Enhancing understanding of the fashion design process among undergraduate students through experimental research into insects

The fashion design process is a complex system of interconnected exploratory research steps, including concept development, design ideation, sketching, fabric selection, patternmaking, and construction, which lead to a final product design. This study analyses the effectiveness of a fashion design project brief that uses insects as the conceptual starting point to enhance students’ understanding of this design process. A literature review establishes a contextual framework for the fashion design process and explores the relationship between insects and dress from a historical and contemporary perspective.Qualitative and quantitative research methods are applied to assess a series of structured assignments developed in a sketchbook, aimed at generating ideas toward an experimental garment design. The project, implemented with second-year undergraduate fashion and textile design students, highlights nature as a useful conceptual catalyst in fashion design, and underlines the importance of sketchbooks as a tool in the design process.