Contemporary Elders workshop at Focal Point Gallery

Selection of mood boards created by participants of the workshop (left credit Laura Whiting) and workshop in progress (right credit Kim Davey)

Saturday the 23rd of May was a really fun and creative day! I was invited to host a workshop run in conjunction with the exhibition ‘New Model Village’. In the workshop we explored the creation of a mood board, using the colours, textures and shapes found in the current exhibition as a starting point. The works by Cui Jie draw from research into experimental modernist era factory architecture found in Essex and beyond. The workshop gave an opportunity to consider the imaginary domestic lives of workers and speculate on what might be an aspirational home for them? 

The participants were invited as part of a new programme of activities called Contemporary Elders aimed anyone over the age of 60. Contemporary Elders was set up pre-covid to challenge and liberate the term ‘elder’ from the stigma of ‘elderly’ and encourages us to embrace wisdom as a path to growing whole, not old.

The Contemporary Elders programme consists of workshops, guided tours, walks and social meetups to join like-minded elders together to break down barriers, encourage life-long learning and enjoyment of the arts in all its forms.

You can read more about the Contemporary Elders programme here:

https://www.fpg.org.uk/learning/contemporary-elders/

WHAT IS A MOOD BOARD?

A mood board is a tool used by interior designers to convey a sense of style, ambience and tone for a room or space. It allows the designer to test what colours, textures and tones will match or complement each other before making purchases. It is also practical as the designer also must work with materials that are available commercially on the market (sourcing and product knowledge) as well as considering if the products are cleanable, resistant to wear and tear and easy to maintain. A mood board is often used as a ‘work in progress’ before the design is finalised, with materials being swapped until the perfect fit is found.

 

Things a designer will consider when making a mood board:

-        How easy are the products to source?

-        How much will the products cost?

-        How long will the colours and patterns be ‘fashionable’

-        Where does the product come from / how are they made (sustainability)?

-        Are they easy to install and maintain?

Why not try one yourself if you are thinking about redecorating or a new home project?