Fold by fold by CHENMIAO

year

mfa thesis

designer

2016 Spring

Fold-by-Fold

Chenmiao Liang

Fold by Fold

year

mfa thesis

designer

2016 Spring

Fold-by-Fold

Chenmiao Liang

Fold by Fold

© 2016 chenmiao liang. All rights reserved. No Part of this publication can be reproduced without express permission from Chenmiao Liang. All the works in this book were hypothetical projects and made for educational purposes.

CONTACT 603.560.8085 chenmiao_liang@hotmail.com chenmiao-liang.com

A GRADUATE GRAPHIC DESIGN THESIS Written and designed by Chenmiao Liang

SCHOOL Academy of Art University The School of Graphic Design 79 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA

INSTRUCTOR Phillip Hamlett , Carolina d’Bartolo, Dave Gottwald, Bob Slote

TYPEFACE Neutraface Slab Neutraface 2 Text

SOFTWARE Adobe Creative CC

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Contents

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CONTENTS

The Issue

FOREWORD BACKGROUND THE PROBLEM

10 12 16

Development

SURVEY INSIGHTS TARGET AUDIENCE STRATEGIES DELIVERABLES

36 38 48 50 52

Exploration

VISUAL RESEARCH IDENTITY INSPIRATION DESIGN PROCESS USER TEST

58 64 88 98 122

Deliverables

WORKSHOPS WEBSITE

134 156

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The Issue

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The Issue

FOREWORD

In my graphic design studies, I found that I am passionate in nature, which makes me pay full attention to the environment and sustainable designs. When I was mandated to find out a topic for my MFA thesis project, I searched for the keyword â&#x20AC;&#x153;sustainable.â&#x20AC;? In addition, when taking the class type system, I found Public Organization Scrap highly interesting. Scrap is a Bay Area and creative reuse center, having diverted waste from landfills for use as art supplies for more than 35 years. I had so much fun with the project and was interested in dealing with different materials in the Scrap store. The most common recycled and reused material is fabric; however, I then realized that there is a huge waste of fabric and an opportunity to do something in order to avoid wastage. Therefore, I started my thesis with an idea for sustainable clothing by saving clothes from landfills. My thesis is thus based on the idea of sustainable clothing by saving clothing from landfills.

section Foreword

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We have got to change our ethics and our financial system and our whole way of understanding the world. It has to be a world in which people live rather than die; a sustainable world. It could be great. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Vivienne Westwood

BACKGROUND Textile Waste

The problem with the fast development of fashion is that the amount of discarded textile is growing rapidly every year. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (US EPA) waste study between 1999 and 2009, the volume of PCTW (Post-Consumer Textile Waste) generated increased by 40%, while the diversion rate increased only by 2%. In 2012, textile waste had increased 365% since 1960, and 27% in just the last ten years. The EPA estimates that the textile recycling industry recycles approximately 15.7% of all PCTW, leaving 84.3% in our landfills. This means that the average US citizen throws away 91 pounds of clothing and other textiles annually. On average, nationally, it costs cities $45 per ton to dispose of old clothing. Synthetic clothing may take hundreds of years to decompose.

section Background

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The Issue

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15 More than

million tons

Used textile waste is generated each year

82lbs

Clothing waste per person per year

85% 15%

Goes to our landfills

Gets recycled

section

Background

95% Up to

Are recyclable

75%

Recycled by manufacturers

25%

Recycled by consumers

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The Issue

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Textile Recycling

Up to 95% of textiles and clothing are recyclable, but only about 0.1% of recycled fiber collected by charities and take back programs is recycled into new textile fiber. Consumers are regarded as the main culprit for throwing away their used clothing, as only 15% of used clothing is recycled, while more than 75% of pre-used clothing is recycled by manufacturers. The benefits of recycling clothing is not only to prevent the expansion of landfills, but also to decrease the use of natural resources, such as water used for growing crops, and petroleum used in creating new clothing and textiles. It also decreases the need for chemicals used through manufacturing new textiles and the pollution caused by the manufacturing process. Fortunately, environmental consciousness is increasing, and consumers can break the buy-and-toss cycle by altering their shopping behavior. Most studies demonstrate a growing environmental consciousness among consumers, leading to a generalized positive attitude towards brands that are perceived as environmentally sound.

