Exclusive Insights: Deep Dive Into the Drexel University Course
In the rapidly evolving landscape of fashion and technology, integrating digital tools into the educational curriculum is becoming more essential than ever. Recently, we had the chance to sit down with Chris Baeza and Nick Jushchyshyn, two pioneering professors at Drexel University, who are at the forefront of this exciting convergence. They have been instrumental in introducing z-weave to their students in the course “From Idea to Product in 3D,” aiming to bridge the gap between fashion design and immersive technology.
Could you provide insights into why z-weave was chosen specifically for this course, and how do you see these software tools contributing to the future of fashion and immersive technologies?
Chris Baeza:
If I have to summarize why we picked z-emotion as our partner, it’s ease of use, accessibility, great feedback from students right away, and the team’s responsiveness. And it was accessible from a pricing standpoint.
Nick Jushchyshyn:
Chris really led the charge on this, and she was the first adopter within our college, and since we teach courses together, she was telling me about it.
I’m from the digital 3D media and animation side of things. So the fact that there were two direct plugins for the two main tools that I use, both Unreal Engine and Maya, was like, “Oh, well, this is the thing then,” and I was really excited to see that being shown.
How do you feel about the students’ overall response to the exposure to new software tools like z-weave and Unreal Engine? Were there any unexpected challenges or successes in integrating these tools into the curriculum?
Nick Jushchyshyn:
The overall response from students has been excitement and interest. Of course, one of the intangible values of a tool like this, and a course like this, is the unexpected value of having students from two different disciplines work together who had never necessarily met each other. They’ve been taking entirely different course tracks their entire academic career, and suddenly they’re thrown together and told, “Guess what, you’re a team, and you have to deliver a solution for this client.” I think the students found those challenges rewarding. The software being available was a catalyst for all of that because it was a solution that bridged two different disciplines in a way that other things generally don’t.
I think that would be the overarching success — everything that happened in this course was entirely new territory for the students. Nothing they had experienced directly before. They banded together and delivered something that was really useful.
Do you think the user-friendly interface of z-weave enhanced the learning journey for the students?
Chris Baeza:
I feel like we’re giving students from a variety of disciplines access to something they would never have access to or feel like they couldn’t enter that space. But in the game, like animation and gaming, they’re creating outfits. What we’ve been doing this academic year is giving something that maybe was just reserved for certain people, and now more people can have access to it. You’re now inviting other people into this world that maybe they would never have been invited into before.
Considering the final project, what observations can you make regarding trends among students? Do you believe that digital fashion and virtual showrooms hold promise and appeal for the younger generation?
Nick Jushchyshyn:
The established companies miss the new opportunity because their customers don’t even know how they’re going to use it. And that’s where we’re at with this right now in fashion — the technology is capable of delivering a solution, but the folks that have mastered the technology don’t understand fashion, branding, and merchandising, and those that understand fashion, branding, and merchandising really well don’t realize all of the capabilities and how to really leverage the digital technologies in a way that furthers their goals, their brand, their connection to their consumer. And so hopefully, somebody taking one of these classes will end up solving that problem.
By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and embracing new technologies, Chris Baeza and Nick Jushchyshyn are helping to prepare a new generation of designers who are not only adept at using these tools but are also capable of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in fashion. Their efforts at Drexel University exemplify how forward-thinking educators can equip students with the skills and knowledge to navigate and innovate within this evolving landscape.
We invite all users to explore the capabilities of our new z-weave Free and Pro, packed with innovative features that elevate the digital fashion design experience.
Start your fashion company’s digital transformation today with the endless possibilities offered by z-emotion.
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