Bode

Project Brief:

Design a product that fits within the company’s existing product line. Develop a marketing strategy that includes product positioning and target audience.

About:

A love letter designed for my favourite textile designer Emily Adams Bode, featuring my father.

The tradition of decorating corduroy began in early 1900s universities, when seniors wore corduroys that served as a literal canvas for their experiences, personalities, and achievements. Using permanent ink, they adorned their cords with illustrations, symbols, and initials, creating a one-of-a-kind garment that marked a rite of passage and displayed their journey.

Can I design only using materials already available to me?:

One objective for this project was to implement my concept through vernacular design, by using only materials readily available to me in all aspects of the project’s construction, packaging, and design.

I wrote my father a questionnaire asking him about what little things in his life brought him joy.

Next, I patterned and constructed the jacket using thrifted fabrics that I already owned. I then painted images of our family cabin, my grandfather’s golf clubs, and our last name on the back of the jacket. My intent was to emulate the tradition of decorating senior corduroy jackets while highlighting significant aspects of my father's life.

Overall, I felt that the paintings were somewhat rushed and acted more as an experiment. If I redo the project, the outcome would be more successful. Still, I appreciated constructing both the pattern and jacket. I was also fond of designing sustainable packaging and implementing vernacular design into every aspect of this project by using existing fabrics, paper, and other items.

Final thoughts:

As designers, it's crucial that we think critically about the materials we use in our work and the impact they create. Throughout this project, I faced issues that required adjustments in my design; however, these changes led to a better overall design concept. Instead of buying to solve the problem, I had to think my way to a solution with the materials available to me. This demonstrated that solutions to our immediate problems surround us; we just need to think critically about them.

Closer look below