the revised display together to compare them. I'm hoping this will help me to decide where to go next.

Adaptations to the presentation.

Following up on some feedback, I decided to go ahead and search for some different chain. I found some old and rusty industrial chain which was perfect. It's much more appropriate for my idea of finding objects and giving them a new life form. I'm pleased with how it looks. I then experimented with changing the labels, I have taken the photo off so that it's just the acetate. It does distract less from the previous photo labels I had made, but equally I don't think it holds as much interest as it should. I'm going to have a think about this and see what other solutions are available. I was considering using cigarette papers and attaching them behind but I'm yet to try this. 

Composition of photos

I've started putting together some compositions of photos on indesign. I'm going to try and combine suitable photos and create various different options ready for print. 

Resin Presentation

I've completed putting it all together and have completed a potential final piece. However, during my tutorial yesterday there was some discussion about a few design changes. For example I think I might try with experimenting with different types of chain that the resin hangs on, the chains are deliberately the same length because I wanted it to look conformed and represent a typology but I could definitely look into making the chain slightly more appropriate. There was also some discussion about my choice of labels. The photographs behind the labels are the photos of ash I took with some type fixed in front of them on acetate. Some people may feel that the labels are too stylised and complex and may be better just as a raw form. Considering this, I may take away the photos and see what it looks like with just the acetate. There was also discussion about the frame looking like a window and the idea of smoking out of the window came to mind. For this I might think about attaching some kind of window fastening to the frame? There's a lot to think about. I think this is a good representation of what it could look like but just needs some fine tuning.