THE PROBLEM Sustainable Clothing

Starting with the substantial concept of sustainable clothing, during the research and interview processes this concept was narrowed down to the idea of recycling clothes. In this giant, sustainable world, the fashion industry pays a lot of attention to ethic clothing, fair trade issues, and improving production. Fashion brands donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work much on recycling since it will reduce buying, which means less profit.

section The Problem

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section

The Problem

18 Connections of Sustainable Clothing In this process, I found some interesting inspirations, which I have highlighted herein. People could be educated to change their minds and behaviors, and learn how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. It is a creative way for people to experiment, and hand-making or reusing clothes can add emotional value to clothing.

EDUCATION

EMOTIONAL

SLOW

Workshops can teach people how to repur-

People throw away their clothes easily because

Opposite to the fast fashion, the traditional

pose their clothes and share the experiences,

of the rapid fashion; they don't have any emo-

crafts are more expensive with higher quality,

not just for the public but also for designers,

tion with those clothes they bought. Adding

brings more emotional value. They used to be

companies.

the emotional value of their clothes, so that

regarded as uneconomic, through recycling,

they will think about their actions before they

and collaborating with new technology, they

throw them unconscious.

get cheaper and more unique.

EXPERIMENTS

LIFESTYLE

LANDFILL

Experiments mean creativity and improvement.

The traditional lifestyles are the design resources

The wasting of clothes impacts to the landfill

Designers need to improve their skills, the

for lots of people. And they can add the attitude,

directly, and a second life polyester shirt will

techniques to find out more ways for upcycling.

the emotional value of the products.

save 20 years of decomposing in a landfill.

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EFFICIENT

TOXIC

INFLUENCE

Employing water and energy efficiency pro-

The chemical impact not only on the environ-

People always get influences from the cultural

cesses will help more to reduce the pressure

ment but also to people wearing clothes that

environment. Nowadays, medias like TV shows,

from natural resource uses.

are made from harmful chemicals.

magazines, blogs, they change not just how we consume, but how we see ourselves and shape our identities.

LINE

DISCOUNT

SIMPLE

Build a line with the idea of using recycled

The advertisements of discount for recycling

Upcycling is simply reshaping and overprinting.

materials, employing efficiency methods, and

clothes will help customers to build the

Repurposing is not a complicated process, and

benefiting their labor is meant by sustainable.

consciousness of recycling. And it also saves

less changing means less wasting.

money for the companies and costumes.

EMPOWER

FULL-CYCLE

ECO

Labor like women and children need be

Full-cycle means products made with 100%

Eco-fashion, Eco-design, they both popular

empowered; it is also an aspect of sustainable

recycled materials. "It's so environmentally

in this topic, and they are so similar. Eco is

clothing. Empower is a topic that easily

responsible, and it's almost irresponsible."

responsible to our environment and helpful

resonated with others.

to the economy.

ETHIC

TAX

INITIATIVE

Ethnic fashion asks this industry producing in

Using recycled materials can save lots of

Sustainable enterprise including farming, fiber,

both environmental and humanistic way.

money by tax, which should be the big

producing, textile, etc. It helps to reduce the

attraction to companies and thrift people.

harm and the costs.

section Down-cycling & Up-cycling

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Down-cycling & Up-cycling There are so many ways to recycle clothes, but lots of people just haven't been informed, and most people have some misunderstandings about the recycling process. According to my research, most people know there are donation boxes around cities, and some of them know where they have the recycling boxes for textile. Donation and recycling are almost the same, they all work with charities. Most Americans believe there is someone who truly needs and wants our unwanted clothes. However, that is not how charities work. According to ABC News report, only 10% recycled clothes are of high quality that can be resold; the remaining 90% will go back to factories for downcycling. Downcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of lesser quality and reduced functionality. And it is the most commonly used process at industries recycling since textiles are hard to be separated in automated processes. On the other side, upcycling means reusing (discarded objects or material) in such a way to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original. Besides, one reason why people throw away clothes so easily nowadays is that we are not the producer neither the manufacturer and we have no emotional connections with our clothes. Upcycling clothes also solve this problem by adding emotional values to clothes.

