TOTE

Soft shells: Tote

Learning Objectives:

  • Developing basic patternmaking skills
  • Exploring materials
  • Developing machine and hand sewing
  • Translating conceptual designs to 2-D and 3-D forms
  • Exploring utilitarian nature of forms for function

 

Step one:

8-10 sketches of different styles of totes.

Pick your top 3 styles and explore with in depth drawings.

Pick your top design to create. Think about what how you’ll attach straps.

 

 

Step two: Make two patterns for your design, one will be used for your final design and one will be used with tape to create a paper mock up of your tote.

 

 

 

 

Step three: Pin pattern to your preferred fabric and cut out the pieces necessary.

 

IN DEPTH PROCESS

TOTE BASICS

  1. Cut all pieces.
  2. Iron all pieces.
  3. Draw on all seam allowance with chalk.
  4. Iron down the seam allowance and pin down.

STRAPS

  1. Cut out straps.
  2. Iron down.
  3. Mark the middle of the strap and fold each edge to the middle.
  4. Iron down.
  5. Fold in half again and carefully iron down.
  6. Sew 1/4 inch from each side (only one side is necessary, however I liked the look of having two stitches on either side of my strap.)
  7. Iron down
  8. Repeat 2-7 for all other straps.

POCKET

  1. Cut piece for pocket
  2. Iron down
  3. Draw on seam allowance
  4. Fold and pin seam allowance
  5. Iron down
  6. Sew each side individually
  7. Cut corners to prevent bulking up
  8. Iron down after each side sewn.
  9. Iron when all sewn.
  10. Determine where you want to put the pocket on the inside of your tote.
  11. Measure everything to make sure the pocket is places correctly.
  12. Pin down pocket.
  13. Sew three sides into bag.

TOTE CONSTRUCTION IN ORDER

  1. Straps (3 total)
  2. Inside pocket construction and sewn in.
  3. Sew the left and right sides of the tote with the long strap attached
  4. Top, including two short straps, and closure aspect.

ZERO WASTE GARMENT

 

STRUGGLES: The muslin that was originally designed with was a different width than the fabric I ended up choosing. This made it difficult for me because I hadn’t realized this mistake had been made until I had my final fabric cut to the pieces I needed.

If this wasn’t a zero waste dress I would have cut the excess fabric that was on the back of the shirt. I would have kept it a two – piece dress but the top would have fitted more like a shirt than a high low contraption.

This dress was very challenging for me and it allowed me to think critically about how I would going to make it work without cutting a single piece. After a lot of frustration I finally finished the two piece dress. After submitting this assignment I plan on working on the dress more in order for it to reach my level of satisfaction, which may include some cutting.

Overall, I enjoyed this assignment and it pushed me to my creative limits especially because I am not a fashion major and am unfamiliar with how some style dresses are made.

First Draft of Design Brief

In seminar my research question is how gender roles affect contraceptive use. I came across the information about how young adults are the leading group to get STDs, and a huge part of this is due to gender roles and how it’s more of an act of persuasion for women to ask their sexual partner to use a condom rather than a shared responsibility. I then wanted to think of a system to empower women to be the ones who take charge in relationships and make sure to use condoms.

This system in studio class is going to be intervening in the major condom brand Trojan by introducing Trojan Discreet. Trojan Discreet is going to be sold like regular trojan condoms however the packaging of the actual condoms will be different. The condoms will come in a small cylinder tin unlike the usual plastic tight wrapped condoms. The condom containers don’t resemble the regular condom packaging and if anything they resemble something you would carry in your purse like mints of some sort. This aspect of it was made specifically for women to feel empowered to carry these in their purse or on them wherever they go so that when the time comes, they feel comfortable to pull out their Trojan Discreet.

For the actual system I made the box that the 12 condoms come in, the tin packaging for the individual condoms, and lastly a poster advertisement that has a statistic about STDs while also promoting Trojan Discreet.

The purpose of this system is to challenge the gender roles of who should be carrying condoms in relationships. My goal is too impact women who when the time comes are hesitant and self conscious to ask their partner to wear a condom. Many people believe that it should be the man’s responsibility to wear a condom because he is the one wearing it, however, this role should be shared and shouldn’t be only the males choice whether or not he wears one. Condoms that are marketed towards women will help empower them to feel like it’s their responsibility and their choice as well.

This system relates to my research question because Trojan Discreet challenges the exact gender roles I’m researching. My research findings indicate that a huge reason for women not asking men to wear condoms is because it is more of an act of persuasion rather than a shared responsibility. My system challenges this problem.

One of the main parts of my research that led me to create this system was when I was finding information on why people in sexual relationships don’t wear condoms. I found that the confidence gap (Where men are more confident and women are more self conscious when asked to hold authority) is one of the main reasons to why condoms aren’t being used. Women have trouble voicing that they want their partner to wear a condom and I knew that after knowing this I wanted to find a way where this would be easier for them. Women shouldn’t have to worry that their partner might say no, instead they should be the ones who insist they wear the condoms, and by having them readily available it makes it easier for them.

