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Using a computer to create clothing designs and then view them on a virtual mannequin? That’s exactly what students do in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) 2D/3D Computer-Aided Design class. But how would their outfits look on the runway, in a business office, or a variety of other settings?

To find out, FDM 338 collaborated with five graduate students in the UH Mānoa Department of Theatre and Dance’s Advanced Scenic Design class on 3D fashion runway design projects during the spring 2021 semester.

In one of the four 2D/3D design projects, students in FDM 338 created 3D virtual garment designs under Associate Professor Ju-Young Kang’s guidance based on their target markets and design concepts. In one of the three scenic design projects, theatre and dance students created 3D runway stage designs under Assistant Professor Michelle Bisbee’s guidance based on the FDM 338 students’ target markets, diverse 3D virtual garment collections and feedback.

A student in FDM 338 shared how fulfilling the collaboration was, saying, “I felt like it was a lot of fun and cool to see how these ideas come to life. It was interesting to see how artists would design a runway show.”

“This project was a wonderful endeavor for our students, as well as a fun and fulfilling experience to collaborate with theater students,” said Kang. “Students loved seeing how their ideas ‘came to life’ by sharing their collections and trying out different runways. We encouraged them to add their own specific ideas, which made the endeavor even more exciting.”

Watch the designs come to life.

This is an example of UH Mānoa’s goal of Enhancing Student Success (PDF), one of four goals identified in the 2015–25 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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