Design in 3D: a computational fashion design protocol

Abstract

Computational fashion design research is an important area of inquiry for both design researchers in the apparel industry as well as academic community. Throughout the last 50 years, clothing design and construction methods have already undergone significant changes to become a fully automated, computer-aided process (Lee, 2014; Loker, Ashdown, & Carnrite, 2008). The use of computer-aided-design (CAD) software offers many new possibilities and it is critical to reconcile the use of technology and traditional garment construction methods for wide-scale implementation in the design process (Lee, 2014). In this paper, the definition of parametric and algorithmic design refers to processes based in parametric mathematics and manipulated through the particularity of an algorithm. In what follows, the use of algorithms and computational design methods were explored to add to the growing body of literature on the use of digital technology in computer-aided fashion design. While parametric design is not new, computational programs have enabled a wider retinue of options to build and design with greater dexterity and reproducibility.