Fashion Forecasting

Part 1: The Function.
What are fashion prediction companies? What services do theyprovide?.
Who are they? Here & There, WGSN, Promostyl, Trend Union,Peclers, Concepts Paris.
How do they work?.
Who are their customers - from designers to retailers,manufacturers, window dressers?.
Employees - designers, graphic designers, freelancers indesign and illustration, photographers, weavers, knitters, printersetc.
The need to be first!.
Part 2: The Process.
What is 'direction'?.
How they find inspiration for a new seasons themes? -instinct, travel, exhibitions, politics, social conditions,libraries etc.
Why 'colour' first and what's involved? Fibreand fabric manufacturers.
Market levels catered for using relevant illustrationstyles.
How does the 'look' emerge?.
Gathering intelligence - freelance reporters, shops,retailers, freelance photographers.
Where trade fairs and international fashion shows fit in.
What is consultancy - working with customers to developand market product.
Sampling with directional garments.
Part 3: Communicating ideas/Illustration.
As a case study (1-3):.
1. Developing trend information.
2. Generating student's own intelligence material.
3. Developing design, for example, for three themes.
Up-to-date illustration techniques - intermediate level,using the computer and software such as Adobe PhotoShop andIllustrator (raster and vector graphics) to convincingly promote atrend. Instructions on a variety of achievable effects.
Gallery of new generation of styles.
Part 4: Promotion.
Graphic techniques and achievable effects using theaforementioned software and also page layout software such as QuarkXpress/Adobe InDesign.
Simple use of typography, corporate identity, grids?.
Contemporary promotional activities/stencil campaigns, work likeBernie Reid, Lizzie Finn, Julie Verhoeven, Deanne Cheuk, butoriginal variations.
Gallery of new methods of promotion