How fashion theorist Rian Phin uses The Dazed Archive

From writing a winning pitch and improving your photography to starting a book club or even styling your own show, The Dazed Archive is here to help. Think of The Dazed Archive as a wise and cultured companion, allowing you to effortlessly source reference material and develop innovative concepts – combining a unique blend of inspiration and practical guidance. The custom AI-powered search engine, presented by Lenovo Yoga and imagined with Intel, takes you through stories, guides and interviews from Dazed’s three decades of covering fashion, photography, music and culture at large. 

Below, we asked fashion theorist Rian Phin how she uses The Dazed Archive to supplement her fashion research. 

What was the first question you asked The Dazed Archive?

Rian Phin: I asked the Dazed Archive for influential fashion book club examples. I asked for it to show me any books mentioned and literary references made by influential fashion figures in Dazed over the years. I needed some reading recommendations. 

How do you use the tool? And what do you use it for?

Rian Phin: I use it to pull references to support hyper-specific research. If I need references and cultural context for a movement in the creative world, I am shown the connections between the results rather than a list of information. The more specific references I have in literature and art that inspire designers, filmmakers and artists, the better I can develop theories about the current landscape of fashion.

What’s your advice for people using The Dazed Archive for the first time? 

Rian Phin: My advice is not to be afraid to ask broad questions and tailor your inquiry down to be more specific based on your results. You may be surprised by what you find. You can get advice or creative inspiration, themes in different artists’ work and lists of Dazed’s coverage over the years on your most niche interests.

AI can’t replace the creative process, but it can be really beneficial for supporting research

What role do you think AI can provide in the creative process?

Rian Phin: I’m cautious about using AI because it doesn’t and can’t replace the creative process, but it can be really beneficial for supporting research and pulling refined search results. When using it as a tool to support research, you can pull references you might have otherwise missed, organise information and see connections between references. You can do more nuanced, context-specific searches that consider the relationship between all elements of your search and get meaningful results to guide your research. This way, you can devote more time to expressions of creativity and tailor your search to find the best resources to explore an idea. AI can help optimise search abilities and create order.

Have you learned anything new from The Dazed Archive?

Rian Phin: I learned about the history of Dazed coverage on influential Black contemporary visual artists reshaping art like Kudzanai-Violet Hwami. I asked how to apply what I learned about being a fashion theorist and learned about merging theory with practice. Zowie Broach advised, “Fashion isn’t just an end product; it’s a conversation with culture”.

What’s the best piece of advice The Dazed Archive has given you?

Rian Phin: I learned about embracing the cultural exchange between fashion and the broader world, which was advice from an article on Vivienne Westwood’s legacy of activism in fashion. I searched for literary references used by impactful fashion figures covered in Dazed, and I got results on the broad scope of influences on Vivienne Westwood’s work and how they contributed to her ability to design alternative fashion with political messaging. Ultimately, I realised that the dialogue between designers and their audience is essential in reflecting the times and documenting history. It challenges creatives to understand themselves and the world around them.