Client Stories
30-45 min
Ages 8+
What Will You Learn?
We have found that to develop empathy and enlarge the ideas, it is helpful to have students design for someone else, a client so to speak. By becoming acquainted with other peoples’ stories it aids in formulating their own story.
Encourage campers to use color, line, shape and texture as they make design decisions. Ask them to explain their choices so as to get beyond, “Pink is my favorite color, so that’s why I chose it.”
Feel free to create other client stories, appropriate for the age of the students you teach.
A croquis is a quick sketch in the fashion world. Croquis templates are provided so that campers don’t get stuck on drawing the figure and can focus on their design. These templates can be traced so they can be used again. Let campers know that ideas are most important, not how well they draw.
The design notes are to help designers think and do not necessarily have to have full sentence answers!
About This Adventure
Today, fashion designers are not limited to fabrics in their designs. Technology has become part of our story and is much more accessible. Young designers can use tech such as lights, sensors, and microcontrollers to tell their stories.
In this adventure, you will experience and experiment as we go through the MakeFashion Edu process to support campers as they:
learn – about the elements of fashion and circuits
design – a story and the wearable
construct – a fashion tech piece using recyclable materials and lights
exhibit – be seen! Our favorite medium is the runway.
You will be able to support your designers as they find their voices and tell their own stories through fashion pieces they create and share.
This adventure is divided into several sections, each with its own projects. The bolded project denotes the page you are on. The arrows mark the section you are in.
Tell Their Story Using the Elements of Fashion Design
Now that you are more familiar with the Elements of Fashion Design and you know how to make a circuit, it’s time for you to bring them together and sketch an outfit that tells a story.
Choose 1 or more of these clients and design a runway piece that represents their story.
A croquis can help sketch the design. Use the croquis provided as the master copy, put a blank paper on top, then trace the outline. Think about color, shape, line, texture and lights as you design.
Story 1: The Low Key Magician
This student has magical powers but doesn’t like to show them off. From flying to making things disappear to controlling the weather, there doesn’t seem to be a limit to the magic. The student doesn’t want to be known as a superhero or anything, but is always ready to help when needed. What can this student wear on the runway to tell this story?
Story 2: Nature Child
This student loves the great outdoors. If there are trees to be saved or trails to be fixed, this student is the first to volunteer. Happiest when camping or backpacking, this student is always prepared for any emergency. What can this student wear on the runway to tell this story?
Story 3: Don't Be A Litter Bug
This student is concerned with the trash on the ground in the neighborhood. In order to be a part of the solution, this student has organized a Saturday cleanup group. Children and adults meet to pick up the trash they find as they walk the streets. What can this student wear on the runway to tell this story?
About MakeFashion
MakeFashion Edu is an international non-profit working to promote learning through fashion and tech. Through hosting workshops, reach-out and push-in activities, and larger events, MakeFashion Edu sees providing access for young designers to go to industry and project-based learning as one way to pull local communities together.
SteamHead makerspace is a network of people, spaces, and events who collaborate to improve equity in education as the path forward. We believe that by embracing design thinking and a maker-mindset, education can be more engaging and meaningful, and with that more effective in preparing students for success. Check their website for their courses.
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