NOTE:  This commentary has been revised in accordance with tutor feedback and due to points I wish to ensure I have covered it is now over the 500 word recommended limit.

As the final part of this project I am required to write a reflective commentary which I confess to rarely finding particularly easy to do.  

Firstly though as I consider the sample making I am aware that instead of an exploratory approach which took risks my samples feel safe and somewhat staid – I have had some personal circumstances which I acknowledge meant that I can see I was now seeking familiarity within my work and when combined with my logical Asperger’s brain created blocks to innovation and curiosity which I am incredibly frustrated about.   These blocks I also retrospectively feel had an impact on the number of samples, fabrics explored and techniques used as I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed but I now recognise that this is something I need to be aware and work to overcome in future work. However, my tutor feedback from Assignment 4 also provided ideas for how to distress or destruct fabrics as well as suggestions regarding the composition of samples to communicate the narrative and I felt able to revisit my original concept of using geometric molecules and develop samples that were on the crux of creativity and which can be developed further in Project 4.

I do strongly feel that the samples which show the most promise are the final 2.   I still want to explore the ‘dimensionality’ of geometric ‘drug molecules’ separately to the mask format particularly when combined with the destruction and decay of disease but I also want to explore them in the aforesaid mask format on two and three dimensional levels.  I am seriously considering looking to develop dysfunctional garments which convey my narrative and these mask forms are I feel the early stage of this.  Due to the success of the natural progression of this project I did find it relatively easy to narrow down my ideas to 

The planning stage I almost feel is a natural element for my work now due to the ‘concept, practical response, critical reflection and refinement/synthesis’ methodology learnt during Contemporary Contexts.  Using mind maps is now a natural part of my own methodology although learning how to do them in Microsoft Word has created more visually effective versions that enable me to keep focused.  My weak point is still writing lists of techniques which I can refer back to and use when creative blocks inevitably happen.  I do feel now the planning stage needs to in the form of an action plan that clearly sets out differing stages either in the form of mind-maps or flow charts and which allow room for additional smaller action plans for any problems that may arise.  I tend to make notes or action the problems without necessarily recording them sufficiently in either my blog or my sketchbook and this in itself is a weakness that needs addressing.

The one area I have neglected to use is the Portfolio of Resources – I had a brief look but due to the work done in Assignment 4 I already had concepts I wanted to take forward into this assignment and develop and hence my focus was quite narrow from the outset.  The issue with this narrow concept is its restriction on exploration and innovation of other techniques which I could have combined and used within my narrative – this is something to bear in mind as I continue to move forward in my studies.

I have kept mentioning this in the main blog for Project 3 during the latter stages but I do feel my Asperger’s has begun to effect my studies again and I need to be very conscious of the difficulties the condition creates and find ways around it – it feels in some ways like a mask which is preventing me seeing or doing what my hands and creative mind want to do and it is hiding or revealing tidbits of creativity so maybe this is something that I can explore in Project 4 as ultimately although it is not a physical illness it is a condition that affects mental well-being and health …. food for thought!

As a further reflection there were a series of guidelines within the course material with regards to Project 3 and I need to ask myself whether in fact I had considered them or achieved them:

• Include drawing and exploring colour – my drawings throughout were diagrammatic in style with inclusions of colour only where I felt it necessary. In retrospect the sketches could have been expanded further with more detail but I am aware of taking a mixed design-led/process-led approach which impacted directly on the visual research including the drawing of ideas that are not taken through to the sampling phase.
• Work in a range of scales – much of the drawing was limited to one size due to the use of a simple mask outline. However, in Project 4 I started to explore the scale of the mask-like forms with more confidence and the scale of the hexagons themselves were more varied. My chosen narrative created self-imposed restrictions on variations in scale but the expansion of the molecular anomalies appeared to fight back against this.
• Consider texture, touch and sensation – these were physical and visual aesthetics that were a natural part of the sampling process due to the deliberate choosing of the materials used throughout.
• Thing about form, composition and placement – again these were natural parts of the design and sampling processes with both design led and process led investigations taking account of each individually and in combination.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to materials and techniques – I believe throughout this project this has been achieved through careful consideration of the choice of the materials and the techniques used particularly as I have explored distressing and distorting them.
• Show curiosity, innovation, risk taking and development of ideas – for me this is more apparent in Project 4 as I have built on and developed the ideas from this project. In terms of curiosity I am increasingly taking a ‘what if’ process led approach which is pushing the innovation and risk taking within my work. I want to find out what happens when I push the boundaries of the materials or explore new ways of using them and this is now starting to really develop new ideas.

One final issue I have become aware of as a result of my tutor’s feedback is the lack of analysis into the context of the practitioner’s work in my my contextual research blogs. There brief mention in several paragraphs of the context i.e. journal publications for the work of Goodsell and Jerram and site specific installations for Buster but beyond this I have barely mentioned where the work is seen. In retrospect I am aware there was a deliberate reason behind this lack of context as I was seeking to concentrate purely on the methodologies, narratives and overall visual aesthetics of the work of each practitioner rather than where the work is seen and who the intended audience – the context for me with regards to this project was far less important than the work itself. However, I do understand the importance of understanding the context as it enables me to understand where my own work can fit alongside my contemporaries.