Relating 2D ideas into 3D garments, in terms of structure, using 'sculptural form giving' as an intermediate step of creation
Abstract
This research is aimed at fashion designers and fashion design translators who want to
avoid a distortion or loss of design character during the process of transferring their two-dimensional
creative sketch into a three-dimensional garment.
It has developed a fashion design methodology described as ‘sculptural form giving’, to
reliably translate innovative two-dimensional ideas via a structural design sculpture into
an intermediate model to represent a design concept. Using the method as an intermediate
step in creation is a novel approach to establishing an initial sample and to educating
students in fashion design representation.
The research has utilised mixed methods to investigate three distinct parts: developing the
sculptural form giving method, testing it in a workshop and analyzing the data to refine
the model. The method applies the idea of conceptual sculpture onto the fashion design
process, akin to those used in architecture and toy design with which fashion shares some
processes for realising design ideas. This research investigates and formalises the
processes that utilise the measurable space between the garment and the body, to help
transfer garment variation and scale.
The method solves the problems of distortion and lack of design character in the transfer
from two-dimensions to three-dimensions by standardising and systematising the design
procedure mathematically. By developing the size and space measurement tools and the
concept of side views, it offers high accuracy of measurements in establishing the 3D
model. Workshop students, the pre-testers, the author and the clothing experts confirmed
the high degree reliability, capability and efficiency of the method.
In summation, this research focuses on helping fashion designers and fashion design
translators to produce a creative method that helps to transfer their imaginative concepts
through intermediate modelling. It also demonstrated that fashion design students adopted
this method better than fashion technology students, suggesting it might be interesting to
fashion practitioners with a creative focus.