DEVELOP CREATIVE THINKING
What is it?:
Creative thinking is one of the most important skills that apparel design students will develop. So much clothing already exists. We need to be sure our students understand how to create value in their designs through creativity.
Developing creative design can be done in many ways, including via drawing and artwork and discussion.
- Thinking directed at seeking originality
- Breaking rules to create new ideas
- Maintaining relevance as necessary
Creative thinking is one of the most important skills that apparel design students will develop. So much clothing already exists. We need to be sure our students understand how to create value in their designs through creativity.
Developing creative design can be done in many ways, including via drawing and artwork and discussion.
Drawing and Artwork |
Discussion |
|
Drawing and artwork can be used to:
Drawing is typically the first step in any apparel design process. However, teachers can think outside the box and utilize drawing and artwork to help their students in other ways. Drawing example: Drawing pattern pieces In studio courses, we may ask students to draw (roughly) what the pattern pieces of their design will look like. After a fitting, we may ask students to go back to these drawings and indicate where changes will be made, prior to making them on the actual pattern. This may help students to develop understanding of design to pattern to garment, and thus be able to design more creative garments. Drawing example: Rich picturing In industry courses, we may ask students to draw rich pictures that show the supply chain of goods and the implications of these supply chains on environmental and human health. This may help them think creatively about how to design clothing with these external factors in mind. |
Discussion can be used to:
Discussion is used in apparel design in the context of group projects and peer review sessions. However, in many studio classroom settings, discussion would be most beneficial in the design development phase. Discussion can encourage creative thinking by providing early feedback to individuals or groups. Furthermore, early discussion at the beginning of the design process mimics industry design processes more closely. Discussion example: Gallery Walk Gallery walking is a type of discussion which asks students to create ideas or solutions in groups. In apparel design, we can ask students to ideate solutions for a specific type of garment or target consumer. Given feedback from other classmates, solutions may be adapted. Because apparel design rarely happens in an isolated manner in the industry, students will benefit from being able to design and edit in a team-based setting. Discussion example: Mapping Mapping is a concept based in UX design, but easily applicable to apparel design. There are several types of mapping exercises that may help students work together at the beginning of the design process to establish shared understanding. Developing understanding is beneficial for the team, the design process, and the end goal/product. |
References:
Ammer, R. (2019, January 17). How drawing helps you think [Video file]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqlTSCvP-Z0
Benefits of discussion. (n.d.). National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.nctm.org/Research-and-Advocacy/Research-Brief-and-Clips/Benefits-of-Discussion/
Davis, J. R., & Arend, B. (2013). Facilitating seven ways of learning: a resource for more purposeful, effective, and enjoyable college teaching (1st ed.). Stylus.
Gonzalez, J. (2019, July 26). The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies. Cult of Pedagogy. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/
NNgroup. (2018, February 23). UX Mapping Methods: When to Use Which [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YpC3R1zNdA
Tiger Spreadsheet Solutions. (2016, May 16). What is Rich Picturing? 6 Tips to Get Started with Rich Picturing [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Wc5ACx5v4&t=2s
UNSW eLearning. (2020, May 21). Gallery Walk [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afkT4O8J8sA&t=21s
Vasyukova, A. (2022, January 6). An overview of mapping techniques used in UX Design Process. Medium. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://uxplanet.org/an-overview-of-mapping-techniques-used-in-ux-design-process-756bd3d245bf
Ammer, R. (2019, January 17). How drawing helps you think [Video file]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqlTSCvP-Z0
Benefits of discussion. (n.d.). National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.nctm.org/Research-and-Advocacy/Research-Brief-and-Clips/Benefits-of-Discussion/
Davis, J. R., & Arend, B. (2013). Facilitating seven ways of learning: a resource for more purposeful, effective, and enjoyable college teaching (1st ed.). Stylus.
Gonzalez, J. (2019, July 26). The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies. Cult of Pedagogy. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/
NNgroup. (2018, February 23). UX Mapping Methods: When to Use Which [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YpC3R1zNdA
Tiger Spreadsheet Solutions. (2016, May 16). What is Rich Picturing? 6 Tips to Get Started with Rich Picturing [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Wc5ACx5v4&t=2s
UNSW eLearning. (2020, May 21). Gallery Walk [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afkT4O8J8sA&t=21s
Vasyukova, A. (2022, January 6). An overview of mapping techniques used in UX Design Process. Medium. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://uxplanet.org/an-overview-of-mapping-techniques-used-in-ux-design-process-756bd3d245bf