8 Archetypes

section The Problem

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section The Problem

Interview

I went to different places, and held different events with different groups of people. I prepared some basic questions that I want to ask, to continue conversations and be inspired. I recorded what we discussed and arranged the recording to find out those insights. After these interviews, I realized that people lack the awareness, knowledge, and motivation to reuse clothes. However, some people showed some experience or interest in renewing clothes.

Convenience, workability and fashionable are the key facts that influence customers to upcycle clothes.

section The Problem

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I’m too lazy to do that (reuse, repurpose old clothes) . —Alice

Be creative and confidence in yourself. And knowing what you're doing. —Christalyn

I’m afraid that I will cut my clothing incorrectly.

Like stuff from the 80s are coming back. My mum is giving me like" why are you choosing the stuff I used to wear" and I say "come on mum, it's in now. — Shannon

Fashion is like a cycle. I just keep some old clothes waiting for reusing. —Sphinx

—Abby

Even it’s renewed, it’s still my old clothes. I want new clothes.

I put my old clothes on Etsy to make money. —Mandy

—Yan

This is something you will continue to. If you will throw away those clothes sooner or later why not give it a try?

Tied, dyed, sewing T-shirt together, that's what I always do, and after that, I sell them in thrift stores. Usually, I got those materials for 3 dollars, that's how I make money.

—Rebecca

—Zach

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Development

SURVEY

I created an online survey that gathered results of consumer habits, how they deal with unwanted clothes, and opinions about upcycling clothes.

section Survey

UNWANTED CLOTHES IN WARDROBE

GENDER

0-20%

21—40%

25%

41—60%

40% Male

68%

61—80%

over 80%

60% Female

RECYCLE OR DONATE UNWANTED CLOTHES

AGE

How to Deal with Your Unwanted Clothes?

18-25

17%

Do Not

40%

26-35

58%

60%

36-45

22%

45-60

INTERESTED IN D.I.Y OLD CLOTHES

INCOME

RECYCLE METHODS

15%

76%

Donate

55%

26,000—35,000

12%

Yes

24%

Exchange

35%

36,000—55,000

20%

Reuse

15%

under 25,000

56,000—75,000

33%

over 76,000

20%

section Insights

INSIGHTS

After the research, I read tons of articles, interviewed different people, and conducted surveys. I got so many interesting and inspired insights for my thesis. There are so many ways we can do better for our environment through clothing; however, according to my research and what I was passionate about, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to highlight these insights and find out available design opportunities.

section

Insights

Insight 01

Most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to repair or reuse their clothes, because of lacking materials or knowledge.

While baby boomers generally had much more knowledge of clothing repair and laundry than millennials, millennials who reported to have taken sewing classes or who had been taught how to sew by a family member had more overall clothing repair skills than those with no education on the subject. The MU professor also said that teaching basic clothing skills should go beyond the classroom, possibly through social media and internet videos, in an effort to educate consumers. Also, according to my interviews and survey, 75% of people don't reuse clothes, and blame lacking materials or knowledge. Less than 10% of people reuse their old clothes, but 45% are willing to learn and try to do it, which demonstrates a big opportunity in education.

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Insight 02

Fashion and clothing present wearable meanings and lifestyles. They are personal identities.

Fletcher & Grose (2012) discuss the idea that clothing, and especially fashion items, are a means of representing ourselves to society. The way we dress can express personal and political statements, show a sense of belonging, and give us the self-confidence in our daily routines. Through consumption, people try to compensate for a lack of something in their lives. Our minds are driven by the urge to satisfy this emptiness by filling it with an object that best suits our aspirations. This can be based on functionality, or in the case of fashion, have a ‘placebo value.’ “Fashion at its creative best is one of the most powerful and direct expressions of personal aspiration, individuality and belonging.”

section

Insights

Insight 03

Certain groups of consumers are not willing to change their behavior if it involves inconvenience.

