2003 Award
Technological Solutions to Teaching 3-D Concepts:
Apparel, Costume Patternmaking and Fit
Faculty Advisory Board on Information Technologies, Susan P. Ashdown, Human Ecology and Richard MacPike, Arts and Sciences
Summary
This cross-college project's objective is to engage the student in an analytical process that explores conceptual ideas concerning the creation and fit of clothing and costumes. In order to improve student comprehension of the complex issues related to design, patternmaking, and fitting the human body, students need to learn the essential skills that create an understanding of the relationship between the body and clothes: skills in drafting patterns, marking and cutting fabric, clothing construction, and correct fit. Traditionally these skills are taught using the apprenticeship model; we intend to use technology to update and replace this time-consuming one-on-one pedagogy while maintaining the quality of the learning experience.p>
Instructional challenges
- Students need to develop an understanding of body-garment relationships and proportions.
- Students need to understand the conceptual basis for patternmaking and fit.
- Students need to learn and apply their knowledge without one-on-one support
Technology solutions
- Create a set of increasingly complex 2-D and 3-D examples of draping the human form, by creating a gallery of historical costumes, and by illustrating the step-by-step process of creating garments.
- Create interactive assignments that integrate observation with design.
Development highlights
- Over thirty garments from the Cornell Historical Costume Collection were selected, prepared, fitted to a mannequin, and photographed “in the round” to create high-resolution ObjectVRs.
- Created and captioned photographs detailing the step-by-step process of creating six basic garment drapes.
- Created a set of corresponding ObjectVR photographs to show fitting errors and possible corrections.
- Recorded video showing the fitting process of putting a fabric model to a living human; editing to follow after January 2004.
- Computer hardware, software, and training were purchased for the Theatre Arts department so that equivalent technologies can be used across the colleges.
- Further development to take place during Fall 2003 for testing in courses in Fall 2003 and use in Spring 2004 (TXA264, THETR356).
More Information
Email us at innovprojects@cornell.edu with questions about the program.
Project Contacts
Susan P. Ashdown
spa4@cornell.edu
Richard E. MacPike
rem42@cornell.edu
