Creative Design and Working Drawing: Challenges of Fashion Design and Textile Students in Technical Universities in Ghana

Abstract

Creativity is an integral and essential part of the fashion design process. Without creativity in design, there is no potential for innovation, which is where creative ideas are applied and transformed into commercial value. The purpose of the current study was sought to identify the challenges student face in Creative Design and Working Drawing and suggest measures that can make the teaching and learning of the course meaningful and effective. The descriptive survey research design was employed as the research design for the study. Questionnaires were the primary data collection instrument. The target population was all students at Ho Technical University. Using purposive sampling technique, a total of 122 students were sampled to participate in the study. The study found that students at the Technical university level find it difficult to perceive the main features of the source of inspiration and immediately link those features to design elements in the fashion domain. It was also discovered that the study found that students have challenges regarding the originality of creative designs as they emerge and how they can enhance creativity during the actual process of apparel design. It was observed that the difficulties encountered by the students relative to their creative design and drawing competencies could be attributed to the unavailability of modern studios with the state-of-the-art architecture that can support practical training of the course. Hence imperative that infrastructural improvements remain critical to the sustainability of the Fashion departments. Keywords: Creativity, Creative Process, apparel design DOI: 10.7176/ADS/81-02 Publication date: March 31 st 2020