The act of consuming is often motivated by the wish to express one’s values and beliefs towards a changing society. When asked why they don't recycle clothes, one interviewer said, “My number one reason is convenience — or should I say, inconvenience. You have to collect all of your items and then drive them to the middle of nowhere to drop them off. It takes too much effort.” Based on my interviews, inconvenience is the most difficult challenge to recycling. “Individually, time is the most precious resource we use when we recycle. You could have done something else with the time used to recycle, and you can never get back spent time." Talking about upcycling clothing, it seems more difficult to that, since it asks you to spend time going to a certain place to learn and do something. The interesting thing is that if not talking about environment, but instead discussing having something fun and being creative, some people changed their attitudes, and even their decisions.

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Insight 04

Some people are averse to secondhand clothes, since they argue that they are filthy, out of style, and not good looking.

Fast fashion makes “out of style” clothing hard to sell second-hand. Some clothing is fashion sensitive, and fashion changes create a large supply of this type of clothing when at the same time there is little or no demand. Social: Reused clothes are to some extent considered filthy. Although secondhand clothing has become a fashion in itself to some extent in recent years, there is still a widespread opinion that secondhand clothing is filthy and for those who cannot afford new clothing. A common comment was that the clothing “smells old” in secondhand stores. Besides that, the price of secondhand textiles is not competitive compared to new textiles.

section

Insights

Insight 05

Insight 06

Insight 07

After my research, article reading, and

Textiles are not designed for recycling.

Most people don't realize there are outlets for

interviews, I came to the conclusion that most

It is hard to separate textiles in automated

putting their used and unwanted clothes back

people lack knowledge about the damage

processes since a fabric often include

into the consumer cycle.

textile waste can do to the environment.

several materials.

Insight 08

Insight 09

Insight 10

The most common process of technique

Informal and semi-formal reuse prolongs the

The quality of new textiles is not high

recycling involves the material being shredded

lifetime of clothes and textiles and thereby has

enough to enable a second hand use.

or pulled apart into small fractions and fibers.

an environmental benefit.

Insight 11

Insight 12

Insight 13

The price of second hand clothes is not

Most Americans are thoroughly convinced

Stop acting like you're better than me because

competitive compared to some fast fashion

there is another person in their direct

you recycle.

new clothes.

vicinity who truly needs and wants our unwanted clothes.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Twenty-something Bachelor.

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Insight 14

Insight 15

Newly-emerging design strategies such as

Fashion design can educate and provoke a

open design, participatory design, co-design,

discussion on habits of wear and care, through

slow design, critical design and others try to

the way clothes are designed.

redefine designers role.

Insight 16

Insight 17

Consumers can break the buy-and-toss

Most studies show a growing environmental

cycle by supporting innovative and

consciousness among consumers, leading to

stylish sustainable designers and retails,

generalized positive attitude effects on brands

refashioning clothes.

that are perceived as environmentally sound.

Insight 18

Insight 19

The reduction of environmental impact

Product design focusing on short-term

generally does not deliver individual benefits

satisfaction, which leads to the disposal of

to its buyer. Therefore, customer may need

perfectly functioning goods due to a loss

other emotional benefits for motivating them

of emotional attachment.

to purchase.

section

Target Audience

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Around 25 to 45 years old. • Mid-to-high or high level income • Is either male or female; predominantly female. Unfortunately, the quality of new textiles for fast fashion is not high enough to allow a secondhand use, so I chose to target people who are the consumers of high-quality clothing brands. Additionally, according to my survey results, people’s environmental consciousness relates to their incomes. When people’s incomes are over $50,000 which is enough to support a better life, they start to pay more attention to our environment. Therefore, I set my first target audience’s age range between 25 and 45. People between 25 and 35 have a strong purchasing power and the desire to buy clothes. They buy a lot and change styles often. People between 30 and 45 usually have children, and buy lots of clothes for their children. However, children’s clothes are the most workable kinds of clothes that can be remade.

