design a dictionary 15

I filmed this draft with a phone a couple of weeks ago because I couldn't get a hold of a good camera. I was very limited with what I could do, hence no zoom and poor quality, but for the purposes of development and experimentation it's ok:

I did manage to film the actual thing a couple of days ago though, and will be editing tonight. Aside from that we were given the brief for our next project (a group project) titled 'Unknown Land.'
It sounds interesting. It is!

design a dictionary 12

So today was exhausting! But i got a lot done .. as it stands all I have to do is attach the zzzzip to the 's' and they're good to go.

I made some miniature versions of them that I will be zooming into; so that just the colour is apparent, then cutting to a close up of the larger scale ones and then zooming and adding movement with someone inside etc to create various illusions and visual effects.

Some friends and I will be 'animating' the letters, creating little 'puffs, pulls, punches' and movements that create a sense of softness and comfort, soft nature, sweetness ... 

The overall all feel of the film will be that of a child's educational television programme such as 'the clangers' , 'the flumps' , and 'sesame street' etc.

I had a little trouble constructing the  's' because of its awkward shape and the fabric's tendency to stretch and warp but overall, considering the amount of time I had, i'm pleased .. now I just need to get filming.

In the meantime here are a couple of inspirational clips off of youtube, a few childhood favourites that animate the letters of the alphabet using sound and movement, creating various characters and allowing us to learn through colour, play, song, repetition and interaction:

design a dictionary 8

making the giant pillow bag thing:

lining: fleece

outer part: cotton

seriously, stick your head in that and you're lost .. its really soft.

design a dictionary 7

I went fabric shopping in soho and shepherd's bush today:

fluffy stuff and candy colours and polka dots and stripes ...

 There were some really lovely soft furs and things but nothing soft enough in white ... so i think im gonna stick with this fleecey stuff i found in primarni for the lining ..

There was also the idea of possibly using some ugly fugly faux fur in disgustingly bright colours ..

In the end i settled for some polycotton in four lovely pastel shades:

I chose these ones in particular because they are very 'ice-cream parlour, candy coated, sweet, soft' colours and because they feel like bed sheets!
The plan is to have the lining be soft fleece and then the outer layer will be these fabrics .. so each letter of 'soft' will be a different colour ..
Also, the zip arrived today:

I really like the fact that it's chunky and white, sort of toy-like and goes well with the colour pallette ..

Also spotted these in urban outfitters:

Quite good for construction ideas ..



design a dictionary 6

a giant pillow that you can step in to! curl up inside and hideaway .. be completely enveloped in softness .. escape .. a soft and fluffy inside to shield you from the cold, harsh realities of the outside .. 

i started to think about having the pillows/cushions/sleeping bag type things be in the shape of letters, and have people squish and smoosh their way inside forming the word 'soft' .. so it's like a personal discovery for those immersed head to toe in blankety soft stuff and also for onlookers who can laugh as they watch you try and squeeze inside .. creating a bold graphic statement.

the subtle body movements (like little twitches or shuffling) and sounds that the person will make (eg: coughing, snoring, muttering, those soft sounding noises i mentioned in an earlier post ) whilst inside will 'animate' the letters, and the meaning of 'soft' defining it through interaction and in a tangible and sensory way whilst also adding an element of playfulness.

Looking online there are letter shaped cushions available, i just need to decide on fabrics and colours/patterns etc and then think about how i'm gonna go about making these giant, big enough to fit a person inside versions. tbc