UCLA lecturer brings in 3D printers for fashion design students

The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) upped its learning techniques for their School of Architecture and Urban Design Development. Julia Koerner, a lecturer at UCLA, brought three-dimensional printing to classes in order to demonstrate how to create custom clothing.

Koerner has incorporated 3D printing into her curriculum, teaching students how to ultimately design and print their creations. “I’m interested to always explore new technologies and where technologies can drive design,” Koerner told CBS. Using the high-tech printing, the students can apply the technology to help build their potential careers in the fashion industry. By incorporating advanced knowledge of materials and fashion design, fashion students can bring their innovative ideas to life. The printers allow mobile printing as well from smartphones, where users can scan their objects to project onto the printer.

Three-dimensional printing is new for the fashion and design element of the school, but the engineering departments have been using these printers since 2013. Engineers use the printer in the same way that fashion students do: applying their imagination to capture an image and ultimately create and print their design.

The 3D printers, although ideal for learning and teaching students at UCLA, cost thousands of dollars. Whether this new modernization will become a necessity in schools is unknown, but for now, UCLA students are gaining access to using these printers to benefit their future careers.