Sally Parker

My time at UCA has been invaluable, transforming my creative ability and aspirations. The tutors, facilities, and unrestrained creative environment have led me to discover my love of designing. Narrative fuels my work, even within my manifesto or informational outcomes; it is my use of characters that maintain the thread of the narrative. I have realised my love of producing resources for young children, whilst also discovering my interest in moving imagery. It is these two main realisations that I will take with me onto my ‘Illustration Animation’ degree at Kingston School of Art.

For my Final Major Project, I produced commissioned Primary School Resources for Creative Folkestone’s 2021 Triennial, entitled ‘The Plot’. The creation of both the day guide and the school resources pack involved two key aims. It was essential that the identity of ‘Creative Folkestone’ was evident within my outcome. As well as using the organisation’s font, ‘Sofia’, I incorporated bold angular geometric structures throughout my compositions, mirroring those I had noticed within the backgrounds of their website and logo. I used bright colours when incorporating artist-specific symbols throughout the pages, that hinted at each artwork’s themes, whilst reflecting the organisation’s own use of bright colour. The second aim was to ensure the resources engaged my Primary age audience. To that end, I independently created extra resources, pitched to and approved by my client. I designed Adobe Illustrator icons linked to each artwork’s conceptual foundations, which became ‘Badge Making’ templates, and rubber stamps that we had professionally printed. I even created ‘Evidence Collection Forms’ that a schoolchild could fill in throughout their class visit to the exhibition. All this was done to involve the children in the investigation of ‘The Plot’; in logging evidence, earning badges, and collecting stamps, they can become art detectives, investigating the truth behind each triennial exhibit.

This concept of investigating ‘The Plot’ led me to my aesthetic decision to represent the outcomes as an abstract case file. Inspired by my avid watching of old detective dramas, I integrated file dividers, luggage labels, and index cards into my compositions. My character became an engaging embodiment of ‘The Plot’; a magnifying glass, who’s outfit carries visual allusions to investigative figures like Sherlock Holmes. The character serves as a focus of engagement for the child whilst they follow his progress through the pages of each resource – he enables them to undertake ‘art detective training’ and discover the 2021 Triennial.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-parker-568020207/