Visually Communicating Fashion DesignsDVC 2.1 Part A

Lesley PearceAuckland University

Step ups from level 1AS91063 1.30 Produce freehand sketches that communicate design ideas 3 credits External

AS91337 2.30Use visual communication techniques to generate design ideas 3 credits External Level 2 step ups

1.30

Related 2D/3D freehand sketching

No annotation

2.30

Using visual communication techniques: sketching, rendering, modelling, collage, overlays, digital media

Functional and aesthetic qualities

It is about telling a “story” –generating design ideas

Visual communication: Learning objective

• Refers to the effective communication and presentation of design ideas using modelling and graphic design techniques. Students learn to communicate and present their design ideas and information by applying 2D and 3D drawing techniques such as sketching, rendering, digital, annotations, instrumental, templates, collage, overlays.

• High quality visual techniques and knowledge that communicates a story to an audience – the intent of the design.

Teachers teach…

• How to appreciate aesthetic and physical characteristics of a design

• Visual communication techniques• Skills in using different media to explore design ideas• Skills in “telling a story” through visual

communication• Divergent design possibilities• Through looking at how other designers

communicate their ideas

Students need to…

• Communicate their design ideas using techniques that explore both identifiable aesthetic and functional details of a design

• Apply techniques such as sketching, modelling, rendering, collage, overlays and digital media

• Reflect on and extend divergent design possibilities

Discuss

• Aesthetic and physical characteristics of a design. How do you recognise them in fashion/textile designs?

Aesthetics

• Aesthetic qualities may include but are not limited to:

• colour• tone• texture• pattern• shape• balance• surface finish

Function

• Functional qualities may include but are not limited to:

• operation eg movement and ergonomic interface

• construction eg material and assembly• size, scale, and proportion

Aesthetics or function or both?

What is being visually communicated?

What is being visually communicated here?

And here?

What is being visually communicated through the use of a toile?

And here?

What is this story board visually communicating?

Final design – what does the photograph visually communicate?

Technique: flat schematicsA flat sketch shows the full front or full back of a design

Visual communication and idea generation

It is about using techniques to explore ideas, e.g.• starting points• abstraction • conceptual models• adapting existing products

How can students show evidence that they can use a given or find a starting point and re-interpret that as an idea of their own?

Don’t throw away the scribbles, crumpled paper, interpretative drawings from life and/or inspirational research which comes beforethe neatly drawn idea

Celebrate the first ideas? What techniques have been used?

“i was listening to a really funky swing song and somehow ended up sketching these sillies...”

Where do Ideas come from?

Where do ideas come from? Paper folding.

Find a starting point and re-interpret that as an idea of your own

Aim for excellenceGenerate ideas to become new starting points • re-generate, re-combine, overlay, re-mix, re-

invent and generate new ideas

So the focus is not just on techniques but what the techniques are for,

that is idea generation

greater attention to the details being seen as design possibilities and a range of ideas that are different (no pre-determining the final outcome with the first sketch!

Technique: Fashion illustrations

A dimensional sketch will show the depth and different angles of a design

Pencil Sketching

The ultimate goal of your sketch is to provide you and the audience, the feel of how the garment will look like when worn. This gives the sketch visual impact.

Essential to know how…

• to draw fabric • to draw the folds of clothing• to use lighting effects• To shade to create depth• to use colours and different techniques in

reflecting the movements and the poses of the model

All will enhance the quality of the sketch and gives a 3 dimensional illustrations