Post on 21-Apr-2018
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
F indingyourfashioninspiration
Creativepeoplehaveoverwhelmingexpectationsplacedonthem.Tofindfashiondesigninspirationscanbeadauntingtask.Itcanbeintimidatingtocomeupwithnewartisticworksandfindouthowtobeginyournewmasterpiece.Thefirststeptoputtingpentopaperisobservingtheworldaroundyou.Applyingthisknowledgetoyourfashiondesignsisthenextstep.Sowheredoesonefindfashioninspiration?
Fashioninspirationforcreativeworkcanbefoundinanyplacearoundyou.Lookinyourgarden,inyourgarage,in
theofficeoratyourcolleagues.Ifyouhavetoborrowthebasicideafromanotherartist,thendon’tfeeltooputoff.Thereareveryfewcompletelyuniqueideasoutthere,butafinelineexistsbetweencopyrightinfringementandpayinghomage.Thetrickistoaddyourownpersonaltouchandtoprovideauniqueinterpretationofthatidea.
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
Anycreativepersonneedstokeephis/herfingeronthepulseofwhatisnewandtrendy.Makesuretoreadthelatesttrendymagazines,watchthelatestfilmsandkeepaneyeoutforinteriordecorationtrends.Anartistshouldalwayshaveeitheracameraorasketchbookhandytorecordtheseinspirationalideas.Ifyou’reinaconstantlychangingenvironmentsuchastravellingtoothercitiesorcountries,thiscouldbeagreatsourceoffashioninspiration.Whenyou’retravelling,trytoobservethedifferencesinculture,dressandcuisine.Youconstantlyneedtobeuptodatewithworldevents,televisionandmovie
releases.KeepintouchwiththebigcitieslikeLondon,Paris,Italy,NewYork,TokyoandCopenhagenandtrytoapplythelatesttrendsinyourdesignwork.
Visitmuseumsandartgalleriesonaregularbasisasfashiontrendstodayhaveusuallycomefullcirclefromthefashiondesignsinyesteryear.Forinstance,the1920’sfashionflareisvisibleinthe2000’sweddingattirerunwayexamples.
Eveninyournormalmundanedailytasks,youmustattempttodrawdesignerinspiration.Seekouttheshapesinthetreesinthelandscapingofgardensor
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
simplyadmirethearchitectureinyourstreet.Somethoughts,smells,soundsorvisualscaninvokeamemoryoraninspirationalthoughtordesign.Emotionalmusiccanassistinthisregard.
Becomeacollectorofinspirationalitems,althoughtosomeitmayseemlikejunk.Fashioninspirationcancomefromeventhemostunlikelysources.Keepbuttons,fabricscraps,books,magazinearticles,retropostcardsorbitsandpiecesofthingsthatstimulateyouvisually.Acollectionofsimilarthingscaninspireabackgroundorprintforagarment.Collectingbooksisgreatalthoughmagazinesaremore‘now’andaregreatforup‐to‐the‐momentinformation.
T heme
creationandmind‐mapping:
Totakeideasoutofthinairandmakethemintoarepresentativemasterpieceisalwaysintimidating.However,thebestwaytoachievethisistocontinuouslydevelopyourknowledgebasetocultivatefreshideas.Imaginationisvital,butknowledgeisthebasefromwhichtowork.Thefirststepinanycreationistochooseafewthemestoresearchandpursue.Itcanbeanythingyouareinterestedin,fromEgyptianculturetoflowerarrangements‐anythingthatbringsaboutinspiration.FashionSketchescanbestartedfromanysource!Trytosticktoafewthemesthatyoudeemimportantandviableandlettherestfallby
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
thewaysidewhenusingthistechnique.Toomanyunfinishedideaswillonlyservetoconfuseyouandsurroundyouinchaos.Ifyouarefindingthisorganisation
methoddifficult(asmanyartistsandcreativepeopledo)thentheuseofamindmapcanbehelpful.Ifindoubt,callonafewfriendstoassistyouinbrainstormingideas,anddisregardingideasthatarenotusefulorcommerciallyviable.Friendscanalsobeagreatsourceoffashiondesigninspiration.
