Activewear Design Short Course
Course description
Course overview
The Activewear Design Short Course offers a valuable insight into the thriving activewear industry and the rising market opportunities for 'beyond the gym' activewear that prioritises consumer needs.
Students build their knowledge through a combination of independent work, PowerPoints, practical workshops, one-to-one tutorials and regular group feedback. Students gain an insight into the process of trend forecasting and the importance of emerging materials and colour trends in the activewear sector, examining innovation and brand innovators.
The course explores customer profiling and how to create accurate working drawings for use in the planning and making process. Students create an individual concept to explore their design content and develop a final illustrated line up of their own creative capsule collection.
Please note that this is a creative design-based course and does not include any garment construction work or pattern cutting. Students are encouraged to work independently after each session to get the most out of the course.
This course is available in two formats: a 5-week evening course or a 3-day course.
Who this course is for
This short course is aimed at fashion designers, foundation students, graduates, creatives and those looking to change career. Students should have a creative eye, a passion for fashion forward activewear and a desire to learn.
The course would be an excellent fit for those looking for support and mentoring to take them to the next level, as well as those who want to learn a new skill. Students will need to have basic IT skills to produce a concept board and basic drawing skills.
Key information
Topics covered
- The process of trend forecasting and the importance of emerging materials and colour trends in the sector
- Creating a 'concept' and how it influences design and drives creativity
- Design and development using mixed media techniques to convey your ideas
- How to implement a design idea for industry level manufacturing with the necessary toolkit
- Design and illustrate your own capsule collection as a line-up
Learning outcomes
- Gained an insight into how trend forecasting influences design and drives creativity
- Learnt about the importance of creating a concept board
- An understanding of the importance of activewear materials and colour trends emerging in the sector
- Developed effective ways to use mixed media techniques for design development
- A sound knowledge of the customer profile
- An insight into how to create a working drawing for industry level manufacturing with the necessary toolkit
- Become familiar with creating a specification sheet (technical pack) and range plan
- Designed and illustrated their own capsule collection as a line-up
- Produced a body of work that could contribute to a portfolio for industry and/or further study
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance.
Materials
Required materials:
- Tablet / laptop
- A4 Layout paper pad
- Technical / mechanical pencil
- Eraser
- Fine line black drawing pen
- Selection of materials for your colour work (e.g. coloured pencils, paints, inks, felt pens, chalk, brushes etc)
- Magazines for collage
Recommended materials:
- Anything interesting for collaging e.g. tissue, newspaper, fabric/paper scraps
- Coloured tape
- Yarns
- Wool
- Ribbons
- Needle/thread
Tutor
Penny Warner
Cristina Adami
Cristina Adami is an Italian designer based in Clerkenwell, London. After completing a BA in Visual Communication at the prestigious Institute Superiore Industrie Artistiche (ISIA) of Urbino in 1997 she completed her studies with an MA in Design Studies at CSM in 2001. Her fascination with fashion and technology inspired her dissertation research into the role of clothing in the absence of gravity. This let to work in Sportswear, Activewear and Swimwear. Her design work encompassed development of technical textile for athletes, collaborations with international clubs and sponsorships including creating specific lines for the Olympic Games and the development of speed enhancing fabric Powerskin.
Throughout the years Cristina has also designed for a number of UK and International brands and retailers. Cristina’s design work is distinguished by a mix of functionality and bohemian aesthetic. Brands she worked for include Arena International, Fila, Fifa, David Lloyd, Firetrap, Monsoon, Jaeger, Maison Derhy, Victoria’s Secret as well as designing Florence Welch first US tour costumes and the Julian McDonald range at Debenhams.
As an educator Cristina supports students creativity by encouraging self-expression and team work development. Her teaching combines theoretical background with industry based workshops that links learning to real life example preparing students to industry.
Cristina current research is in the role of AI visualisation to aid creativity and development. Her focus is the role of analogue creative techniques in a digitalised world. She questions the importance of creative experimentation in relation to technological advancement. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible is central to her practice and her pedagogy, encouraging students to explore possibilities out of the beaten track to find their own authentic voice.
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