Task A3 | ​Existing products 

🔎 What? 
 
❗Why? 
 
Analyze a group of similar products that inspire a solution to  You are trying to figure out what makes related products a 
the problem.  success (or not) and you are trying to come up with ideas for 
  your own project.  
 

⚙H
​ ow? 

Inspiration board 
● Choose ​a product idea from this list - ​Choice of Upcycled Product 
● Create​ a Pinterest board of a range of products (at least 25) that are an inspiration to your specific project.  
● Present​ a screenshot of (a large part of) your Pinterest board in your design folder. Include the title and the 
hyperlinked source of your pinterest board. 
● ​ hen creating your inspiration board, choose products that are different from each other. If the 
Consider also​ -​ W
products are very similar, you will gain only limited knowledge and inspiration for your own project, because most 
products will lead to the same conclusions. It is likely that your inspiration will not only come from products that are 
similar to what you have in mind. Quite different products may have features that inspire you as well. 
● Review​ the ​high level example​ and the rubric (below) to ensure you have enough detail. 
● Choose and j​ ustify​ which project plan will be the foundation for your project. You will incorporate elements from other 
projects, but choose 1 that best represents what you want to make. 

Inspiration Board of​: Zipper pouch Ideas 

Source:​ Martinez, Laia. “​https://www.pinterest.com/laiatess/upcycled-zipper-pouch/​ ” Pinterest Board. Feb 2020. 

PMI analysis​ | Plus, Minus, Interesting 

The command term a ​ nalyze​ is defined as​:  
 
“Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure​.” 
 
In this task this means conducting a PMI analysis for the products you identified in your inspiration board. 
 
 Tips for analysis: 
● Evidence that you looked closely at the site of the pin 
● Identified properties of the products (size, shape, style, functional effectiveness, appropriate for fabric, 
appropriate for your skill level, appropriateness for client) 
● Bullet points but full sentences 
● Explain why it is a strength/challenge/interesting point 
 

Analyze​ strengths (​plus​) of the products. In your analysis clearly identify and explain specific features that 
⊕  make the product successful. 

● Most items include a tutorial and steps. This helps me because it identifies exactly what I have to do and how I 
have to do it, making it easier for me to create my upcycled product.  
● One of them had instructions to make a small zipper pouch and they put measurements if you want to make a 
bigger version aside in a PDF. If I end up making a bigger upcycled textile zipper pouch than those 
measurements could help me make the zipper pouch, and I would waste less time. 
● They all included very unique and eye catching designs, that makes the product nicer in my opinion. This could 
help me because I want the clienty to enjoy their product.  
● One of the products was waterproof, as one of the steps was to put it in liquid that turns cotton fabrics and 
textiles waterproof. I think this could be useful because if you use a product regularly the chances of it getting 
damaged especially because of water is very high, and you are better safe than sorry. 
● The majority of the products on my pinterest board are made of cotton textiles which I have access to. I 
brought lots of cotton pants so that I could have lots of resources to work with, and since most of the patterns 
are created with cotton fabric it should be easier. 
● One of the tutoriels included a video to better show the process. I thought this was very helpful as it could help 
me make my product if I find the tutoriel hard to follow. 

Analyze​ weaknesses (​minus​) of the products. In your analysis clearly identify and explain specific features 
⊖  that make the product less successful. 

● One of the products that I really like does not include zipper, therefore not making it a zipper pouch. Although I 
know how and where I could add a zipper I believe that it could still cause a bit of confusion. 
● One of the product tutoriels does not show measurements, and sizes of fabric needed. This is a problem 
because then I don't know how to make the product, and this might cause issues with the procedure.   
● I don't have all the materials for one of the products, and although i could buy them this is still an 
inconvenience. This could mess up the project and I might not be able to make the zipper pouch. 
● I read one of the tutories and found it a bit confusing, as the instructions were unclear and I wasn't too sure 
what to do. This could cause a problem because if I don't know how to create the item then I might mess up 
and make the customer unhappy. 

Outline​ all take-aways (​interesting​) you have gained for your project by analysing the products. 
ℹ  Take-aways are Ideas that are worth remembering for later in the project. 

● One of the designs has a loop to attach a carabiner. I think that this is interesting because it makes the item be 
able to attach eed5to bags, and pockets. I thought this was interesting because most if the other products did 
not have this incorporated in the designs, and it is very helpful.   
● Most of the zipper pouches were cute animal shaped/inspired, this was very eye catching as I liked the colors, 
shapes, and design patterns. I would like to make an animal shaped pouch because I think that they are very 
enjoyable and cute. 
● One of the pouches was made out of reused material, this pouch was also made out of an old textile shirt. I 
thought that it was interesting to create a product out of old textile like I was, but it helps the environment 
which is positive.  
 
 
 

Choose and justify a project plan 

 
Select one of the products from your inspiration board and justify the 
choice for this product to design in the next stage of the design cycle.  
 
Your justification must address the following elements: 
 Why did you choose this product over the others in your inspiration board? ​Explain how it is appropriate for: 
● I will be making a cat shaped pouch for my younger sister. I think that this is suitable because she is a 4th 
grade female student at CIS who loves cats. After showing her all the design ideas that I thought she 
would like, she chose the one that she preferred (the zipper pouch that i'll be making) 
● I asked her about color choices and designs that she would like, she picked black, and dark blue. This is 
suitable because the pants that I brought to school are dark blue that is more on the black side. I do have 
other blue colored pants that I think are the right color to match her color choice. 
● I have done sewing classes before (Nov 2019 )and I have made a tope bag, tissue pouch and scrunchies 
before, so I know more or less the basics of sewing. I looked at the tutoriel and I think that I can make the 
cat zipper pouch, because it is made up of pretty simple knots that are at my level.  
 

   
A3 Assessment 
Level  Descriptor  Typical features of student work 

0  The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below. 

1-2  The student ​presents​ some  ❏ The analysis of the individual products l​ ists​ specific features as strengths 
existing products that inspire a  or weaknesses. 
solution to the problem.  ❏ The inspiration board is ​not completed​, nor a link to your source. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​limited​ analysis and thinking 
about client, fabric and skill level. 

3-4  The student ​outlines​ features  ❏ The analysis of the individual products o​ utlines​ specific features as 
of some existing products that  strengths or weaknesses and leads to some further insights regarding the 
inspires a solution to the  project. 
problem.  ❏ There is a l​ imited​ number and range of products in your Pinterest Board. 
There should be at least a range of 25 products that are different from 
each other 
❏ The source is included, but ​not in, proper​ MLA format. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​basic​ analysis and thinking 
about client, fabric and skill level. 

5-6  The student ​describes​ common  ❏ The analysis of each individual product or system d ​ escribes​ specific 
features of similar products  features as strengths and weaknesses and leads to meaningful insights 
that inspire a solution to the  regarding the project. 
problem.  ❏ There is a s​ ufficient​ number and range of products in your Pinterest 
Board. 
❏ The source is cited in p ​ roper​ MLA format. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​sufficient​ analysis and thinking 
about client, fabric and skill level.  

7-8  The student ​analyses​ a group  ❏ The analysis of each individual product or system e
​ xplains​ specific 
of similar products that inspire  features as strengths and weaknesses and leads to impactful further 
a solution to the problem.  insights regarding the project. 
❏ There is an e
​ xtensive​ number and range of products in your Pinterest 
Board. 
❏ The source is cited in p
​ roper​ MLA format. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​sophisticated​ analysis and 
thinking about client, fabric and skill level.