Trend Forecasting

Background
A trend forecaster predicts the colors, fabrics, textures, materials, prints, graphics, beauty/grooming, accessories, footwear, street style, and other styles that will be presented on the runway and in the stores for the upcoming seasons.

This assignment will challenge you to explore fashion merchandising and hone your business skills. Very often, fashion design courses will not show you how to start your own business or teach you very valuable business skills. 

Assignment
Your assignment is to work in a group of 2 people to create a trend forecast for the 2016-2017 fashion season. Half of the class will forecast the Fall 2017 Season and the other half will forecast the 2017 Spring Season. You will create a design board, a croquis board, 2 full outfits, and a video describing the assignment. The video above is an A+ example of this assignment. 

Specs (what needs to go in the video)

• Target demographics (ie men aged 18-34)
• Design/Inspiration Board
• Croquis Board (like your midyear)
• Color swatches 
• Video should include
• Magazine covers (digital)
• Professional photographs of your 2 outfits 
• Evidence of why you have chosen your trend

Steps

1. Spring 2017 or Fall 2017
2. Research past & upcoming trends
3. Choose your forecast
4. Research magazines and online resources
5. Choose your colors & fabrics (how will you show this on the video?)
6. Make an inspiration/design board
7. Create a croquis board
8. Complete the Trend Questionaire
9. Create your garments 
10. Create your video (this may be done throughout the entire project) 

Grading (this project will count as 2 project grades -- 1 for the video and 1 for the garments)

• Creativity
• Evidence
• Quality of garments
• Quality of video
• Collaborative & individual working habits
  
  

Resources
​FIDM Design Challenge
​A Beginner's Guide to Trend Forecasting Article 
Fashion Snoops (trend forecasting company -- paid services)