Alexander Mcqueen at V&M

I had heard a lot about the V&A but never been before. I decided to go as I thought be great to get research for my top year so while I was meeting up with friends I went see the McQueen exhibition. The V&A is just amazing (free entry) and the exhibition was superb. So well presented. Tickets were about 17.50 but I’m member of V&A, which was worth the money I will used it more, as I can go down for the day. I was amazed the design and skills in putting the exhibition together. I didn’t need book a ticket being a member of V & A. I found the exhibition was inspiration given me in side knowledge.

Manchester Vigil

The culmination of the Big Weekend is the George House Trust Candlelit Vigil in which Sackville Gardens is turned into a sea of flickering candles as we take a minute to remember those we’ve lost to the HIV virus and join together to fight the epidemic worldwide. The Vigil is the spiritual heart of the Manchester Pride festival and there is a truly magical and moving atmosphere of quiet reflection in the gardens. this is always been what manchester pride is all about , everyone standing together to shout out that what england has come a long way about LBGT community. importance sticking together.

Manchester Pride – Devotion 🌈 ❤️ 2015

One Manchester Pride that will always stick in my memories had the theme Devotion.

It was such a powerful word for Pride because devotion can mean so many things — devotion to the people you love, to your friends, to your community and to simply being yourself.

Walking around Manchester, you could feel the excitement everywhere. The streets were packed, rainbow flags were flying and everyone seemed ready to celebrate together.

Then it was time for the Manchester Pride Parade. 🌈

The parade was definitely one of the highlights for me. There were incredible costumes, colourful floats, music, dancing and so many people lining the streets.

Of course, I had my camera with me! 📸

I love capturing moments and memories, and there was certainly plenty to photograph. Everywhere you looked there was colour, creativity and something happening.

But Pride wasn’t just about getting some great photos.

Looking around at everyone celebrating made me think about what Devotion really meant.

To me, it was about standing by the people you care about. It was about friendship, love, acceptance and supporting people for exactly who they are.

That’s what made the atmosphere feel so special.

Everyone was there for their own reasons, but for that day thousands of people came together in the same city to celebrate love and equality.

There were smiles, laughter, music and plenty of dancing — and by the end of the day, definitely some tired feet!

Looking back at my photographs now brings those memories straight back.

Manchester Pride: Devotion wasn’t just a theme. It was a celebration of love, friendship, acceptance and being proud of who you are. 🌈❤️

A colourful day, an amazing atmosphere and another memory I’ll always

Holiday Diary – A Day at Kallithea Springs 🇬🇷 lo

Today was another day of exploring beautiful Rhodes, and our adventure took us to Kallithea Springs.

I’d seen pictures before going, but seeing it properly for the first time was something completely different.

As soon as we arrived, I knew my camera was going to be busy! 📸😂

The buildings were absolutely beautiful, with gorgeous little details everywhere you looked. Then you had the blue sky, sunshine and amazing clear sea in the background. It honestly looked like something from a postcard.

Time to Explore 🌿

We spent some time wandering around and taking everything in.

I love places where there’s a bit of history mixed with beautiful scenery, so Kallithea Springs was perfect for me. With my love of art, design and photography, there was something interesting around practically every corner.

And yes… I took a LOT of photos! 😂📸

But that’s one of my favourite things about going on holiday. I love capturing the little moments as well as the big ones because, once you’re home and back to normal life, those photos bring all the memories flooding back.

We didn’t need to rush.

We could just wander around, enjoy the sunshine and stop whenever we spotted somewhere beautiful.

That View! 🌊😍

Then there was the sea.

Absolutely gorgeous!

The water was so blue and clear, and standing there looking out across it was one of those little holiday moments where you just think:

“I really don’t want to go home!”

There’s something about being away, feeling the sunshine and looking out over the sea that makes you forget about everyday life for a while.

No work.

No rushing around.

Just enjoying being on holiday. ❤️

Another Memory Made 🇬🇷

By the time we left Kallithea Springs, my camera roll was definitely a lot fuller!

It was such a lovely day and another beautiful place added to my Rhodes memories.