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
S ketchbooks:
Asketchbookcanbekeptinthesamemannerthatyouwouldkeepadiary.Thisbookcanbearepresentationofthethingsthatyouseearoundyoueveryday.Asketchbookcanbekeptinanyformat:keepscrapsoffabricandpiecesvisualinformationthatyoucomeacross.Youshouldusethebooktopracticeyourdrawing,recordthingsyouseethatyouwanttorememberandalsotoonedaysparkthatinspiration.Sketchingpeopleandanimals,aswellastheflora,canbeagreatwaytospendtheafternooninyourlocaltowncentre.Anyideasorfashioninspirationsareviableforinclusioninthesketchbookasyouarealwaysabletoreferbacktoitinfuturewhenyoumaybestuckforanidea.Thesketchbookcanbeasneatorasuntidyasyouwish.
Neverthrowyoursketchbooksaway;oftenyouarerequiredtoprovideitinconjunctionwithassignmentsorportfolio.Ifastoryboardisyourdestination,seethesketchbookasyourjourney.Yoursketchbookshouldbeveryimpulsive,messyandexplorative.Thisshouldtrulybeusedasatoolforexperimentationandcollectingyourideasforinspiration.Don’tlosespontaneitybyattemptingtokeepitorderlyandneat.
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
Startyoursketchbooktodaybycollectingphotographs,collages,randomobjectsandexhibitionpamphlets,colourswatchesforpaints,fabricswatchesormagazinecut‐outs.Buyasmalloneforyourbagandalargeoneforwhenyouhavethespace.Keepthegoodqualityhardcoverones,sothatthey’dlastyoualifetime.Updateitregularlyandrememberthatfashioninspirationcancomefromanywhere!
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
S toryboards
Afashionstoryboardwillusuallyconsistofafullcolourillustrationofafashionfigure/severalfigures(maleorfemale)wearingthegarmentsthatarebeingshowcased.Thisstoryboardtutorialwillshowyouhowtocorrectlyformatandcreateafashionstoryboardforassignmentsorprofessionally.Aclearlylabelled,sizableswatchofyourchosenfabric/sshouldalsobeincludedontheboard.Thestoryboardshouldbethoughtofasapictorialrepresentationofyourproposedclothingdesigninfullcolour,alongwithtechnicalrenderingsofeachgarmentindividually.
"Afashionstoryboardisasummaryofyourcollection'sinspirationandtheme.It'sadesigntoolthatwillhelpyouremainfocusedandconsistentasyourlinedevelops.It'salsoagreatcommunicationaidwhenexplainingyourvisiontoothers(retailers,mediaetc.).Magazinetears,fabricswatches,oldphotos,buttons,ribbons;basicallyanyvisualreferenceyoudesirearemountedontoa
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
hardboard.Besuretogiveyourstoryboardatitle,likeabookorfilm"‐fashionincubator.com
Justthesketchesindividuallycanlookdull,lifelessandveryuninteresting.Youneedawell‐plannedlayoutandastrongtheme‐yourideasmustseemcommerciallysuccessful.Designersneedtolearnhowtousedifferentpresentationtechniquesinordertoenhancetheirartwork.
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
P lanningyourpresentation
Thedesignbriefwilldictatethestoryboard’sobjective‐trendsforecasting,fashiondesign,athematicboard,andsoon.Dependingonthetargetmarket,thebriefandthepurposeofthepresentation,yourstoryboardshouldincludethefollowing:
• Afashionfigure,clothedinyourdesignsonaflatworkingfigure
• Swatchesofyourfabric(allthefabricsused)
• Colourpalettes(allthecoloursthatareusedinyourdesigns)
• Anytrimsused
• Photographsofthegarments
P resentationTechniques:
Thefashionstoryboardmusthaveastrongthemerunningthroughoutwhichcapturesthemood.Additionally,thepresentationmusthaveatitle,evenifitisaworkingtitleatthatstage.Thethemeandtitlecanbedeterminedbythefabrics(NaturalLinens),theseason(SummerBlues),orthemerchandise(Metamorphosis),forexample.
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
Stance:Choosethecorrectandappropriateposeforyourstoryboardtemplateswhenyoustartdrawing:classic,sophisticated,funky,moodyorsportyareallappropriatemoodsforaboard.