• Lives in a cosmopolitan or a suburban area. • Is not necessarily an environmentalist. • Has an interest in D.I.Y. • Has or has not acknowledged making clothes • Is a customer, or a designer, or a crafter. • Is either trendy or classic.

People can easily change dad’s t-shirt into a piece of children’s clothes, and children need costumes often, which also can be easily made from old clothes.

• Is creative, optimistic, eco-friendly, and open to change.

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Aged around 25-45 with enough income to purchase good-quality garments that can be reused.

section

Strategy

STRATEGY

After the research and additional interviews, inspired by other organizations and companies, I chose to educate people to reuse

Insights

their old clothes. Based on the three main insights I got, I would like to create a brand that holds workshops and classes for training, and also offers a platform for exchanging materials and information for people upcycling their clothes, thus making one-of-a-kind items a creative and fun process. The goals are: •

Teach and help people with creative, stylish, and workable educational materials.

•

Offer online classes for convenience to people who can learn at

Strategies

different places and time. •

Compel people with good-looking and sustainable designs.

•

Build up an acceptable and reliable platform and community for people to exchange and reuse clothes.

Deliverables

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Fashion and clothing

Most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how

Certain groups of consumers

Some people are averse to

present wearable meanings

to repair or reuse their clothes,

are not willing to change

second-hand stores.

and lifestyles. They

because of a lack of materials

their behavior if it involves

are personal identities.

or knowledge.

inconvenience.

Teach people to do one-of-a-kind

Offer educational materials to

Create an easy, convenient way

Have a more acceptable way

clothing by reusing old clothes.

teach and help people to repair

to reduce the time-costs for

for people to resell and buy

and reuse their old clothes.

people to reuse their old clothes.

used clothes and textiles.

A D.I.Y workshop for people to

Associated with the workshop,

Online classes offer flexible

Create a platform for people to

reuse their clothes.

a series of books and upcycling

schedules and diverse classes for

exchange materials and information

supplies to teach and help people

convenience people to learn how

about reusing clothes.

to upcycle their unwanted clothes.

to reuse clothes.

DELIVERABLES Workshop

A D.I.Y. workshop is the first part of the deliverables. It will teach people how to reuse clothes. Rather than reading books or learning online, it will happen face-to-face, create a community, heighten emotional value, and share more information than learning alone. Of course, the workshop should make it easier to learn things, especially for people who are not confident in learning by themselves. Ideally, workshops are held in different places for different classes, which can be public spaces or clothing stores that are willing to support eco-friendly actions by sharing spaces. Fashion brands and designers can support workshops by donating unwanted garments, textiles, and art supplies, or have designers and crafters teaching special classes as guest instructors.

section Deliverables

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Posters

Posters are for advertising workshops, informing people the dates, locations and topics, and inviting people to stop by and have fun. It also shows the website address for further information.

Workbooks

The main part of the workshop is educational materials, which are required for learning and doing projects. Workbooks gather instructions and patterns like clothing flats of different projects, thus providing the minimum needs for people to D.I.Y. Therefore, workbooks can either be used as supplementary materials or independently, which can also be purchased online.

Upcycling Supplies

Upcycling supplies includes tools, used textiles, and other materials for people to renew clothes. Like workbooks, these supplies can be used and purchased independently from workshops. They are not only for workshop customers, but also for artists, crafters, and anyone.

Website

The most important idea of the website is having online classes. Inspired by Skillshare, General Assembly, and other online schools, I want to build a website for people to learn about reusing clothes. Also, it creates an online community for people to exchange their creative ideas, and reused supplies.

section Deliverables

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Online Classes

Online classes bring convenience for people to teach and learn, reduce costs, enlarge user communities, and spread influence. It also allows people to become trained more consistently, from beginner to master levels. People can share their specific techniques of upcycling, and make money by being teachers or selling renewed garments on the website.

Calendar

Showing the events and workshops, and selling the tickets.

Flea Market

Another important section of the website that offers a platform for people to exchange secondhand clothes, textiles, and supplies. Unlike onsite secondhand stores, buyers can learn where clothes come from, how long they have lasted, and check item statuses by contacting sellers. Besides this, people also can get our workbooks and other supplies from the website.

