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 fibre  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 something made by You can find it   

● What is a ​fabric​?   online or by asking   
weaving threads. Fabrics are used
someone who   
● What are ​textiles​?  to make clothes and other items. knows   
● What are ​garments​?  - Textiles are things made up of    
natural fibres that were made into What is a fabric  *** 
 yarns, and then the yarns are (secondary)   
   
turned into fabrics
What are textiles  *** 
- Garments are clothes made of (secondary)   
fabric or textile materials, they are    
used to protect the body and for What are garments   
(secondary)  *** 
fashion purposes

MANUFACTURING  The first step to making cotton textiles is taking out  You can find the  ** 
● How are cotton textiles  stuff we don’t want in it, like getting rid of all the  answer online and   
seeds, leaves, or sand on it. The next step is using a  by asking people   
made?  
machine to remove the dust and fibres that are not  who make textiles   
● What are the basic  long enough. The next step is to form a “silver lap” ,    * 
joining and assembly  after that you have to comb the silver lap, to once  Steps to making 
methods​ to attach  again, get rid of short fibres and dust. After, they  cotton textiles 
pieces of fabric  have to make it so all the fibres are the same length.  (secondary) 
Then they extend it because usually, the fibre is too   
together? 
thick. Lastly, they make it the perfect size and turn it  Basic methods to 
into a bobbin.  attach fabrics 
The basic ways of joining fabric are:  (secondary) 
- Fusing 
- Welding 
- Adhesives 
- Molding 

TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS  To draw a sewing pattern, you have to measure  You can find it   
FOR MAKING  your body so you know how big to make it, then  online and by   
● How do you draw a  draw your measurments on a piece of paper. After  people who know   
that you connect all the edges and plan your sleeve  how to do it  * 
sewing ​pattern​? What  and neckband, finally you draw a seam pattern     
are the key features of  around the actual pattern. You can also copy  What is a pattern   
a good pattern?  designs from already existing garments.  (Wikipedia)   
● What​ materials and  The most common features are:     
- Grain lines  Common features   
tools​ do I have 
- Fold lines  of a good pattern  *** 
available for making my  - Notches  (secondary) 
product? (see Appendix  - Darts, and more   
A below)     
I could use things like the threads, rivets and maybe  Materials needed to 
buttons, I would probably use more but nothing I  make phone holder 
have in mind is listed. I wanted to use a shampoo  (secondary) 
bottle, and my garment. 

CLIENT INFORMATION  I could design this for the people who don’t have an  You can find out   
● Who could I design for?   area to put their phone when charging them, and  who needs this 
some people who put it on the floor could also step  online (sort of) 
● What group (​target 
on it and break their electronic. 
audience​) does this  I would say usually the people who do this are 
person represent?   teenagers, mainly because they have a tendency to 
● What material  put their phone on their bed and sometimes knock it 
properties or aesthetic  off. 
Depending on what kind of person they are, if they 
factors need to be 
are edgy and emo-like, I would say darker colours 
taken into account for  like grey and black, maybe dark blue. If they are 
this client? (What kind  open happy people, I would say colours like yellow, 
of colours and style do  red and bright colours. 
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