Objectives
The course objective is to give students a holistic understanding of trends investigation and the ability to inspire and inform with trends via the best practices and tools they learn during classes. Students finish the course with a strategy to enter into the field of trends investigation.
Methodology
In the first two weeks class exercises teach the techniques of on and off-line evidence gathering which is used to create an unfiltered picture of what they have discovered, known as an Evidence Wall. As the course progresses we focus on fashion forecasting and analytical tools are learned. Students start to hone their intuition and learn methods of triangulating their findings in order to create a Trend Cartogram, highlighting more concrete and specific signals affecting certain aspects of culture, design and society. Then emphasis is put on learning the skills and best practices of oral, visual and written trend reports so students can confidently present their final work.
Student profile
This module is directed towards people who want to confort and investigate the field new trends. The course is also oriented to those, who for professional reasons, need to focus and specialize in order to confront a rapidly competitive and changing market sector.
High-level English language skills are necessary and basic Spanish is helpful.
Coordinator
Christina Bifano
Design and trends researcher, educator, textile designer and fashion historian with a passion for combining all interests into one. Christina has been coordinating and teaching trends investigation courses at IED Barcelona for the past 7 years. Her latest research projects include: Design Thinking for the EU Erasmus Commission, The Book of Everyone, Hotel Brummel, GNT Group, Cahier Studio (Double G Prints), Protein (London) and Stylus (London) and she has participated in producing trends-based editorials for: PSFK (NYC) and La Entropia (Barcelona). Her backgound is in textile/surface design and she has worked for large brands and small design studios alike including: JB Martin, Co. Inc., Nautica Int'l. Inc., Milkprint Studios (NYC), Colette&Blue (PA), Cahier and Coloroom/Double G (BCN). She is proud editor of Roadtrip to Innovation and Digital Natives/Get Ready! both by Delia Dumitrescu. She holds degrees in Textile/Surface Design from FIT in New York and Accademia Italiana Moda in Florence, Italy.
http://about.me/christinabifano/#
*Credits
The educational planning for all IED Master courses is aligned with the criteria established by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The IED Master program adopts a credit structure that follows the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). IED Master only awards its own private degrees.
