Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Build research dossier and concept brief
2–3 weeks (2 hrs/day)
Develop a fashion research dossier drawing on at least three reference sources: historical garment construction, a designer retrospective, and a cultural or social reference. Synthesise into a written concept brief (400–600 words) that identifies a clear design direction, target customer, and mood.
Proof required
Submit your research dossier (minimum 8 pages of annotated visual references) and concept brief (400–600 words) as a single PDF.
What gets checked
- References span at least three distinct categories (historical, designer, cultural) — not all Pinterest boards
- Concept brief names a specific target customer and articulates a design direction beyond 'minimalist' or 'edgy'
- Annotations explain why each reference was chosen, not just describe what it shows
Common mistakes
- Collecting images without writing annotations — the dossier becomes a mood board, not a research document
- Concept brief stays abstract — 'inspired by nature' with no specific garment implications
- Skipping historical construction research because it feels slow — this is what separates the brief from trend-following
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
Masteryfor the dedicated
What a verifier looks for
- Check dossier contains minimum 8 annotated pages — images without annotation don't count
- Confirm concept brief names a specific target customer and design direction
- Verify annotations explain selection rationale, not just describe images
- Ask student: how does this concept translate into specific garment choices? Inability to answer indicates concept is not yet design-ready
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Develop design drawings, colour, and fabric direction
2–3 weeks (2–3 hrs/day)
Produce a minimum of 12 fashion illustration sketches exploring the concept across silhouette, proportion, and detail. Develop a colour story (3–5 colourways with fabric swatches or descriptions) and a fabric direction sheet specifying at least three fabric types with rationale for the concept.
Proof required
Submit your 12+ fashion illustrations, colour story, and fabric direction sheet as a single PDF or photographed physical document pack.
What gets checked
- Illustrations demonstrate range — not 12 variations of the same silhouette
- Colour story includes actual swatches or Pantone/RAL references, not just colour names
- Fabric direction rationale connects each fabric choice back to the concept brief
Common mistakes
- Illustrations are too tight too early — committing to one direction before exploring alternatives
- Colour story developed in isolation from fabric — resulting in colours that don't work in the proposed materials
- Fabric choices are generic (cotton, polyester) with no concept rationale
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- Count: minimum 12 illustrations — fewer means design development was not fully explored
- Check colour story has actual references (swatches, Pantone, RAL) not just colour names
- Verify fabric rationale connects to concept — ask 'why this fabric for this concept?' and check the document answers it
- Ask student to identify which two or three designs they would develop to toile stage and why — inability to choose indicates design direction is not resolved
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Present concept at studio critique and revise direction
1 week (preparation + critique session)
Present your research dossier, illustrations, colour story, and fabric direction to a tutor or fashion professional in a live studio critique session (minimum 20 minutes). Document specific critique feedback and produce a revised design direction (minimum 1 page written response plus revised design drawings if direction changed).
Proof required
Submit: (1) critique session record (date, who attended, key challenges raised — minimum half page), (2) your written response to the critique identifying what changed and why, (3) any revised illustrations or direction updates.
What gets checked
- Critique record documents specific challenges to design decisions — not just 'feedback was positive'
- Written response identifies at least two concrete changes made in response to critique
- Revised drawings (if produced) show the impact of critique, not just cosmetic changes
Common mistakes
- Presenting too polished too early — reviewers can't challenge what looks finished
- Taking critique defensively and not recording what was challenged
- Revision response is vague — 'I will improve the colour story' without specifying how
Resources
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Verify critique was live (in-person or video) — written feedback alone does not satisfy this milestone
- Check critique record documents specific challenges, not just a summary of positive feedback
- Confirm written response identifies at least two concrete changes
- Ask student: what would you do differently now, and why? Inability to answer shows critique was not processed
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