Yixun Wei Design Management Portfolio 2023

Yixun Wei

Adaptive Wear: Design Methodology

FRAMING MY MAJOR PROJECT.

Through years of living with a loved one with disability and of observing and reading, I came to realise that the fashion industry has not done enough to be inclusive and adaptive for consumers with disabilities. Many people in wheelchairs have stated that the fact that they could not find good quality clothing that are made for them has affect their social life negatively.

HOW MIGHT WE CREATE DESIGN THAT ARE BOTH INCLUSIVE AND ADAPTIVE FOR PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS?

The fashion/clothing industry lack of a systematic design methodology that could guide them to design adaptive clothing for people with disabilities. This project aim to research and to create a design framework and methodology to the fashion industry as well as to give an answer to this question:

The aim for this project is also to raise awareness of the current gap between fashion businesses and consumers with disabilities.

It is signifcant to realize that although in the past few years and even decades there are brands that focus on creating adaptive wear, there is still dissatisfaction and brands still fail to

The current adaptive or inclusive wear brands and companies are generally not as big and infuential as they are supposed to be, and consumers are mostly unaware that they are able to access brands that meet their needs.

Meanwhile, a future perspective for the fashion industry will be discussed as well in order to give a vision to the future.

How might we create clothing that are adaptive and inclusive for people in wheelchairs?

It is important to me to understand what wheelchair users really seek in clothing, what as a designer and

What really matters more is for larger fashion businesses to realize that adaptive wear is not a luxury or a strategy where you show your inclusivity- it is a need that can not be compromised- and

My major project focuses on building adaptive fashion for people in wheelchairs that includes a set of garments I designed and

Bringing Design Framework into the process

Discover

Lack of adaptive wear for people with disabilities

Define Develop Deliver

The gap between fashion designers/business and consumers with disabilities

A systematic design framework and prototype for demonstration

Final prototype and conclusion

Throughout the research process, the double diamond design framework was applied into developing research framework. After going through the process of discover, define, develop and deliver, a project process outline is developed to guide me through this process. I have gotten in contact with participants, introduced them to the project and asked them for their consents to conduct primary research and to collect data, required their feedback and into prototype development, and ensured I kept participants up to date on my process until their satisfaction. A consent form was sent and signed by each participant to ensure their privacy, and a feedback form was given to them each step of the design process.

This is a standardised clothing pattern including bodice, skirt, and trousers in front and back. A flat pattern is also created for me to better understanding the change that must be made in developing with real fabrics. Since most clothing pattern are developed on a standardised sized standing mannequin, designers filed to consider the extra fabric length for consumers who requires to sit all the time. Participants has reported to me that their clothing are not able to hold their body properly and entirely.

A visual ethnography was created in a journal format in order to document my own experience as well as to document interviews/researches I have conducted with my participants. With all the data collected and feedback, I was able to develop prototypes starting from showing participants a standardised clothing pattern and ask for their feedback and experience with nonadaptive clothing pattern

Prototyping

T-shirts are made to be longer in the back and shorter in the front in order to give a eliminates the excessive fabric on the users

Pattern Prototyping

T-shirts are made to be longer in the back and shorter in the front in order to give a converage on the back.

By reducing fabrics in the front, it also eliminates the excessive fabric on the users so that it gives a better look.

The most important pattern to research into is the ones where participants are sitting down. Most feedback that I received was the clothing on their lower body and I have developed new patterns that would fit the participants more.

Pattern Prototyping

More fabrics are added to the back of the top in order to give participants a full coverage and protection at the back. Getting rid of excessive fabric in the front also improve the clothing aesthetically

Skirts are made longer in the back and excessive fabrics are added to the bottom so that there are more space for participants body.

A V-shaped cutting is applied to the pattern so that it gives a better hold on the abdominal area instead of traditional cutting where it creates pressure on the stomach.

More fabrics are added to the back of trousers order to give participants a full coverage and support on their bottoms. Sections are also being made that improves the comfort when wearing them and sitting down.

Skirts are made longer in the back and excessive fabrics are added to the bottom so that there are more space for participants body.

A V-shaped cutting is applied to the pattern so that it gives a better hold on the abdominal area instead of traditional cutting where it creates pressure on the stomach.

More fabrics are added to the back of the skirt in order to give participants a full coverage and protection at the back. Getting rid of excessive fabric in the front improve the adaptivity of the skirts and made it easier for participants to put on

Pockets are added not at the side of the trousers but on the front of thigh so that items participants put there are kept safely in place and easier to reach. Zippers are added at the back of calf in order to let participants customise the air flow in the clothing.

Adaptive Wear and Accessibility: Business Strategy

This Project discusses strategies to connect fashion businesses with consumers with disabilities through business plans of a company called Accessible, Affordable, Adaptable. Accessible, Affordable, Adaptable. Is a design strategy I created to help consumers and business communicate with each other as well as to help fashion businesses become more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.

It is also a retail platform for consumers with disabilities.

Multiple business framework are developed in order to help fashion businesses to build a better, adaptive, inclusive community.

B2C Business Plan: From Brands To Consumers

Accessible, Affordable, Adaptable provides selected inclusive brands for consumers as well as a retail platform for brands.

Consumers who were struggling to find and hand-pick their items now have a system where all the information of inclusive brands are here on this single platform where they can browse through looks, compare prices, and choose what is perfect for them.

Inclusive brands now have a platform where they would not go unnoticed. They are now able to manage their products through this website and boost their sales.

