A study of 3D CAD and implications for training and skills in the fashion industry

This study was motivated by the need to understand how 3D CAD systems might impact on the designer and the fashion design process. Current descriptions of the industry indicated that new strategies were necessary to survive globalisation, technological change and the unprecedented demand for fashion products; and emphasised the significance of fashion design education to supply designers with new design skills. The main issue for UK mass-produced fashion appeared to be how to achieve faster design-to-market products within a global industry. Accounts acknowledged the impact of 3D CAD for garment virtual modelling, masscustomisation, garment fit and virtual try-on for retailing, but little has been written about how fashion designers are reacting to, or using new technology. Case studies were an effective methodology in which to gauge the extent to which CAD is used in the fashion design process and to examine the impact of CAD on fashion design competencies. Interviews were undertaken with leading designers and CAD companies to determine personal experience of 3D technology to ascertain new systems development, functionality and quality. The results of the comparative analysis of longitudinal case studies identified the design process exploits the designer's use of 2D CAD as a key creative design tool to speed up design and communication. Conclusions emerging from this study indicate that the value of 3D CAD for fashion design is dependent on the many variables influenced by economic and technological factors, and skills and training issues. The future implementation of 3D technology points towards the need for a new tier of skilled 3D CAD designer to produce virtual simulations that both assist creativity and facilitate speed within the design process. The general implications of the research findings are discussed in relation to eight recommendations for skills and training issues for fashion design education and the fashion industry, and proposals made for future research