Design innovation starts with the consumer
To design is to solve a problem. To design innovatively you start with the consumer. At FAAS, students are directed through a ‘learn while doing’ program to understand what it means to create and innovate from this perspective. Contact us to learn more.
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FAAS X NIKE CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a professional dancer with limited unilateral movement. Current retail assortment is not inclusive of this consumer's mobility, storage, or easy access needs. DESIGN SOLUTION: Designed layering system of outerwear, midlayer, and pant that allows for ease of movement, weather protection, easy access to pockets, and easy on/ easy off construction. DESIGNERS: Rebecca Scheer, Zing Chuang
FAAS X NIKE CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a professional dancer with limited unilateral movement. Current retail assortment is not inclusive to his specific daily apparel needs- mobility, storage, or easy wearability. DESIGN SOLUTION: Designed layering system of outerwear, midlayer, and pant that allows for ease of movement, weather protection, easy access to hidden utility pockets, easy on/ easy off construction, and sleek, modern aesthetic. DESIGNERS: Rebecca Scheer, Zing Chuang
FAAS X NEW BALANCE CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a professional high profile fashion photographer in NYC who requires style, utility, and privacy to work when in public locations. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design lightweight stylish, weatherproof outerwear that can be dressed up or down to wear around the city. Add detachable structured hood for privacy. DESIGNERS: Joyce Park
FAAS X THE NORTH FACE CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a woman who wants to be comfortable while hiking and camping during her menstrual cycle. Current retail assortment do not address these particular needs of women in the outdoors. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design a lightweight insulated parka that transforms into a blanket for warmth around the campfire or on the go. Engineered/ regulated heat fibers placed at lower back and abdomen for additional comfort when needed. In addition, create a waterproof, compartmental, antimicrobial pouch that allows for easy carrying and disposal of hygienic product while camping in the outdoors. DESIGNERS: Jessica Caldwell
FAAS X UNDER ARMOUR CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer has an active job that keeps her on the go around the city throughout the day. She requires energy and mobile solution for charging her media accessories. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design a weatherproof soft shell parka that is comfortable, stylish, and constructed for movement. Infused in the fibers of the parka are performance fibers that charge the mobile phone when stored in pocket and engineered panels that re-energize muscles for better mobility. DESIGNERS: Scott Taylor
FAAS X ADIDAS CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is pre-teen who carries school equipment as well as athletic product for training. Needs reliable backpack with separate compartments that allow for waterproofness, abrasion, water bottle storage, and computer. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design a weatherproof, lightweight, anti-microbial, abrasion proof back pack that has protective dividers for footwear, liquids, computer equipment and phone. DESIGNERS: Melvin Melchor
FAAS X JORDAN CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is pre-teen who uses a backpack to carry multiple items for different activities throughout the day. The back pack tends to get heavy and effects the consumer's posture. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design an ergonomic backpack that has multiple compartments that can be easily removed when not in use to reduce weight. DESIGNERS: Yue Zhou
FAAS X COLE HAAN CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a man who commutes from the suburbs to the city for a job that requires him to wear a suit. He requires a stylish, lightweight utility accessory that can store his phone, wallet, keys, airline ticket, etc. He wants to be handfree and while on the go. He does not want to carry a cross body 'man bag'. DESIGN SOLUTION: Re-think the concept of 'man bag'. Create an articulated softshell sleeve to be worn over apparel with multi-directional pockets, waterproofness, stretch, and a clean, modern aesthetic. DESIGNERS: Austin Chen
FAAS X PUMA CONSUMER PROBLEM: Create athletic apparel that addresses the 'Genderless' consumer. DESIGN SOLUTION: Reference the iconic Puma track suit. Design a modern interpretation with multiple wearing opportunities. Exaggerated jacket sleeves, cropped pintuck pant, and detachable sarong allows for self expression. DESIGNERS: Nate Robbins
FAAS X JORDAN CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a celebrity who travels frequently. She needs to pack light and be prepared for different wearing occasions during her trip. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design a single piece that is comfortable for travel but is also stylish. The piece converts from a snood, to a scarf, to a cape, to a top, to a midi dress, to a maxi skirt, and finally converts into a laundry bag for the return home. DESIGNERS: Shubham Singhai
FAAS X STUDENT CONCEPT CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer finds it difficult to find women's product that expresses her interest in hip hop. Usually purchase men's apparel that caters to hip hop style. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design a single, versatile, and trend right piece that can be worn by both men and women. Use a nontraditional fabric (Tyvek) that can be customized with artwork for individual hip hop expression. DESIGNERS: Gianni Sprauve
FAAS X JORDAN CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a celebrity who travels frequently. She needs to pack light and be prepared for different wearing occasions during her trip. DESIGN SOLUTION: Design a carry on tote in durable lux materials that does no need to be unpacked. Bag can be hung vertically on closet rod to double as a mobile compartmented closet. DESIGNERS: Brock
FAAS X ADIDAS ORIGINALS CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a woman who is a professional dog walker. She uses current technology to customize as many things in her lifestyle as possible. She would like to customize her clothes and accessories as well. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a DIY workshop with Adidas Originals. Make it easy for the consumer to create a jacket (reduce original 12 piece jacket construction to 6 pieces through clever origami construction) that is both style relevant and easy to make. Use raw materials that can be dyed or printed on for customization. Use seam tape for stitchless construction. Optional styles to choose from and a toolbox for all that is needed to compete the project on her own. DESIGNERS: Kenyce Smith
