DFB204 Fashion Product Development


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:DFB204
Credit points:12
Equivalent:DFB406
Assumed Knowledge:

Introductory fashion visualisation skills are assumed knowledge.

Coordinator:Melanie Finger | m.finger@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit further develops your knowledge, skills and application for professional fashion communication and product development in the fashion industry. It focuses on commercial fashion design and product styling. Developing consumer products in the fashion industry requires diverse skills and knowledge in trend analysis, range building, sourcing, finishing, specification sheets and marketing to ensure successful and sustainable outcomes. By developing a foundational knowledge in product development you will be prepared to work in commercial fashion or to create your own fashion brand.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Analyse the market to determine appropriate styling, fabrication and finishing for timely fashion products and/or services.
  2. Apply research of trends, design, supply chains and manufacture to develop a commercial fashion range.
  3. Apply written, visual and oral communications skills for fashion contexts taking into account industry relevant contexts.
  4. Critically reflect on the process of developing and proposing product ranges.

Content

The unit covers the following:

  • trend/design analysis
  • fashion research skills (primary and secondary)
  • textile sourcing and selection
  • specification sheets for factories
  • garment finishing and manufacture
  • product specification
  • business skills for garment production
  • planning for change in the fashion industry
  • fashion supply chain logistics and its importance for business planning and sustainability
  • careers and business opportunities within the fashion industry.

Learning Approaches

In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:

  • lectures
  • workshops
  • online learning materials

You will be encouraged to adopt a ‘real-world’ approach to product development. As well as individual work you will be asked to collaborate in teams to design a production ready, commercial fashion range, using state of the art techniques and technologies. Modules to support digital design technologies will be available.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester. In addition you will receive feedback and advice from your tutors monitoring the progress of your research and development. You will share ideas with peers and provide constructive feedback to others over the semester. Online criteria sheets and Canvas general comments to cohort group will be used to provide feedback on assessable items.

Assessment

Overview

In this unit students you will conduct product development research into garment styles, fashion trends, and fashion business models in order to propose product ranges responding to consumer needs. You will be introduced to brand and designer signatures, and collaborate in teams to develop a commercial fashion range that will fit a specific brand’s market and will be production ready. You will take part in two assessments, in the first one you will independently research a specific fashion segment to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the fashion reality of that particular market. For the second assessment, with a more ambitious approach, you will collaborate to successfully develop a market-ready fashion range that will fulfil the needs of the target consumer audience.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Fashion Forecast

This assignment requires you to research current in-store style specific fashion trends in order to forecast designs for in-store delivery for a defined season. You will need to analyse current trends and styles, as well as the specific needs of your chosen brand, in order to develop a capsule collection that reflects your research and design insights. Through this process, you will develop critical thinking and research skills, as well as an understanding of the creative and strategic aspects of fashion design. You will also need to communicate your ideas effectively through visual and written means, demonstrating your ability to present and articulate your design concepts.
 
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Weight: 40
Length: 2000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment: Range Plan

For this task, you are asked to submit the 10 designs (front and back) you can come up with for your groups chosen brand. The work will need to be annotated with textile, colour, print and trim descriptions. You will present this on separate pages as high quality hand drawn / or technical drawings. Your work must reflect the aesthetics of the chosen brand.  

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 10
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 9
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment: Capsule Collection

In this task, you are required to collaboratively research and develop a collection (season to be defined) for a fashion brand , while creating supporting documentation that justifies your design decisions. You will also need to submit an reflection of your peers as an individual component. This assessment will enhance your teamwork, research, and documentation skills, as well as deepen your understanding of fashion design.
 
The report and Feedback Fruit components are eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Weight: 50
Length: 3000
Individual/Group: Individual and group
Due (indicative): Week 12
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

You will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection and specialised software such as Adobe Creative Cloud. Costs will vary depending on capability and storage requirements.

Resources

There is no set text for this unit but additional resources and readings will be available on Canvas through the semester.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no undue risks associated with the delivery of this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries

  1. Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
    Relates to: ULO1, Fashion Forecast, Range Plan, Capsule Collection
  2. Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
    Relates to: ULO1, Fashion Forecast, Range Plan, Capsule Collection
  3. Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Fashion Forecast, Range Plan, Capsule Collection
  4. Communicate effectively in a range of forms across multiple media modes, for sharing and disseminating knowledge, skills and ideas, and collaborative practice and navigation of social networks.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Fashion Forecast, Range Plan, Capsule Collection
  5. Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, Fashion Forecast, Range Plan, Capsule Collection
  6. Practise self-management of career and learning with enterprise and an entrepreneurial outlook, including the building of personal and professional relationships and partnerships.
    Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Fashion Forecast, Range Plan, Capsule Collection