Final Major Project (FMP)

    Today is the day where we all embark on our first day of the Final Major Project (FMP). This is what all our other projects have been leading up to and we are now at the final stage of this course in which we create a final piece/collection as designers. Beforehand, we had to prepare a brief for our FMP to present to our tutors and classmates so that it could be deemed as doable with a potentially successful outcome. It didn't take me very long to decide what I wanted to do as I luckily got inspired prior to the project and that being on the topic of "Dementia". I was watching a documentary on an American painter who had dementia and was beginning to forget how to paint and he gradually became more and more depressed. I don't actually know or have anyone in the family with dementia so I don't exactly have any meaningful cause, although I find the disease fascinating. The whole point of my idea is to basically bring out all the positive and hopeful insights to dementia as oppose to all the sad, neglectful ones and I want to do this by conducting multiple questionnaires, interviews and much more. On top of this, I have a whole range of books, documentaries and films to watch to gather even further research. I hope to go to a few exhibitions whilst I am at it and these will be the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, Science Museum, Grant Museum and many more.

    I feel that my project is unique and there are many routes as to where I can take this. Other students seem to also have their own ideas flowing, but some seem fairly repetitive, which is what I wanted to keep away from. I think the biggest challenge for my project would be to actually get a hold of someone who has currently has dementia and is willing to answer a few questions for me. Furthermore, I would like to carry out some work experience in a care home but I don't know as to whether I will be able to secure a place or not as they are in very high demand and also very strict on security checks regardless of age or education. Despite this, I want to focus on what brings the memory back, whether that being from playing a musical instrument, doing something creative such as painting or drawing and many more things. I do not want to think of a final outcome yet, but I know I definitely want to have something constructed by the end of this project. Not only this, but I also have an idea on what sort of materials I want to use and this will be focused around knit, organzas and mesh to keep it very light and open, thus representing a mind contaminated by dementia.

    In addition, I feel pretty confident with how I have split my timetable up to get started on this project as I feel that I should be able to keep up with my timings. Although, if I feel that it is too easy to keep up with, I will add more things to the list to keep myself challenged and occupied during the time frame I will be working in. Despite this, I don't want to give myself too much of a heavy load incase I may not be able to complete a weeks work in time and it will stress me out entirely, hence if I keep focused then my work should be constantly paying off. Overall, I am happy with the brief to my project and I am excited to see where it can take me as I have said previously, I have no emotional attachment to this project but perhaps by the end, I might make myself have one.