Blog

The blog page contains everyday inspirations, post news, ideas, events, and other articles about recycling textiles.

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VISUAL RESEARCH Pinterest Boards

section Visual Research

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section Visual Research

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Mood Board

section Visual Research

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Key Words: Stripes / Origami / Fold Joyful / Dynamic Natural / Neutral

IDENTITY Fold by Fold

I name this brand Fold by Fold because when we learn things, we learn step by step. When we sew things, we sew stitch by stitch. When we put our precious, lovely clothes back in wardrobes, we fold them nicely and prevent them from being discarded. For the mark, I explored quite a lot, from illustrating clothes to folding origami. Finally, I got something interesting by folding fabric stripes into two folded â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fâ&#x20AC;? letters, and from here, I digitalized it into my favorite symbol.

section Identity

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section Identity

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section Identity

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Trademark

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Identity

Clear Space & Proportional

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4X 2X

section

Identity

Logo Anatomy

3/4Y

6Y Y 3Y

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Mark

X X X

ยบ 45 X

1/ X 7

section Identity

Color Palette

The idea of the color scheme is creating a natural, perhaps neutral â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but not boringâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;feeling to the brand, while also giving it a taste of high-quality garments or textile. The primary color is the camel, close to colors of sands, grounds, woods or cardboards. It presents an eco-friendly, warm, peaceful, and crafty attitude under which Fold by Fold works. The secondary colors are black and fog grey, which have nice contrasts to work with camel. The fog grey brings a calm and soft, yet visionary feeling to our brand. The third level colors are rose pink, Aegean blue, forest green, peach, sprout green, and ivory, thus adding the vibrancy. These can also be used in the signatures of brand extensions.

PANTONE P 72 - 9 C RGB 2 3 0/199/2 05 CMYK 5/2 0/1 0/0 HEX #E6C7 CD

PANTONE B L ACK C RGB 35/31/32 CMYK 75/60/60/ 70 HEX #2 3 1F2 0

PANTONE P 7 -9 C RGB 249/23 8/211 CMYK 0/5/20/0 HEX # F 9 EED 3

PANTONE 1 5 5 -1 C RGB 181/206/ 1 62 CMYK 3 0/5/40/0 HEX # B5 CEA 2

PANTONE P 40-1 0 C RGB 2 36/ 1 6 8/ 1 39 CMYK 5/40/40/0 HEX # ECA 8 8 B PANTONE P 26 -10 C RGB 200/ 162/ 125 CMYK 20/35/5 0/0 HEX #C8 A27D

PANTONE P 1 41 -1 6 C RGB 0/88/42 CMYK 90/4 0/ 1 00/40 HEX #005 82A

PANTONE P 179- 3 C RGB 2 0 9/2 11/2 02 CMYK 15/ 10/ 10/0 HEX #D 1D 3D 4

PANTONE P 114-16 C RGB 0/78/ 116 CMYK 1 00/70/3 0/ 1 5 HEX #004E74

Typography

NEUTRAFACE 2 BOLD

Neutraface Slab Bold

Neutraface 2 Light

Neutraface Slab Light Italic

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Title

WORKSHOP

Sub Title

Renew Your Old Clothes

Body Text

Fold by Fold offers workshops and classes, both on-site and online, to teach people how to reuse old clothing. Fold by Fold offers workshops and classes, both onsite and online, to teach people how to reuse old clothing. Fold by Fold offers workshops and classes, both onsite and online, to teach people how to reuse old clothing. Fold by Fold offers workshops and classes, both onsite and online, to teach people how to reuse old clothing.

Highlight or Slogan

Bring in Your Old Clothes and Renew Them!

Icon

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Illustration

Pattern

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Background

Key Art

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Photo Style

Dear Mr. Smith,

We are pleased to welcome you as a participant in the upcoming Fold by Fold w sure you will ﬁnd, as have hundreds of others, that Fold by Fold gives its particip and the tools they need to compete in upcycling clothes, while preparing them ethic refashion designer.

