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The week of the event is here!
This week the major issue was testing the canopy design itself. Donne kindly took responsibility for this (with guidance from Claire and Martina) , and made some necessary change to ensure the design would hold up on the day. We also all ensured that the last few bits of the design were taken care of. Some last-minute re-sourcing was necessary, but obviously our weekend deadline was important to achieve. We also needed to make sure we had the logistics covered, and some changes were effected (-along with employing the driving services of Donne’s husband!). On Friday we all met up for the first time - to complete work on our design together… Please check back as we post details of the event weekend itself very soon… Fiona |
| Table Design in New York for Six Lucky Rhodec Students! A first for Rhodec and an exciting time for three chapter members! Susi Santorelli, Rhodec’s Director of US Affairs secured an opportunity for Rhodec to participate in Elle Décor’s ‘Dining by Design’ event, presented by Champagne Taittinger, and benefiting DIFFA, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Students were invited to submit a concept for a dining table environment for ten people, and to indicate why they should be chosen to participate in the project. The event, which will be held in New York on February 1 and 2, 2004, attracts many of the top names from the world of fashion and design. Six students were chosen to work as a team under the guidance of Michael Dwyer, Principal of Rhodec. Susi managed the project, and Sharon Cotwel, a fashion designer also known to the interior design world, brought with her a myriad of contacts from past DIFFA events Participating students included: · Donné Booysen, born in South Africa and now living in New Jersey, USA · Kelly Garcia, born in Michigan, USA but now living in Monterrey, Mexico, and a chapter member · Martina MacGreevy, born in Ireland but now calls Belgium her home (our chapter webmaster) · Claire Pryce, originally from the UK, but now living in Massachusetts · Juliet Racoosin, a US citizen who resides now in Switzerland, and finally · Fiona Worboys, who also hails from the UK, but has recently made her home in Ann Arbor, Michigan and also a chapter member and Committee Chair |
| Well, we've just completed our first week of the 'Dining by Design' project!...
(For anyone who doesn't know about this event, please check out the DIFFA website.) We were presented with the initial mood boards a few days ago, which were very inspirational... We were then tasked with transforming this into a design, allowing us to be the designers we are studying to become... This was followed by a very busy week of creativity. We have certainly bonded fast(!) and become a productive team already; hundreds of e-mails (literally!), photos and drawings have travelled the internet - and across several time zones too!! We are now looking to finalise the design so that we can work on sketches, sponsorship, etc. etc. which are vital next steps in this project. Between the two of us, Martina and I hope to keep you updated on progress within the project (although understandably we have been asked by Rhodec to keep the actual design under wraps until after the event). We hope that you will find it interesting, and know that you are all behind us as we embark on this unique venture on behalf of our college. Catch up again soon, Fiona |
| Having just completed week two of the 'Dining by Design' project, the design is really taking shape...
This week has been another very busy one for our team as we have sought to finalise our design. Constant e-mailing, sketching and surfing have now become staples of our daily routine! All team members have been able to bring their unique talents to this project, as well as (of course) a passion for design! This has helped us to define roles within the team, and has been essential in guiding the mass of creative output into a focused design. - Afterall, we have little more than a month in which to present our table set - and then to the public and press of New York! We are nearly there with the scheme, and are now checking out the feasibility of all aspects and making any necessary alterations. The next step is to fine tune these details so that we are ready to submit our sketch to the organizers. - Christmas is going be to be busier than normal!! Do stop by again next week to catch up with us. - It should be an exciting time! ‘See’ you then, Fiona |
| It might have been the holidays last week, but the project certainly didn‘t stop!!...
This week we’ve been refining our design. One of the key elements required a re-think, so there’s been much re-sourcing and costing of alternatives. - These have become important factors in the viability of all aspects of the design. This has been a real test of our enthusiasm and strength as a team, but we have definitely taken up the challenge! - We are all very proud to be representing Rhodec and are determined to succeed in providing the college and all of you with a show-stopping set. The sketch of our design has now been completed and is being sent off for inclusion in the show catalogue - so this design is really going ahead now! Next week we need to continue sourcing with a vengeance and pining down the finer details. This will be quite a challenge over the New Year period… We look forward to sharing the next week’s work with you, Fiona |
| Happy New Year!