That’s what I love about travelling. Every day gives you another story, another photograph and another memory to bring home with you.

Today was all about sunshine, exploring, beautiful views and enjoying the moment.

Kallithea Springs, you were beautiful. ❤️🇬🇷

Now… onto the next Rhodes adventure!

Megan x

New York Museum

Queuing again for this museums, which I don’t mind as they making sure your are safe, as they don’t what this event happened again so they make sure the security checks are in place all around new york. Which I think is good things, the price of museum was about 30 Dolars which thinks bit much but I still paid, as I wanted something that will always be in my heart and memories, so the National September 11 Memorial Museum serves as the country’s principal institution concerned with exploring the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of those events and exploring 9/11’s continuing significance. The mission of the 9/11 Memorial Museum, located at the World Trade Centre site, is to bear solemn witness to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993.

The Museum honours the nearly 3,000 victims of these attacks and all those who risked their lives to save others. It further recognizes the thousands who survived and all who demonstrated extraordinary compassion in the aftermath. Demonstrating the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and its impact on communities at the local, national, and international levels, the Museum attests to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity and affirms an unwavering commitment to the fundamental value of human life

Trip to 9 – 11 memorial museum, shows how hard it New York on that day, seeing what the victims went through on day. I ready my self, as I knew this was going be emotional, seeing it, as only seen on TV, so being there will give me a close to people who lives were taken from us to early. Even some are own English was taken so it wasn’t just America was shaken about this event, but whole of world was shaken, will happen to us. I always will remember the day, as I was in 2nd year high school and also seeing on TV getting ready for my little cousin 1st birthday. This I feel was my height of new york, shows such a upsetting event, the American people stand together, was touching walking round was seeing children that didn’t see it happen but remember it by this years, years to come people on day lost there lives will always remembered by this exhibition at this new museum heart of where it happened that day.

Also at the they built water memorial for every person that lost there lives, and I felt this was amazing tribute to this The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honour to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Centre site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Centre bombing in February 1993.

The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design selected from a global design competition that included more than 5,200 entries from 63 nations.

The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history. Ever year if some birthday they will leave a rose on there names

Why I Want to Progress onto the BA (Hons) Top-Up Year

I want to progress onto the BA (Hons) Top-Up year because visual merchandising is something I have become really passionate about. I especially enjoy looking at retail interiors, displays and how a shop can be transformed creatively to give customers an experience. I feel this is an area where I can really express myself and use my creativity.

Staying close to home is also important to me. Being able to study near my family and friends means I still have that support around me, while also being able to continue with my part-time job. Balancing work and university isn’t always easy, but it has taught me a lot about managing my time, staying organised and keeping going when things become stressful.

For me, completing a BA Honours degree would mean so much more than simply having a qualification.

When I was younger, I struggled a lot with reading and writing. During primary school I fell behind other children my age, and I eventually attended an SEN school. At that point in my life, I don’t think I would ever have imagined myself getting this far in education.

That is why graduating with a BA Honours degree would be such an emotional and proud moment for me. It would represent everything I have worked through and how far I have come. The things I found difficult when I was younger have not stopped me from wanting more for myself.

My journey has also taught me that I learn best when I can be creative. I love sketching, experimenting with materials, researching ideas and turning something that starts in my head into something visual. Mind maps are particularly useful to me because they allow me to get all my thoughts onto paper and start making connections between different ideas.

I also enjoy group critiques. At first, having other people comment on your work can feel daunting because creative work can be very personal. However, I have learnt to listen to feedback and use it to make my work stronger. I also enjoy giving constructive feedback to other students and seeing how everyone’s ideas develop differently.

I know the Top-Up year will be challenging. It is the final year of the degree, so I understand that there will be more independent work, bigger projects and important deadlines. I know there will probably be moments when I feel overwhelmed, but I am ready to challenge myself and prove to myself that I can do it.

One part I am particularly interested in is the dissertation. I would love to explore equality and inclusivity within retail. I think retail spaces should make different people feel represented, included and welcome, and I would like to explore how visual merchandising and retail design can play a part in creating that feeling.

