A conceptual model of intimate apparel design : an application to bra design

Abstract

This thesis develops a theoretical model for bra design with rationalized professional knowledge integrated into a systematic conceptual design framework. Bra, an essential member of intimate apparel, is the main research focus in this project. In particular of the bra design concepts, no guideline and systematic model can be found in both academic and industrial fields. Designers are usually unable to describe their knowledge and experience rationally. Common "trial & error" method being used in the design process also creates time loss and design failure. Therefore, this project is an original research aiming to rationalize the commercial design aspects of intimate apparel using a new integrative conceptual model. In the first stage of study, useful information relating to the product, design process and data flow was obtained from company attachment, informal interviews, exhibitions and seminars. Then, a seven-stage design framework that comprises of design goal, orientation, concept development, criteria, specification, prototype development and design evaluation, was formulated from a thorough study of literature. In-depth interviews with 16 designers were performed to explore the possible apparel design aspects in particular for bras. All these preparatory works were used to form the structure and detailed contents for the development of questionnaire. The questionnaire contains two sections. In the first section, the respondents were asked to rate their agreement levels on 244 statements concerning the bra design aspects in the seven-stage design framework, while the second section aims to obtain the background information of respondents. With 233 questionnaires distributed to the target subjects, 59 reliable responses were received and analysed. The agreement on each design aspects was evaluated under a two-tailed significance test. Then the descriptive statistics of each significant statement were compared with the 'mean of total mean' and 'mean of total standard deviation'. The statements generally regarded as important with large means and small standard deviations were selected for the building of conceptual model. Other less important design aspects could remain as the optional items for the designer to consider in the design process. Based on the most important design aspects found in the questionnaire survey, a conceptual model of bra design was developed using an object-oriented analysis approach. All the essential design aspects were classified into 'class', 'object' and 'attributes'. Their relationships were presented in a structure showing the integration between design goal, orientation, inspiration, elements, rules, prototyping and evaluation. The model demonstrates a typical example of how the complex bra design concepts and processes can be rationalised into a single architecture with practical knowledge. A bra designer has implemented the developed model and gone through all the activities in the seven-stage design according to the architecture and information flow. She selected some objects in the model and either used the existing attributes or input the relevant attributes into the objects if she thinks appropriate. Ultimately, a design of push-up bra has been developed with selected use of fabric, colour, padding, components, size, cuffing and price to achieve her design goal and meet the company's design orientation. This conceptual model builds a theoretical base for further research on product design and provides an effective guideline for the training of new designers.