Girl Powder
An exhibition of seven women’s ski outfits that embrace athleticism and functionality while holding femininity at the crux, designed by CSU graduate Kate Schmidt.
The Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising is pleased to feature Girl Powder, the creative design work of Kate Schmidt. The Girl Powder collection was the outcome of Ms. Schmidt’s thesis for her Master of Science in Design and Merchandising, a graduate degree at CSU that focuses on creatively solving problems on sustainability, health and wellness, and social responsibility. While apparel design and merchandising has been the focus of both her undergraduate and her master’s degrees, Ms. Schmidt’s passion is to continue her study of design through an educational lens, and her future goals center on research concerning education strategies in design and creative thinking. Kate Schmidt is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at CSU, in the School of Education’s ‘Education, Equity, and Transformation’ program.
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Meet the Curator
Girl Powder is my master’s thesis collection of women-specific ski apparel, whose design and production are informed by ‘qualitative research’ on consumer behavior and attitudes in the outdoor apparel market. The Girl Powder collection holds femininity at the crux while embracing principles of athleticism and redefining functionality based on consumer data. Initial qualitative data informed the conceptual sketches which were translated into final illustrations and technical drawings, culminating in a complete collection of snow sport garments. Qualitative interviews, observation sessions, and industry panel critiques inform my portfolio and collection of snow sport garments. The Girl Powder collection addresses the need in the outdoor apparel market for snow sports apparel designed, constructed, and produced with the female form, preferences, and consumer attitudes in mind. I believe that through market research, the designer is equipped with the tools to offer products that meet consumers’ self-identified needs.