You will ﬁnd enclosed information on transportation to workshops’ site, including public transportations and shuttle buses between the airport and all of the hote the courtesy phones near the baggage claim area.

You will also ﬁnd enclosed a schedule of lectures and workshops, as well as a lis provide for you. We suggest that you get a copy of Chenmiao's recent book and arrive. Please contact us at 15-5587 if you have any questions, or we if can be of f We look forward to seeing you.

SELECTED RENEWED GARMENTS

Fold by Fold Guaranteed

(415) 555-8087 / hello@foldbyfold.com 79 New Montgomary St, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States of America

workshops. We are pants the knowledge to be professional

g avalible housing, els listed; just look for

st of materials we will d read it before you further assistance.

Sincerely,

INSPIRATION SCRAP

SCRAP (Scroungers Center for Reusable Art Parts) is a San Francisco Bay Area creative reuse center, diverting waste from landfills for use as art supplies for more than 35 years. I approached this organization in 2013 when I was doing a student design project. It is where I got the idea to start my thesis project. I went back the SCRAP to find more inspirations about collecting reusable materials, and how to hold workshops.

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Techshop

Techshop is a DIY workshop and fabrication studio where I took some workshops, and learned some technique skills. These include sewing machine and heat press use, as well as embroidery techniques. I observed how those workshops work, how the environment and educational materials associated, and how people respond to them. I then had a general idea of how workshops flow, as well as how to edit educational materials. Since Techshop builds a nice community for artists and makers, I met some creative people in there, interviewed them, and took some user tests from them. Those users are samples of people interested in DIY, who either have or donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have sewing experience.

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Ikea

Ikea does outstanding work on assembly instructions. I was impressed and inspired when I used their manuals to assemble furniture. Reading those illustrations without any word was very easy to understand and follow. I know it is something I want to have in my educational materials (e.g. minimum reading, and just simply follow the illustrations so that even children or people facing language barriers can use them). Another thing I noticed is that Ikea has a very complete tool system. It gave me some ideas about offering some sewing materials and supplies to people to reuse clothes.

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ALLAK

Â© Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2002

AA-95809-1

DESIGN PROCESS Lesson Guide

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8 8

12 14 13

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Notebook

A notebook that people can customize with d if ferent f u n c t i o n a l b o o k l e ts.

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NOTEBOOK

dirG hcnI

repaP toD cirtemosI

Inch Grid

DOT

repaP toD cirtemosI

Inch Grid

repaP toD cirtemosI

Inch Grid

INCHGRID

dirG hcnI

repaP toD cirtemosI

GRID

Inch Grid

Isometric Dot Paper

ISOMETRICDOT

repaP toD cirtemosI

Inch Grid

repaP toD cirtemosI

Inch Grid

Isometric Dot Paper

NOTEBOOK

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Posters

Bring in Your Old Clothes and Renew Them!

SATURDAY

SEP

A CLOTHES REUSING WORKSHOP

WELCOME

A Clothing Reuse Workshop

CLOTHES REUSING WORKSHOP

Bring in Your Old Clothes and Renew Them! ALLSTAINS

SATURDAY

140 Geary St San Francisco, CA 94108

September 19th 2015

Join Us to Fix and Reuse Your Old Clothes! fold-by-fold.com

ALLSTAINS 140 Geary St

SATURDAY September 19th

Join Us to Fix and Reuse Your Old Clothes! More infomation at:

fold-by-fold.com

Saturday SEPTEMBER 19 ALLSTAINS 140 Geary St

Join Us to Fix and Reuse Your Old Clothes!

fold-by-fold.com

ALLSTAINS 140 Geary St

fold-by-fold.com

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A CLOTHING REUSE WORKSHOP

Bring in Your Old Clothes and Renew Them!

A CLOTHING REUSE WORKSHOP

19/09/2015 Saturday 140 Geary St. Allstains

19/09/2015 Saturday

$30

140 Geary St. Allstains

Bring in Your Old Clothes and Renew Them! fold-by-fold.com

$30 fold-by-fold.com

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A CLOTHING REUSE WORKSHOP Bring in Your Old Clothes and Renew Them!

