Identifying My Skills
In Week 1 of this capstone unit, I dove into a series of reflective visual journal exercises that helped me critically assess the skills I’ve developed and identify where I still need to grow. These visual journal entries, offered a structured opportunity to assess my strengths, identify areas for improvement, and pinpoint topics that spark my curiosity for this unit. This aided me in ensuring that my research and experiments aligned with my design goals.
Engaging with these exercises clarified my intention for the open-brief project. I want to use this as an opportunity to create something of meaningful value, not just for myself but for others as well. want to demonstrate my proficiency in visual design and storytelling and let this project allows me to test and refine my personal style. I aim to turn this project into a portfolio piece, one that reflects my ambitions to work in fashion design post-graduation and showcases growth in areas I’m eager to explore!
The Brief & Secondary Research
Visual Research
I conducted research into existing competing second-hand brands. Most of these were market-style setups where smaller vintage stores sell their clothing, such as Hunter, Brik, and Sunshine Coast Vintage. I found very few standalone curated second-hand stores that specifically target my niche. Among the ones I did identify, some produced engaging content but lacked a strong, cohesive visual identity or consistent theme across their platforms. The brands that did establish a visual style tended to lean towards a fun but more grunge- or Y2K-inspired aesthetic.
Brands like Apres Studios, Damson Matter, and Mode Mischief are ethically made slow-fashion labels from Australia and the UK. They appeal to 18–30-year-olds who value style, originality, sustainability, and distinctive pieces. I admire their creative vision, the art direction behind their campaigns, and the thoughtful, retro-inspired photography that defines their aesthetic. This is something I’d like to draw inspiration from and incorporate into my final project.
Although Princess Polly is a fast-fashion brand, I also explored their Instagram for style research, as I appreciate the visual content they produce. Their aesthetic carries a similar energy to the other brands I’ve been studying. I’m especially drawn to the playful patterns that feature heavily across these labels; plaid, polka dots, and stripes, adding character and vibrancy to their collections.
Mood Board
Design Experimentations
Experiment 1: After Effects and Illustrator Software
I started off by pairing colours and experimenting with patterns on procreate as seen below.
Pattern, repetition, Colour, and Negative space - I experimented with creating playful clothing and swimsuit patterns and brought them into Adobe Illustrator, applying design principles such as pattern, repetition, colour, and negative space. These designs were not intended to be part of a cohesive collection, but rather individual, fun explorations. I experimented with various colours, opacities, and positioning, then used Object > Pattern > Make to explore different tile types and their visual effects. I think it would be super fun to try and animate these in after effects.
I then though that it would be fun to expand on my knowledge of After Effects and animate these patterns. These could be used as a basis for fun social media graphic or layered over clothing to make engaging instagram reels.
Experiment 2: Mockup Experiments
I experimented with creating a range of different mockups, including testing Illustrator’s new mockup beta feature. However, I quickly realised that it was not effective for implementing fabric prints onto clothing—no matter what I tried, it seemed more suited for applying logos rather than all-over textile designs. From there, I turned to ChatGPT’s image generation, where I tested prompts like “Transfer this design onto a bikini laying on a rock near the ocean. Smooth lighting.” To my surprise, this worked extremely well. I learned that the more detailed and precise the prompt, the higher the quality and relevance of the results. This taught me how critical prompt design is when using AI as a creative tool.
I wanted to see if chat gpt could generate realistic version of people, and hence I typed in a prompt of "Sun soaked Model with a plain white bikini on. the backgound is an italian beach." Whilst you can tell that it is AI I was surprised at the quality of it. could do
I also experimented with Kittl Flows to generate social media assets. While the platform had some strengths, I found that no matter how specific or detailed my prompts were, it struggled to capture the exact essence of what I envisioned. This experience reinforced the irreplaceable role of a designer—AI can provide starting points and inspiration, but it lacks the intuitive decision-making and nuance needed to translate a brand’s identity into meaningful visuals. Ultimately, while AI tools were valuable for rapid experimentation and mockups, this process highlighted that strong design direction still relies on human creativity, refinement, and storytelling.
I also experimented with collage techniques, using self-timer photos taken on my iPhone as the base material. After capturing these images, I brought them into Photoshop, where I brightened the tones and cropped out my arms and neck to create a cleaner focus. I then layered the images over patterned backgrounds that echoed similar colour palettes, creating a sense of cohesion between the subject and the design. These collages could work well as social media assets or story posts for the brand, as they carry a playful and visually engaging aesthetic. While they would require further refinement and the addition of relevant text or brand messaging to become fully usable, this process gave me a chance to explore how photography and digital manipulation can intersect. Overall, it was an enjoyable and creative experiment that broadened my understanding of how visual content can be repurposed for brand communication.
