choosing a methodology for the survey, targeting respondents.

 

• The first stage was read about the profession and business. What variables would influence their profession or business? What attitudes and/ or experiences had moulded their business practices.

We wished to research the industry from three different perspectives: Freelance Designers, Agents and studios and textile product manufacturers.

Much of the input came from the textile design teaching staff who had experience of the industry.

 

• We first started with compiling a list of possible questions. These were then refined with several revisions until all known variables could be accounted for. This proved a major problem given the large variation of working patterns.

 

• The questions could then start to be grouped to allow the questionnaire to be split into sections.

 

• The questions were then made more technically and structurally sound so that all variations could be accounted for and that the logic of the responses was consistent.

 

The final questionnaires were completed after three major revisions and a trial survey involving 10 individuals.