Comfy at the studio

One of the advantages of working at the home studio is wearing pajamas or parachutes pants without being harassed by your co-worker. The weather in Taipei is getting really cold and at times heat is not an option at most places a la school classroom or coffee shop. I enjoy having my coffee break, mom's lunch while knocking my head with new ideas. Looking forward to more interesting creative projects in 2012, happy new year...!

Naked Thoughts on TNUA 2010 costume design

Notebook Date: 5.31.2010
Project: costume design
Event: TNUA 北藝大舞蹈系上年度演出
Event Date: 5.27-5.30
Presented by: TNUA Dance program 北藝大舞蹈系
Title: by Bulareyaung. by Xiao-xuan Yang
Choreographer: Bulareyaung 布拉瑞楊 Xiaoxuan Yang 楊孝萱

Left: costume sketch 《殘缺拼像》初步服裝設計構想圖

Right: costume sketch 《殘缺拼像》初步服裝設計構想圖

Left: Inspiration detail sketch of shapes and constructions 初步《勇士》構想圖

Right: Initial fabric presentation and texture inspiration 初步《勇士》布料和手感視覺構想圖

Left: Initial fabric presentation and visualization 初步《勇士》布料和手感視覺構想圖

Right: Detail sketches of construction for accessories/belts/shoulder protectors 初步《勇士》備件構想圖

Left: <warrior> initial sketch 《勇士》初步構想圖  costume sketch 《殘缺拼像》初步服裝設計構想圖

Right: Detail sketches of <warrior> accessories 《勇士》們的備件構想圖

在每一次的設計階段當中，有很多想法常常都會被淘汰，有時可能設計不符合成本概念，有時可能不符合藝術的需求, 或者有時會因為舞蹈劇場的變數而改變。這些種種的變數在我每次設計修改上都會一一的把它紀錄下來，這樣不但在整個過程中能幫助我消化一些想法，有時候回味一下也是蠻有趣的。。。有時可能是最一開始的想法是最好的，有時是需要一些時間上慢慢的讓這設計跟加成熟或被接納，不管怎麼樣，腦力激盪的時候，我習慣不斷的畫，形狀不斷的出現在我眼前，等到我對這形狀，眼色或紋路感到舒服的時候，也是我接近找到我想要的設計，當然設計的細節也隨著進來了。。。回想起來，有時idea很多是也難以選擇，但最重要的還是要配合舞蹈最終的vision...

All rights reserved 2010@ Studio Lifequartet. If you want to use this pictures, please email me.

business card design

Project : business card design
Client: Sophie Lee
Date: 7.10.2010

TNUA 2010 《warrior》工作室紀錄

在每一次的設計階段當中，有很多想法常常都會被淘汰，有時可能設計不符合成本概念，有時可能不符合藝術的需求, 或者有時會因為舞蹈劇場的變數而改變。這些種種的變數在我每次設計修改上都會一一的把它紀錄下來，這樣不但在整個過程中能幫助我消化一些想法，有時候回味一下也是蠻有趣的。。。有時可能是最一開始的想法是最好的，有時是需要一些時間上慢慢的讓這設計跟加成熟或被接納，不管怎麼樣，腦力激盪的時候，我習慣不斷的畫，形狀不斷的出現在我眼前，等到我對這形狀，眼色或紋路感到舒服的時候，也是我接近找到我想要的設計，當然設計的細節也隨著進來了。。。回想起來，有時idea很多是也難以選擇，但最重要的還是要配合舞蹈最終的vision...

PURE 瑜珈館慶生

Why: PURE 瑜珈館慶生
What: I recently was asked to be a photographer for an event " PURE MIXER" at PURE yoga studio in Taipei. The event is to celebrate PURE 4 years old.
Where: Pure yoga, Taipei
When: 4.29.2010 and 5.31.2010

美麗的瑜珈人 Beautiful yoga people

Why: 美麗的瑜珈人
What: I recently was asked to be a photographer for an event " PURE MIXER" at PURE yoga studio in Taipei. The event is to celebrate PURE 4 years old.
Where: Pure yoga, Taipei
When: 4.29.2010 and 5.31.2010

Neil Barrett interview : "Precision“

One of my favorite designer Neil Barrett had an interview with New Yooxer in his Milan design studio. A beautiful well organized studio space. I love the fact that his clothes are very wearable with lots of great designing that are influenced by materials and shapes. The approach of core design concept always start from using different methods in designing the garments. In SP/SU 2010, his indentation idea of applying leather on shirts, jackets and pants is another excellent ideas in forming the overall concept for the season.

