UPDATE #1

Welcome to my FMP weekly update diary, where I will be blogging about my progress each week during the final project of my university course. This week is  mostly about planning and creating the first draft of my gantt chart to begin the project management section of my project. Following on from my dissertation topic, it felt natural to move onto produce something around the topic of inclusivity. My dissertation taught me that there is a gap in the market for media to be inclusive and accepting of everyone. Not just stereotypical slim models or plus-size as we know it. Therefore, i have explored the possibility of creating an 'inclusive' magazine, that shows no ideals. This means that anything goes.

Here are my initial mind-maps:

After discussing my thoughts with Charlie & Guy, they felt that the magazine needed more purpose. For example, becoming associated with a charity or clothing brand that already promotes this message. Therefore, i decided to go with a mental health charity, as it is hugely important for both fashion and clothes to improve someones mood rather than hinder it.

After research on WGSN, i found that there are trends forecast for this subject.

I explored the ideas of an inclusive magazine and then began to nail down its audience, particular articles to include and a potential name of the publication. Here, i began to get a little confused and bogged down with decision making as i struggled to find a common ground between the target audience of Mind and this proposed publication. I also didn't want to exclude anyone due to the idea of inclusivity, but then struggled to determine a target market segment. I'm basically having huge doubts that my concept isn't good enough and not feasible.

I'm at the stage of my planning where i'm trying decide the market for the magazine, working title, where it would be sold, and it's content. I feel like i'm not confident in any of my ideas and i'm scared to keep going with the idea incase it doesn't work out, and i don't achieve my desired grade. I decided to focus on fashion & mental wellbeing, by creating a magazine for the charity, Mind. I'm unsure if the magazine is just sponsored by the charity, or if the magazine is by Mind, amongst other decisions. 

I tried to narrow down my thoughts further and I have valid research which suggests that :

• fashion can improve happiness (book)
• self-comparisons between 'average' women and models causes dissatisfaction (journal)
• current magazine industry lacks inclusivity (survey)
• trend for 2021 is inclusivity (WGSN)

With these research findings i think that by collaborating a brand with Mind, it will make more sense but be more feasible.

DOES TESS HOLLIDAY PROMOTE OBESITY?

Tess Holliday caused significant controversy following the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine and became the talk of many tabloid magazines also. My interest began as a reader of Cosmopolitan and a follower of Tess Holliday. The topic of plus-size models has been discussed meticulously previously within case-studies, however, the subject of this cover had yet to be explored due to its recent release. During my dissertation, I carried out thorough primary and secondary research to delve into the question of why this cover did create such a media conversation? Additionally, I wanted to investigate whether or not models of this size promote obesity. 

SISTER - SS17

Sister is a proposed concession brand of Bon Marche, appealing to a young female target consumer. This brand has been created by myself and a group of other students while fulfilling a project during the second year of university. Collaboratively, a brand handbook was created, outlining the consumer and market positioning, amongst other branding essentials. My role within the group revolved heavily on design and branding. Therefore, I created the document on inDesign and established the brands' style, including logos, fonts, colours and identity.  

Following the group-work part of this project, an individual task was set to carry out an event plan with a supporting research file. I decided that the theme of this event would be a 'slumber party', mirroring the sisterhood branding. This project has allowed for expansive creativity with both layout/design and event planning. My strengths lie in branding and planning and thus, this project was suited to my skill set. 

Brand handbook made in collaboration with: Amy Cameron, Charlotte Rollin & Rebecca Emmet
Photographer: Hailey Sellars