Assessment Intentions and Overview

Assessment is structured as a scaffolded Fashion Design project developed across three stages:

• Stage 1 – Foundations (AT1: 40%) – Weeks 1–6
• Stage 2 – Development (AT2: 60%) – Weeks 7–12
• Stage 3 – Construction (AT3: Pass/Fail Residential School)

Together, these stages guide you through the complete fashion design process — from conceptual investigation to final garment construction.

You will design one intended garment across the term. Each stage builds toward the successful construction of that garment at Residential School.

Although AT1 and AT2 are graded separately, they form two stages of one coherent design project. Stage 1 establishes knowledge and conceptual direction. Stage 2 refines and resolves the design. Stage 3 executes the garment in practice. The garment must be able to be made in 3 days at Residential School.

Continuity across all three stages is required.

Professional Context

This assessment forms part of your preparation as a secondary textiles and fashion educator. Assessment tasks require you to demonstrate:

• Professional design capability
• Application of the Design Process
• Ethical and sustainable decision-making
• Clear communication suitable for secondary classroom contexts

Your portfolio work should therefore function as both:

• A professional fashion design folio
• A model of practice transferable to school settings

Further detailed instructions, weekly task breakdowns and exemplars are provided in Moodle and tutorials.

Assessment Task 1 – Stage 1: Foundations (40%)

Purpose of Stage 1 – Foundations

Assessment Task 1 establishes the theoretical and technical foundations required for professional fashion design practice and future teaching contexts. In this stage, you will:

• Develop fashion literacy and terminology
• Analyse and apply the Elements and Principles of Design
• Investigate historical, cultural and contemporary fashion influences
• Explore sustainability and Slow Fashion contexts
• Examine fabrics, fibres and textile testing
• Begin identifying and exploring a proposed garment direction

From Week 1, you should begin considering the garment you intend to design and construct later in the term. Your investigations in AT1 must begin linking to this emerging design direction.

AT1 provides formative feedback at the midpoint of the term to help you refine and strengthen your concept before moving into full design development in AT2.

Your Task

Create a visually organised A3 portfolio ("look book" format) that demonstrates your understanding and application of foundational Fashion Design knowledge and skills.

Your portfolio should:

• Present completed learning activities clearly and professionally
• Include purposeful annotations that identify, explain and justify design decisions
• Demonstrate correct use of fashion terminology
• Show early thinking about your intended garment

As this unit purposefully aligns with initial teacher education, your portfolio should also communicate ideas clearly enough to be adapted for secondary classroom use.

Further guidance, examples and activity instructions will be provided in weekly Moodle learning materials and Zoom tutorials. A detailed checklist is available in the criteria sheet.

Format and Materials

• A3 Art Folio with removable pages (display folder or equivalent)
• Textile and art materials as directed in weekly Moodle content
• Final submission uploaded as a single PDF with clearly photographed A3 pages

AI Assessment Scale: Level 2

You may use AI tools for planning, idea generation and research support. Your final submission must clearly demonstrate your own development and refinement of ideas. Any AI-generated content must be critically evaluated and properly acknowledged. Misuse or non-disclosure may constitute a breach of academic integrity.

If you use AI, include your prompts and a brief note describing how you edited/verified outputs. Place this at the end of your PDF (1–2 pages maximum).

72-Hour Grace Period

The 72-hour grace period applies to this assessment. If you require more than 72 hours, you must apply through the Assessment Extension System.

Why This Matters

Stage 1 builds the foundation for your major design project. The knowledge, investigations and decisions you make here will shape the garment you design in Stage 2 and construct at Residential School. Think of AT1 as the research and concept-building phase of your professional design journey.

• Interpret fashion literacy and fashion fundamentals in a variety of contexts
• Analyse the elements and principles of design
• Select materials, resources and techniques for specific purposes
• Demonstrate practice, skills and processes
• Communicate concepts and techniques to an intended audience

Assessment Task 2 – Stage 2: Development (60%)

Overview

Stage 2 represents the development phase of your Fashion Design journey. Building on the foundational investigations completed in AT1, you will refine and resolve your garment concept into a construction-ready design proposal.

You are not starting a new project. You are extending, strengthening and applying the work developed in Stage 1.

The garment designed in this assessment must be the garment constructed over 3-days at Residential School (AT3).

Design Context

Fashion designers often draw on personal experience, values and social issues to shape their creative work. In this assessment, you will respond to the following design brief:

Atelier Jolie is seeking designers to collaborate in their creation space. Your submission must reflect the philosophy of Slow Fashion and communicate your personal design philosophy.

Your garment and portfolio should demonstrate thoughtful design, ethical awareness and individual creative direction.