I am also excited about developing my research into my final practical work and eventually presenting it at the end-of-year show. Being able to stand there with a finished project that represents all the work I have put into my degree would be a really special moment.

I know the creative industry is competitive and that many people are trying to achieve similar careers. That motivates me to keep developing my skills and gaining as much experience as possible. Completing my BA Honours degree would give me another step towards the career I have dreamed about.

Most of all, I want to do this for myself.

Going from struggling with reading and writing as a child and needing extra support in education to being in a position where I could graduate with a BA Honours degree is something I would be incredibly proud of.

My journey hasn’t always been straightforward, but creativity has always been something I can come back to. It gives me a way to express my ideas and show what I can do.

I want the opportunity to finish what I have started, walk away with my BA Honours degree and be able to say to myself: I did

My New York Adventure 🗽✨

New York City — a place I had seen so many times in films, photographs and magazines, but nothing could quite prepare me for actually being there.

New York is one of those cities that feels instantly recognisable. From the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge to Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building, there are famous sights everywhere you turn. But for me, this three-day trip wasn’t just about seeing the landmarks. It was about experiencing the atmosphere, making memories and finding new inspiration for my creative work.

Day One – Hello New York! 🇺🇸

After arriving, checking into our hotel and getting changed, I couldn’t wait to get outside and explore.

We were just around the corner from Fifth Avenue, so suddenly I was walking through streets that I’d heard about for years. There was so much going on around me — people rushing around, yellow taxis, huge buildings, shops and bright lights. Walking around was one of the best ways to experience New York because there was always something new to see.

Then came one of the moments I had been most excited about — the Empire State Building.

The queue felt like it went on for miles! 😂 But I knew I wanted to experience it, so we waited.

As we started going higher and higher up the building, my excitement grew. I couldn’t wait to see what New York looked like from above.

And then we reached the top.

WOW. ❤️

The views were absolutely amazing.

Looking across Manhattan from the Empire State Building made me realise just how enormous New York really is. Buildings seemed to stretch as far as I could see.

But what made the experience even more special was watching the sunset over New York City. 🌇

For a few minutes, I just wanted to stand there and take everything in. Sometimes when you’re travelling, you spend so much time trying to take photographs that you forget to actually look at what’s in front of you.

This was one of those moments I wanted to remember properly.

Seeing the city changing as the sun went down and the lights started appearing across Manhattan was something I’ll never forget.

The Empire State Building wasn’t the cheapest attraction, and the queue certainly wasn’t short, but for me it was completely worth it.

It was only the beginning of my three days in New York, but already I knew this trip was going to give me memories, experiences and creative inspiration that I could take home with me.

New York had already made an impression on me.

And I’d only just arrived. 🗽❤️

Next stop… more adventures in the city that never sleeps.

Kitsch Window Display Project

For this project, I was required to produce a window display based on the theme ‘Kitsch’. At first, I wasn’t completely sure about the theme, so I began by carrying out research on the high street. I looked at Christmas window displays and visual merchandising to see what was currently in the market and to find inspiration for my own design.

Alongside my research, I experimented with different ideas and materials, particularly paper crafts. I recorded these experiments in my sketchbook, which helped me develop my ideas and decide on the direction I wanted the final display to take. The research also gave me a better understanding of the brand I was designing for.

I discovered connections between the project, Utility and Liverpool, which inspired me to bring a strong Liverpool identity into my window display. I chose to use the famous Liver Birds as one of the main features because they are such a recognisable symbol of the city. I liked the idea of combining something traditionally associated with Liverpool with the colourful, playful and slightly over-the-top nature of Kitsch.

As well as designing the window display, I was required to create promotional materials that worked alongside it. I designed promotional cards using the Liver Bird imagery so that the whole project had a consistent Liverpool theme.

For the Christmas element, I also introduced the image of a pear, inspired by the Christmas song lyric ‘a partridge in a pear tree.’ I was really pleased with the final card design, although if I were completing the project again, I would make it even more playful and bring more Liverpool references into the design.

I also developed swing tags, a shopping bag and wrapping designs to accompany the window display. I wanted these to use strong colours and connect with the Pop Art influence of the display, creating a complete visual identity rather than treating the window as a standalone piece.