Experiment 3: AI Experiment
I was super excited to experiment with Blender, as I had never used it before but had been wanting to for a long time. At the same time, I have always found the software quite intimidating—the interface, the number of tools, and the technical skills required can feel overwhelming at first glance. However, approaching this project gave me the push I needed to finally dive in. Once I started exploring, I realised that while Blender is complex, it is also incredibly powerful and rewarding once you begin to understand the basics. Even learning simple functions such as navigation, object manipulation, and applying materials felt like a big achievement. What seemed intimidating at first quickly turned into curiosity and excitement as I saw my project take shape.
AI played a surprisingly important role in assisting my workflow when creating a low-poly 3D model from an image in Blender. The process began with taking a simple photo of an everyday object—an iPhone—chosen for its accessibility and clean design. Before moving into 3D, I needed to prepare the image, so I imported it into Photoshop. Here, AI tools made the initial stages much faster and more accurate. Using AI-powered edge detection, I was able to quickly isolate the object from its background without having to manually trace around it, which would have been far more time-consuming. Beyond just background removal, AI further streamlined the process by helping with edge detection and colour subsampling. These features automatically highlighted the key shapes, lines, and tones of the image, breaking the object down into simplified geometric forms and reducing unnecessary detail. This was particularly helpful for a low-poly workflow, since the aesthetic relies on clean, minimal surfaces.
What I found most interesting was realising just how integrated AI had become in my creative process without me initially noticing. While I thought I was simply “editing” in Photoshop, I was in fact relying on AI at multiple stages to enhance accuracy, save time, and create a stronger foundation for my 3D model. This experience highlighted how AI can act as a quiet collaborator—working in the background to make creative workflows more efficient and effective. I found this process really challenging as it was my first ever time using Blender. It was confusing at times but I got the hang of it. This finished result is not amazing visually but this served as great practice for me and I would love to up-skill in the software.
Reflection
This project gave me the chance to experiment with a wide range of tools and processes in order to shape a creative direction for my hypothetical curated second-hand store. My store concept centers around the effortlessly “cool girl,” championing sustainability through thoughtful curation and circular fashion. In exploring different avenues of design, I experimented with AI mockup tools such as ChatGPT and Kittl, which turned out to be surprisingly helpful. These tools were far easier to use than I initially expected, and they produced high-quality results with minimal effort. However, I quickly learned that success depended on how well I fine-tuned the prompts—by iterating and refining inputs, I was able to generate images and layouts that aligned with my brand’s vision. This opened my eyes to how AI can act as a valuable creative partner, especially in speeding up ideation.
Alongside AI, I used Adobe After Effects and Illustrator to develop custom fabric patterns for the brand. This was an exciting opportunity to play with form, repetition, and texture, and it gave me a tangible way to translate my ideas into visuals. While the experimentation was fun, I realised that fabric design may not be the direction I want to pursue for my final assignment. Instead, I would prefer to focus on building a cohesive brand identity and cultivating nuanced art direction. These skills feel more relevant to my long-term goals, particularly as I am interested in developing my abilities in photography and email design, which are both highly valued in industry contexts.
Through multiple drafts and iterations of the brand brief, I also discovered a key gap in my approach: I had not fully considered how to incorporate storytelling. While my attention was on developing the visual identity, web interfaces, and information packets, I overlooked how narrative could strengthen the project. Storytelling has the power to connect audiences emotionally to the brand, especially in the context of promoting sustainable practices and preloved fashion. This realisation is something I will carry into my next project, ensuring that the brand’s ethos is not only shown visually but also communicated through compelling stories.
Overall, this assignment was a valuable learning experience. It allowed me to experiment broadly (testing AI, motion, and fabric design) while helping me clarify my focus moving forward. For future projects, I aim to refine my art direction with a stronger emphasis on brand cohesion, industry-relevant skills, and narrative-driven communication.
References
Maiti, R. (2025). The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion, Explained. Earth Org. https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment
GHC. (2024). The Power of Fashion to Change our Planet. Green Heart Collective. https://www.greenheartcollective.uk/blogs/sustainable-living/fast-fashion-facts-environment?
GWL. (2023). THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF BUYING SECOND-HAND CLOTHING.Green With Less. https://greenwithless.com/environmental-benefits-buying-secondhand-clothing
Begum, H. (2024). The best fashion statement you can make this season? Buy pre-loved. The Gaurdian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/oct/01/oxfam-secondhand-clothing-fast-fashion-statement-garment-industry-preloved-water-consumption-labour-rights?