Course Title: Evaluate commercial viability of designs

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: GRAP5175C

Course Title: Evaluate commercial viability of designs

School: 350T Fashion & Textiles

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C6079 - Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology

Course Contact : Mandy Penton

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99259202

Course Contact Email:mandy.penton@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Ginny Yarnton: virginia.yarnton@rmit.edu.au
Susie Weir: weirdesign@pobox.com
Arnold Andrew arnold.andrew@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

LMTFD5009A Cost design production

Course Description

This unit covers the skills and knowledge to evaluate the commercial viability of the mass production and sale of fashion designs.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

LMTFD6001A Evaluate commercial viability of designs

Element:

1 Review business position
2 Analyse fashion designs
3 Apply selection criteria to fashion designs
4 Establish evaluation mechanisms

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Current business plan is analyzed.
1.2 Business objectives and financial targets are identified.
1.3 Current business practices are identified and relevance for future developments is determined.
1.4 Past products are identified and records of commercial success analyzed.
1.5 Workplace criteria for measuring commercial success of products are identified.
2.1 Ability of designs to meet client or target market needs and expectations is identified.
2.2 Costing and production strategies of designs are analyzed.
2.3 Alignment of designs to business goals and practices is assessed.
3.1 Workplace criteria for selection of designs are identified.
3.2 Designs are analyzed against selection criteria.
3.3 Senior management are consulted in selection of designs.
3.4 Designs are selected for commercial production.
4.1 Financial targets for design production are established.
4.2 Monitoring systems are implemented to measure progress of design production and return.
4.3 Design selection is evaluated against commercial targets.


Learning Outcomes


The unit applies to evaluating the ability of fashion design concepts and proposals to assist in achieving business goals and financial targets. Skills covered by this unit are used to assist in the making decisions about which fashion designs to select for commercial production and sale.


Details of Learning Activities

This course is part of the SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT cluster.
You are guided through the process of researching and selecting a viable fashion business proposition in a niche market area that you’d like to pursue. Self-directed research is an integral part of the project. An economically sound Business Plan underpins the Course and your chosen fashion concept is completed through the production of a small collection of prototype garments. The course contains an element of computer aided design for patternmaking.

Learning activities will include tutorials, workplace visits and a workshop on advanced computer skills.


Teaching Schedule

The time table below considers all aspects of the project
Week 1
Project Brief introduced & work commences
Consider outlines for:
• Business Goals
• Target market
• Design themes
• Style requirements
• Other considerations relating to outline
Week 2
Story board outline ready for critique these will include:
• Fashion Range concepts
• Styles
• Source Fabrics Trims & accessories
• Production Feasibility
• Other considerations relating to outline
Week 3
Story boards Due
Commence Pattern Work this will include
• Identify target market
• Choose silhouettes and Block shapes
• Patternmaking Technology plan developed including objectives & time frame
• Critical paths are analysed

Commence Business Plan this will include
• Client / Target market needs
• Pricing and budget
• Costing and production strategies
• Global Fashion Trends
• Previous styling analysed
• Marketing
• Other considerations relating to business plans
Week 4
Continue working with all aspects of project
Week 5
Continue working with all aspects of project
Week 6
Continue working with all aspects of project
• Marketing research draft
Week 7
Approve final pattern & Production Sample
Week 8
Continue working with all aspects of project
Week 9
Presentation of Small Business Project to Assessment Panel


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Gelhar, Mary (2005) “The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An insider’s look at starting and running your own fashion business”.
Harder, Frances (2000) “Fashion for Profit”


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Your assessment tasks are a combination of practical and theoretical. Assessment will occur throughout the course, enabling you to receive ongoing feedback about your progress. Written feedback will be provided for each piece of work.

Authentication of Work

PLEASE NOTE: Tasks that work that has not been authenticated during class as your own work will not be considered for assessment. Regular attendance is necessary.

You will be given further information about the assessment tasks in class.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment is ongoing through observation and demonstration.

On completion of the Project, a portfolio of work is submitted. The portfolio contains several pieces of work:

6. Design Storyboards
7. Patterns on Card
8. A collection of garments representing the fashion range.
9. A Business Plan.
10. Supporting documentation in the format of a bound report.
You are assessed on technical skills and knowledge as well as a host of relevant employability skills such as communication, teamwork, negotiation and the ability to project manage.


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Homework
Learners are expected to conduct relevant research outside of school hours. This includes visiting fashion enterprises and sourcing information online. Learners continue working on their project during non-teacher directed time.

Graded assessment
The Project is assessed holistically based upon the contents of the portfolio and observation/demonstration of employability skills

Grade Mark Description
HD > = 80 High Distinction (Competency Achieved)
DI 70 - 79 Distinction (Competency Achieved)
CR 60 - 69 Credit (Competency Achieved)
PA 50 - 59 Pass (Competency Achieved)
NN < 50 Fail (Not Yet Competent)
CA Not Applicable Competency Achieved
NYC Not Applicable Not Yet Competent

Course Overview: Access Course Overview