Design Thinking for Innovation

Storytelling Reflection

Challenge & Selection:  For the longest time, I’ve always struggled with storytelling and incorporating this concept into  my work. As an apparel design and development student, being able to perfectly tell stories of  the creations being made will be crucial for team dynamics, fueling further product innovations,  and, on the receiving end of consumers, purchasing the final product. When it comes to  designing, designers are able to conceptualize what is going on within their minds with ease, but  communicating ideas to others in a meaningful way has been a challenge for me.    A goal that I’ve personally set for myself regarding my design process is to conduct adequate  research. By researching the history of a garment, the influences that the piece may have on  certain communities, and the trends that are likely to emerge in the future, I am able to collect all  the necessary information and interpret it in my own way to convey the story I want to share.  The important aspect of my goal is to not only take the audience and consumer on a product  journey but also elevate my apparel designs so that it can pay homage to the past and launch  the storytelling stages into features of the final product.    I’ve selected storytelling because I wanted to use this tool to understand it on a deeper level. As  mentioned, I often struggle with storytelling when it comes to design. My challenge is jumping  right into the design phase without conducting much research or ideating concepts and  prototypes. I’ve also come to realize that the way I’ve been operating doesn’t facilitate much  growth and restricts me to expand my ideas. Thinking on the same level as consumers, creating  trust and connection with them, all while understanding the user experiences will help me create  sustainable growth and fuel better ideas that lead to product innovations.    Application:  Conducting adequate research to understand the past has been one of the most successful  things that have helped me in storytelling. By understanding your inspirations, learning more  about your product and its history and all the micro influences and movements that led it to be  that product, along with tapping into consumer shopping habits, shopping behaviors, and human  tendencies of your audiences have allowed me to learn more and triumphantly apply storytelling  into my design.    The product that I remember creating was a selvedge denim jacket for motorcyclers. Since  these jackets have been popularized over time and have become an iconic fashion piece, I  needed to figure out a way where this new concept could be different, while also paying tribute  to its past. My research drove me to learn more about the history of denim in the late 1800s and  early 1900s. There was an oversupply of denim and since this material was very cost-effective  and useful in protecting coal miners, various models of jackets were created over time. Now,  within the 21st century, the denim/workwear culture still strives to honor the past.

However, the denim workwear culture only satisfies a small number of actual motorcycle riders.  Riders are looking for enough protection in case of an accident and value a material that is not  only breathable and comfortable but one that will protect impacts and abrasion. The stories that  I wanted to carry forward were the vintage denim material, its classic garment cuts/patterns, and  the perception of what the jacket brings to the actual wearer--pride,  armor, and ruggedness.  Another storytelling piece that I could tie into the past was the idea of future technologies such  as innovative textiles that consist of kevlar and mesh to promote breathability. Understanding all  the nuances of the final design intent and communicating it to other team members lead to a  more efficient and successful project.     Insight:  When applying new tools to help solve a complex problem, it’s amazing how different one’s  mechanism of thinking becomes. The new flow of how information is perceived and processed  is gained and one learns how to properly grow and adapt to challenging situations. Applying  storytelling to my design habits has allowed for a more holistic approach to the final product,  and in hindsight, also allowed for healthier collaboration amongst team members and my own  idea and way of thinking. Not only do team members better understand the project’s design but  they also have a level of understanding that can allow for improved feedback, comments, and  ideas. On the consumer-facing end, customers are able to receive more specifically tailored  products with a greater user experience that connects on a personal, utilitarian, and fashion  level.    Approach:  A different approach I would take is incorporating some sort of visualization element into my  storytelling process. In the situation of conducting research, having group interviews or  one-on-one meetings, and learning how consumers think is very crucial in the product creation  process. Using visuals to describe a potential new product idea and conveying this concept to  consumers with sketches, pictures, videos, and other media inspiration will allow designers to  make better-informed decisions to forecast what consumers actually want.    The combination of storytelling and visualization is a powerful tool to have. Using it in the design  space will unlock new ways of thinking amongst designers and with consumers. Overall, it  allows all parties to tap into a different way of thinking instead of using ambiguous language that  can get lost in the communication mix. Not only does it better align ideas and stories with  others, but it also creates a better environment to solve problems and develop innovations.


