ARTS THREAD Keer Chen - Student Q&A - Global Design Graduate Show 2022 in collaboration with Gucci

In advance of the deadline for Global Design Graduate Show 2022 in collaboration with Gucci, we interview Keer Chen, a 2022 graduating student from Academy of Art University, BFA Fashion.

Our Global Design Graduate Show 2022 in collaboration with Gucci is open internationally to all art and design undergraduate or postgraduate students graduating in the Academic Year 2021-22 and the deadline to apply is August 31 2022.

See Keer’s ARTSTHREAD Portfolio

ARTSTHREAD:Where are you from?

Keer Chen: I’m originally from China, but I’m currently based in San Francisco, California.

ARTSTHREAD: What is the name, theme, concept and final outcome of your graduate project/thesis?

Keer Chen: The name of my graduate thesis is “Logique Féminine”. The theme of this project is to draw inspiration from objects that are associated with someone important in my life. In my thesis inspirations, I took my mother’s favourite objects such as midcentury furniture, flowers, etc. as the silhouette and print inspiration. The final outcome is a collection of three looks that initiates a discussion on modern attractive odd ladies. I want to therefore, encourage individual females to embrace their own sense of odd elegance.

Keer took her mother’s favourite objects such as midcentury furniture, flowers, etc. as the silhouette and print inspiration.

ARTSTHREAD:Can you describe your concept and creative process?

Keer Chen: The pandemic has been a huge factor for me to start this concept. I haven’t seen my mother for about two years now because of the pandemic. While staying inside of my small studio, I picked up floral arrangement as a hobby, which was something that brought me closer to my mom because she was a florist when I was younger. I also did a lot of furniture research because midcentury furniture pieces are always a huge part of our family home. An abstract expressionist artist Donald Muir also participated in the textile print design process. I got to know Donald and his work during the lockdown. He lives right next to a park where I used to jog. Through our occasional conversations, I found that Donald had his own take on art and life, which I found similar to my mother’s. So I asked if he would do something for this collection.

ARTSTHREAD: Can you explain the thinking behind the key concepts and outcomes of your project?

Keer Chen: Apart from reminiscent of the past, as a young designer, my dual residential experiences have shifted my perspective on beauty and femininity. My thesis collection is a visual translation of my proposal on blending authentic/ classic beauties and bold new looks. During my research, I was so fascinated by the hard Vs. Soft structure of furniture. This fascination towards furniture set off my early experimentation with structural undergarment building.

ARTSTHREAD: Are you 100% back on campus or are you still working all/partly from home? Please describe your environment?

Keer Chen: My thesis was done on campus. During the half year before graduation, I walked to school every morning, and worked on the garment making until the last minute before the building was closed.

ARTSTHREAD: Has being back on campus given you a new perspective on the university/your class colleagues/tutors?

Keer Chen: It was fortunate that I had the chance to talk to my peers and we encouraged each other through the whole time. Despite the fact that we were told by our tutors that the making process this year was much slower than before (probably because there were fewer students), I found less competition had given us enough time to reflect, and experiment as much as we could.

A local abstract expressionist artist Donald Muir also participated in Keer’s textile print design process.

ARTSTHREAD: Has the need for online learning changed your outcomes?

Keer Chen: Yes, it had changed for the better actually! As a design student, I greatly value the importance of private space. Because of online learning, I gained more chance to outsource alone and experiment alone. These two things were crucial to my creative growth I believe.

ARTSTHREAD: Did you need to innovate when you had to work by yourself at home?

Keer Chen: I needed to innovate when I had to work by myself at home. The first thing was to separate my living space, dining space, and my working space within a tiny studio. Another thing was to learn how to do research with no access to the campus or public library. Self-discipline was really crucial when we worked on our own.

ARTSTHREAD: What’s one thing that has helped you get through the last 2 years?

Keer Chen: My mother’s support has helped me greatly through the last 2 years.

ARTSTHREAD: What are the most positive learning outcomes from this process?

Keer Chen: There were many positive leaning outcomes from the process. But the most positive outcome from learning online was that I have developed a strong sense of self-belief, and I have gained patience to keep trying different ways.

ARTSTHREAD: How do you think design can help improve the world?

Keer Chen: I think design can initiate new life style, new perceptions, and provide possibilities. As designers, I think it’s important to observe or participate in social events, always ask “why”. Oftentimes, we tend to imagine more than experiment. By doing more experiments, we will eventually find a new approach to innovation. Specifically, womenswear history shows that apparel design also has the power to liberate a group of people. Most pioneer designers started by introducing a shocking look, and then people adapt in time, this is a really powerful outcome that design can lead to.

ARTSTHREAD: What are your hopes for the future?

Keer Chen: As an international person, I hope in the future we will live in a world with no discrimination, and wars. As a fashion designer, I wish that more pioneer designers would rise like Cristóbal Balenciaga, Madeleine Vionnet etc. in the past. I think social media these days can sometimes lead the wrong way to beauty, but with the right designers, I believe we will see more great designs again.

ARTSTHREAD: Thank you Keer – we wish you all the very best!

See Keer’s ARTSTHREAD Portfolio

Images in slider: Keer and her work

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