$30 fold-by-fold.com

19/09/2015 Saturday 140 Geary St. Allstains

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Website

ABOUT US

HOME

ONLINE CLASSES

ONSITE WORKSHOPS

INTRODUCTION

BASIC LEVEL

BEGGINING CLASS A

SKILLED LEVEL

INTERMEDIATE CLASS A

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL

SCHEDULE

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STORES STORES STORES

MY MY MY ACCOUNT ACCOUNT ACCOUNT

BUY BUY BUY TICKETS TICKETS TICKETS

SUPPLIES SUPPLIES SUPPLIES

MY MY MY CLASSES CLASSES CLASSES

BLOG BLOGBLOG POSTPOSTPOST

CLOTHING CLOTHING & & CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES ACCESSORIES ACCESSORIES

LEARNING LEARNING LEARNING LIST LIST LIST

TEXTILE TEXTILE TEXTILE FLEAFLEA MARKET MARKET FLEA MARKET

MY MY MY ORDERED ORDERED ORDERED

ACCOUNT ACCOUNT ACCOUNT SETTING SETTING SETTING

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Packaging

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$45 value

Renewal Basics Join our basic sewing techniques classes, we present basic sewing notions for those just starting out. Designed with a sustainable idea that the beautiful box is also a set of containers for sewing tools.

• HAND SEWING KIT (Travel Size)

fold-by-fold.com

• THREAD • HAND SEWING NEEDLES • BUTTONS • SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES • BOBBINS • TAPE MEASURE • PENCIL • STICKY NOTES • TOOL BAG

STARTER RENEWAL KIT

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User Test

USER TEST First Round

Lesson guides and notebooks are the main educational materials that I designed and tested. I chose to have a black and white, letter-sized booklet as the lesson guide for a workshop class, and work with a notebook for users to take notes and draw draft ideas. For lesson guides, I put a lot of effort into drawing illustrations, and managed them for easier understanding. The notebook contains different grids and changeable inside booklets, banded with a measure tape. I did some informal user tests during my design process, and the most feedback I received was about the understandability of instructions and the user experience of how the workbook supports the lesson guide. Some feedback received was:

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After the user tests, I realized that people rely on illustrations much more than words, and wording seemed not so necessary. Wording even added confusion sometimes. Also inspired by Ikeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assemble instructions, I decided to reduce words, and put more effort into making illustrations portray the instructions.instructions.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

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Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to have some instructions about tools, not only the names but also their functions.

I like the concept of customizing the notebook; I like the way you banded it with the tailor's tape.

The way of binding and refilling notebooks is too complicated to me.

The type jumps around in the illustrations, which made it hard to follow up.

The arrows and frames do not show up well in the illustrations.

The notebook is too soft to hold in hand. I like hardcovers.

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Second Round

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User Test

“

I think the notebook could be combined with the lesson guide better. There’s too much stuff that I need to hold in my hand.

The lesson guide is easy to understand! I like the big illustrations!

Patterns will help me cut the clothes, since I’m afraid to cut them wrong.

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Combine lesson guides and notebooks together, make

workbooks instead.

Notebooks do not actually give as much help as I had thought. Through the suggestions people gave, I chose to redesign and combine it with lesson guides, which turned out to have workbooks instead.

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WORKSHOP

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Workbooks

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Posters

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Upcycling Supplies

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WEBSITE

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Acknowledgment Thank you to my mother, father, and family for always supporting me and believing in me. I would not be this far without you. Thank you to my friends for giving me help and joy, and for accompanying me on this journey. Thank you to all my instructors. You are always so supportive, encouraging, and inspiring. You pushed me to do better and extended my vision. Many thanks to Mary Scott, Phillip Hamlett, Hunter Wimmer, Kathrin Blatter, Dave Gottwald, Bob Slote, David Hake, Christopher Morlan, Andrew Loesel, Irina Blok, Todd Schulte, and Michael Kilgore.

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MFA Thesis