Task A2 | R

​ esearch plan 
🔎 What? 
 
❗Why? 
 
Construct a research plan, which states and prioritizes the  You want to identify valuable sources of information to 
primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution  provide input for your project (now and later) and you want to 
to the problem.  make sure you balance your research efforts over the different 
areas of research that are needed.  

⚙ How? 
 
Adjust and extend the provided partial research plan in order to: 
● Identify​ primary and secondary sources that you could consult in order to be a knowledgeable designer in this project, 
ready to design and create. Use the following prompts: 
○ You can make observations, do measurements and experiments. 
○ You can interview (experienced) experts or other stakeholders in your project. 
○ You can survey your target audience. 
○ You can consult secondary sources. 
● Describe​ what you want to learn from each of these sources in detail. 
● Prioritize​ the importance of each part of your research (you may not have time to do it all!). 
● Research​ and find out the answers! P ​ resent​ all research notes from your research in the table below. This section can 
contain pieces of text directly copy-pasted from sources, results of surveys, photographs, transcripts of interviews etc. 

Research Plan + Research 

Research questions  What is the answer?  Where could I find  Prioritization 
an answer?   * = Good to 
What type of  know   
source is it?  ** = Useful   
Primary or  *** = Directly 
useful   
Secondary? 
**** = Vital  
 

PROPERTIES:  ●
[***] What properties (or  and affordability and is ideal for clothing,
characteristics) of a fabric 
determine what you can do with  ●
it?  Products
Cotton is prized for its comfort, easy care,  Online   *** 
   
bedding, towels, and furnishings. ​(Cotton  Cotton Fibers and 
Fibers)  its Properties 
Characteristics of Cotton Fibers and  (secondary) 
   
○ Comfortable to wear   
○ Natural, cellulosic fiber  Fabric 
○ Absorbs water and “breathes”  Characteristics for 
○ Slow to dry  Garment 
○ Resists static electricity build-up  Manufacturing 
○ Wrinkles easily  (secondary) 
○ Can withstand heat, detergents, 
and bleach 
○ About 20% stronger when wet 
than dry 
○ Will shrink unless treated 
○ Can be damaged by mildew 
○ Can be damaged by prolonged 
exposure to sunlight ​(Fabric 
Characteristics) 

DEFINITIONS​:  Fabric is made of fibers that are gathered from the  Online   *** 
● What is a ​fabric​?   source, spun into threads and then they are woven  Dictionary 
into fabrics. Fibers can come from many sources,  (Secondary)  
● What are ​textiles​? 
plants, animal hair and others. Well, know plant  http://en.wikipedia.o
● What are ​garments​?  fibers are Cotton, linen, hemp, and rayons that come  rg/wiki/Fibres 
from bamboo, pine, spruce, and hemp. These are 
 spun and processed into denim, t-shirtings, twills,  http://en.wikipedia.o
khakis, voiles, broadcloths poplins, cotton is an  rg/wiki/Fabric 
especially versatile fiber and made into literally   
thousands of weights, textures, knits, and weaves.   
it's the world's favorite fiber. 
A textile is a flexible material consisting of a network 
of natural or artificial fibers. 
An item of clothing like shirts, jeans, and others. 
 

MANUFACTURING  To begin the spinning process, the compressed  From Raw Cotton to   
● How are cotton textiles  staple fiber delivered to the spinning plant is  Cotton Fabrics 
made?   unraveled using a mixing and blowing machine. 
The staple fiber is processed into a sheet-shaped 
● What are the basic  lap. From 18 to 24 carded slivers are fed together 
joining and assembly  and side by side. They are drafted and a loose form 
methods​ to attach  of the web is created. Then there is combing which 
pieces of fabric  is when the now silver lap is combed, then there is 
the process of drawing which is when to eight 
together? 
slivers after the carding or combing process are 
gathered and elongated to six to eight times their 
original length using a drawing machine to 
straighten and remove uneven thickness from the 
fibers, then there is rowing, spinning and lastly 
winding. 

TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS  A ​patternmaker​ uses one of two methods to create  What is a pattern   
FOR MAKING  a pattern.  (Wikipedia) 
● How do you draw a  The flat-pattern method is where the entire pattern 
sewing ​pattern​? What  is drafted on a flat surface from measurements, 
are the key features of  using rulers, curves, and straight-edges. A pattern 
maker would also use various tools such as a 
a good pattern? 
notcher​, d
​ rill​, and ​aw​l​ to mark the pattern. 
● What​ materials and 
The draping method involves creating a muslin 
tools​ do I have 
mockup pattern. 
available for making my 
● Thread (polyester and cotton and waxed) 
product? (see Appendix 
● Eyelets  
A below) 
● Studs 
● Rivets 
● Snap fasteners 
● Velcro (sew-on and stick on) 
● Anything you request that is approved by 
the teacher. 
● Fabric glue 
● Contact adhesive (Elmer’s multi-purpose 
spray adhesive) 
● Sewing machine (Brother JA1450NT) 
● Needles 
● Seam ripper 
● Fabric shears 
● Rotary cutter 
● Hole punch 
● Rivet/eyelet setter and die 
● Used Fabric 
 
 

CLIENT INFORMATION  This product is directed towards teenagers around     

● Who could I design for?   the age of 13-15. They will like fun styles which are 
inspired by shows and they would want to have 
● What group (​target 
something original and new.  
audience​) does this 
person represent?  
● What material 
properties or aesthetic 
 factors need to be 
taken into account for 
this client? (What kind 
of colours and style do 
they like?) 

A2 Assessment 
Level  Descriptor  Typical features of student work 

0  The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below. 

1-2  The student ​states​ s​ ome​ research needed to  ❏ A limited amount of sources and information is stated which 
develop a solution to the problem, ​with  makes it difficult to find the answers to the research 
some guidance​.  questions. Some sections were incomplete. Be sure to review 
your work for completeness. 
❏ There is only one type of source used in your research. Both 
primary and secondary sources are needed. 
❏ You did not prioritize your research in your planning. 
Prioritization is important to organizing your research. 

3-4  The student ​states​ the research needed to  ❏ Some sources and information are stated which makes it 
develop a solution to the problem, ​with  challenging to find the answers to the research questions. If 
some guidance.  you identify more sources, you will have a broader 
understanding of the research questions. 
❏ There is only one type of source used in your research. Both 
primary and secondary sources are needed. 
❏ You did not prioritize your research in your planning. 
Prioritization is important to organizing your research. 

5-6  The student ​constructs​ a research plan,  ❏ A number of sources and information are stated. You 
which s​ tates​ and p
​ rioritizes​ the primary and  demonstrated that you can find the answers to the research 
secondary research needed to develop a  questions. Even more appropriate sources would strengthen 
solution to the problem, ​with some  your understanding. 
guidance​.  ❏ There are a few types of sources used in your research. 
Having a good variety of sources allows you to get 
information from different viewpoints. 
❏ You prioritized your research in your planning. 

7-8  The student constructs a research plan,  ❏ An effective number of sources and information are stated. 
which s​ tates​ and p
​ rioritizes​ the primary and  You demonstrated that you can find the answers to the 
secondary research needed to develop a  research questions from a number of relevant sources. 
solution to the problem i​ ndependently​.  ❏ There is an excellent variety of types of sources used in your 
research. Primary and secondary sources provide a broad 
understanding as you move forward. 
❏ You prioritized your research in your planning. This will help 
keep you organized in preparing for the next step of the 
criterion. 

   
Appendix A: Tools and Materials (primary source) 
For this project, you will be provided with the materials and tools listed below. The list is not exhaustive but gives a good idea of 
what is reasonably available. It is up to you to figure out how to use and process them. You will have to make sure you understand 
the properties of the materials and tools you choose in order to make smart design choices for your product. 
 

Fabric and materials you need to provide yourself 

● Anything you can reclaim from garments otherwise thrown away. This will not be provided. You need to bring it in from 
home. 
● Straps, buckles, buttons etc that you can reclaim from garments otherwise thrown away. 
● Do not buy fabric! 
 

Tools and materials provided by school 

● Thread (polyester and cotton and waxed) 
● Eyelets  
● Studs 
● Rivets 
● Snap fasteners 
● Velcro (sew-on and stick on) 
● Anything you request that is approved by the teacher. 
● Fabric glue 
● Contact adhesive (Elmer’s multi-purpose spray adhesive) 
● Sewing machine (Brother JA1450NT) 
● Needles 
● Seam ripper 
● Fabric shears 
● Rotary cutter 
● Hole punch 
● Rivet/eyelet setter and die