FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
PROCESS
Our 3rd workshop took place on the 11th of April at 10am in the Makers room at Fab Lab Limerick. Early start on a sunny spring Saturday morning to finalize the function concept and have an initial discussion for the form of our garment. By now we have a core group of participants and we are getting to know more about each other each time we meet, as well as a few new comers with a fresh outlook and enthusiasm on the project.
We arrived prepared with narrowed down ideas (as we specified in the homework) for the function based on the initial concepts from our last workshop. This time around we had to choose one final idea to continue through out the rest of the project. We wrote all the ideas on our flip chart paper and discussed them as we went along, tightening up any loose ends. We put up our sheets of paper on the wall and had a 10min break to take it all in and think about our preferred selection before we put them to a vote.
After break Dave Hunt went through the function possibilities and limitations for each idea before we voted. It was difficult to pick the one but we came to a conclusion and smoothly agreed.
A lot of the ideas put forward overlapped with the technology involved so we feel comfortable and confident that the remaining ideas will be developed in the future. We had allocated one hour for this part of event but it ran though to an hour and a half. As this is the very important and decisive part of the whole project we dedicated as much time as needed to finalize the function without rushing.
Once we had our function and our market decided we started discussing the visual opportunities and a ways of how to approach the initial design of the garment.
At the end of the event we evaluated the skills within the group and mapped out what kind of equipment and materials we can individually offer to the workshops.
FINDINGS
The final idea for our function – synchronized formal wear for a trendy and fashion forward teen couple – means there will be visual communications between two garments demonstrated by light patterns or colors based on a touch or a movement.
As a starting point we will design one garment as a part of womanswear and one garment as a part of menswear. Once these initial designs are resolved concept can be easily applied to various couples.
We also found that the technology in the function ideas overlapped and some of the other ideas can be implemented within.
Understandably the primary source of inspiration is derived from the electronic and real function of the garment.
The secondary source of inspiration is based around either one of these terms :
symbiosis, metamorphosis or equilibrium
Now that we will be tackling the form we are starting a group board on Pinterest where we can share our visual inspirations to create common mood boards.
We will also keep constant communication on the Facebook within the group to share our findings and ask questions.
It is important for us to share various different available electronic components we can use as the fashion design will have to be made accordingly to accommodate them.