Research Guides: FSF (Fashion Scholarships Fund) Case Study 2022: Design & Product Development

Related Guides

For additional research information try these guides:

Beyond VCU Libraries

Research Tip:

Sources on the web can be great for business research if you choose
the right ones!

- Business magazine websites like Business of Fashion, Forbes, Fast Company, Wall Street Journal & Entrepreneur

- Corporate websites for a public parent company e.g. gapinc.com

- Industry websites e.g. nrf.com (The National Retail Federation) or cottoninc.com.

Arts Research Librarian

Carla-Mae Crookendale

(she/her)

Contact:

cmcrookendale@vcu.edu
(804) 827-0367
Cabell Library, Room 121-L

Subjects: Arts, Performing, Arts, Visual

Design & Product Development Project Brief

DESIGN & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE:
For this year’s case study, your goal is to create a collection of apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty, or health and wellness products that address the needs of post-COVID-19 consumers. This collection must be for an existing fashion apparel, accessories, footwear, home, beauty, or health and wellness brand or retailer. The collection can be for an existing product category and market segment addressed by the brand, or it can propose a brand expansion into a new product category or market. As you develop your collection be mindful of the recent trends in working from home, videoconferencing, and the need to transition quickly from a meeting to home life and back again. Consider how addressing our current social structure and changes in our culture could be an additional focus to help your collection have a stronger voice and appeal.

WGSN - Design Resources

WGSN (Worth Global Style Network)
Focusing on the areas and intersections of fashion, style, and commerce, WGSN provides a global view on trends in design. Its archive contains millions of images from the runways, the street, retail outlets, and design sketches.

Find design tools including:

color, print and graphics forecasts
color libraries & color palette tool
original artwork
design components, and more.

Mintel - Trends

Mintel
Full-text market research reports covering US and global consumer markets. Reports analyze market share, segmentation, and trends. Upon first login register with your VCU email address.

Research Tips:

Browse by keywords like 2021, post-pandemic, retail, etc. to find relevant reports e.g.
- State of Retail & eCommerce: Impact of COVID-19 One Year Later - US - 2021
- Value 2021: Priority Shift
Browse 2021 trends using the 'Trend Drivers' dropdown menu:

Design Resources

Fashion portfolio : design and presentation
Call Number: Access Online
Publication Date: 2014
Topics covered include mood/fabric boards development, creation of original and innovative textiles as well as fashion silhouettes and garment details development through extensive research, quick design sketching, fabric manipulation, and draping experimentation.
Colour Hunting: how colour influences what we buy, make and feel
Call Number: NK1548 .C68 2011
The book is divided into three chapters: commerce (sell, buy), aesthetics (make), and well-being (feel). Illustrated pages are followed by in-depth case studies and interviews regarding the use of color for these three purposes.
Beyond Design : the synergy of apparel product development
Call Number: TT497 .K42 2017
Takes students step-by-step through the decision-making involved in the pre-production processes of apparel product development---planning, forecasting, fabricating, line development, technical design, pricing, sourcing, and distribution.
Developing a Fashion Collection
Call Number: TT507 .R44 2016
Focuses on the process of designing a collection, and explores different types of research, fabric sourcing, the key roles within a design team and the many sources of inspiration available to designers. .
Designing Accessories
Call Number: TT649.8 .L38 2012
Important information that any designer will need to know, examining four key items from concept to production: the bag, footwear, jewellery and millinery. The design process is explored by looking at creative product development, from gathering research to generating ideas into key products, construction techniques and the essential tools of the trade used in modern accessories design.