Interestingly, when I first received the Kitsch theme, I didn’t particularly like it. However, as the project developed, my opinion completely changed. I became really pleased with my final piece and especially enjoyed the craft and hands-on elements involved in creating it.

Looking back, this project taught me how research, experimentation, branding and local inspiration can all come together within visual merchandising. It also showed me that a theme I might not immediately connect with can become something I really enjoy once I start experimenting and putting my own creative personality into it.

Christmas Season 2014 🎄✨

It’s that jolly season again — the time of year when we all seem to spend money on the people we love, and maybe even the next-door neighbour!

I really love the Christmas season, especially because of my interest in visual merchandising and window displays. Christmas is one of the best times of the year to see shops getting creative. From magical winter wonderlands to something completely different and unexpected, you never quite know what you’re going to find around the next corner.

One trend I’ve noticed this season is the use of really bright colours. It reminds me of my kitsch project and the idea of something being so bad that it somehow becomes good!

I particularly love Pop Art-inspired Christmas windows. There can be so much happening that your eyes don’t quite know where to look first, but that’s part of what makes them exciting. The colours, products, props and graphics all work together to bring the brand to life.

At Christmas, this becomes even more important because retailers are competing for our attention. People have been saving their money ready to buy presents, so a great Christmas window can be what encourages someone to stop, look and eventually walk into the shop.

For me, that’s what makes visual merchandising so interesting. A window isn’t just there to look pretty — it’s there to tell a story, represent the brand and encourage customers to come inside.

Away from all the shopping and displays, I’m also looking forward to spending Christmas Day with my family.

And, of course, there are the presents! I really enjoy wrapping them and experimenting with different ways of making each one look special. I suppose even my Christmas wrapping gives me another excuse to be creative!

So here’s to another festive season filled with Christmas lights, colourful window displays, creativity, presents and family time.

I can’t wait to see what Christmas brings this year. 🎄❤️

Tate Liverpool – Where My Love of Art & Design Grew 🎨

Art has always been a big part of my life, and Tate Liverpool is one of those places that helped inspire my creative side.

Growing up close to Liverpool meant I was lucky enough to have some amazing museums and galleries practically on my doorstep. Visiting Tate Liverpool when I was younger opened my eyes to different styles of art and showed me that creativity doesn’t always have to follow rules.

I remember walking around the exhibitions and looking at pieces that were completely different from anything I’d seen before. Some I understood straight away, while others made me stop, think and wonder what the artist was trying to say.

That is one of the things I love about art — everyone can see something different.

My visits to galleries like Tate Liverpool became part of the inspiration behind my own creative journey. That interest eventually led me towards studying Promotional Design and Visual Merchandising at university.

Looking back now, I can see how those early days of visiting galleries, museums and exhibitions influenced me more than I probably realised at the time.

They taught me to notice colours, shapes, displays, spaces and all the little details around me. Those are things that later became really important when I started learning about visual merchandising and design.

Even now, I love being creative, whether that’s through photography, making things, designing cards or simply finding inspiration while travelling.

Tate Liverpool isn’t just an art gallery to me.

It’s part of the story of where my creative journey began. ❤️

Sometimes the places we visit when we’re young stay with us much longer than we ever expect.

And for me, Tate Liverpool is one of those places.

Megan x

Tate is an institution that houses the UK national collection of British art and international modern and contemporary art.

When Tate first opened its doors to the public in 1897 it had just one site, displaying a small collection of British artworks. Today Tate has four major sites and the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art, which includes nearly 70,000 artworks. A number of new developments are planned for Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Tate St Ives to ensure the galleries continue to expand.

Tate came to Liverpool when Alan Bowness, the director of Tate at the time, decided to create a Tate of the northwest. As the project become known he decided it would be a gallery with distinct identity which would show modern art and encourage a younger audience to art within their education program. However, today the gallery is used by many people who love contemporary art.

Tate Liverpool hosts many different art work from many different types are of artist.

The lasted art exhibition is Andy Warhol at Tate Liverpool, which I found related to the project at uni. I found his work interesting, it given me insight of mix-media and other different techniques.