Reflective Diary FMP Year 2

R E F L E C T I V E D I A R Y
Charlotte Wetton

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 2 5 . 0 2 . 1 9
Its Thursday 28.02.2019, first day back at college after half term and we have begun our
Final Major Project. My targets this morning include producing a personal SWOT to
express targets for myself and how I can use my strengths to support this project. I also
intend to begin an initial thought shower on my FMP ideas, including primary thoughts
and topics for my overall outcomes. After a full day of college I have been able to
complete todays targets in producing a personal SWOT and initial project ideas and am
ready to move on to my next step tomorrow.
This morning, Friday 01.03.2019, I have set myself a target review of tasks to complete
during the day, these include producing an overall review of the previous 11 units
featured throughout the past 2 college years, including references to areas I enjoyed,
struggled with and made improvements within the process. I also intend to secure my
overall project idea with a thought shower for my initial outcome ideas based on my
finalised topic. To finalise this week at college I have reviewed my targets and have
today completed both a review of previous project units and a secure project idea plan
to base my outcomes on, I then moved on to complete a PEST analysis on my project
idea of cultural collections.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 04 . 0 3 . 1 9
This week I have finalised and completed my PEST analysis with reference to
happenings within the media at the moment, this included links to Brexit etc. I have
also looked at 2 new consumer trends that relate specifically to my project topic of
cultural garments and holiday collections, within this task I developed on ideas for
getting my collection/idea in the media for the right reasons. Approaching the end
of this week I have looked back on the tasks I have carried out, these have included
the production of a questionnaire given to fellow college students within my group,
this specific task has helped me to justify my idea and ensure it is viable.
Its Friday 08.03.2019, and after looking further into 2 retail awareness articles I have
been able to find out several reasons that back up my project idea and its viability,
this includes issues and arguments within the news that justify cultural reasoning
whether it has a link to racism and equality etc. I struggled with the analysis of this
task as it was extremely difficult to justify retailers reasoning for lack of equality
within the media.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 11 . 0 3 . 1 9
Its Thursday 14.03.2019, I have set myself targets for todays sessions and analysed what I
have completed throughout the beginning of this week, this included finalising my
consumer trends research and concluding my findings. Throughout today and tomorrows
sessions I intend to conclude my questionnaire findings, begin research on my project idea
of holidays and cultures, as well as producing a competitive shop report based on holiday
collections within retailers, I feel these specific targets are achievable my the end of the
week.
It is now the end of Fridays session and look back at my targets I have been able to
complete both my questionnaire findings page and the history of my project idea, these
have effectively helped to identify a background for my target customer with this initial
research stage. I have also compiled a competitive shop report analysing 4 different
garments and accessories from holiday collections at 3 competing retailers, I concluded my
findings of the report and was able to analyse the retailer that held the better collection
and the one that was more value for money. Finally, I finished writing up my overall project
proposal and action plan using strict word counts and guidelines that explained my
outcomes and reviews of the project.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 18 . 0 3 . 1 9
I started off this week compiling my project proposal and action plan ready for this
weeks initial research deadline on Friday the 22nd, this included proposing tasks
and ideas for my project concept and the reasoning behind my idea etc. Back at
college this Thursday, 21.03.2019, I have begun research and justification on my
project idea for reset this included my Unique Selling Point, gap in the market area
and inspiration ideas. This specific task has helped me to analyse the real reason
why I have chosen this holiday lookbook idea and if it will be effective or not.
It is now the end of Fridays college session and I am overlooking the tasks I have
completed this week before the deadline today, throughout todays session I have
complete and initial research evaluation to justify my initial project idea and
present viable opinions if I am yet to carry n with this topic for the course of my
Final Major Project. Personally looking at the tasks and research I have carried out
within the course of the past 5 weeks I feel that there is definitely an area for
improvement in relation to retailers and cultural collections and therefore look
forward to broadening my research within the next few steps of my FMP.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 25 . 0 3 . 1 9
Looking this week at key areas of research for my project topic I have begun producing a page
based on cultural restrictions for the top 6 cultures I wish to explore more within the
outcome of my Final Major Project. I analysed in detail their specific clothing and garment
choices as well as what is acceptable within their countries and tourist monument areas. This
specific task helped me to get a brief guide on the clothing and garment pieces I will need to
consider within my lookbook outcome, this will take into consideration length, shoulder and
head covering etc. Furthermore, during Thursdays session I decided to carry out some
personal research based on my holiday essentials, I produced a creative mood board using
garments and accessories which I would consider taking on my suitcase for a beach holiday.
This particular task gave me an in sight on how my clothing differs to cultural items seen
within cultures and their garment restrictions, I enjoyed this area of research as it allowed me
to use my own ideas to present opinions on packing for a holiday as a cultural alternative.
During todays session, Friday 29.03.2019, I have begun considering ideas for research within
unit 13 of my project, I compiled a mind map suggesting future research methods both
primary and secondary, shortly before carrying out critical research on travel bloggers/
vloggers with social media platform such as blogs, Instagram and YouTube.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 01 . 0 4 . 1 9
For the duration of this week I have continued to thoroughly carry out my
research stage, this has included the completion of extension analysis on travel
bloggers and vlogging pages with reference to there blog names, USP and logos
etc. I carried this out as an alternative to a brand analysis as my overall outcome
with not be representing a specific brand as a whole and therefore it made sense
to research my aspect of travel bolting which is something that will be
incorporated within my project.
Towards the end of this week I looked in particularly at the overall holiday fashion
trends within the media and on WGSN, this helped to to analyse future looks for
the upcoming Spring/Summer 2019. I also produced a moodboard based on my
chosen target audience for the outcome of my lookbook, this is based on the
