Assignments - Interflora World Cup - Grant Collins, Australia
At the second day the designers have to make two assignments. The first is a table arrangement, named 'Green Tea for Two'. On a round table they have to create their masterpiece in two hours time, taking into account that the maximum height is two meters. The second preliminary event is a bridal bouquet with no size restrictions, but obviously the 'Oriental Pearl Bride' must still be able to carry the designers creation.
Green Tea for Two - Grant Collins
When I started designing this piece, from the beginning, I really wanted to portray the feeling of liquidity, as a play on the whole green tea idea. Knowing that green tea is actually a bland brown/yellow colour, I chose to base my product colours on traditional oriental tones with accents of green in my acrylic and silk table covering. I also based the design with the supplied table in mind, working in circular elements throughout the design. I chose to strip the table back to its' top and remove the legs, focussing on stretching the proportions of the design to create greater impact. The idea that immediately came to my mind was to have the "two" sitting on the floor for a special "Tea for Two" and with the placement of them in mind, design this piece to create a feeling of intimacy. I also studied how Chinese gardens are designed, discovering that they are based on "viewing platforms" with emphasis on the importance of space, peacefulness, tranquility and simplicity. I again chose the main prop to portray the oriental screens that are ubiquitous in Oriental culture.
Green acrylic discs were inserted vertically into the screen, carrying through the colour and offer the mechanics for flower placements. I then made a construction of interconnecting clear acrylic rods to attach my flowers. I included groupings of round glass vessels under a clear acrylic table cover to provide another area to bring the design down to where the people are sitting at the table creating a feeling of intimacy.
Without a doubt, superstar musician Cyndi Lauper! I love her and am completely star-struck by her. Cyndi, being such a creative artist, I think would appreciate the idea behind the design and we could chat over our green tea for two about all things creative and the inspiration behind the ideas that become our art!
Grant: "Cyndi was quoted as recently saying 'if you are trying to create something, you might understand your process better because someone shared theirs.[with you]' After reading this, it made me realise the process we go through as designers, and once you share that process with other people, it all makes sense and you and they realise what you are trying to achieve."
Oriental Pearl
To clarify the theme I focussed on each of the two words: Oriental and Pearl.
Firstly I watched some Oriental movies, focussing on the multitude of shapes and the architecture. I was inspired by the roof lines and eaves that are distinctly oriental, being widely used on their homes, palaces, temples and pagodas. Secondly,wanting to symbolise the pearl, I chose to encompass a black pearl shape partly 'hidden' into the centre of my design.
The techniques that I have applied are garlanding, piercing and glueing. These techniques were the most appropriate to enable me to realise the design concept.
When choosing the products for the bouquet, my goal was to keep it light and easy to carry. With this in mind, and with consideration to colour harmony, I chose products like orchids, berries and other materials that would help me achieve this.
