The Design Process is a “Personal System” that a designer uses to take an idea… or rather a notion, and turn it into a well thought out design. Have you ever seen a design and wondered “how did they come up with that”? Many people often believe that great design just happens and that the designer is just “blessed”.
People tend to think that everything a good designer touches turns into something amazing. This is not true for any designer. There is a good chance that all great designs are created by designers who have developed and refined their own personal design process. They have found the method of developing their inspiration, ideas, and talents towards great design.
One of my personal favorite designers is Aitor Throup. He is a great designer, to demonstrate a unique design process. His fascination with form, Bodies in Motion, and make believe characters, inspire him. His design process is both unique and effective for him.
“The ‘tops’ (shirts, jackets, coats etc. ) I create are all cut from a pattern/block developed from my own sculptural pattern cutting process. First, I design a character in a specific pose; then, I create a miniature sculpture of the character, which I then cover in fabric, allowing the darts and seams to be dictated by the structure itself. So, all my shirts, jackets etc. look like generic garments at first, but on closer inspection, their construction lines are all equally distorted and seemingly misplaced.” – Aitor Throup
Many designers take fabric and start draping on a dress form or take a basic pattern block and begin changing and adding to the basic garment shape. We all have to admit that this a common practice and often produces pieces that we all have see in one form or another. I believe often times what hasn’t been done prior to this draping and patternmaking is the research and design development beforehand, often which has absolutely nothing to do with a Garment or even fashion sometimes.
For instance if you look at Aitor’s work… where is the fashion in imagining characters, making playdoh sculptures, folding paper people, or simply drawing the shape and movement of bodies? There is none …at least not in the beginning… only in the end can the fashion be found. So many times in or own creativity we start at the end and not the beginning…
More to come!!!
Meanwhile check out How to Fashion Design, and Google Aitor Throup, Aitor’s Design Process, it is so innovative and it gives him a distinct and original look to his designs.
Have a look at his work… and projects
www.AitorThroup.com