Technology Project

MATS34802 Technology Project 40 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 6 Jane Wood Unit coordinator Department of Materials 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 20.0 The Technology Project provides students with an exciting opportunity to combine keen business acumen with a thorough understanding of the latest developments in wearable textiles and fashion technology.  The Technology Project provides students with an exciting opportunity to combine keen business acumen with a thorough understanding of the latest developments in wearable textiles and fashion technology. The unit has been developed in response to the growing demand for graduates that combine professional business skills and state-of-the-art knowledge of innovative materials and technologies for emerging fashion and textiles markets.Technical developments and inventions become true innovations only when these can be successfully applied to procure an economic or commercial benefit. Thus, the unit synthesises the two themes of technology and business in the context of product development.  The unit aims to:Equip students with a critical understanding of how business awareness and technical performance can be combined to deliver outstanding products and services. In particular, the unit aims to combine hands-on experience of technology research with strategic analysis of market opportunities in a chosen area of fashion or textiles industries; and through this provide a keen insight into product innovation while fostering research skills, communication, reflection and commercial awareness. A greater depth of the learning outcomes are covered in the following sections:<ul style="color: rgb(60, 60, 60); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <li> Knowledge and understanding</li> <li> Intellectual skills</li> <li> Practical skills</li> <li> Transferable skills and personal qualities</li></ul> <ul><li>Identify and evaluate opportunities for product innovation in current and emerging fashion and textile markets.</li><li>Appraise current and recent developments in smart textiles, fashion and wearable technologies.</li><li>Critically discuss the evolving role of innovations such as smart textiles and wearable technologies in product development to secure competitive advantage in fashion markets and related industries.</li></ul>Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:  A1.     Systematically describe, analyse and appraise the structure of global fashion, textiles and related industries, with focus on the emerging issues of markets, services, consumer expectations within the macro-environment.  A3.     Confidently judge and interpret product performance characteristics and behaviour through theoretical and scientific approaches, with emphasis on garment.  A5.     Confidently distinguish the key elements of contemporary challenges and issues in fashion and textiles and use these systematically in strategic planning of operational responses. A7. Interpret the language of imagery and symbolic content in fashion consumption, with particular reference to forecasting, branding and product development for the fashion and textile industries.  A8.     Articulate the processes, procedures and practices of the global fashion industry.  A9.     Demonstrate an understanding of product requirements, innovation, enterprise and cost issues in relation to textile and garment production  <ul><li>Evaluate product development strategies and identify the most appropriate to meet an identified market opportunity</li><li>Evaluate, analyse and synthesise information and data from appropriate sources and use these to make informed, independent judgments and decision making in relation to technical product and business contexts.</li><li>Exercise original thinking and independent learning to design and execute a project to evaluate and analyse technical aspects of garments or textiles products in response to an identified business opportunity.</li></ul>Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:  B1.     Identify and conceptualise appropriate theories, applying them to the fashion and textile industry.  B2.     Synthesise, assess and evaluate information and data from appropriate sources and use these to make informed, independent judgments and decision making in relation to technical product and/or business contexts.  B3.     Confidently select appropriate quantitative and qualitative approaches to identify, formulate and solve problem relating to contemporary business challenges.  B4.     Exercise original thinking and independent learning to design and execute a project to evaluate and analyse a business concept or a technical aspect of garment or textiles products.  B5.     Communicate mathematical and technological information with clarity, logic and accuracy.  B6.     Undertake the development and execution of a major independent project in an appropriate area <ul><li>Select, apply and evaluate appropriate numerical, statistical and physical testing methods for complex and open-ended tasks</li><li>Act autonomously with limited supervision or direction within negotiated guidelines, individually and as part of a team.</li><li>Plan, implement and interpret results of research or experimental studies.</li></ul>Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:  C1.     Select, apply and evaluate appropriate numerical, statistical and physical testing methods for complex and open-ended tasks.  C2.     Select, evaluate and use relevant software applications, including spreadsheets, CAD software, business applications, etc., for different tasks such as data analysis or design communication, within the context of Fashion and Textiles industry.  C3.     Act Autonomously with limited supervision or direction within negotiated guidelines, individually and as part of a team.  C4.     Identify and employ appropriate sources of information. C5. Plan, implement and interpret results of research or experimental studies.  C6     Use practical design communication methods effectively in a fashion and textile context.  <ul><li>Act ethically and communicate appropriately in a variety of complex and unpredictable contexts.</li><li>Communicate clearly and effectively, using a range of styles and employing various media appropriate to the context.</li><li>Reflect upon own performance and use this to identify areas for personal development as part of a lifelong learning strategy and a foundation for continuing professional development</li></ul>Contributing to the programme learning outcomes:  D1.     An ability to act ethically and communicate appropriately in a variety of complex and unpredictable contexts.  D2.     An ability to plan, manage and evaluate the investigation into and acquisition of new knowledge.  D3.     Clear and effective communication, using a range of styles and employing various media appropriate to the context.  D4.     Effective engagement in problem solving, academic discussion and presentation of arguments in a professional manner to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.  D5.     Critical reflection upon own performance and use this to identify areas for personal development as part of a lifelong learning strategy and a foundation for continuing professional development.  D6.     An ability to apply information technology, computation and numerical techniques in a range of appropriate contexts. D7. An understanding of factors that enhance group processes; leadership, negotiation and team working, evaluating own effectiveness with a team and modifying own behaviour as appropriate. This unit will make use of a variety of learning and teaching processes including: lectures, discussions, problem-based learning, case studies and independent learning.Lectures will develop theoretical subject knowledge in market opportunities, commercial awareness and strategic analysis; and present the current state-of-the-art in wearable technologies, smart textiles and related areas.  Seminars will support the business aspects of the material covered in the lectures providing an opportunity for application of principles and concepts.  Practical sessions will reinforce and provide hands-on experience of the technology aspects.  All sessions are supplemented with directed reading and many will suggest formative “homework” assignments intended to allow ownership of the concepts introduced.As the unit progresses and student focus on their individual projects, a problem-based approach to learning will dominate; students will develop plans for their own learning and tutors will facilitate in the role of mentors and consultants.The unit is supported by the Blackboard learning environment which will include formative assessment tasks and an opportunity to contribute to discussion boards. 3 Report 60% 6 Project output (not diss/n) 20% 7 Oral assessment/presentation 20% Written and oral. N Borja de Mozota, B. (2003) Design Management: Using Design to Build Brand Value and Corporate Innovation. New York: Allworth Press..Davis Burns, L., Mullet, KK and Bryant, NO (2011). The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing and Marketing 4th Edition. New York: Fairchild PublicationsJeffrey, M and Evans, N (2011). Costing for the Fashion Industry. Oxford, UK: BergKeiser, S.J. & Garner, M. B., (2012) Beyond Design: The Synergy of Apparel Product Development’ 3rd edition New York: Fairchild PublicationsTrott, P. (2017). Innovation Management and New Product Development.  Harlow, UK: Pearson Publishing.Weetman, P (2014). Financial and Management Accounting: an Introduction. Seventh Edition. Harlow, Essex, UK: Pearson Education Limited. Lectures 54 0 346