We’ve spent a good deal of time working on the construction of our design this week (this is not merely about decorating a table!!). - Not only must it look fabulous, but it must be hardy and safe enough to withstand a public viewing day and the main dinner event. Added to this, the design needs to be simple enough to put in place in the space of a few hours; we’ll only have the day before to complete the whole setting… We now have a clearer idea of what will work best, but are still searching for someone who can help us with construction close to the New York venue. We may also need a plan ‘B’ incase there are any unforeseen circumstances which would prevent us from erecting our design. We’ve seen photos of the event ballroom (which Susi kindly visited on our behalf), but at this stage do not know where exactly we will be situated. This could have implications… Whilst we continue to liase with the event organizers and handymen, we’re also getting on with sourcing - trying hard to get donations over the holiday period. This we’ll continue in earnest next week… Hope you’re all still here with us! Fiona |
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This week started with a two-hour on-line meeting…
We all ‘met up’ on-line to finalise the last elements of the design, with Susi there to offer a fresh eye (-very useful!). This was really productive, and we quickly reached agreement on all outstanding issues - for example, seeking clarity on the exact details of the centerpiece. It was so much easier to ’talk’ altogether at this point (rather than via more e-mails) now that the creative brainstorming has largely been done and weeding out/fine tuning was the immediate task. During this meeting tasks were also assigned to willing team members, with tight timescales necessarily being set. (Under a month to go!) We are now sourcing our respective areas, all the time liasing with each other for approval on finds and costs. - Resourcefulness is key as the budget is obviously a big factor in our decision-making… Next week we will assess what we still have left to get, and where the problems lie… Join us again then! Fiona |
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A change in our postition within the ballroom caused a major re-think to our design at the beginning of the week…
On Monday we all had our thinking caps back on as we got news of a our situation within the venue. With a lower ceiling and no capacity for hanging, we were back to the drawing board re. the construction of our design. This was a definite test of our problem-solving skills - and nerves!! - but with some plan B scenarios already discussed we were able to swing into action. However, after much to-ing and fro-ing (and some much appreciated intervention by Susi!) we were able to secure the site we wanted, and it was all-systems go again!… The rest of the week was then taken up with working on our individual areas of the design. - Materials were bought (with the budget being constantly updated and ammended), and parts of the design made. After much sawing, sewing, gluing and painting we really feel the end is in sight!… Next week we will test out elements of the design to ensure it will work on the day… Do join us then! Fiona |
| The week began with 2 of our team members meeting up to complete some of the manual tasks and doing mock-ups of parts of the design…
Claire and Donne (and their husbands!) kindly spent the weekend sewing, painting, gluing etc., and trying out parts of the design for us. Susi also gave up her Sunday to offer her expert eye, and by Sunday night we all had pictures of what elements of the table setting might look like… It's been great to be able to work together on this project in a virtual manner (a necessity for a college like ours). We have been able to conceive the design and develop it via sketching, photos, etc., but there is no substitute to being able to see and touch the design at some point. Things that looked like they would go together from the pictures on our website can only truly be tested (for color-match etc.) when sat side by side. This ‘trial run’ enabled us to work through some of these problems, and to effect changes before it was too late… The rest of the week was spent finalizing these ‘niggles’ and re-sourcing. - Time is obviously of the essence, so leadtimes are key. There is no room for error now as the event draws ever nearer!… Join us next week to hear how the last few days went - and for the event itself!! Till next week! Fiona |
| The Event!! Click above to see the team bringing it all together and also some great photos of the Big Event!! The Chapter would like to congratulate everyone who participated, WELL DONE RHODEC STUDENTS!! |
| See what the New York Daily News has to say about this student project!! |
| WEEK ONE |
| WEEK TWO |
| WEEK THREE |
| WEEK FOUR - half way there |
| WEEK FIVE |
| WEEK SIX |
| WEEK SEVEN |
| WEEK EIGHT |
| The Event Weekend |
| Week by Week |
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