Real-Life Decision Making
Textile designers create fabrics for a variety of uses. As a designer,
you will have to design to the specific needs of your client. This means you
must make a lot of decisions in your daily creative design tasks.
"You have to create the design with some inspirations in mind. Then you
must decide what types of yarns to use," says textile designer Scott Manley.
"[You must consider] things like the look of the fabric, the touch of the
fabric, the physical performance of the fabric, the cost of the yarn and the
price target for the fabric."
Even then, the decisions do not end. Should you make a fabric sample to
show the client, or show the design as only illustrated composites? Should
you put the fabric into production or get customer feedback first?
Once you have client feedback, you may need to have more discussion to
find out exactly what they meant. Also, you may need to think about time constraints.
You have a client who wishes to make a traditionally styled sweater out
of a uniquely designed knit. You've created an interesting and specially
woven knit that will look great in solid colors.
Your client wants to manufacture this sweater in your innovative knit design
using a pastel, uneven stripe. In order to make final production and finish
off the knit sweaters, you need final approval from the client today.
You feel his choice to blend a patterned weave with the stripe
will be a mistake because the patterned weave will be lost in the striped
colors.
This is the third meeting with him. This is your last chance to get your
viewpoint across. If you don't and he is unhappy with the final product,
as you fear he will be, you will lose this account.
What do you do?