Ideas for KVG uniforms

"(Up)date KVG" is the title of a cooperation project between the School of Art and Design and the Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG): Under the direction of Professor Ayzit Bostan (Design of Textile Products), product design students have designed upgraded workwear and new accessories for KVG.

The decisive factor for the cooperation was the desire for practical experience: "Students should apply their theoretical knowledge to real projects in order to gain an insight into the future working world. The fact that designs can be tested for feasibility, function and aesthetics is also very important for practical experience during their studies," explains Prof. Bostan. Although KVG is not planning an immediate purchase, the designs could provide inspiration for future orders, emphasizes KVG spokesperson Heidi Hamdad.

As a first step, the students took a close look at the history of workwear and analyzed the clothing provided by KVG. As work clothing should meet certain standards, such as high quality and functionality, the employees' wishes were incorporated into the outfit concept. The KVG team gave the students an insight into their day-to-day work and answered questions about the strengths and weaknesses of the current workwear.

"Our aim was to optimize the cuts and improve the quality of the materials," says Prof. Bostan. She adds: "In addition to functionality, workwear should also make the wearer feel comfortable. In my opinion, the current KVG workwear is not modern and contemporary. Workwear should look a bit 'cooler'." Student Fabienne Rako, who is studying product design in the 8th semester with a focus on textile product design, believes: "If a company stands for values such as safety, reliability and sustainability, then this should also be reflected in the workwear."

In the design phase, the students intervened in the existing garments and used readymades - combined with additional and enhancing details. Rako explains: "We made small changes to the cut and fit by turning a classic shirt collar into a contemporary stand-up collar." Two straps were also developed on the side of the women's blouse so that the blouse can be worn tighter if required. The sustainability issue was always the focus of the concept work: "In textile design processes, it is a must to address individual sustainability criteria from material extraction to textile production," emphasizes Rako.

In addition to the workwear update, merchandise products were developed for KVG staff and fans. "Scarves were created with an extended streetcar and a bus the same length as the scarves," reports Bostan. In addition, a bath towel with a road marking in the middle. "In summer, bus drivers take their own bath towel with them to work so that they can place it under their seating area for hygienic reasons when temperatures are high," explains Rako. The documenta 15 was also taken up thematically in the merchandise development. "For example, a scarf design shows a fictitious cooperation between KVG and documenta 15," says Bostan. According to the idea, the purchased scarf should also function as a ticket for bus and train travel during documenta 2022. The students hope that a small number of their designs will be realized: "For example, there are initial thoughts of offering the fan scarves via KVG," says Bostan.

The budding designer Rako wants a product to emerge at the end of a project that both she as the designer and the client can stand behind. This is why the student finds cooperation projects like the one with KVG so important: "Only through practical projects can we students gain an awareness of how the working world and communication with customers really work outside the art academy."

This article appeared in the university magazine publik 2021/3. Text: Çiğdem Özdemir