Primary Research: Survey

Once I had a basic plan and idea at the start of the final major project unit I knew that creating some sort of primary research would be very beneficial and hopefully provide me with some sort of understanding of what the majority of my audience and viewers would prefer to see. Below are my statistics, questions and answers to date so far. 

Creating surveys had been a great skill I have learnt over my time at university in units such as my dissertation. I found that when creating this survey I struggled for quite a while to come up with appropriate and valid questions that would help me gain some insight. So while playing my music playlist I researched other examples of surveys and also went to a local comic book shop (Forbidden Planet in Southampton) and discussed my ideas with the employees and customers to see what they were interested in, what worked and didn't for them and why? 

This proved very helpful, although I do find talking to people in that context a little awkward, it did really pay off and gained my confident a little when talking to new people. I plan to frequently get advice or opinions from people that are big fans of this sort of genre as they would be a part of my target market.

From this experience I managed to create some questions and get some good results and answers from anonymous people that has given my some inspiration and solid ideas of what I can do and move my project forward. 

Inspirational Music Playlist

After my last post I feel as though I may have gone full speed ahead and panicked and not really taken my time to research other ideas and possibilities that I can work with. I realised that I really needed to explore my options and find my inspiration. 

I have learnt that a way that always helps clear my mind is my music, this sparked an idea to create myself a superhero playlist that would hopefully inspire me and help to organise my ideas. 

1. Daughtry - Waiting For Superman  

2. Nickelback - Hero 

3. Fall Out Boy - Immortals 

4. The Script - Superheroes 

5. Alesso ft. Tove Lo - Heroes (We Could be) 

6. Charlie Puth - One Call Away 

7. Queen - Flash 

8. Fall Out Boy - Centuries 

Here are a few that I have started to put together that I think will help me to work. I found that all these songs had an empowering and uplifting feel that made me feel the same emotions and therefore motivated and ready to plan my ideas and schedule. These are the sort of emotions that I want to portray through my work so my theory is that if I feel those emotions then they should be shown through the work I produce. 

While listening to this playlist I will begin to collect images of inspiration through different mediums such as magazines, books, instagram, pinterest and my own photography from out on the street so I can compose some mood boards that will bring my final major project together more and clearer to myself. 

I have also have begun to create some primary research of my own in the form of a survey to find out specific questions and answers  to get a better understanding of what my audience would want and need from my book.     

The Beginning: Visualising My Ideas Through Face charts

With a basis idea in my head of knowing that I would be combining superhero films and fashion and beauty together I wanted to jot down a few of my initial ideas so that I had some sort of direction to go in or something to work with and adapt. 

What I had in mind was a variety of characters based on ones that already exist and create a fashion and beauty book. For example Batman, Poison Ivy, Captain American and Thor. To start I wanted to portray elements of these characters and put them across though design or face chart, I find this really helps me to visualise if my ideas will work. I thought that this would be able to be shown to the audiences and readers so that they could take elements of these elaborate designs and use them in any way they wish to make themselves feel like a superhero (more confident and have more self belief).

As I slowly began to create a series, develop more characters and have a tutorial with Jennifer I realised that these looks were becoming more like face paint ideas rather than the high fashion beauty I was aiming for. As much as I liked the look of them they did appear slightly child like and just didn't convey the feel I am tempting to achieve. I also was realising that I was doing to much for these designs and that perhaps, in this case, more may be less for the beauty I aiming to achieve. 

I now know that this is not the way forward but I am glad I have attempted this as it has now inspired to me push the idea further but just in a different direction. I will now be doing far more research and be creating inspirational mood boards to get all my ideas and inspiration available for me to work from.  

Introduction to my FMP

“We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.”(Grant Morrison, Comic Book Writer, Play Wright and Occultist, 2012)

Marvel & DC Comics collaboration of characters

To begin with I would like explain the basis of my idea. My two greatest passions are the world of film and fashion. Two industries I am very torn between when it comes to a future career. I want to be able to create a book with designs and looks that that combine both of these elements together, through make up, hair, special effects and fashion styling. This will give me the chance to experience and experiment with works from both industries and incorporate them to create something special.
As I am unsure of the industry path I wish to follow this project will show all my abilities and what I have learned through my university experience and be a portfolio of skills I have gained over the years. Including make up and hair design, photography, post production editing, special effects and fashion styling. 

With the film industry being a very influential element in todays society I began to research the most popular genres in film. After several hours researching the statistics of total grosses of this years movie franchises it became clear that the superhero style was one of the most growing trends, with the Marvels Avengers saga alone grossing $3,874,093,200 (Boxofficemojo, 2016). It is also becoming a very influential trend through many different mediums such as politics which can be seen with the original superheroes such as Wonder Women being created by psychologist, William Moulton Marston, during World War 2. Another is also the fashion industry, this can be seen in many catwalks such as Jeremy Scott A/W 2011 line designing super hero like costumes and making them couture, this is something that really interested me and inspired me as it is something different and exciting to fan bases of both film and fashion.

Valentino's new theme inspired by WonderWomen

As well as doing this project based on my passions I am also creating it with a personal element in mind. I want to create something that will give people a feeling of self belief and self confidence. As children we all dress up as our favourite superpowers or idols which gives us confident and imagination to be someone else for the day as we grow up this element seems to fade away and we begin to lose that side of ourselves. This is something I really struggled with at the very beginning of my university experience but I have grown to overcome this in time with small changes such as my clothes and make up and eventually my overall demeanour. I want this book to be able help others in a similar way to myself.