Design Thinking for Innovation Storytelling Reflection Challenge & Selection : For the longest time , I ’ve always struggled with storytelling and incorporating this concept into my work . As an apparel design and development student , being able to perfectly tell stories of the creations being made will be crucial for team dynamics , fueling further product innovations , and , on the receiving end of consumers , purchasing the final product . When it comes to designing , designers are able to conceptualize what is going on within their minds with ease , but communicating ideas to others in a meaningful way has been a challenge for me . A goal that I ’ve personally set for myself regarding my design process is to conduct adequate research . By researching the history of a garment , the influences that the piece may have on certain communities , and the trends that are likely to emerge in the future , I am able to collect all the necessary information and interpret it in my own way to convey the story I want to share . The important aspect of my goal is to not only take the audience and consumer on a product journey but also elevate my apparel designs so that it can pay homage to the past and launch the storytelling stages into features of the final product . I ’ve selected storytelling because I wanted to use this tool to understand it on a deeper level . As mentioned , I often struggle with storytelling when it comes to design . My challenge is jumping right into the design phase without conducting much research or ideating concepts and prototypes . I ’ve also come to realize that the way I ’ve been operating does n’t facilitate much growth and restricts me to expand my ideas . Thinking on the same level as consumers , creating trust and connection with them , all while understanding the user experiences will help me create sustainable growth and fuel better ideas that lead to product innovations . Application : Conducting adequate research to understand the past has been one of the most successful things that have helped me in storytelling . By understanding your inspirations , learning more about your product and its history and all the micro influences and movements that led it to be that product , along with tapping into consumer shopping habits , shopping behaviors , and human tendencies of your audiences have allowed me to learn more and triumphantly apply storytelling into my design . The product that I remember creating was a selvedge denim jacket for motorcyclers . Since these jackets have been popularized over time and have become an iconic fashion piece , I needed to figure out a way where this new concept could be different , while also paying tribute to its past . My research drove me to learn more about the history of denim in the late 1800s and early 1900s . There was an oversupply of denim and since this material was very cost - effective and useful in protecting coal miners , various models of jackets were created over time . Now , within the 21st century , the denim / workwear culture still strives to honor the past . However , the denim workwear culture only satisfies a small number of actual motorcycle riders . Riders are looking for enough protection in case of an accident and value a material that is not only breathable and comfortable but one that will protect impacts and abrasion . The stories that I wanted to carry forward were the vintage denim material , its classic garment cuts / patterns , and the perception of what the jacket brings to the actual wearer -- pride , armor , and ruggedness . Another storytelling piece that I could tie into the past was the idea of future technologies such as innovative textiles that consist of kevlar and mesh to promote breathability . Understanding all the nuances of the final design intent and communicating it to other team members lead to a more efficient and successful project . Insight : When applying new tools to help solve a complex problem , it ’s amazing how different one ’s mechanism of thinking becomes . The new flow of how information is perceived and processed is gained and one learns how to properly grow and adapt to challenging situations . Applying storytelling to my design habits has allowed for a more holistic approach to the final product , and in hindsight , also allowed for healthier collaboration amongst team members and my own idea and way of thinking . Not only do team members better understand the project ’s design but they also have a level of understanding that can allow for improved feedback , comments , and ideas . On the consumer - facing end , customers are able to receive more specifically tailored products with a greater user experience that connects on a personal , utilitarian , and fashion level . Approach : A different approach I would take is incorporating some sort of visualization element into my storytelling process . In the situation of conducting research , having group interviews or one - on - one meetings , and learning how consumers think is very crucial in the product creation process . Using visuals to describe a potential new product idea and conveying this concept to consumers with sketches , pictures , videos , and other media inspiration will allow designers to make better - informed decisions to forecast what consumers actually want . The combination of storytelling and visualization is a powerful tool to have . Using it in the design space will unlock new ways of thinking amongst designers and with consumers . Overall , it allows all parties to tap into a different way of thinking instead of using ambiguous language that can get lost in the communication mix . Not only does it better align ideas and stories with others , but it also creates a better environment to solve problems and develop innovations .