Positioning:Don’tallowyourfashionfiguretolooklikeit’sfloatingonthepage;useshadowingandshadingtocreatetheillusionofstructure.Ifyoufeelcompetentenough,drawyourcharacterinascenewheretheclothesenhancethesituation.
Figures:Whenusingmorethanonefashionfigureonthefashionstoryboard,youmayvarythesizeofeachfigure.Thiscreatesperspectiveontheboardandlooksvisuallyappealing.Onelargescalefigureintheforegroundandtherestinthebackgroundpoints
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
outtheimportanceoftheclothingaswellasgivingthevieweravisualtreat.
Fabrics:Cuttingthefabricwithpinkingshears(zigzagcutonedges)looksprofessionalandwillgivethestoryboardaninterestingfeature.Usedoublesidedtapeontheedgestokeepthefabricfromfraying.Youcanalsocrumplethefabricsintolittlerougedballsandstickthemdownwithdoublesidedtapetocreateadifferenttextureandlayeringeffectforthefashionstoryboard.Sometimesthefabricswatchesshouldbeabletobefeltwiththefingers,sotrytoleavethestoryboardopen.
Heading:Unlessyouarecompetentatnumeralorfontdrawing,usethecomputertodesigntheheadingswhereverpossible.Itwillsaveyoualotoftimeandeffort.Trytokeepthefontthesamethroughoutthestoryboard,soastokeepwithinthechosentheme.
Labels:Wherevernecessary,printlabelsforanyspecificobjectsthatyouneedtodrawattentionto(forexample:"ExtraWideJeans"or"LongCoat").Again,unlessyoufeelcompetentindrawingfont,useacomputertodesignandprintthese.
Collages:Anythingthatyoufindinmagazines,onyourcomputer,incraftstores,fabricshopsoryourgarageisfairgame.Useanythingthatwilladdtotheoverallthemeofyourstoryboard,butpleaseremembertonotgooverboard.Toomuchadditionalmaterialonafashionstoryboardcanlookmessyandunprofessional.
Borders:Togiveyourfashionstoryboardasenseoffinalityandperspective,surroundyourstoryboardwithacontrastingcardboardframe,usingdifferenttexturesandcolours.Cutneatlyanduseruledlines,unlessyouwishtoachieveafree‐flowingmood.Borderscanbehand‐drawn,cutfromcardboard,acollageormadefromdifferentfabrics.Whateveryouchoose,remembertomakeitneat.
Backgrounds:Ifnecessary,useplainormildlytextured/printedboardasa
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
background;don’tallowittodrownthefocalpoint,whichisofcourseYOURCLOTHING.
Everyfashionillustratorhastheirownstyle;thesestoryboardtemplatesareexamplesfromtherelevantillustrator’sportfoliosofftheinternet.PLEASEdonotcopytheseideasortrytomaketemplatesfromtheirdrawings,asyouwouldbeinfringingcopyrightlaw.Trytoeventuallyproduceyourownfashiontemplatesfromscratch.
Fashionstoryboardsaremostoftencoupledwithamoodboardaninspirationboardcontainingacollectionofpicturesorcolours,cardandfabricthatevokeanemotionalresponse.Designerscanusemoodboardstodecideontherightcoloursthatevokethesefeelings,asthemoodboardenablesyoutoseeathemethatrunsthroughoutyourselection.Youcanmakeuseofvariousmediatocreateinterestonthemoodboard:buttons,ribbon,wool,sand,corrugatedboardetc.
