Allison W
- Research Program Mentor
MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Detroit
Expertise
Architectural models making and Placemaking, Experimental Drawing, Textile and Fashion Design
Bio
My academic passion and focus is Art, Design and Architecture. I enjoy working with students in technique, concept and process for creating a strong portfolio in these areas and additionally, in helping students connect their creative work with business. I believe that artists and designers have a great entrepreneurial opportunity to positively influence culture and people through their creativity. I personally express this through my business, Modernplum Textiles for Living, a design studio making products for the home. Modernplum makes extraordinary home linens through small batch and sustainable manufacturing. We are zero waste and our local sewers are paid a fair wage. Making beautiful things and positively influencing people and planet is my creative sweet spot.Project ideas
Textile Product Design Prototype
In this project, I would help students create a new textile product prototype. This would mean researching many topics, including history, fibers and raw materials, supply chain, design processes (hand, digital, dye, recycle, etc.), technical considerations, and color application and palette of a particular product direction. Then, we would create a series of physical iterations of this product in muslin and small scale, and critique each. Finally, a full scale model with actual materials and manufacturing techniques would be made. This could apply to fashion or home goods.
Upcycled Product Prototype
This project would explore sustainable manufacturing and production methods as it applies to fashion, accessories, or home goods. To start, we will discuss ideas of recycling and up-cycling as strategies for making sustainable products. Then, we will look at all the components of product design and development -- materials, supply chain, production, and construction through these sustainable lenses. Then we could formulate a method for making a new, scalable and sustainably made object/product. We will then make the product.
Architectural Model + Drawings
In this project, we will study the basics of 3-D design and use these to engineer a small architectural construct/model. The project will start with research into works of similar scale and program, and a discussion of design features employed. We discuss model making strategies and materials, and work on several small scale models using balsa wood and styrofoam. Once these have been discussed, students will make a final small scale model. Perspective drawings and elevations will be part of the final package.