After knowing that I wanted to market condoms towards women I also thought of how the system should be designed. I thought the color of the box/packaging/ad should be a purple/pink color so that it really states that it is also for women. I knew that the packaging should be different so that women would feel no discomfort in carrying the condoms in their purse or wallet. Having discreet individual packaging leaves women feeling more confident in carrying them anywhere. Lastly, I wanted to make STDs more aware by everyone especially women so I created the ad that says “1 in 5 Americans have genital herpes, 90% are unaware they have it.” This statistic in particular is the most terrifying because even if someone says they don’t have any STDs they could still have it and just be unaware. The ad also promotes Trojan Discrete as a way to reach out to women more.

 

My audience is women ages ranging from 15-24. The most successful way a person would be able to engage with my prototype would be to carry the condoms on them and/or use them. Realistically if I wanted feedback from my audience I would probably create a survey asking the intended audience how they would feel purchasing, carrying, and using the prototype and also how the advertisements affected them. Or I will ask for people to write honest feedback of the prototype and how each product affects them.

SYSTEM:

Engagement Process

I talked to 10+ women on how my system would make them feel and how it would affect them. These are quotes from some of the women I spoke with.

“The statistic is really powerful because 1 in 5 is a HUGE percentage. If I was sexually active with multiple people at a different time then I would carry condoms like these. (On the individual packaging of the condoms) Yes I think it is effect because they are discreet enough to be used when wanted, not as a message that you want sex. It gives the woman the ability to use them when wanted.”

“They’re cute looking but maybe if you want the individual packaging to be more discreet then you could take off the trojan logo on it because it kind of makes it obvious that it is the condom brand. However if it’s in your purse then it probably wouldn’t be that noticeable at all.”

“They would make me feel more secure if I were to be put in the situation where I wanted to partake in protected sex.”

“Since the ‘Genital Herpes’ is in all caps and is meant to catch the eye of viewers, it does make it effective in terms of making it aware to me.”

“I believe the system would have a positive impact in terms of the double standard that men are usually the ones with condoms instead of women; the system is partially empowering due to it tapping into gender equality.”

“I think it’s important to have these condoms, especially the poster and how they’re marketed specifically to women.”

“The fact 90% are unaware they have it is almost too scary to be true”

Studio April 21st Homework

1.

  • In seminar my research question is how gender roles affect contraceptive use. I came across the information about how young adults the leading group to get STDs, and a huge part of this is due to gender roles and how it’s more of an act of persuasion for women to ask their sexual partner to use a condom.
  • This system in studio class is going to be intervening in the major condom brand Trojan by introducing Trojan Discreet.
  • Trojan Discreet is going to be sold like regular trojan condoms however the packaging of the actual condoms will be different. The condoms will come in a small cylinder tin unlike the usually plastic tight wrapped condoms. The condom containers don’t resemble the regular condom packaging and if anything they resemble something you would carry in your purse like mints of some sort. This aspect of it was made specifically for women to feel empowered to carry these in their purse or on them wherever so that when the time comes, they feel empowered to use Trojan Discreet.
  • Part of Trojan Discreet, I plan on making poster advertisements that not only promote the new condoms but to also inform it’s viewers.
  • The purpose of this system is to challenge the gender roles of who should be carrying condoms in relationships. My goal is too impact women who when the time comes are hesitant and self conscious to ask their partner to wear a condom. Many people believe that it should be the man’s responsibility to wear a condom because it is going on him, however, this role should be shared and shouldn’t be the males choice whether or not he wears one. Condoms that are marketed towards women will help empower them to feel like it’s their responsibility and their choice as well.
  • This system relates to my research question because Trojan Discreet challenges the exact gender roles I’m researching. My research findings indicate that a huge reason for women not asking men to wear condoms is because it is more of an act of persuasion rather than a shared responsibility. My system challenges this problem.

3) Create a strategy to engage your intended audience with the prototype in meaningful ways.

  • My audience is women ages ranging from 15-24
  • I am unsure how big a meaningful sample size would be.
  • I would probably reach my sample size in schools because that’s a good place to find women ages 15-24.
  • The most successful way a person would be able to engage with my prototype would be to carry the condoms on them and/or use them. Realistically if I wanted feedback from my audience I would probably create a survey asking the intended audience how they would feel purchasing, carrying, and using the prototype and also how the advertisements affected them.
  • A survey would be ideal and it would probably be after the prototype is made.

Made Prototype:

 

Studio: SJH Reflection

My final Social Justice Hub assignment I created a monitor system to show upcoming events, club meetings, and so on. The first thing I would do differently is my research. I would have asked the clubs that are held in the Hub what they thought about the idea of the monitor and what it should project. Their feedback should of been a priority for how I designed the monitor because they are what make up the Hub’s identity.

I would also design the monitor differently. My design looked low quality and should of been up to the standards of the other monitors around the UC. I feel like the writing was too small for the screen it would have been put on and I should have figured out a way to make everything more clear where you could read it from a far distance. Also, my idea was that the monitor would be on a continuous loop on the screen but my prototype was just one cycle instead of being continuous. I didn’t know how to loop it on my Movie program but I should have figured out a way through another app.

My documentation could have been better in the sense that I should have got more people to view it rather than just 10. All the feedback I got was good so I felt like I didn’t need a ton of people to review it. I think I also should have had the clubs that are held in the Hub review it as well. However, I think recorded the engagement process was well because I made it so there was no bias opinion by conducting an anonymous survey for random people in the Hub. The engagement was designed for my intended audience (students who use the hub) and the survey let me know their feelings of the system since I couldn’t fully get their opinion by just observing.