WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

؜Writing down, drawing, and sharing as many ideas as possible on the whiteboard

؜To select the our main project concept that you and a partner will develop through prototyping

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

BEFORE WE START

؜The goal of brainstorming is to create a generative list of ideas - that means ideas that have lots of room to grow - for potential projects that you can continue to explore. Think of these ideas as seeds that will grow and transform into your project.

1 - ENCOURAGE WILD IDEAS

2 - SUSPEND JUDGMENT

4 - BUILD ON IDEAS

5 - BE VISUAL

3 - GO FOR QUANTITY

Wild ideas can often give rise to creative leaps.

Don’t shoot down someone else’s idea.

Aim for as many ideas as possible.

Build and expand on the ideas of others.

Sketch your ideas.

ENCOURAGE

WILD IDEAS

Wild ideas can often give rise to creative leaps.

Shout out bizarre and unworkable ideas to see what they spark off. No idea is too ridiculous. State out any outlandish ideas. Exaggerate ideas to the extreme.

SUSPEND

JUDGEMENT

Don’t shoot down someone else’s idea.

The evaluation of ideas takes up valuable brain power which should be devoted to the creation if ideas. Therefore do not judge the ideas until after the brainstorming process. Note down all ideas.

GO FOR

QUANTITY

Aim for as many ideas as possible.

If the number of ideas at the end of the session is very large, there is a greater chance of finding a really good idea. Keep each idea short, do not describe it in detail - just capture its essence.

BUILD

ON IDEAS

Build and expand on the ideas of others.

Try and add extra thoughts to each idea. Use other people’s ideas as inspiration for your own. Creative people are also good listeners. Combine several of the suggested ideas to explore new possibilities.

BE

VISUAL

Sketch your ideas.

Nothing gets an idea across faster than drawing it. It doesn’t matter how terrible of a sketcher you are! It’s all about the idea behind your sketch.

BRAINSTORMING STEPS

30 MINS

15 MINS

30 MINS

Collective Brainstorming

Individual Brainstorming

Group idea jam pinup

Pin up as many possible ideas as you can. We will try to collect a big number of causes we can design for.

Develop a few of your ideas by drawing what they would look like. How does it deploy ..? How would you describe it to the rest of the studio?

؜Be prepared to share a few of your favorite ideas. Everyone will speak and draw on the whiteboard. Share as many unique ideas as possible.

Activity Prompt

Now that you already have your patterns, shapes, and visual language, we are going to think about how your design could exist in the real world.

PROJECT GOAL

Functional fashion is something you can wear or carry that solves a problem.

1. Protects (weather, safety)
2. Helps (carry, organize, access)
3. Solves a problem
4. Makes life easier

Examples:

1. A hoodie with hidden pockets
2. A keychain that attaches your phone
3. A bag that lights up at night

PROJECT GOAL

؜Every design starts with a problem.

Ask yourself:

1. What is annoying in your daily life?
2. What do you often lose?
3. What is hard to carry?
4. What feels uncomfortable ?

Turn your problem into a solution.

1. Problem: I drop my phone
2. Idea: A wearable phone strap

1. Problem: I lose my keys
2. Idea: A keychain attached to clothing

The next steps will help you shape the design of your solution!

1st

؜Collective Brainstorming

Designs & Technologies

Materials

Wearable sensors

؜Shape-changing

3D printing

Transparent

Inflatable

In this column, we will list all kinds of technologies that could be used in fashion—now or in the future.

In this column, we will list materials that could bring your patterns to life.

Bio-plastic

As a class, on a whiteboard we are going to brainstorm each category

Laser Cutting

LED s

3D printing

Gelatin Bioleather

2nd

؜Individual Brainstorming

Technologies

Materials

Wearable sensors

؜Shape-changing

3D printing

Transparent

Inflatable

Bio-plastic

؜Pick one technology and material you would like to explore for your final piece. Think of many design ideas you can create with the shapes and patterns you selected previously.

3rd

؜Individual Brainstorming

Refer to the toolbox to learn different sketching techniques. You will draw many iterations of your design, exploring different ways your concept could look and function. In each sketch, combine the technologies, materials, and design elements you selected, and think about how they work together to express who you are.

Don’t aim for a perfect drawing—this is about experimenting, testing ideas, and refining your thinking. Each sketch should help you learn something new about your design and move it forward.

ATTACHMENT LOCATION

Consider all possible locations and methods of attachment for your wearable enhancement. 

؜

Concept Thesis

+

Sketch Model

WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

؜Writing down, drawing, and sharing as many ideas as possible on the whiteboard

؜To select the our main project concept that you and a partner will develop through prototyping

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

Write 1–2 sentences describing what your design is about, describing your future fashion concept.

1. What is your project about? (What idea, story, or aspect of identity are you exploring?)
2. What materials will you use? (Paper, fabric, conductive thread, LEDs, sensors, plastics, recycled materials, etc.)
3. What does your design let people do, see, hear, or feel? (Think about experience, movement, emotion, or transformation.)
4. How do people interact with your design? (Do they wear it, move with it, activate it, adjust it, or experience it changing?)
5. What technology or technique does your design use? (Examples: folding systems, digital fabrication, electronics, smart textiles, layering, motion.)
6. Why did you choose this technique or combination of techniques? (How does it support your idea or message?)

؜1st

When writing an essay, a Project Thesis is a sentence that states the topic and purpose of your writing. A good thesis statement will direct the structure of your essay and will allow your reader to understand the ideas you will discuss within your paper.

A thesis statement for a Project Thesis serves a similar purpose. This statement will guide your research and prototyping throughout the creative process.

What is it?

How does it work?

What inspired the design?

Why is it needed?

Answer the most important of these questions for your specific project. 

Speak in the "third person". Do not use the words "I" or "you" in your thesis statement. 

As the first time working with your new partner, you will need to compromise and negotiate. 

Defining the thesis of your project is an important step. It may take multiple drafts to get it right. This thesis can evolve over the course of the design process. Ask others to critique your words. 

The Climbclaw is an attachment that helps users in climbing things like spiderman. It is made out of cardboard and has spikes. 

exohand

what

things?

what would the final materials be?

Create a quick, low-fidelity representation of your future fashion concept using a small mannequin.

1. Focus on shape, silhouette, and key idea, not details
2. Use simple materials (paper, tape, scrap fabric)
3. Show where your chosen technique or technology appears on the body
4. This model should help communicate your concept and intention, not be a finished piece

Think of this as a 3D sketch of your idea.

2nd

Create a slide showing your project statement along with you sketches and model. Take 2 mins to share out your idea to the class!

Example in next slide

3rd

EXAMPLE PROJECT THESIS

X is a wearable design created for Corey, a dancer with partial spinal paralysis. Inspired by his love for extravagant style, the piece attaches to his crutch and resembles a peacock, celebrating visibility, movement, and inner beauty. After a spinal injury six years ago, Corey continued dancing.The design uses a wooden joint connected to the crutch, supporting 15 abstract, patterned feathers that move with him—transforming his mobility aid into a bold expression of identity and pride.

Big, Bold, and Beautiful