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Design
Contemporary designer: Akira Isogawa
In the Area of study: Design, you will investigate the factors that determine the success or failure of designers. This resource focuses on the contemporary designer Akira Isogawa.
Outcomes
This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcome:
H2.1 communicates design concepts and manufacturing specifications to both technical and non-technical audiences
H5.2 analyses and discusses the impact of current issues on the Australian textiles industry
H6.1 analyses the influence of historical, cultural and contemporary developments on textiles
Extract from Stage 6 Textiles and Design Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 2007.
Akira Isogowa is a high profile contemporary Australian designer. He immigrated to Australia in 1986 from his native Japan. After studying fashion in Sydney during the 1970's, Akira developed a national and international design reptutation. He is one of the few Australian designers to exhibit and sell his clothing in Paris. His design work draws on a variety of inspiration including contemporary Japanese design and his childhood experiences.
As well as commercial success, Isogowa's designs have been exhibited in a number of major Australian galleries. He has worked as a costume designer for the Melbourne Theatre Company and has been acknowledged for his work with a commemorative Australian Postage envelope and stamp in 2003.
Activity 1
Click on the following sites to understand how the background of the designer has influenced his design work. http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/sourcingthemuse/int_akira.php 
and
i) How have the elements of Akira's background influenced his design work and work ethic?
- How is Akira's style defined?
ii) Follow the link to Akira's website http://www.akira.com.au/
The opening page identifies his philosophy to designing through a series of quotes.
- Following the links on the website, find an image from one of Akira's fashion collections.
- Identify features on the chosen design which best demonstrate how his philosophy and background are demonstrated on the design.
- reflect and comment on how elements of this chosen design may have influenced current design trends.
Activity 2
In a transcript of an interview with Akira Isogawa the http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/sourcingthemuse/des_akira.php , Akira traces his journey and the cultural, social and historical influences on his work.
Answer the following questions.
- When did Akira’s interest in fashion start?
- How did he find his way into the fashion industry?
- What influences his work?
Activity 3
- What are the processes from idea to creation?
- Where do designers source their inspiration?
In an endeavour to illuminate design processes, the Powerhouse Museum asked eight leading Australian fashion designers or design teams to explore the Museum's dress and textile collection and select objects which they would use as a source of inspiration from which to create a new garment. Those selected were; Akira (Akira Isogawa), Easton Pearson (Lydia Pearson and Pamela Easton), Gwendolynne (Gwendolynne Burkin), Michelle Jank, Nicola (Nicola Finetti), S!X (Peter Boyd and Denise Sprynskyj), Tea Rose (Rosemary Armstrong) and Vixen (Georgia Chapman and Maureen Sohn).
Follow the link to the Powerhouse Museum "Sourcing the Muse" 
resources about Akira Isogawa. Look at the design created by Akira, the object that inspired him and the interview about his design process in this task. Akira talks about a fabric versus contruction approach to designing.
- Outline the approach that Akira mostly uses.
- Using a web search, find examples of Akira's clothing designs that best demonstrate this approach to designing and identify those features in the garment.
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