Designers, unlike artists, can’t follow their creative impulses, they E

Designers, unlike artists, can’t follow their creative impulses, they work in a commercial environment, which means there are a huge number of considerations influencing the design process† The work of a fashion designer is influenced by the demands of the industry in which they work, which has both positive and negative influences on the creative process. This essay looks at some of the key parameters that the fashion designer must work within, and the effect that these factors have on the creative process and the finished product. One key factor that affects the work of a designer is an element over which the individual had a certain degree of control: The company that they choose to work for. There is a vast spectrum of elements that vary from company to company and have on a knock on effect on what is expected of the designer; from company practices, culture, values and policies to the public perception of the company to the size and resources available within a given business. Ipsuis are a small British company that design and manufacture casual wear, and provide an example of how company policy effects design. The company was set up with the aim of producing a completely fairly traded product. In addition to ensuring that all labourers are fairly paid, Ipsuis will only use fairly traded fabrics which means a far more limited choice for the designer and considerably longer lead times for a new fabric. Designers in the upper end of the market, rely on their design team to produce work that is in keeping with the image they have worked hard to create. From a designer’s perspective it is beneficial to be able to move between different companies- giving the opportunity to find a business that supports a designers vision. The next thing to consider after which company a designer works for is their competition, both internal and external. Fashion design is a highly competitive job market. Designers are often given temporary contracts and only have a short time to prove themselves before their employer looks elsewhere. This, coupled with a high rate of redundancy due to the volatile nature of the market means that designers are under constant pressure to be at the forefront of their industry. The advantage of working in this competitive environment is that it spurs the designer on to achieve their best and results in hi... ...osts, so that is Tesco that benefits from increased profits. In this scenario, the designer does not see any benefit from the change to the law. Ultimately, the situation highlighted above leads onto the single most important factor that drives the fashion industry and therefore what is expected of a designer: Profit. It considered acceptable by critics that the work of the artist often has a limited appeal. A designer work must have a certain amount of mass appeal in order for the garments to sell well and make a profit. All the other considerations looked at in this essay in some way tie in to the issue of profit and the best way in which to maximise this. This inevitably puts the designer under certain pressures, which to varying extents limits their creativity. However this is a small price to pay for working in a commercial environment that gives designers a platform to get their ideas off paper and into the shops, that allows the designer freedom to concentrate on their work whilst other business related considerations are taken care of by others and most importantly allows the designer to make a living out of the very thing they are most passionate about.