This brief outlines a design project focused on interactive, transformable, and social graphics. Students will go through a design process using both traditional and digital techniques to create 3 graphic designs for a sweatshirt incorporating placement prints, repeat patterns, and 3D embellishments. They will also produce a digital infographic representing their design journey. The brief emphasizes experimentation, risk-taking, reflection, and using the process to develop an understanding of 21st century graphic design. Student comments praise the open-ended nature of the brief and how it allows for unique, inspiring outcomes through combining different media and techniques in original ways.

1. The Journey of an Idea
Rachael Taylor
Fashion Lecturer for Fashion Graphics
rachael.taylor@solent.ac.uk

2. Level 4 Fashion Graphics – Design Process
OUTCOME
DEVELOP/REFLECT
EXPERIMENT
TAKE RISKS
DIGITAL
PRACTIC
E
PROCE
SS

3. BRIEF
This brief will take you on a journey, to discover new possibilities within
Graphics; it will involve themes of INTERACTIVE, TRANSFORMABLE and SOCIAL
design. Whilst travelling through the design process this project will explore
how we create, communicate and experience graphics within the 21st century
so as develop an understanding of using physical and digital graphics.
Discovering tools and processes that develop new approaches, using a variety
of research sources and concept development methods to adapt and evolve
the design process within a changing world.
The design process uses a hands on and practical approach to create graphic
designs using traditional/practical and digital techniques. The 3 elements
covered will include; the Design Process, Fashion Graphics and the use of info-
graphics as a method of evaluation to track back the journey of your ideas.

4. 3 KEY ELEMENTS OF THE BRIEF
The 3 graphic designs for a
statement sweatshirt will show
your understanding and translation
of ONE of the following concepts as
a chosen theme: - Transformable
/ Interactive / Social
The final designs need to include
the following:
1) A placement print
2) An all over repeat pattern
3) A 3D embellishment/
decoration.
One Information Graphic (digital)
The one page visual infographic
will need to visually represent
your design process and through
using the principles of information
graphics; show the journey of
your ideas when using the design
process for the final 3 graphics.
Each week in the seminars
you will learn creative
techniques and processes;
each week these need to be
recorded, collated and
evaluated within a visual
sketchbook/journal. You
should also include any
research undertaken as self-
directed study towards
further exploration of
seminar sessions and the
final digital outcomes.
Physical Sketchbook 3 Sweatshirt Print Designs Digital Info-graphic

5. Schon
Innovative thinking
around notions such as:
‘the learning society’
‘double-loop learning’
‘reflection-in-action’

6. Meta-Learning
“BEING AWARE OF AND
TAKING CONTROL OF ONES
LEARNING”
…..awareness and
understanding of learning
itself as opposed to subject
knowledge…..
John Biggs (1985)

7. Development in Process
Development Outcome
PRACTICAL DIGITAL
SPACE
TOOLS/ MATERIALS
REFLECTION
COLLABORATION
TEST IN
ACTION
Process

8. Collaboration: Research and Selection
1. Design Process: Making Thinking in 2D
Find Research
across eras in
the library.
Collaborate
Practical
Mood board
Photoshop
Digital

9. 2D: Design Fictions and Editorials
2. Design Process: Thinking and Making Stories
Using the mood
board to make
up a future
design story.
Collaborate
Practical Use the story as
an editorial or
magazine front
cover
In-design
Digital

10. 3D: Letterforms
3. Design Process: Making Thinking in 3D
Use one of the
themes and make
the word in Lego,
plasticine or paper.
Pairs
Practical
Digitally design the
word and
experiment with 3D
effects.
Illustrator
Digital

11. Thinking in Action: Reflection and Film
4. Design Process: Making Thinking in Action
Make an animation
with Vine about
graphics out of
what you find in
your surroundings.
Film the process as
it happens.
Practical
GIFS
Using software for
effects and
embedding media.
Digital

12. Drawing and Reflecting
5. Design Process: Drawing the Process
Reflect on own
process and draw
the stages to
communicate your
process.
Sketching
Practical
Translate this into
an infographic.
Choose or combine
digital tools of
Photoshop,
Illustrator or In-
design.
Digital

13. 3 Themes : Testing Ideas in Action
Interactive Design
Embellishment
Filming Process
Social Design
Social Issues
Collective Banner
Transform Design
Turning one design
into something else
Capabilities of
design
Engaging with the themes using fashion concepts, conversation and through experiencing ideas around them in-action

14. •Effects /
Motion
•Prototyping
/ 3D
•Design
Thinking / 2D
•Research
•Library select
and edit
Mood board
and Photoshop
Future
Scenarios and
Editorial
In-design
Embellish &
Stop
Animation
Combined
tools
Make Type
Illustrator
COMBINE LEARNING IN ORIGINAL WAYS TO PROMOTE EXPERIMENTATION AND PROCESS
SEMINARS

15. Students Comments
“The mixed media aspect, something which I very much enjoy,
combines digital and physical work adding an element of
variation within the designs.”
“I like how open the brief is to allow you to experiment with
different techniques and ideas.”
“The objectives to the tasks we are set in our design process
sessions tend to be quite unusual however they adapt and
unfold into unique and inspiring visuals that may not have been
achieved otherwise.”
“The process factor demonstrates clear development and how
one idea can transform into many others.”

16. https://vine.co/v/e9QIOwilvDF
FilmandGraphics

17. Embellishment
Practical
Photography
Digital
Experimentation
Joely Frost

18. Outcomes
Joely Frost

19. BENEFITS
•Experimentation
•Engagement
Autonomy
•Group Rapport
•Co-Creation
Collaboration
•New ways of
doing
•Individual
approaches
Tools and
Methods
Cross
Disciplinary
Practical
and Digital

20. Learning is
aligned:
Synergy
Each session loops
into the next session.
Feeding back into the
brief outcomes.