Fresh Look For Girl Scouts
The FIT DTech Lab—an on-campus extension of the FIT Center for Innovation that unites design thinking with emerging technologies—partnered up with faculty members CJ Yeh, professor of Communication Design Pathways, Christine Shin, associate professor of Communication Design Pathways, and Tom Scott, assistant professor of Fashion Design, as well as students in Fashion Design and Advertising and Digital Design to reimagine and redesign the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) uniforms and accessories for modern scouts. The team was tasked with creating a collection that would make the Girl Scout uniform more versatile and relevant—making up outfits that are appropriate for everyday use as well as Girl Scout meetings, outings, and events. Students were involved throughout the project, beginning by conducting research to understand the legacy and history of the Girl Scout uniform: tracking how the uniform has evolved in relationship to historical styles and trends since the organization was founded in 1912. With this basis established, the design team incorporated GSUSA ideals into the designs for new apparel, accessories, and branding. With designs in progress, a few dozen current Girl Scouts were engaged to review design ideas and give feedback on the collection—which expands beyond the iconic sashes and vests to introduce a coordinating system of concepts that would appeal to a modern audience.