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Erin A. O'Brien - Thesis.pdf (1.26 MB)

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An Analysis of Designer Problem-Solving in Addressing Overconsumption of Clothing

O'Brien, Erin A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1601029403307031

Abstract Details

2020, MFIS, Kent State University, College of the Arts / School of Fashion.
Driven by fast fashion and overconsumption of clothing, the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. The purpose of this research was to explore the creative process of fashion designers in pursuit of a deeper understanding of creative problem-solving specific to fashion design as well as an effort to gain insight into pragmatic solutions for addressing the sustainability issue of overconsumption of clothing. This qualitative research examined the complex creative processes of three professional fashion designers with a minimum of thirteen years of experience. Utilizing open-ended, one-on-one interviews, participant data was recorded, transcribed and analyzed to identify emerging themes and patterns. A case study research design was used to present the findings. This study revealed that fashion designers specifically are crucial to finding sustainable solutions in changing the way the fashion industry operates. However, analysis also showed that overconsumption of clothing is a systemic problem which affects the whole fashion production model. Addressing overconsumption in the fashion industry includes a number of different facets, that include, but go substantially beyond design. In order to move away from the fast fashion model, change is required from both fashion professionals and consumers. The findings of this study add to the existing knowledge of design research and the creative process of professional fashion designers centered around problem-solving, experience, communication, customer, creative space and sources of inspiration. Furthermore, this study helps extend the knowledge of the complex issue of incorporating sustainable practices into the fashion industry by examining the challenges such as cost, thinking fabric first, continuous questions and profit as a goal.
Ja Young Hwang, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Catherine Leslie, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Robin Vande Zande, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
112 p.
Design; Sustainability
fashion design; fashion Industry; design; design research; design thinking; design process; creative process; creativity; overconsumption; sustainability; problem-solving; pragmatic solutions; product development

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • O'Brien, E. A. (2020). An Analysis of Designer Problem-Solving in Addressing Overconsumption of Clothing [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1601029403307031

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • O'Brien, Erin. An Analysis of Designer Problem-Solving in Addressing Overconsumption of Clothing. 2020. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1601029403307031.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • O'Brien, Erin. "An Analysis of Designer Problem-Solving in Addressing Overconsumption of Clothing." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1601029403307031

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1601029403307031
3,091
© 2020, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License An Analysis of Designer Problem-Solving in Addressing Overconsumption of Clothing by Erin A. O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.