Backstage videos of SP/SU 2010.
In most fashion design studios here in Taiwan or elsewhere where chaotic and disorganized activity pretty much dominate the scene; but if you see the shows here, the show looks are very well organized and precise. All the models has their own look starting from make up, hair, outfit, accessories and even the cat walk sequence. All the details are being carefully thought out, displayed and marked with cardboard signs and photographs. In fashion design process, it is very important to be precise and clear. It is a design philosophy that here at Studio Lifequartet believes. Therefore for every collaboration or design services, our goal is to seek for creative method during the design process and eventually arrive at absolute conceptual clarity.

costume design: 300 video journal

In continuing search for warrior inspiration, this video outline some really spectacular warrior costumes. The video journal documents some of the process and inspiration of designer Michael Wilkinson. There are 60 people in the studio in making all these props and costumes. got to love Hollywood budget !

SLQ mobile office everywhere..

Inspiration don't just come in office, sometimes garment factory, sample rooms and fabric stores became my office. Check out some of the places where shapes, colors and materials are formed....

laying out all the fabric swatches..

jumping in for a pattern making session

sketching shapes and patterns..

deciding on what materials go together..

finding fabrics.

and finally, a place to rest is almost as crucial...this is where I put all ideas into rest..:)

Naked Thoughts 40210

cover: remind myself what this journal/notebook is about..

Brainstorming for branding consultancy project

Inspiration sketches for PONYTAIL

backstage at HORSE dance performance, all I am thinking about is movement.

sketches for BULA's new work

Journaling is an art.

Every artist, designer, choreographer, business executive or student has some sort of ways to record their diaries, meetings, agenda, or even personal information that is very dear to them. It is very often not just a book simply act as a reminder, but also an outlet for any immediate thoughts or brainstormed ideas. It documents your thought process so that later on can be retrieved for usage. There are so many different ways of doing it and it's completely free style. Looking at these books can easily understand the creative process and others can get a better picture of your creative DNA and what inspire you.

As an artist, designer, dancer and yoga teacher myself, I have over the years used many books of various forms and shapes. ( I have boxes just to store these sketch book/journals) Some of it just personal diaries journaling my life while majority are sketch books that store countless drawings of fashion sketches, patterns, and sometimes tear sheet from magazines. In my most recent collection, I also have calender, yoga class sequences, dance combination, scribble, rants and so forth, I shall share with you much more as I unveil this journal art project at Studio LQ. It's PERSONAL and it's NAKED and it's quite an ART.....Let's share with me what you think and perhaps show me yours..

All photos by Jordan K
all right reserved studiolifequartet 2010

Malaysia proposal: New Brand Creation

Notes on complete analysis of Miss A's company's business model

In a recent trip to Malaysia, I had a chance to sit down with a friend who recently started his own wholesale/retail fashion business with a partner. We worked briefly to talk about what kind of consultation help I can do for him and possibly bringing me on board to expand the business in the future. I have written down the following as a case study and proposal in order for potential client to understand the services Studio LQ can provide here.

Notebook Date: 12.27.2009
Project: fashion consultant
Project type: Wholesale/Retail women's fashion

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Client: confidential

Synopsis:

A one-year old start up company who sell missy contemporary fashion to local Malaysian market. Current company has a showroom of about 600square feet to include offices. The company initially established with owner ( Miss A) travel back and forth the Seoul, Korea hand carrying women's clothing to wholesale for a local boutique near Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. It eventually extended to privately selling to her own clientele which mostly are the riches' wife and mistresses. The business slowly take off with expansion to its own rented showroom. The showroom became a shopping destination for Miss A's client. The company also partner up with a boutique owner who apparently never attend to her own businesses. The sell through is steady but at times unable to properly track the right reason for the good selling merchandise. There are some merchandise unable to sell and some of them overbought. The owner has very little knowledge about fashion and most of the actions taken are predominantly random and unplanned. The following is a proposal that we put together base on evaluating Miss A's company's current scenario.

Studio LifeQuartet Consultation Proposal:

Phase 1: New Brand Creation (NBC)

Since the business has proportionately increase, in order to build loyal and repeat customers, a brand must be created to strengthen the core of the business. By integrating brand strategy into the company, eventually lead to long term profitability. In NBC, we must identify the following:

A) Brand Objective

B) Target Market

C) Competition

D) Strategy

Phase 2: Brand Architecture (BA)

After NBC, we can then establish the primary architecture of the brand. What is the main concept ? Lifestyle positioning ? Demographics ? Packaging design ? what is the Unique Selling Proposition? channel of distribution ? etc. These exercise only needs to be done once and thereafter, everything else follow the architecture of the brand.

Phase 3: Brand Development (BD)

After established the concept of the brands, it's time to develop it seasonally. Base of the information gathered during NBC and BA, we can identify several different methods in developing the brand. For example; Are you going to continue to buy directly from Korean wholesaler and put your brand on the products, or you have design it on your own and have the Korean factory to make for you ? For each season, the following is needed:

A) Developing a seasonal calender as to when to buy.

B) Developing a buying strategy as to what to buy.

C) Developing a pricing strategy as to what to buy at different prices.