FAAS X ADIDAS CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a woman who is a professional dog walker. She uses current technology to customize as many things in her lifestyle as possible. She would like to customize her clothes and accessories as well. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a DIY workshop with Adidas Originals. Make it easy for the consumer to create a jacket and tote with minimal construction that is both style relevant and allows for dog walking utility. Use raw materials that can be dyed, rubber dipped (for waterproofness), or printed on for customization. Use seam tape for stitchless construction. Optional styles to choose from and a toolbox for all that is needed to compete the project on her own. DESIGNERS: Trevor Duffles
FAAS X VIBRAM CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a new mom who works for a global fashion magazine in NYC. During her commute to and from work and daycare, she needs outerwear that looks stylish and will also protect her newborn from rain and environmental elements. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a sleek, lightweight, vibram rubber coated weatherproof parka that allows for easy access. Design an ergonomic proprietary Vibram rubber baby carrier that fits comfortably within the front double zipper placket of the outerwear for full coverage of the newborn. Baby carrier also functions as a mobile changing mat and privacy shield when 'dooty' calls. DESIGNERS: Vidit Singh, Filippo Favero
FAAS X ______ CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a new mom and works for global fashion magazine in NYC. During her commute to and from work and daycare, she needs outerwear that looks stylish and will also protect her newborn from rain and environmental elements. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a sleek, lightweight, vibram rubber coated weatherproof parka that allows for easy access. Design an ergonomic proprietary Vibram rubber baby carrier that fits comfortably within the front double zipper placket of the outerwear for full coverage of the newborn. Baby carrier also functions as a mobile changing mat and privacy shield when 'dooty' calls. DESIGNERS: Vidit Singh, Filippo Favero
FAAS X NEW ERA CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is DJ Clark Kent, known for DJ'ing for celebrities all over the world. He needs a stylish, luxury carry on bag for transporting his DJ equipment, his signature new era cap, change of clothes, and footwear. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a modern luxury, premium leather version of a New Era cap that solves for the problem of having a 'crush free' space in a carry on tote by creating a cap that can be flattened and stored in the tote during transport. The cap can then be reconstructed in one movement through the use of low profile magnets in the cleverly designed construction. DESIGNERS: Dan Knauth
FAAS X NEW ERA CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is DJ Clark Kent, known for DJ'ing for celebrities all over the world. He needs a stylish, luxury carry on bag for transporting his DJ equipment, his signature new era cap, change of clothes, and footwear. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a luxury, premium leather bag that has strategically placed compartments for all equipment, apparel, and footwear. Solve the problem of having a 'crush free' space for the hat. DESIGNERS: Santiago Munoz-Galaz
FAAS X STONE ISLAND CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a world traveler, an aficionado of trendsetting design, art, and culture. Seeking a added utility, weather protective apparel and gear that works with his current collection of Stone Island outerwear. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a weatherproof Overlay Hoodie with a proprietary fabric and finish. Hoodie is inspired by iconic military protective, utilitarian gear and enhances current collection of Stone Island product. DESIGNERS: Evan Stichhaller
FAAS X STONE ISLAND CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a world traveler, an aficionado of trendsetting design, art, and culture. Seeking a added utility, weather protective apparel and gear that works with his current collection of Stone Island outerwear. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a weatherproof duffle with a proprietary fabric and finish. Duffle is inspired by iconic military utilitarian gear and stores the Overlay Hoodie for easy access when not in use. DESIGNERS: Matthew Montoya
FAAS X CARBON38 CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is an expectant mother who needs an outerwear parka that is both stylish (to be worn while pregnant and post pregnancy), easy to adjust, comfortable, and versatile for the daily fluctuating Bay Area weather. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a weatherproof (seam sealed and bonded) parka that has a simple but elegant crossover construction, and easy to reach adjustable low profile, click-in buckles. The reversible style allows for different wearing occasions in changing weather (bonded warm fleece on one side and protective softshell on the alternate side). DESIGNERS: Mitchell Rettmann
FAAS X CARBON38 CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is an expectant mother who needs a stylish and functional bag accessory to allow her to be hands free and comfortable. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a stylish, ergonomic, lightweight, and weatherproof (seam sealed and bonded softshell) back pack with adjustable padding for comfort at lower back to support the consumer's changing posture during pregnancy. DESIGNERS: Celine Chagnot
FAAS X HUA FENG (HOMEWARD PROJECT) CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is homeless and requires full coverage, protective apparel to counter wet weather. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a lightweight, waterproof, breathable style that allows for the consumer to be mobile, have 360 degrees of visibility through reflective details, and full protective coverage in inclement weather. DESIGNERS: Skylar Storkamp
FAAS X RUNWAY OF DREAMS CONSUMER PROBLEM: Consumer is a college student who needs adaptable apparel to accommodate for limb differences. DESIGN SOLUTION: Create a casual, outerwear piece that utilizes innovation in materials and construction that can be seamlessly adjusted for limb difference. Wide bonded baffles allows for consumer to clean cut and customize the sleeve length accordingly. Center front magnet closure for easy access and symmetrical chest pocket zippers for even reach to media pocket from either side. DESIGNERS: Adam Tolczyk