Reflection of socio-economic and cultural experiences of fashion design students to their collections and design values

The point of view of students with different family and social environments to the design phenomenon, which includes the terms aesthetic, creativity, innovation can be affected by a variety of parameter. In this context, it is aimed in this study to determine, how effect the socio-economic situation and cultural experiences of fashion design studying students, their symbolic and functional design values of their collections The three groups of total 49 students, who design on the same theme in collection preparation lesson of 4. Class at Fashion Design Education department of Department of Clothing Industry and Fashion Design of Gazi University Vocational Education Faculty in 2010-2011 academic year constitute the sample (group) of the study. To gather of data of research two different measuring tools: questionnaire prepared by the researcher and design evaluation form are used. Students collections, which are prepared in accordance with the formerly determined theme, was evaluated according to the criteria on design evaluation scale by a commission of 3 persons consisting of faculty instructors of Gazi University, Vocational Education Faculty, Department of Fashion Design Education and researchers. As a result of the research obtained data was analysed by using statistical package program 'SPSS 11.5. To determine whether the variables create differences or not, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. Cases, in which there is difference, for the determining the source of this difference after ANOVA, LSD test was applied in multi-group in comparisons. Before comparison of scales it was determined by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, whether the data set was normally distributed or not. According to the criteria of Cloth Design Value Determining Scale for the comparing the points, which was given by the commission consisting of two faculty instructors and a researcher, who evaluate the designs of students, `Kruskal-Wallis H? test was used. In the last stage, to determine the direction of variables that affect design values of collections of students and how the interactions of variables with each other, correlation analysis was conducted; and the obtained values was interpreted.At the end of research it is determined, that in the formation of their aesthetic value and admiration a large majority of students are affected by their environment and there is statistically pointed difference between total scores, which derive from functional values and design evaluation, of the students whose fathers have different occupations. By comparing clothing styles of people around students and Cloth Design Value Determining Scale tools it was observed, that there is a statistically pointed difference between symbolic values and total score of design evaluation. That the students, whose scores of attitude and behaviour are high, have higher scores of symbolic design value than other students has been observed as an important result, which shows the effect of their socio-economic and cultural experiences on the symbolic and functional design values their Collections. Keywords: Fashion Design, Clothing Design, Design Process, Design value, Collection, Creativity