Inspiring artifacts: examining utilization of archival references in the textile design process

Studies regarding the design process tend to come from outside of textile and fashion design. Existing literature suggests a need for further investigation of design processes in these disciplines to advance understanding. Designers collect inspirational images and information to inform design development, often utilizing historical and archive resources; however, minimal insight is provided regarding application within the creative process. The Awaken Project investigated the conceptual possibilities of reinterpreting archive material for contemporary textile design and related work. Resulting from the project, this paper describes case studies with fourteen creative practitioners, to enhance understanding of the textile design process, specifically related to archive utilization. Each of the creative practitioner participants produced a creative process journal (CPJ). The CPJ comprises text, visuals and other media forms to provide insight into the creative journey. Archive inductions, subsequent archive visits and focus groups were central to the study and encouraged critical reflection on the work in progress. The case studies highlight varying approaches to working with archival resources in the textile design creative process. Discussion of the research project findings highlight factors for future consideration when working with archives. The research methods adopted are reflected upon and opportunities for further research are identified