GEMS art students offered university level Fashion Design Workshop

The workshop was organized by GEMS Education and was mainly provided for A-level students as part of their curriculum course work.

Participating students had the opportunity to work with Colin Kerrigan, Deputy Director of International Academic Development at the University of the Arts London, who conducted the workshop.

The purpose of the workshop was to offer prospective international applicants to the University an opportunity to experience a typical experimentally based foundation art and design project similar to the projects they may experience at the University itself.

"Challenging existing notions of design/fashion design and working with materials in new and innovative ways is central to our approach to teaching and learning at foundation studies level," said Kerrigan. "The workshop was prepared in cooperation with an art teacher at Cambridge International School to ensure that what is presented is both relevant and appropriate for the participating students".

On the condition of completely using all materials, students were provided with sheets of white A4 paper, A4 tracing paper, a 4 meter long thin wire, 4 meters of string, one box of wooden matches, one small pack of paper clips, one wax candle, and an unlimited supply of water & heat; all in an attempt to bolster students' creativity and innovativeness with the most primitive types of materials.

The participating students were then asked to design a garment, a reversible hooded cloak, based on the idea of turning forms inside out. The inside and outside of the garment should sharply contrast in terms of color, texture and construction and, therefore, evoke very different expressions and moods. The final design must be wearable.

Mr. Tayeb Chakera, Executive Principal of the Cambridge International School (CIS), commented, "We were delighted that our students were able to work with Mr. Kerrigan; his knowledge, expertise and creativity enhances the experience for our young people and gives them an insight into the University world".

Supporting Mr. Chakera's comment, Kate Stewart, Head of Art and Design at CIS, added; "It is wonderful that our students benefited from interacting with lecturers of international standing like Colin. His sculptors are exhibited internationally and his pieces are held in private and public collections".

The emphasis was for students to explore, experiment and transform a broad range of unrelated materials, which are not normally associated with garment construction. At the end of the workshop, students presented a final design and a worksheet that documented the development of their idea on route to the final design.