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Department of Design and Merchandising
College of Health and Human Sciences

Design and Merchandising Inclusive Innovations Exhibit

Emerging product developers are in a unique position to design apparel that is inclusive of the greatest variety of people possible. This is our responsibility. In 2021, senior Product Development students were given the charge above and consider how clothing can be made more inclusive through product innovation.

Inclusive Innovations Exhibit - Fall 2021

Clothing is integral to participating in society, but what happens if you can’t wear mainstream apparel or find clothes that reflect your personal needs and identity? The Inclusive Innovations Senior Showcase featured work by 22 students that addressed this question by developing a line of five garments based on an underrepresented or marginalized target’s needs market.

This exhibition featured product designs that were inclusive of traditionally marginalized consumer groups, such as people with disabilities, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.  From radical new design innovations to incremental alterations to existing products, these works asked the viewer to consider how clothing products can be designed to include, rather than exclude, the greatest variety of people possible.

Emerging product developers are in a unique position to design apparel that is inclusive of the greatest variety of people possible.

2021 Exhibit Video

Student Quotes

“Through this project and specifically the research and beginning design process I really began to understand how many underserved people there are and how many different styles of clothing lack inclusivity. I began to look at different markets and even my own clothes thinking about how so many garments could easily be made more inclusively.”

“It made me think of different ways to include all consumers. Before, I had little knowledge of this consumer group and doing this project helped me understand them better.”

“The technologies took the cotton performance to another level that made the function of the clothes more adaptive and unique.”

 

a view from above of the Inclusive Innovations exhibit and visiting guests.

Featured Student Projects Fall 2021

Featuring student projects that represent the mission and values of the IIL. Showing a diverse range of student achievements that focus on inclusive innovations, the projects below are just a sample of the fantastic work accomplished by students in the Department of Design and Merchandising.

Jared Tarzian "Adapted Apparel"
cropped version of Jared Tarzian poster with digital renderings of the motion blazer, the motion trousers, and the swift sweater.
Dylan Frost "Clothing Continued"
Cropped poster of Dylan Frost's digital renderings with an adaptive crew neck shirt, adjusted hoodie, and utility jacket
Gabe Murray "Unraveled"
Cropped version of Gabe Murray's poster with digital renderings of two pairs of pants and a hooded jacket.
Emily Vittorio "Breeze"
Emily Vittorio's partial poster with digital renderings of a bodysuit, snap side closure pants, snap side closure skirt

adaptive red pants prototype display walls with posters and prototypes hanging on them display board with the inclusive design award noted and 3 posters and 3 prototypes hanging Inclusive Innovations poster with a prototype hanging in the background a styled prototype on a mannequin with pants prototype hanging on the wall behind. a close up image of cotton performance fabrics used for prototyping in the course