Critical Analysis - the Architect of Fashion - Gianfranco Ferre, 1994 - 2007

Critical analysis: Research and develop one illustrative technique you have explored throughout the semester. Using design language, critically analyse your illustrative practices and compare them to a professional illustrator who uses similar techniques. Discuss similarities, inspirations and the evolution of the techniques you have learnt with illustrators synonymous with the media you have explored.

GIANFRANCO FERRE, 1994 - 2007

'THE ARCHITECT OF FASHION'

One illustrative technique we have explored through out this semester was contour line drawing. Under this design methodology we were to sketch one item under three methods: pure contour line drawings for 20 minutes (without looking at the page), modified contour line drawings for 20 minutes (90% without looking at the page) and lastly we got to draw for 20 minutes with our complete focus on the page. What this practice taught me was the importance of line, and in Gianfranco Ferre's illustrations, I believe contour line is key.

It is no surprise that Gianfranco Ferre, Italy's premier designer and one of the most noted designers of our time has been hailed 'the architect of fashion'. His illustrations are sensitive to form and outline, and his works show his intellectual and analytical way of working. His illustrations demonstrated his architectural mind, mixed with his fashion filled heart, and evidently Ferre created illustrations of precise lines, with each mark having a purpose, and every millimeter mattering. In his book Gianfranco Ferre Lessons in Fashion which documents all of his illustrations, the evolution of Ferre's illustration practice can be seen. What begins with simple stroke of the pencil and black and white, soon explodes with stripes, colour and embellishments over more abstract bodies. His book is an "illustrated journey through the late 20thcentury via the pen point of one of the worlds finest designers."

Moreover, Gianfranco Ferre once spoke these words - "A brief word of advice? Explore and experiment, work and know exactly what you want. And above all, never forget that fashion is also a dream." - Explaining to us his artistic practice, Ferre makes it obvious that experiment is key, yet his detailed and structural lines (a direct impact from his architectural background) make his illustrations different, interesting and ahead of his time. His use of line is then highlighted through his use of different mediums of drawing, and colour.

Take for example my contour line drawing of scrunched paper. I very carefully examined the scrunched paper, whilst I drew it. My pure contour drawing looked like a mess, yet gradually I began to look at the light, negative space and texture, and ever so slowly my drawing stopped looking like scribble, and it took on form. Looking at Plate 1, Ferre also uses a similar technique. Although Ferre's architectural brain brings him to draw a dress perfectly fitted to a female's body, he uses line to shows us shadow, movement, negative space and detail. The reason why I believe that contour lines are so important to Ferre's design practice is because most of the detailing in plates 1,2,3 are created from perfectly place lines. Ferre uses contour lines to start the evolution of his design methodology.

Moreover, the experimentation of line, and shapes is evident also in plate 2. Plate 2 shows a differently detailed illustration of a woman, although Ferre is still using ink on paper as his medium, it's his practice that he has slightly altered. Using once again the fundamentals of contour line drawings, Ferre also uses uneven weight distribution to create his illustration. When looking at this illustration it is evident that this isn't a