E) Developing a trend board as to what are the hottest items for the upcoming season

F) Developing a merchandising plan for retail boutique and showroom clients.

E) many more...

Additional package: Brand Buying Strategy

A) Product Distribution Matrix ( colors, silhouette, size, quality ) etc.

B) Additional Products and services and market research.

All photos by Jordan K
all right reserved studiolifequartet 2010

藝術家的創意DNA

最近接了一些舞蹈劇場的case, 其中一檔是和現在很有創意的全男子現代舞團“驫舞劇場”一起工作.

在跟每一位篇舞者工作期間，難免對他們有多多少少的了解，再看他們跳舞時肢體的動態和臉上的神態, 跟能深深了解他們動作背後的原因和傾向。

在出名的美國編舞家Twyla Tharp的Creative Habit一書裡說過, 每個藝術家都有他的創意DNA。這些DNA 影響他們在創作上的每一個決定。早期Twyla在New York的studio裡和Merce Cunningham學習舞蹈時，她看到窗外的交通， 就像Merce Cunningham的舞一樣混亂和沒有次序。同時間Merce 也常常觀望窗外的景點，Twyla覺得Merce一定對這些交通的pattern感到平靜和舒服的, 這也加強了他對這世界上很多沒有次序的觀點達到了一個連接，同樣他的舞就是這樣。這也就是他的藝術DNA。他對混亂的東西感到很舒服，常常也會用在創作上，有時難免我們會想他搞不好選擇了那個studio是因為窗外的混亂給了他無窮的平靜和靈感。

同樣的我在每個篇舞者／舞者身上也感覺到了這道理；我不一定在創作過程中都能夠配合到每一個人，但目的並不是推翻他們或達到我個人藝術想法，而是透過他們的每位不一樣的創意DNA來結合我的創意DNA去發展一個概念是符合最終篇舞者想要的聲音和藝術效果。

這也解釋了為甚麼不一定每位觀眾都會喜歡同一個作品或裡面的元素。當你試著去品嘗一樣東西的時候，自用自己的觀點去解讀他，那就很難看到那個作品的精華。所以如果換以個方法去欣賞這作品，或者會帶給你不同的驚喜。

身為一個藝術工作者，可能我也常有這樣的想法。不一定會每一次都喜歡每位編舞家的作品，但同時讓我很享受的地方也是怎麼樣讓這些作品最後看起來是自己喜歡的, 因為嘗試去了解和溝通每個作品的創意來源，結合了其他藝術家(音樂，燈光，舞台設計等的元素）最後看到他從過程中走過來變成了一個完成品， 就想知己的小孩一樣，長大了，成熟了，變美了。

如果你是喜歡藝術的人，那究竟要怎麼樣才能欣賞跟你tone不對的作品呢？你每次看到這些不太懂又很抽象的作品時，會有甚麼反應？那又要怎麼樣去看待這些DNA跟你不一樣的藝術家？

我覺得要有一點點的好奇心，一點點的內涵和很多很多的熱情，就像Pina Bausch說的一句話"I'm not interested in how people move, I'm interested in what makes them move"

沒有好奇心，就不容易了解每個創意DNA背後的故事，你說呢？stay tune..

All photos by Jordan K

All right reserved Studio Lifequartet 2010

驫舞劇場 MDans2010 Part 4: fabric painting + dyeing 創作過程

Notebook Date: 2.28.2010

Project: costume design
Event: M_Dans 2010
Event Date: 3.05-07 at The Metropolitan 城市舞台
Presented by: Horse Dance Theatre 驫舞劇場
Title: 景 + 樂園
Choreographer: Wu-Kang Chan 陳武康, Chien-Chih Chang 張堅志
Dancers: 張堅志���黃懷德���張子凌���蘇威嘉���周書毅

1 week before performance, here we are having a little fun putting on final touches on costume for 2 new repertoire of M_Dans 2010.

Behind the scene "景" by Wu-Kang Chan 陳武康

Step 1: laying garment flat

Step 2: paint over it with the correct amount of paint + water ratio

Step 3: casually run over the edge of the seam so colors from the back still visible

Step 4: coat it again the second time

Step 5: hanging dry

Step 6: reverse washing it in a washer ( not shown here )

Behind the scene "樂園" by Chien-Chih Chang 張堅志

The dance piece storied 2 friends wondering in Lalaland ( just kidding ! ) Therefore we need the clothes to be vibrant ( happy ) but not overly loud ( trendy ) . Costumes designed to coffee dyeing technique. Pictures shown here Wei-jia Su (captain of the horse gang !) working very hard in assisting the process.....

No time wasting here..

While waiting for the drying process, discussion continues with other dance pieces !!!

brainstorming ideas....either wukang is having a hard time...

or he likes the idea...otherwise..

continue to look for the next one...:)

All photos by Jordan K

All right reserved Studio Lifequartet 2010