Beascreativeaspossiblewhendevelopingyourstoryboardtemplate,useyourimaginationtoitsfullpotentialHoweverpleasebearinmindthefollowing:
• Alwayspositionyourfigureasthemainfocus
• Don'tallowyourboardtobecomemessyandunstructuredinyourendeavourtobecreative–keepitsimpleandfocusedonthethemeandfigure
• Usethecorrectfashiontemplateforyourtheme.Forexample,ifthethemeisclassicVictoriandon'tuseanoutlandishfiguretemplate.Ifyourthemeiscontemporary,usetheappropriateposes
• Remembertoillustrateaccessories,bagsandjewelleryalongwithyourclothingasthiscreatesapolishedfinish
• Figuresshouldbepresentedsymmetricallywhereverpossibleasitkeepstheeyefocused(Seethefashionstoryboardbelow).Usingalargerfigureamongsttwosmalleronesontheleftandrightcanalsolookgood.Itwillseemlikethetwosmallerfiguresareinthe
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
background.Sometimesit'seffectivetousethesamefigureforallthedifferentoutfits,creatingarepetitivetiledeffect:(ReferenceDiptriIrla)
• Alwaysremembertohaveamainheadingsuchas"Trendsforwinter"or"BlackandWhite".However,ifyoudateyourboard,itwillmakeitshortlivedastrendschangequickly:(ReferenceJustinGloston)
• Usingswatchesthatareneatlycutoutbutirregularinshapewillcreateaprofessionallooktoyourstoryboard.Usingstickytapeonthebackofthefabricpreventsfrayingandgivesagoodendresult.Youcanalsousepinkingshearstocreateazigzagedge:(ReferenceTheresiaFanda)
• Don'tusetoomanyunrelatedcolourvarietiesononeboard,suchaspastelswithbrightcoloursaswellasneutrals;dirtyandcleanshadesshouldbegroupedtogether.Therehastobeathemeorcollectionofcomplementingcolours.Thisisthegeneralrule,unlessyouarespecificallygoingforamulticoloureddesign:(ReferenceAnnieKim)
• Buypaintsampleswatchesfromthepaintstore,usethoseasacolourpallet,butdon’thavetoomanythingshangingoffyourboard;thisseemsuntidy.
• Useasmuchdetailaspossible,drawinthetexture,beading,trims,
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
fabricprint,andweaveinyourdesign.Useasmuchvisualornamentationasyoucan.Useshadingandhighlightsfortheskinandhairtogiveamorerealistictouchtoyourdesigns:(ReferenceSarahLouisePetty)
• Yourtechnicaldrawingscanbepastedontherearoftheboard,orneatlypastedonthefront,althoughthiscansometimeslookcluttered.
• Youmayusecomputerprintedheadingsandlabels,butdon'tforgettocolourcodetheseheadingswithyourtheme.Don'tjustprintoutablack&whiteheadingifitwillclashwithyourboard.Printtheheadingaslargeaspossiblewithoutinterferingwiththeoveralllook;asmallfloatyheadingwhichisdifficulttoreadwilllookunprofessionalandpossiblybeoverlooked.Thepapershouldbeashighqualityaspossibleifyouareprintingyourdesignontothismedium.
Creating Fashion Storyboards- E-book
• Whynotusefoamwithdoublesidedmountingtapetostickyourfiguresdown?Itcreatesaraisedlookforyourfigure.Itlooksveryprofessionalandgivesyourboardathreedimensionallook:(ReferenceChristineDauguet)
• Findbitsofmaterial–feathers,edging,embellishmentorbeadstostickontheboard–thatgowithyourtheme.Keepthisadditiontidyandwithinthebordersofyourstoryboard.Materialthatflapsorhangsovertheborderlooksmessy,unprofessional,andgivestheimpressionthatyoudon’tcareaboutyourproject.
• ALWAYSsticktotherequirementsofyourbrief:theduedate,amountofoutfitsrequired,themeetc.Usethecorrectboardsizethatisstipulatedandtrytobuyrigidboardwhichwillnotbendundertheweightofyouradditions.1200microniscommonlyused,butyoucanuseslightlythinner.Theruleshouldbethatyoucanrestitupagainstastandwithoutitfoldingandwarping–thisisnotimpressiveduringpresentations!
• Havealltheinformationregardingyourboardtohand,orhaveitmemorised.Youmightbeaskedaboutfabrication,targetmarketsegment(sportswear,eveningwear,readytowear,coutureetc)andyoushouldknowallofthisoffhand.Fabricsarethemostimportantaspectstoremember,don'tjustsay"cotton"ifitsviscosecotton,Lycracottonorstretchcotton‐bespecific.
Bearinmindthateverythingyoudofromnowonhastobeshowcasedinyourportfolio.Lookafterthefashionstoryboardsthatyoucreate–coveringtheminplasticwrapisusuallytheeasiestandcheapestwaytogoaboutthis.