Design Brief
Danny Batz1
Danny Batz Desn 280 Fall 2016 S. Boyer
Contents 01 03 05 09 11 15 20 20
Intent Stakeholders Infield Observations Interview Tools Design Opportunities Conclusion References
Intent To define problems through careful observation and consideration, in order to alter conditions for tailors for an improved experience.
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Fernando De Manila Custom Clothing & Alterations 4849 Fountain Avenue, 90029 Established in 1981 Specialize in Traditional Filipino formal wear.
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Stakeholders
Shopkeeper Liada owns the store. She deals with clients, keeps stock, and assures quality with the tailors finished work. Final product costs will be at her expense.
Customer Improved conditions for the workers means a better, and possibly quicker produced product for the costumer with less issues. 3
Tailors The Tailors work in a small studio for 8 hours a day. Their work covers a variety of tasks, but mostly consisted of sitting at their sewing station. Ella is the senior tailor and sits at the front. Final product will be at their benefit.
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Infield Observations Multiple tailors work at once.
The work is meticulously hands on.
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Each seamstress requires their own sewing machine and table with basic supplies.
Work space offers ample enough room for working, keeping necessary tools, and for some personal items.
Specialty machines such as the Iron or the Serger are shared.
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Change of shoes makes working the foot pedal easier.
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Seamstresses need to be able to shift through multiple tools to get work done.
Makeshift pin holder attached to each machine makes accessing pins easier.
Seating is basic, extra padding is added for comfort.
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Interview Ella is the lead tailor at Fernando De Manila. She has been working as a tailor her entire life. Despite the lack of formal training she is capable of producing full garments from just drawings.
Is their anything you wish you could change?
What does a typical day look like for you?
If you could, would you like a newer machine?
I work for 8 hours a day, mostly sewing, but someones I have to do fittings or the pattern making.
This machine is ok, its old, but as long it work. And its working good.
What you describe your work as difficult or easy? Sometimes easy, sometimes difficult. Depends on the style. Mostly difficult.
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I would like to work faster, but if the style if difficult, I have to take my time. You have to make it clean and with the right procedure.
Are their any physical strains you have from this line of work? Yes, especially for me since I’m already viejita (elderly). Back pain, sometimes the hands have arthritis, since I’ve been working for more than fifty years. Ive been doing this kind of work since I was very young. My
father taught me how to do this work since I was 13 years old. And every weekend and vacation I had to work in my fathers tailoring. Since you mentioned pain from sitting all day, and seeing that standing desks are a current trend in office work, would you consider using a standing desk? When cutting you need to stand, but when sewing sitting is better. Its too long work Do you like enjoy work? Yes, because I have no choice. I have to enjoy because this is the work that I have been doing my entire life.
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Tools
Seamstresses make use of many tools and necessary material. Each serve a distinct purpose. Each work station is supplied with necessary tools found in baskets on or attached to the ends of the tables.
Serger Table Clip
Glue
Brush
Scissors
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Cutting Table
Pencils Pins Tailors Chalk
Ruler
Scissors
Tape Measure
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Sewing Tables Pins
Tape Measure
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Lint Roller
Ruler
Pencil
Scissor
Blade
Thread Cutter
Miscellaneous Boxes
Loaded Bobbins
Thread Cutter
Fabric
Misc. Buttons
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Design Opportunities Tool Organization
Tools and materials are organized in a variety of methods; from specialty boxes to cabinet space.
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Baskets are placed at the end of each table to store all the tools the seamstress needs when at work.
Miscellaneous boxes are used to store miscellaneous items.
Racks are attached to ends of tables to hold necessary tools at different workstations.
Overall, much has been done to keep the studio organized, but most of it is done through makeshift methods that are not fully successful. 16
Pin Cushion Pencils or extra cloth is placed on the back half as it is not used as much.
A makeshift pin holder is attached to every sewing machine.
It allows for easy access to pins while working
The makeshift pin holder was used by all the seamstresses to varying degrees, One mentioned she has considered replacing it with a nicer one, but just has not taken the time to. 17
Cord Alteration
Machine was replaced then returned because the seamstresses had a preference to this machine due to familiarity,
The heavy cord of the iron is attached to the ceiling with an elastic cord in order to make it easier to handle
This makeshift solution notes how modification over replacement is preferred when pertaining to a favored machine. 18
Physical Strains Hands Working with their hands all day for many years causes arthritis to seamstresses.
Back & Shoulder
Eyes
The seamstresses need to sit in order to work sewing machine pedal, this causes back and shoulder pain.
Having to look at small details, causes their eyes to strain,
The seamstresses describe the work as hard and strenuous. Especially since quality is of high priority. 19
Conclusion Working as a tailor is intensive work that requires skill and dedication. The seamstresses work diligently and effectively making use of numerous tools to complete their work. The many needs the seamstresses have, from the environmental to the physical, offer many design opportunities for developing a product that would serve to better the conditions for the seamstresses. Make their work easier, pleasant, and efficient.
Special Thanks Francisco de Manila Custom Clothing and Alteration: Laida Ella Carmen
References: Sewmyplace. (2015, June 27). Sewing and Your Health. Retrieved from http:///tip/sewing-and-your-health 20
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