Encouraging 3D Virtual Design in Fashion Education: Best Practices

This paper presents the outcomes obtained from a first interaction experience, in which third year fashion students were invited to explore and use 3D virtual prototyping technology tools to develop their ideas. Tools like 2D CAD pattern design and 3D clothing design software were introduced and specific fashion-design tasks were performed during their learning process throughout a spring semester of twelve weeks. Participants were then asked to resolve these tasks resorting to the tools presented and integrate them into the fashion design project by exploring and experimenting their potential uses. The result demonstrated that fashion students acknowledged the potentiality of these technology tools for their subject’s project, showed dedication, perseverance and teamwork, overcame the barriers and challenges of the lack of efficient use in 3D virtual prototyping and did not resort to traditional methods of developing and communicating their projects with pen/marker and paper in two dimensions. Lectures’ structure was tailored to students’ strengths and interests with an aim to ignite curiosity. They were encouraged to leverage the use of any available 3D digital design tool by questioning the presented-during lectures-advantages and by building their existing skills with new ones in digital environments. A selected best practice of a fashion collection development through 3D-design and visualisation is presented in this paper.