Accessible, Affordable, Adaptable also provides for business who want to become more inclusive.

We share insights on adaptive design methodology which helps brands to develop new styles but still maintain their costs.

We also provide business strategies, store renovation, and client insight in order to build business up to be inclusive and friendly. We help business to be aware of all clients as well as to build a long-term relationship with them.

✤ Invest in research to develop adaptive design

✤ Make sure to let customers know adaptive wear is provided by creating campaign targeting consumers.

✤ Analyse data from customers (age, gender, etc.)

✤ Make sure decision makers, marketers, designers include people with disabilities

✤ Renovate stores

ZARA Adaptive @zaraadaptive

City Analysis A Photographic Journal

I am very lucky to be in a different city to experience cross cultural communication and connection.

I have always lived in the city and each city has its own culture and people. I would like to document that more.

In this project I took over a thousand photos to document London in the eye of a person who is not from here. The inclusivity of London with its interaction with different cultures, religions, people is fascinating and I would like to share that fascination through my photographic journal to people who has lived here their whole life or people who has never been here.

There are things seen and unseen by different eyes and I would like to show things I have seen that you might have never seen.

Residence Block, Borough

Saddlery & Harness Sign 1847, Covent Garden

Offices and residence block, Tate Declining

Buddhist temple “Foguangshan”, Oxford Street

Major League Baseball, Stradford

Crochet Doll, Leicester Square

Closed Sandwich Bar, Covent Garden

Street art and graffiti, Brick Lane

Invasive Species

Concrete Jungle

Mushrooms left on the street

Signs of washed up graffiti and gunk on the wall

Reflective Report & Creative Attribute Framework

Personal Statement

Stem with my deep interest in design, specifically fashion, I started my learning journey in the design and creative industry. After a few years of experimenting in fashion design, I started my first educational journey in fashion design foundation course at Central Saint Martins, UAL in 2019. I have gained not only knowledge on creating, navigating, and turning my ideas into reality, but also insights on how it is like working as a creative design practitioner. Through this year of expanding my knowledge in the design industry and its techniques as well as developing my skills in fashion and textile, I realized that developing myself as a fashion designer is not my ultimate goal in the design/creative industry. In 2019, I was working on a project on fashion design for people with disabilities, which is an important milestone in my creative journey, as I found that I very much enjoyed utilizing design/creative solution when it comes to real audiences, and I am passionate on pushing social changes, solving problems, and connecting with people through design. I also found that my strength and specialty lies in navigating projects, making plans, researching, and decision-making, rather than designing. I found myself enjoying the most when I was looking at a project as a design manager instead of a designer. Through this experience, I also believe that I am interested in not only fashion design, but all creative design fields, as I participated in both graphic design and architecture design projects and created satisfying works throughout this year.

Through reflecting on my journey, I decided to pursue a higher education in design management and I started the second part of my journey at Design Management course at London College of Communication, UAL, in 2020. In hope of working across different creative fields as well as being involved as a design thinker, a UX designer, a problem solver through my creativity, I finished my study in 2023.

It took a lot of effort to cope with the pandemic that took place suddenly. It was specifically difficult attending classes offline with limitations of communication and access to workshops and facilities. In the first year of this journey, I spent a large amount of time dealing with the unexpected situations when it comes to connecting with people during group work and trying to create the best with what I had in hand. In a group project in the first year where we needed to create a magazine layout with our group members, there was trouble due to our distances, but we put in extra work and effort to overcome the problem using multiple platforms to communicate with each other as well as many platforms and media to create the best design. The pandemic situation did help me to realize the fact that it is important to be prepared for sudden unexpected situations, and when there are obstacles, it is significant for a design manager to have the ability to come up with the best solution as soon as possible. It is hard to overcome many situations, but as a design manager we are responsible to always do our best and work under pressure.

In my final project that took place in 2022/2023, I was working on a systematic design methodology for people with disabilities, which I needed to develop many relationships as well as many deep meaningful conversations with my participants in my primary research. It was difficult finding and communicating with people in the beginning, as I had no idea where to start and how to start a conversation that would eventually create a long-term, trustworthy relationship. I have realized that as a design thinker for real-life people and social problems, communication is always the key as design thinkers need to create a bond and understanding with its audiences, to ensure the success of each project and to create a real meaning for their audiences. I have reached out and researched not only organizations and conferences for people with disabilities, but also research frameworks to ensure a mutual respectful conversation. I have the privilege to connect with many people who have given me countless feedbacks and insights, and I have successfully completed my final project.

From the first two years of this journey, I have gained perspective as a design manager and have gained knowledge on the business side of the design industry that helps me develop professionally, which helped me with my work as a B2B showroom assistant and digital marketer in two companies in Shanghai in 2021. I have worked at two fashion businesses, helping them to develop their brand image and to connect with their clients.

This year of my learning journey is very important to me, as we finally have access to all facilities and offline learning, and I am able to develop my final project based on my interest and research. Through this entire journey with frequent peer review, presentations, and feedback, I learned to navigate a project as both researcher, designer, and decision maker, and I learned to analyze data I collected and make decisions and take steps forward in reaction. Through my major project I have also experienced connecting with my audiences and reaching out to multiple organizations in order to collaborate and learn from them. I have also learned to look at projects not just in a creative point of view, but also from a business perspective to understand and to create a sustainable solution to a problem, which is extremely important when I work for an organization or company in the future, as I am now able to benefit them as a design manager.

Personal CV