Research and Design for Fashion

Richard Sorger is an associate professor and course leader for MA Fashion at Kingston University, UK. He has taught at all levels of fashion education from undergraduate to postgraduate for institutions such as Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, Middlesex University, and Nottingham Trent University.Simon Seivewright exhibited his textiles at Premiere Vision in Paris and created trend and forecasting brochures for clients in Europe, Japan and America. As a freelance woven textile designer and stylist, Simon's clients included Vivienne Westwood, Christian Lacroix, Missoni, Simply Red, All Saints, BBC and London Fashion Week. Simon ran the successful fashion degree at Northbrook College, UK.

• Introduction 1. Research—What and Why? What is research? What is the purpose of research?What should research contain? Who are you designing for? Exercise 1: Brainstorming Interview: Veronika Hadjistefanou Interview: Ashish2. Choosing What to Research Choosing a theme Sources of inspiration Sustainability and ethicsExercise 2: Using primary and secondary research sources Exercise 3: Trends Exercise 4: Recycled garment manipulation Interview: Christopher Raeburn Interview: Dr. Noki 3. Compiling your Research Assembling your researchDrawing CollageAnalysis of research Sketchbook layoutMoodboards Exercise 5: Focus research pages Interview: Magdaléna Mikulicáková Interview: Zowie Broach4. Designing from your Research Market levels in fashionGenre of clothingBridging the gap between research and designModel and drape Key elements for design developmentDesign DevelopmentSelecting ideas to form a collectionExercise 6: Collaging your research onto figures Exercise 7: Working with the color wheelExercise 8: Color analysisExercise 9: Design development Exercise 10: Design development, part 2Interview: WGSN Interview: Ashley Fletcher 5. Communicating your Ideas Drawing for design Art materialsIllustrationTechnical drawingsLayout and compositionBeyond the drawing boardExercise 11: Creating a design development six-figure templateExercise 12: Technical drawing by handInterview: ThreeASFOURInterview: Shelley FoxGlossaryOnline resources BibliographyStudent resources

A solid foundation for design students to begin their creative journey in an informative and imaginative way, and which delves deep into contemporary issues of experimental cutting, sustainability and new technologies. This is an essential read for any student taking the first step into fashion education and the industry.