Purpose of Stage 2 – Development

This assessment moves from foundational knowledge to applied design thinking. You will:

• Refine and clearly articulate your Fashion Philosophy
• Develop a coherent garment concept aligned with the Slow Fashion brief
• Apply the Design Process (Explore → Develop → Plan → Evaluate)
• Produce resolved fashion drawings and/or technical representations
• Select and justify final fabrics, fibres and notions
• Draft or modify patterns using your own body measurements
• Develop a management plan and construction sequence
• Evaluate your design decisions against the brief and criteria

Your final proposal must be realistic, well planned, and achievable within the Residential School timeframe.

Your Task

Submit a comprehensive A3 Creative Portfolio that demonstrates the development and refinement of your intended garment.

Your portfolio should:

• Clearly show progression from initial concept (AT1) to final design
• Include annotated design drawings and development sketches
• Demonstrate application of the Elements and Principles of Design
• Justify material and fibre selection
• Include pattern development or modification
• Present a construction management plan and sequencing
• Evaluate your design decisions in relation to the brief

As we are preparing you for teaching in schools, your portfolio should communicate ideas clearly enough to be adapted as a secondary classroom model of a design folio.

Further detail, activity breakdowns and checklists are provided in weekly Moodle materials and tutorials.

Designed Solution (Garment)

You must design one garment (or a coordinated two-piece set) that:

• Reflects your Fashion Philosophy and Slow Fashion principles
• Is developed using your own body measurements
• Demonstrates a range of sewing skills (including at least one new skill)
• Is achievable within the Residential School timeframe
• Is fully constructed at Residential School

Your portfolio should prioritise evidence of design decision-making, planning, and justification rather than volume of pages.

Study Expectations

This is a major applied design project. A 6-credit point unit requires approximately 12.5 hours of study per week. Effective planning, time management and organisation are essential. The final garment design must be ready for construction at Residential School.

AI Assessment Scale: Level 3

You may use AI tools to assist with drafting text, generating ideas or refining visuals. However: You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content. Any AI-generated images must be clearly acknowledged. You must include the exact prompt(s) used. Failure to appropriately disclose AI use may constitute a breach of academic integrity.

If you use AI, include your prompts and a brief note describing how you edited/verified outputs. Place this at the end of your PDF (1–2 pages maximum).

Submission

Submit your complete A3 portfolio as a single PDF with clearly photographed pages. The garment will be presented in person at Residential School.

Further submission details are provided in Moodle.

Why This Matters

Stage 2 demonstrates your ability to translate foundational knowledge into a resolved, professionally planned design. It prepares you not only to construct a garment, but to model the design process for future secondary students.

• Use design practice, skills and processes to create fashion products
• Interpret fashion literacy and fashion fundamentals for specific purposes
• Apply the elements and principles of design to a design brief
• Sequence production and processes plans
• Adapt, generate and modify plans and resources
• Evaluate ideas, skills, processes and products against design criteria
• Communicate concepts and techniques to convey meaning an intended audience

Assessment Task 3 – Stage 3: Construction (Pass/Fail)

Residential School – Post-Term Intensive

Overview

Stage 3 is the construction phase of your Fashion Design journey.

At Residential School, you will construct the garment developed and approved in Assessment Task 2.

This is the execution stage of your design process — translating your planned concept into a finished, professionally constructed garment.

Purpose of Stage 3 – Construction

This assessment confirms your ability to:

• Move from design concept to physical garment
• Demonstrate appropriate sewing and construction techniques
• Manage time, materials and equipment effectively
• Apply correct material and technique selection
• Work safely and professionally in a textiles studio environment

As a pre-service teacher, this stage also develops your capacity to model safe and competent studio practice consistent with secondary classroom expectations.

Your Task

During the Residential School, you must:

• Construct the garment designed in Assessment Task 2
• Demonstrate a range of appropriate garment construction skills
• Apply your planned construction sequence
• Manage resources efficiently within the allocated time
• Follow all Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) requirements

You may not redesign your garment at Residential School. The garment must align with your approved AT2 portfolio.

Requirements to Achieve a Pass

This assessment is Pass/Fail. To achieve a Pass, you must:

• Attend all scheduled days and sessions of Residential School
• Complete one garment during the Residential School
• Participate in all required practical activities
• Adhere to WHS requirements at all times

Failure to meet any of the above requirements will result in a Fail for this assessment task.

AI Assessment Scale: Level 1

AI tools do not apply to the practical construction component.

72-Hour Grace Period

The 72-hour grace period does not apply to Residential School. Attendance on all scheduled days is compulsory.
If unforeseen and extraordinary circumstances prevent attendance, you must contact the Unit Coordinator as soon as possible.

Why This Matters

Stage 3 demonstrates your readiness to confidently construct and model a designed fashion product — an essential professional capability for future secondary textiles and fashion educators.

• Create a designed fashion product
• Perform a range of practical skills
• Manage plans and resources
• Select appropriate materials and techniques
• Comply with Workplace Health and Safety requirements suitable for sewing environments