A growing women’s contemporary fashion brand needed more structure across its creative workflow, project timelines, and collection launch preparation. My roles as a Creative Consultant was to assess the team’s existing process, identify operational gaps, and develop a structured workflow that improved communication, execution, and overall project efficiency.

Workflow Selection: Waterfall

I chose the Waterfall method because I noticed this team had a pattern of starting something new without truly finishing the last, usually because it was popular. Experimenting to find what works is important, but it can easily bleed into how a team operates and create inconsistency.

For this brand, Waterfall provides a stable foundation without feeling restrictive. Before introducing a more flexible workflow, I believe the team first needs consistency, accountability, and structure. Once that foundation is established, we can transition into a more flexible method next year.

Discovery & Assessment

Before implementing any changes, I would spend time understanding the team's current workflow by meeting with each team and the designer. The goal is to gather as much information as possible while considering existing deadlines, responsibilities, and how work currently moves through the brand.

My assessment focuses on:

Current workflow and timelines.

Team roles and responsibilities.

Communication methods and their effectiveness.

Collection development timelines.

Recurring delays and workflow blockages.

The intention is to iron out the process, not completely rearrange it.

Management Objectives

From this assessment, my goals would be to:

Identify gaps in the current workflow.

Create structure for execution.

Establish a clear communication process.

Strengthen the existing system before introducing a more flexible workflow.