Course Title: Evaluate commercial viability of designs

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2010

Course Code: GRAP5252C

Course Title: Evaluate commercial viability of designs

School: 350T Fashion & Textiles

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C6089 - 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 Yarton virginina.yarton@rmit.edu.au

Travis Hart travis.hart@rmit.edu.au  

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:

LMTFD6001B Evaluate commercial viability of designs

Element:

1. Review business position

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Current business plan is analysed.
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 analysed.
1.5 Workplace criteria for measuring commercial success of
products are identified.

Element:

2. Analyse fashion designs

Performance Criteria:

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
analysed.
2.3 Alignment of designs to business goals and practices is
assessed.

Element:

3. Apply selection criteria to fashion designs

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Workplace criteria for selection of designs are identified.
3.2 Designs are analysed against selection criteria.
3.3 Senior management are consulted in selection of designs.
3.4 Designs are selected for commercial production.

Element:

4. Establish evaluation mechanisms

Performance Criteria:

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


In this unit you will required to develop the skills and knowledge as it 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

Blended learning, consisting of classroom activities, self directed research and practical workshops. Self-directed research is an integral part of this holistic project. Out of class time for this project is around 20 hours a week. Students are to be reminded that this is a full time course.
The project has been sectioned into three parts, however each part has several tasks each with their own individual due dates, for more detailed information on each task please see individual task sheets. This is to assist orderly planning for all aspects of the project. Completion of the project on time to a satisfactory level is part of the assessment. Overcoming unforseen circumstances and problem solving are an interracial part of project management.
The student must complete each section relating to the overall project. The student must pass each task in order to be deemed competent and be able to gain a passing grade for the project.


Teaching Schedule

Week 1
Introduction to projects - PART A, B & C
Vision / direction of niche market
Research trend forecast
Introduction / review to Gerber
Pattern skill development
Week 2 - 3
Pattern skill development
Start business plan
Continue research and trend forecast
Generate and develop concepts / ideas
Design skill development
Fabric sourcing and testing
Gerber skill development
CAD skill development
Production skill development / block fitting
Week 4 – 5
Block development
Block fitting
Continue business plan
Develop concept / refine ideas
Design skill development
CAD skill development
Pattern idea experimentation
Fabric / embellishment testing
Start patterns for final sample garments
Begin costing
Week 6 – 7
Finalise blocks
Toile and experimentation
Start pattern for final
Continue business plan
Develop designs
CAD begin final presentation boards
Fabric / embellishment testing
Continue costing
Week 8 – 9
Pattern development
Toile and experimentation
Develop designs
Design skill development
CAD skill development
Pattern idea experimentation
Fabric / embellishment testing
Start pattern for final
Cut final
Start production of final sample garments
Continue costing
Finalise business plan due week 8
Week 10
Continue on all aspects of holistic project
Part A final patterns complete
Week 11
Continue on all aspects of holistic project
Week 12
Continue on all aspects of holistic project
Business plan review and reflection
Week 13
Continue on all aspects of holistic project
Part A - garments and patterns due
Week 14
Continue on all aspects of holistic project
Week 15
Part A graded patterns due
Part B final patterns due
Part B & C final storey boards due
Week 16
Presentation of all projects to teaching staff


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Extensive use of school and faculty library incluing use of internet , periodicals and trade magazines.

Further to this students are to also look at, assess, review and analysise current market trends, and final instore garment presentation (design, construction and finish is to be considered).


Overview of Assessment

Detailed course and assessment requirements and information will be made available to you first week of class. Specific details will be explained to you during scheduled classes.

This course comprises both practical and theory components. You will be expected to attend and participate in class activities.


As well as class activities you will be required to undertake research and assessment practice outside of regular class times and participate in formal assessment tasks.


Assessment Tasks

Part A – Small business proposal. This section applies skills associated with guiding the development of fashion product designs to meet client and business goals and strategies. Work may be applied for own processes or to direct activities of others. 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. An economically sound Business Plan underpins the Course and your chosen fashion concept is completed through the production of a small look range or collection of prototype garments. The choice of garments should encapsulate the concept of the niche market area.
To successfully complete this section you must include:
 Business proposal and Plan
 Proof of research into business / design choice
 Design boards (inclusive of fabric swatches and colour choice)
 Correct technical diagrams complete with supporting specifications
 Garment cost sheets
 Justification of fabric choice by providing proof of appropriate fabric testing.
 Pattern drafts
 Garment toile’s’ and experimental component work
 Final patterns
 Computer graded patterns and fabric estimates based on proposed production information
 Completed final garments
Further information relating to section task please see the appropriate task sheet


Part B – Viability: Competition Garment. This highly creative section of the project and has a strong focus on experimental design processes and students are guided on how to respond to a complex design brief. After browsing the many fashion competitions on offer, you choose and enter one. A catwalk creation is produced based on the niche market developed in part A. The cat walk garment is to be highly detailed and contains advanced construction processes. Competition is to be the individual’s choice and the resulting garment(s) must meet the competition criteria.
To successfully complete this section you must include:
 Proof of research into design choice
 Design boards (inclusive of fabric swatches and colour choice)
 Correct technical diagrams complete with supporting specifications
 Garment cost sheets
 Justification of fabric choice by providing proof of appropriate fabric testing.
 Pattern drafts
 Garment toile’s’ and experimental component work
 Final patterns
 Completed final garments
Further information relating to each section please see the appropriate task sheet


Part C – Viability: commercial Range Students are to choose one of the three commercial design briefs; and then design a small range of commercial garments to be developed to a conceptual stage. The mini range proposal is analysed and modified for mass production. The student must identify the proposed label, and research into this label in order to justify their choice.
To successfully complete this section your final work must be supported by:
 Choose a label or organisation that produces mass market garments as outlined in your brief
 Provide proof of research
 Design boards
 Colour and fabric choices (inclusive of fabric swatches)
Further information relating to each section please see the appropriate task sheet


Assessment Matrix

  Task 1
Business plan
Task 2
Design
Task 3
Pattern making
Task 4
Garment Production
Task 5
Support Documentation
Review Business position  X        
Analyse Fashion designs  X  X  X  X  X
Apply Selection Criteria to Fashion Designs  X  X      X
Establish evaluation Mechanism  X  X      X

Other Information

Refer to individual task sheets (as handed out in class) for further details and 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.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview