Design and Product Development

Virtual (Re)Visions: The Impact of 3D Prototyping Technology on Fashion Design Process

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Abstract

The global fashion industry is undergoing a rapid shift towards digital design processes. Among emergent design technologies are virtual prototyping tools (VPTs): 3D modelling technologies that curb textile wastage and enhance pattern visualization. Mid-to-late-career designers must learn these complex tools while working and absorb them into their existing approach to design. This study investigated the training, uses, impressions, and challenges faced by nine (n=9) designers and 3D designers (3DDs) who use VPTs. A mixed-methodology of human-centered design and design ethnography was employed. Methods included in-depth interviews and a think-aloud protocol where participants demonstrated their digital design process. Thematic analysis revealed four themes: impacts on practice and process; integration challenges; the evolving role of the designer; and critical perspectives on the intersections of fashion, technology, and sustainability. Findings suggest that the virtual design process is a holistic approach to design that encourages critical thinking, efficiency, and mitigates sample waste. 

Keywords: virtual prototyping technology, design process, mass-market, digital fashion

How to Cite:

Yates, M. & Phinney, C., (2025) “Virtual (Re)Visions: The Impact of 3D Prototyping Technology on Fashion Design Process”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21950