gender, age and interests of previously researched bloggers and their page
visitors. This will overall help me to analyse how I will need to look at marketing
my blog and lookbook in the future to attract and specify this type of audience.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 08 . 0 4 . 1 9
This week is the first week of the Easter Half Term, I have begun the week
researching and analysing articles within fashion magazines Vogue and Marie
Claire, this consisted of looking into detail at designer holiday garments shown
within the media as well as specifically looking at the mentioned holiday scenes
and destinations mentioned within these specific fashion magazines, this piece of
research will help me to analyse holiday trends that I can take inspiration from for
the outcome of my holiday lookbook.
During the rest of the week I carried out more research on the marketing side of
my project, this included analysing seasonal summer TV and billboard
advertisements promoting high streets summer collections. This specific task
moved on to help me to pin point marketing factors that I will need to consider
within the design development process of my project for the promotion of my
lookbook.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 15 . 0 4 . 1 9
Continuing with my research throughout the second week of Easter Half Term, I
have begun the week producing a range analysis on specific holiday and culturally
inspired garments that will be suitable for my overall lookbook outcome, I looked
into detail at the fabric and lengths of garments before concluding my findings and
analysing if I will use these garments in the future or not.
Its now Friday 19.04.2019, today I have produced an online Instagram Poll asking
questions to my followers with reference to cultural holiday destinations and
essentials each individual takes on holiday with them, this specific task has helped
me to gain a wider range of research for the specific pieces needed to include in
my lookbook whether that be largely focussed on the clothing or accessories too. I
finally ended this week by analysing and evaluating my findings from the Instagram
Poll and am now able to take forward this value piece of resect into my design
development process for the outcome of my lookbook.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 22. 0 4 . 1 9
We should be back to college this week however I am currently on holiday in
Thailand and don't return home until 26.04.2019. During my trip to Thailand I
decided to carry out some valuable research to include within my project, this
included documenting my entire trip, even the packing of my suitcase stage
before hand. This helped me to analyse personally the garments and essentials I
have taken with me along my trip as well as being able to analyse why I have
taken certain garments suitable for visiting cultural areas with my stop off in
Bangkok.
Whilst on holiday in Thailand I have taken trips and excursions to museums and
cultural monuments such as the Golden Buddha in Bangkok were I have taken
lots of images and photographs of site seeing areas around me to gain research
on the Thai culture. I also collected images and fabric inspiration from the Thai
culture and scenic areas around me in order to produce and overall
documentation report of my trip all with evidence and images of what I have
seen, visited and gained critical research from for the duration of my project.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 29. 0 4 . 1 9
This week is my first week back to college after my trip to Thailand, during my
trip I gained valuable research based on the Thai culture and their garments. My
tasks for the remainder of this week have been to evaluate and conclude my
overall research findings and reference the next steps for my final major project.
During the design development stage I intend to analyse existing examples of my
final outcome ideas, therefore I have begun critiquing and looking into detail at
Instagram accounts of brands and their influencers, looking mainly at how they
promote their products and advertise them digitally to gain ideas for my ow
promotional Instagram page.
Approaching the end of this week and looking back on the work I have
completed I have carried out the beginning stages of design development,
incorporating the production stages of my very own Instagram page with the
comparison of existing pages, this has helped me to identify what content
should be held within my account an also to capture my travel snaps in a travel
bloggers style format.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 06. 0 5 . 1 9
This week I am in the process of completing my design development stage,
this has included producing and developing mind map ideas for the outcome
of my lookbook including, model profiles, hair and make-up looks, photoshoot
locations and clothing trend research for each of my 6 lookbook outfits. Each
stage I have individually analysed and described the need for development in
relation to my final outcomes.
For the remainder of this week I have begun analysing existing marketing
theories for big brands such as Topshop and Pretty Little Thing, this has
helped me to justify reasoning for my billboard outcome based on how other
brands promote and advertise their ranges through exclusive marketing
techniques. Overall this week I feel I have successfully completed the design
stage of my project and given myself a clear idea of how my outcomes should
turn out and look as a whole.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 13. 0 5 . 1 9
This week is the production process of my final outcomes, I have carried out my
lookbook photoshoot in the photo studio at college, this turned out extremely
effective and I was happy with how each of my 6 chosen cultural outfits looked
on my model Alice Brent. After editing and developing my lookbook images I
presented them on PowerPoint in a lookbook layout design based on my design
development research. After adding my logo and slogan to the cover of my
lookbook I decided to convert it too an online e-brochure style magazine on
Yumpu, this made the outcome look more professional and allowed me to add
an interactive link to my blog page for access.
Finally this week, after developing logos and slogan on my final lookbook design
I presented the cover of my lookbook into a billboard advertisement format,
this helped to present and promote my cultural holiday lookbook and can be
used to market my blog as an influencer. After finalising the billboard I then
promoted it on my travel Instagram account.

W E E K C O M M E N C I N G : 20. 0 5 . 1 9
It’ deadline week!
This week is the beginning of hand in, therefore I am finalising all of my existing
work to do and ensuring it is all presented effectively, I have begun my
presenting all of my research, design development and final outcomes stages
onto my blog page each with links to interactive e-brochure for my lookbook. I
have made sure each stage of my project has been critically analysed to achieve
the best outcomes possible and also to ensure each stage kinks to the overall
outcome.
Finally, as it approaches Friday 24 th May I have finalised my overall project with
a Final Project SWOT and evaluation, ensuring I have made reference to any
issues I had to overcome and exactly how I did this. After completing this Final
Major Project I am confident that my cultural holiday collection outcome will be
effective with high street brands and something I hope to see in the media
within the future.